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As the disastrous campaigns unfolded in the East in the early 570s, Justin began to display mental disabilities. Recognizing these fits of insanity, Justin looked to naming a colleague as Caesar. Under the influence of his wife Sophia, Justin passed over his relatives and named the Count of the Excubitors, Tiberius, to the position on [[December 7]], 574. During the next four years until his death Justin lived in "retirement" while the affairs of state were in the hands of his wife Sophia and his successor Tiberius. After four years, in which the state of his mind continued to deteriorate, death came to Justin II on [[October 8]], 578.
In religious affairs, Justin is often presented as correcting Justinian's alleged lapse into aphthartodocetism. Justinian's supposed decree imposing [[aphthartodocetism ]] was not preserved. The only source concerning such a decree contemporary to the time is the testimony of the historian Evagrius. Fr. Asterios Gerostergios notes in his book ''Justinian the Great: The Emperor and Saint'' that other parties involved at the time the [[Justinian|decree]] was alleged to have been issued make no mention of the act.
Justin continued the efforts of Justinian to reconcile the differences between the Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians, but without success. Justin, following in the steps of his uncle, was a builder of churches. As well as improving many churches that Justinian built, such as the great [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]] and the Holy Apostles, he built a church dedicated to the apostles, Ss Peter and Paul, and another in the Triconch dedicated the the Holy Apostles. He also expanded the [[Church of the Virgin of Blachernae (Istanbul)|Church of the Virgin of Blachernae]] into cruciform building.
