John Maxentius, Monk

bishop of Caesarea of Cappadocia, who ordained Saint Gregory as bishop, having made a covenant of security between them, ordained that the bishop of Armenia for the time being should receive his ordination from the Church and the high priest of the Caesareans, from which Saint Gregory himself also received his priesthood in the beginning; just as the book of the life and the testimony of Saint Gregory ^A accurately declare regarding all these matters. But since they have fallen into myriad heresies, and have been alienated from the Catholic Church, and do not receive ordination from the Church of the Caesareans—how are those who are baptized by them not entirely unholy and unordained; and those who are baptized by them, entirely pagan and devoid of baptism?

And those who baptize the Armenians, thence receive their testimony, and bring forward other similar things. But those who deem them worthy of the divine chrism, follow the testimonies of the councils. We, however, having considered all these things, ought to follow the custom which now prevails in the metropolises and the patriarchal sees. ^B 8. Indeed, those who baptize the Armenians, thence draw their testimony, and bring forward other similar things. But those who bestow the divine ointment follow the documents of the councils. We, however, having considered all these things, must comply with the custom which currently prevails in the metropolises and patriarchal sees.

AROUND THE YEAR OF THE LORD 520.

JOANNES MAXENTIUS, MONACHUS ET PRESBYTER ANTIOCHENUS.

NOTITIA.

Joannes Maxentius, a monk and presbyter of Antioch, a Scythian by nation, concerning whom Baronius writes much in Volume VII of his Annals, and from him Joannes Brassichellanus, master of the sacred palace, in the prefaces which are prefixed to the beginning of his works, wrote an Epistle to the legates of the Apostolic See; a Profession of his faith; Chapters against the Nestorians; a briefer Profession of faith; a Rationale for the union of the Word of God; a Response to the Epistle of Pope Hormisdas; a Libellus against the Acephali; and two books of Dialogues against the Nestorians, all of which are extant.

SECOND NOTICE.

Joannes Maxentius, famous around A.D. 520, left behind Chapters or anathemas against the Nestorians, Dialogues against the same, and other writings, of which only the Latin version has survived to our time, published in the *Orthodoxographa* of Basel, 1555 and 1569, in folio, and in the writings of Josias Simler.