265 A.D. 554. A VEBT BETE BE WINTER. A.D. 551. The fifth universal synod was held at Constantinople ; in which an epistle which is called Iba, is reproved as being full of error, and Theodoras, who separated the person of the Mediator of God and man in two substances, was convicted and condemned as having fallen into impiety and infidelity. The same year, the bishop Jordan ended his history. The same year, Justinian Augustus having been seduced by the heretic Anthymus, began to deviate from the catholic faith, so his wife Theodora sent to Pope Vigilius, desiring him to recai Anthymus. For he had been the bishop of Constantinople, and had been degraded by pope Agapetus, because he was a favourer of heretics, and because pope Vigilius postponed recalling him, he, being compelled by force, made him come to him. And as he then treated him very injuriously, pope Vigilius is reported to have said to him, " As far as I see, it is not Justinian and Theodora who have made me come to them, but Diocletian and Eleutheria." A.D. 552. Pelagius succeeded Vigilius in the Roman chair, four years, ten months, and eighteen days. And the see was vacant six months. The same year, when a certain boy in the east, the son of Jewish parents, had been induced by his fellows* who were the sons of Christians to receive the body and blood of Christ, in the church of the mother of the Lord, and was on that account thrown by his father into a burning furnace, he was drawn out from thence unhurt by the Christians, and asserted that the woman who was painted in that church holding a child in her arms, had blown away the flames with her cloak, so as to keep them from him. A.D. 553. Saint Maurus, a disciple of the blessed Benedict, flourished in high reputation, for his virtues and the miracles which he wrought. And when a noble man, by name Florus, had heard of his arrival in the country of Gaul, he came to him, and with great elevation pointed out to him a suitable place for building a monastery. And having scarcely given himself time to obtain the consent of the man of Goa, he collected workmen, and began and completed the work ; and Florus entrusted his son Bertulph to the blessed Maurus to be educated, and many other nobles followed his example, and made that place remarkable. A.D. 554. The winter was so severe with frost and snow, that the birds and wild beasts could be caught by the hand.