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Jesus, Prophet of Islam
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Spiridem Spiridem was one of the rough and simple, almost illiterate bish足 ops who formed the rnajority of the bishops in the Christian Church at that time. A closer study of him will help illustrate the kind of men they were. He was a shepherd who had suffered persecution and yet remained firm in his faith. His knowledge of the politics of religion was superficial. He had been appointed bishop because many miracles had been attributed to him. After becorning a bishop, he did not change his rough and ready rural attire. He always walked on foot. The other 'princes' of the Pauline Church did not like him, and were anxious that he should not reach Nicea in time for the Council. When Spiridem received his invitation from the Emperor, he realised that he would have to travel by mule if he was to arrive in time. He set out with one attendant, unIike other bishops who went with a whole retinue. They travel1ed on two mules, one white, the other piebald. It is said that one night they were staying in an inn when there also arrived those bishops who were not sure whether Spiridem was the right kind of person to take part in the delibera足 tions of the CounciI. Early the next morning, while Spiridem was still asleep, they chopped off the heads of his two mules and de足 parted. When he awoke, he asked his attendant to feed and saddle the mules. The attendant discovered the dead animaIs and reported the loss to Spiridem. Spiridem told the attendant to put the head of each mule near the dead body it had been a part of. In the dark足 ness, the attendant put each head next to the wrong body. As soon as he had done this, the mules got up alive, and they continued on their joumey. After a while, they overtook the bishops, who thought they had left Spiridem weIl behind and were sure that he would not reach Nicea in time. Their surprise was even greater when they found that the white mule had a piebald head, and the piebald, a white head! 20
Patammon Patarnrnon was a herrnit.
Oesius Oesius was known only for his puritanical zeal.