John Talaia, Bishop of Alexandria

JOHN TALAIA, Bishop of Alexandria. - A priest of the church of Alexandria, where he held the office of general steward, then bishop, died at Nola after 484. In 481 he was sent by Bishop Timothy Salophaciolus to the emperor Zeno so that provision might be made for the succession of a Catholic bishop in the see.

On the death of Timothy, which occurred shortly afterward, G. was canonically elected (about 482). This displeased Acacius of Constantinople, who worked upon the Emperor against G., accusing him of Eutychianism and of perjury. He then had to leave his church and was replaced by Peter Mongus, a manifest heretic, who also accepted the Henotikon of Zeno. G. withdrew first to Antioch, then to Rome, where he presented his grievances to Popes Simplicius and Felix III. Despite the latter's energetic protests to the Emperor that justice be done to G., nothing came of it; indeed matters worsened following the defection of the papal legates, who accepted communion with Acacius and Peter, who were therefore excommunicated, giving rise to the well-known Acacian schism. G. was sent to govern the church of Nola, where he died shortly afterward.

Agostino Amore