And that in the Greek Church also, even in the time of Chrysostom, the Communion under the form of Bread only, was used, and allowed, it appeareth by this notable story of Sozomenus a Greek writer: which because it is long,1 I will here rehearse it only in English, remitting the learned to the Greek. When John, otherwise named Chrysostom, governed the Church of Constantinople very well, a certain man of the Macedonian Heresy had a wife of the same opinion. When this man had heard John in his Sermon declare, how one ought to think of God, he praised his doctrine, and exhorted his wife, to conform her self to the same judgement also. But when as she was led by the talk of noble women, rather then by her husbands good advertisements, after that he saw counsel took no place, except (que he) thou wilt bear me company in things touching God, thou shalt have no more to do with me, nor live any longer with me. The woman hearing this, promising feignedly, that she would agree unto it, conferreth the matter with a woman servant that she had, whom she esteemed for trusty, and useth her help to deceive her husband. About the time of the Mysteries, she holding fast that which she had received, s•ouped down, making resemblance to pray. Her servant standing by, giveth to her secretly, that which she had brought with her in her hand. That, as she put her teeth to it, to bite it, hardeneth into a stone. With that the woman sore astonied, fearing lest some evil should happen unto her therefore, which came by the power of God, ran forthwith to the Bishop, and bewraying her self, showeth him the stone, having yet in it the prints of her bite, representing a strange matter, and a wondrous colour: and so with tears of her eyes, besought forgiveness, promising her husband she would consent and agree to him. If this seem to any incredible (saith Sozomenus) that stone is witness, which to this day is kept among the Jewels of the Church of Constantinople.2 By this story it is clear, the Sacrament was then ministered under One Kind only. For by receiving that one form, this woman would have persuaded her husband, that she had communicated with him, and with that holy Bishop.
And that in the Greeke Churche also, euen in the time of Chrysostome, the Communion vnder the forme of Breade onely, was vsed, and allowed, it appeareth by this notable storie of Sozomenus a Greeke writer: whiche bicause it is longe,1 I wil here rehearse it onely in Englishe, remittinge the learned to the Greeke. VVhen Iohn, otherwise named Chrysostome, gouerned the Churche of Constantinople very wel, a certaine man of the Macedonian Heresie had a wife of the same opinion. VVhen this man had hearde Iohn in his Sermon declare, how one ought to thinke of God, he praised his doctrine, and exhorted his wife, to conforme her selfe to the same iudgement also. But when as she was ledde by the talke of noble wemen, rather then by her husbandes good aduertisementes, after that he sawe counsaile tooke no place, excepte (que he) thou wilt beare me companie in thinges toutching God, thou shalt haue no more to doo with me, nor liue any longer with me. The woman hearinge this, promisinge fainedly, that she woulde agree vnto it, conferreth the mater with a woman seruant that she had, whome she esteamed for trustie, and vseth her helpe to deceiue her husbande. About the time of the Mysteries, she holdinge fast that whiche she had receiued, s•ouped downe, makinge resemblance to pray. Her seruant standinge by, geueth to her secretely, that whiche she had broughte with her in her hande. That, as she put her teeth to it, to bite it, hardeneth into a stone. VVith that the woman sore astonied, fearinge leasie some euil shoulde happen vnto her therefore, whiche came by the power of God, ranne foorthwith to the Bishop, and bewrayinge her selfe, sheweth him the stone, hauinge yet in it the printes of her bitte, representinge a strange mater, and a wonderous colour: and so with teares of her eyes, besought forgiuenes, promisinge her husbande she would consent and agree to him. If this seeme to any incredible (saithe Sozomenus) that stone is witnes, whiche to this day is keapt amonge the Iewels of the Church of Constantinople.2 By this storie it is cleare, the Sacramēt was then ministred vnder One Kinde onely. For by receiuinge that one forme, this woman woulde haue perswaded her husbande, that she had communicated with him, and with that holy Bishop.
- 1Histor. Ecclesi. li. 8. ca. 5. in Graeco.
- 2[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
