of the subject, in which he said that Dioscorus was not
judged because his faith was suspect, but because he
refused to accept the views or have any communion with
Leo, the Patriarch of Rome, and – presumably – was
summoned thrice to the Council of Chalcedon, and did
not accept the summons.^66
While a more modern writer^67 made the two
following statements that put in a nutshell the goal of the
planners of the Council of Chalcedon. He said: “The
State was delivered at the close of this period, from its
most powerful opponent, the Bishop of Alexandria,
though at much too high a cost”; and then he said: “Leo
I... made common cause with the Emperor and the
Bishop of the Eastern capital and overthrew Dioscorus.
But at the moment of his fall, the opposition between the
hitherto united powers (Emperor and Head of Roman
Church) was destined to emerge”.
- Theopistus, secretary of Abba Dioscorus, had been
a deacon from Alexandria. He had served his Pope some
years before the unfortunate Council of Chalcedon. His
loyalty and admiration for his intrepid Chief compelled
him to go with him to his exile, where he carefully wrote
his biography for the edification of later ages. When
Abba Dioscorus went unto his reward, Theopistus could
not return to his native land for Emperor Marcianus
threatened to kill him should he set foot on Egyptian soil.
He therefore, went to the Pentapolis where he completed
the biography, and sent it to his compatriots.^68 Thus he
manifested how the unconquerable spirit of a faithful and
righteous man can overcome all storms.