Pope John, the Patriarch of that time, asked for a monk to be his scribe and private secretary.
Anba Isaac made mistakes in his writing deliberately, hoping that the Pope might send him back, for he had forsaken the glory of men.
"[1] When Father Isaac realized that the Patriarch would not let him return, he used all his knowledge and writing ability and his virtues became known.
Nevertheless, because Father Isaac was still longing for solitary life, the Patriarch allowed him to return to the desert.
The Pope commanded the people that, with a divine revelation and by the order of the Lord, Isaac would sit on the chair after him.