A bids them read the bill: the aforementioned chapters were read. The senior bishops, having heard the substance of the book, say to John: "Even if, in the maximum sense, one chapter is impious and forbidden on all sides by the sacred laws, still, so that we may not appear to have wasted all our leisure on the allegations, let the inquiry begin with the most fearful one. For if that is found to be true, there is no contradiction possible for the remaining chapters, since the root of that one chapter bears every kind of wickedness, according to the One who said: 'The root of all evils is avarice' (1 Tim. 6:10). For he who took gifts from the innocent, and thought to sell the distribution of the Holy Spirit for silver, how will he still spare the sacred vessels, or stones, or lands of the Church?" Then John begins the inquiry, saying to Antoninus: "What do you say to these things, brother Antoninus?" He denied it of necessity. For how was it possible for him, from the very outset, to confess his own shame? Those who had given were interrogated, and they too denied it. B As the inquiry was conducted diligently upon these matters until the eighth hour, the trial began to take shape from certain evidence. At last, as is to be expected, it arrived at the witnesses, before whom they had given and he had received. The witnesses were not present; there was a need for their appearance. John, looking at the laboriousness of their appearance, was eager for the cleansing of the Church and for the sake of sparing the witnesses, intending to go to Asia himself to carry the inquiry to its conclusion. Antoninus, seeing the diligence and incorruptibility of John, as one conscious of his own guilt, approached one of the dignitaries, who also looked after his lands in Asia, and begged him to have John detained, so that he should not go to Asia, promising the production of the witnesses. This man immediately prepared a message to be declared from the palace to Bishop John, as follows: "It is an absurd thing, that you, being a bishop and a guardian of our souls, at such a time of expecting an uproar, should abandon the city and C undertake a journey to Asia, when the witnesses can easily be brought." Now the expected uproar was Gainas the barbarian. And, what more? So that I may not be long-winded, he is persuaded to remain, being concerned both for the trial and for the destruction of the witnesses. For a godsend to the accused was the postponement regarding the witnesses, whom he was able to make flee either by money or through authority. John, having foreseen these things, considers with the present synod that some of the bishops present should be sent to Asia for the interrogation of the witnesses. Therefore, three bishops were immediately appointed to go down: Synclitius, metropolitan of Trajanopolis, Hesychius of Parium, and Palladius of Helenopolis, the synod having declared in the minutes that whoever within two months did not appear and stand by his rights in Hypaepa, a city of the Asians, because those being refuted and the remaining bishops required to judge together with those around Synclitius were neighbors, this man should be held excommunicate. In addition to these, the appointed Synclitius and Palladius went down to Smyrna—for Hesychius, being a friend of Antoninus, feigned illness; D and they immediately wrote and signaled their arrival to both parties, so that by running together to the appointed city, they might fulfill their promises. But they, having persuaded one another, one with money and another with an oath, became friends before the arrival of the judges. Coming together in the guise of the Hypaepians, they thought to mock the judges regarding the postponement of the witnesses once again, as having left for various needs. In addition to these, the judges asked the accuser: "Are you then managing to bring them within these days? And we shall await them." Thinking that they were departing because they were distressed by the harshness of the weather (for it was in the pure intensity of the summer season), he promised in writing that within forty days he would either bring the witnesses or suffer the penalties of the canons. Having been released for the search for the witnesses, he left the matter and reached Constantinople, secretly hiding there. The judges awaited the forty days, as is to be expected; and when he appeared nowhere, they sent to the bishops throughout all Asia, making him excommunicate, as either a deserter or a slanderer. After this they waited another thirty days, and as he appeared nowhere, they departed and came to Constantinople; and happening upon him there, they rebuked him for his audacity. He again, feigning bodily infirmity, promised the witnesses. While they were thus wasting time, Antoninus dies, with whom Eusebius had the lawsuit. Again, a decree comes from Asia, this one from the clergy of the Church of the Ephesians, and this one from the bishops, to John, containing a request with a fearful oath: "Since in previous times both the institutions and we ourselves were led and governed in confusion, we request your honor to descend and impose a God-given pattern upon the Church of the Ephesians, which has been afflicted for a long time, partly by those who think the things of Arius, and partly by those who, with avarice and self-love, boast that they are Catholics: because many lie in wait, as grievous wolves, hastening to seize the throne through money." John, in such bodily infirmity and in the winter season, setting nothing painful before his eyes, for the sake of the restoration of the things of the whole Asian diocese, which were diseased due to inexperience or the lack of shepherds, strengthened by eagerness, entered a ship and departed from the city. But a violent northern wind having arisen, the sailors, fearing lest they be cast upon Proconnesus, having set the sail to the wind that was driving them, they slipped under the mountain of Triton; and having cast anchors there, they remained awaiting the south wind, so that they might arrive at Apamea. Having therefore remained two days fasting and tossed in the ship, on the third they went out to Apamea, in which Paul and Cyrinus and Palladius the bishops were waiting; for these John had taken as his companions. And having traversed the way by foot, they fall into Ephesus; and having gathered the bishops of Lydia and Asia and Caria, amounting to seventy men, they perform the ordination, with many coming together from voluntary eagerness, especially the Phrygians, for the enjoyment of the wisdom of his mouth, according to what is said: "Wisdom is praised in the exits" (Prov. 1:20); that is, in those who speak; "and she speaks with confidence in the streets" (Prov. 1:21 LXX); that is, in hearts that have been widened through various afflictions, according to that: "In affliction you widened me" (Ps. 4:2). For wisdom is cramped in those who cultivate weeds, and they choke the word.