In celebration of liturgy, Attaleiates & others felt appropriateness of John 15.20-16.2

Summary:
Romanos IV summoned a council and a priest read from the Gospels. Romanos talked about the war in unusual terms using harsh words, stressing the Christian sacrifice of their struggle, using John 15.20-16.2, and impressing some of those present (including the historian Michael Attaleiates) with the likelihood of a negative outcome. He then sent Nikephoros Basilakes to reinforce Nikephoros Bryennios 
Dates:
1071 
priest at Mantzikert (Anonymus 112)
  • Read from the Gospels at the council summoned by Romanos 4 (at the camp near Mantzikert), causing distress among some of those present, including Michael 202 Attaleiates, because they feared that his words foreshadowed the future (:) ἀγωνιᾶν οἱ τοῦτο προσημηνάμενοι κατηρξάμεθα Attaleiates: History 154.16-155.4 / 115.12-21
  • Read out from the Gospels to the army summoned by Romanos 4 (at Mantzikert), and his words were deemed truthful and prophetic by the wiser among those present (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 145.24-28
  • Happened to be reading out the gospel then (when Romanos 4 condemned Nikephoros 62) and saying, "If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you" (:) Zonaras 18.13.14
Michael Attaleiates (Michael 202)
  • Was distressed together with some of those present at the council convened by Romanos 4 Diogenes, fearing that the words spoken by a priest (Anonymus 112) who read from the Gospels foreshadowed the future (:) καὶ ἀψευδὲς εἶναι τὸ λαληθὲν ἐπὶ τῆς σημειώσεως διεγνώκειμεν Attaleiates: History 154.16-155.4 / 115.12-21
Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (Romanos 4)
  • Summoned a council, talked about the war in unusual terms using harsh words, and after a priest had read from the Gospels (Anonymus 112) he sent Basilakes (Nikephoros 61) with some soldiers to Bryennios (Nikephoros 62) who had requested reinforcements (:) ἥψατο δὲ καὶ τραχυτέρων ῥημάτων Attaleiates: History 154.14-155.8 / 115.11-24
  • Summoned the army and talked about the war using harsh words, and after a priest (Anonymus 112) had read from the Gospels he sent Nikephoros 61 Basilakes with some local troops to join Bryennios (Nikephoros 62) (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 145.22-146.3