Theodora died of cancer in 548. The Monophysite Patriarch Anthimos was exposed and it was found that when he was deposed, he had sought refuge with the Empress, who had hidden him in her palace. It was also found that she had recommended that he and other Monophysite clergy who had sought refuge with her be honored. As soon as she was buried and covered with earth, Justinian summoned Anthimos and Theodosius, the two exiled Monophysite patriarchs, thinking that the death of their protector would make them less arrogant than before and more willing to come to terms with the universal mother church. The emperor spoke to the two patriarchs about these matters and asked John of Ephesus to go to Syria and bring a large number of Monophysite clergy monks to discuss understanding and harmony. John refused, but another Monophysite sent more than four hundred Syrian Monophysite monks to the capital. For about a whole year, they entered the capital, argued, and then left, to no avail. In the year 577, Yaqub al-Barada’i arrived in the capital, accompanied by a number of Syrian monks. But no understanding was reached!

Theodorus Skidas, Bishop of Caesarea, died in 558. The Bishop of Jaffa became close to Justinian and became the emperor's authority on theological issues. Some observers believe that this Palestinian bishop was, like his predecessor, an Origenist inwardly and that he suggested to the emperor the possibility of unifying the ranks by approaching the non-Syrian Monophysites. He mentioned the Julians, explained their position towards the Syrians, and indicated the possibility of reaching an understanding with them.

Thus we see Justinian in the year 562 issue an imperial decree requiring the belief in two natures and warning violators of the most severe penalties, thereby reassuring the Orthodox. Then he acts on the advice of the Bishop of Jaffa and in the year 564 issues the Aphthartodocetism, and confirms with the Monophysite Julians that the body of Christ does not tire, suffer, or decay! He apparently believes that by this action he is interpreting Chalcedonian Christology in the manner of Cyril of Alexandria.

The bishops of the universal church were disturbed and upset, so the bishop of Trier from the Rhine Valley wrote to rebuke the emperor for his fall in old age with Nestorius and Eutyches, who denied the divinity of the Lord. We do not know the position of Pope John III. But we know for certain that Eutyches, the Patriarch of Constantinople, saw the error of Justinian with his own hand and refused to approve the content of the imperial bull. The emperor ordered his imprisonment and banishment and ordered the selection of the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch, the lawyer John of Sarmini, as his successor. He was a virtuous scholar and a capable jurist. He was born in Sarmin in northern Syria and received his education in Antioch. He was then appointed representative of the Antiochian See at the imperial court. John of Sarmini accepted the invitation but made it a condition for approving the euthanasia bull that the other patriarchs, especially the Patriarch of Antioch, his great client, agree.

Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch: (559-570) Domninus had died in the year 559, and Anastasius, the Sinai monk who was the representative of the Patriarch of Alexandria in Antioch, took over the throne after him. Anastasius was famous for his piety, righteousness, sound faith, and virtue. He had mastered the religious sciences and had attained a high position in them, and the scholar of his time referred to him in problems. When the heretical will was issued in the year 564 and the government asked the fathers to support it, attention turned to Antioch to separate right from wrong. In the year 565, Anastasius called for a local council in Antioch, and one hundred and ninety-five bishops responded to the call and agreed to reject the heretical will and to write about it to the emperor. Anastasius prepared for exile and prepared a farewell sermon, but death overtook Justinian (565). Anastasius continued to manage affairs in the Church of Antioch until the year 570, as we will see.