98 Jesus, Prophet of Islam
Spiridem
Spiridem was one of the rough and simple, almost illiterate bish
opswho formed the rnajority of thebishopsin theChristianChurch
at that time. A closer study of him will help illustrate the kind of
men they were. He was a shepherd who had suffered persecution
and yet remained firm in his faith. His knowledge of the politics of
religion was superficial. He had been appointed bishop because
many miracles had been attributed to him. After becorning abishop,
he did not change his rough and ready rural attire. He always
walked on foot. The other 'princes' of the Pauline Church did not
like him, and were anxious that he should not reach Nicea in time
for the Council.
When Spiridem received his invitation from the Emperor, he
realised that he would have to travel by mule if he was to arrive in
time. He setoutwithoneattendant,unIike otherbishopswho went
with a whole retinue. They travel1ed on two mules, one white, the
other piebald. It is said that one night they were staying in an inn
when there also arrived those bishops who were not sure whether
Spiridem was the right kind of person to take part in the delibera
tions of the CounciI. Early the next morning, while Spiridem was
still asleep, they chopped off the heads of his two mules and de
parted. When he awoke, he asked his attendant to feed and saddle
the mules. The attendant discovered the dead animaIs and reported
the loss to Spiridem. Spiridem told the attendant to put the head of
each mule near the dead body it had been a part of. In the dark
ness, the attendant put each head next to the wrong body. As soon
as he had done this, the mules got up alive, and they continued on
their joumey. After a while, they overtook the bishops, who thought
they had left Spiridem weIl behind and were sure that he would
not reach Nicea in time. Their surprise was even greater when they
found that the white mule had a piebald head, and the piebald, a
white head! 20
Patammon
Patarnrnon was a herrnit.Oesius
Oesius was known onlyfor his puritanical zeal.http://www.islamicbulletin.com