{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/202/2020215.htm","path":"chr/ecf/202/2020215.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/202/2020215.htm","text":"Chapter XXII.\u2014Of Sisinnius Bishop of the Novatians. His Readiness at Repartee.\nIt will not be out of place here, I conceive, to give some account of Sisinnius. He was, as I have often said, 897 a remarkably eloquent man, and well-instructed in philosophy. But he had particularly cultivated logic, and was profoundly skilled in the interpretation of the holy Scriptures; insomuch that the heretic Eunomius often shrank from the acumen which his reasoning displayed. As regards his diet he was not simple; for although he practised the strictest moderation, yet his table was always sumptuously furnished. He was also accustomed to indulge himself by wearing white garments, and bathing twice a day in the public baths. And when some one asked him \u2018why he, a bishop, bathed himself twice a day?\u2019 he replied, \u2018Because it is inconvenient to bathe thrice.\u2019 Going one day from courtesy to visit the bishop Arsacius, he was asked by one of the friends of that bishop, \u2018why he wore a garment so unsuitable for a bishop? and where it was written that an ecclesiastic should be clothed in white?\u2019 \u2018Do you tell me first,\u2019 said he, \u2018where it is written that a bishop should wear black?\u2019 When he that made the inquiry knew not what to reply to this counter-question: \u2018You cannot show,\u2019 rejoined Sisinnius, \u2018that a priest should be clothed in black. But Solomon is my authority, whose exhortation is, \u201cLet thy garments be white.\u201d 898 And our Saviour in the Gospels appears clothed in white raiment: 899 moreover he showed Moses and Elias to the apostles, clad in white garments.\u2019 His prompt reply to these and other questions called forth the admiration of those present. Again when Leontius bishop of Ancyra in Galatia Minor, who had taken away a church from the Novatians, was on a visit to Constantinople, Sisinnius went to him, and begged him to restore the church. But he received him rudely, saying, \u2018Ye Novatians ought not to have churches; for ye take away repentance, and shut out Divine mercy.\u2019 As Leontius gave utterance to these and many other such revilings against the Novatians, Sisinnius replied: \u2018No one repents more heartily than I do.\u2019 And when Leontius asked him \u2018Why do you repent?\u2019 \u2018That I came to see you,\u2019 said he. On one occasion John the bishop having a contest with him, said, \u2018The city cannot have two bishops.\u2019 900 \u2018Nor has it,\u2019 said Sisinnius. John being irritated at this response, said, \u2018You see you pretend that you alone are the bishop.\u2019 \u2018I do not say that,\u2019 rejoined Sisinnius; \u2018but that I am not bishop in your estimation only, who am such to others.\u2019 John being still more chafed at this reply, said, \u2018I will stop your preaching; for you are a heretic.\u2019 To which Sisinnius good-humoredly replied, \u2018I will give you a reward, if you will relieve me from so arduous a duty.\u2019 John being softened a little by this answer, said, \u2018I will not make you cease to preach, if you find speaking so troublesome.\u2019 So facetious was Sisinnius, and so ready at repartee: but it would be tedious to dwell further on his witticisms. Wherefore by means of a few specimens we have illustrated what sort of a person he was, deeming these as sufficient. I will merely add that he was celebrated for erudition, and on account of it all the bishops who succeeded him loved and honored him; and not only they but all the leading members of the senate also esteemed and admired him. He is the author of many works: but they are characterized by too great an affectation of elegance of diction, and a lavish intermingling of poetic expressions. On which account he was more p. 153 admired as a speaker than as a writer; for there was dignity in his countenance and voice, as well as in his form and aspect, and every movement of his person was graceful. On account of these features he was loved by all the sects, and he was in especial favor with Atticus the bishop. But I must conclude this brief notice of Sisinnius.\nMatt. 17:2, Mark 9:3, Luke 9:29. On the clothing of the clergy, see Bingham, Christ. Antiq. VI. 4. 18.\n152:900\nThe canons forbade the existence of two authoritative bishops in one city. Cf. V. 5, note 3. It was supposed to be an apostolic tradition that prescribed this practice, and the faithful always resisted and condemned any attempts to consecrate a second bishop in a city. Thus \u2018when Constantius proposed that Liberius and Felix should sit as co-partners in the Roman see and govern the church in common, the people with one accord rejected the proposal, crying out \u201cOne God, one Christ, one bishop.\u201d The rule, however, did not apply to the case of coadjutors, where the bishop was too old or infirm to discharge his episcopal duties.\u2019 See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. II. 13.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. II: The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus.: Of Sisinnius Bishop of the Novatians. His Readiness at Repartee.","type":"page"}