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St Photius the Great, tr. Freese, 1920; selections

95. Codex 95: John Scythopolita, Against Schismatics

Read the work of John Scythopolita the Scholasticus Against Separatists from the Church, or Against Eutyches¹ and Dioscorus² and those who held the same ideas, and denied that there were two natures in Christ. The work, in twelve books, was written at the request of a certain patriarch named Julian.³ The writer’s style is clear and pure and he uses words suited to the historic style. He vigorously combats heresy and makes full use of evidence from Scripture, not neglecting logical methods, when they are appropriate to the subject. The author of this separatist treatise attacked by Scythopolita has concealed his name, but has craftily entitled it Against Nestorius, in order to induce the more simple-minded to read it. Perhaps it is Basil of Cilicia,⁴ who afterwards wrote against John a dramatic dialogue worthy of the religion he professed.

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