Dioscorus

When we compare Ephesus I, Ephesus II, and Chalcedon - we see vast differences in how they are remembered. The mob ruled Ephesus I. The mafia ran Ephesus II. As for Chalcedon, the Empire oversaw it - but did not direct it. As Ch happened only two years after E2 - it is through Ch, how E2 went down in History - as the monster of Dioscorus of Alexandria. Nobody contested the content of Chalcedon's minutes; but Chalcedon effected an overhaul of E2's minutes. Michael Gaddis takes Chalcedon at its face. Should he?

Critiquing these latter events, Volker Menze is pleading patriarch Dioscorus' case. Colin Behrens has a review. Menze presents an excellent case for stripping Cyril of sainthood among the Copts, let alone the rest of us. But Dioscorus will probably not be sainted anytime soon, himself.

Cyril corrupted his Church toward the aim of ruling the Church abroad. He had also bankrupted it. Dioscorus was elected to clean house; Menze claims he did this, Behrens is less sure. As far as politics abroad, he submitted himself to Theodosius II. This, I gather, because he had no choice; Behrens seems correct here, that our man was less a fighter of corruption and more a cats-paw in Imperial consolidation.

Dioscorus was, at least, sincere. In the circus which was that second Ephesian Council, Menze presents Dioscorus as not the ringleader. He was rather the emperor's "henchman" - one among many. When Imperial policy changed, under Marcian, the Chalcedonians couldn't (yet) blame the prior emperor, and didn't feel up to blaming all Theodosius' very willing stooges. Some were still popular at home. Dioscorus was the most-prominent Robber of that Council, still willing to defend it at Chalcedon. The new emperor now had what he needed: a fall-guy. He got Dioscorus' surviving allies to pin it all on him.

BACKDATE 3/19