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SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS

THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, Books III-V

[Translator anonymous, possibly E. Walford; revised by the Rev. A. C. Zenos,
D.D., Professor of New Testament Exegesis in the Theological Seminary at
Hartford, Conn.]


BOOK III.

CHAPTER I: Of Julian; his Lineage and Education; his Elevation to the
Throne; his Apostasy to Paganism.

   THE Emperor Constantius died on the frontiers of Cilicia on the 3d of
November, during the consulate of Taurus and Florentius; Julian leaving the
western parts of the empire about the 11th of December following, under the
same consulate, came to Constantinople, where he was proclaimed emperor.
(1) And as I must needs speak of the character of this prince who was
eminently distinguished for his learning, let not his admirers expect that
I should attempt a pompous rhetorical style, as if it were necessary to
make the delineation correspond with the dignity of the subject: for my
object being to compile a history of the Christian religion, it is both
proper in order to the being better understood, and consistent with my
original purpose, to maintain a humble and unaffected style. (2) However,
it is proper to describe his person, birth, education, and the manner in
which he became possessed of the sovereignty; and in order to do this it
will be needful to enter into some antecedent details. Constantine who gave
Byzantium his own name, had two brothers named Dalmatius and Constantius,
the offspring of the same father, but by a different mother. The former of
these had a son who bore his own name: the latter had two sons, Gallus and
Julian. Now as on the death of Constantine who founded Constantinople, the
soldiery had put the younger brother Dalmatius to death, the lives of his
two orphan children were also endangered: but a disease which threatened to
be fatal preserved Gallus from the violence of his father's murderers;
while the tenderness of Julian's age -- for he was only eight years old at
the time -- protected him. The emperor's jealousy toward them having been
gradually subdued, Gallus attended the schools at Ephesus in Ionia, in
which country considerable hereditary possessions had been left them. And
Julian, when he was grown up, pursued his studies at Constantinople, going
constantly to the palace, where the schools then were, in plain clothes,
under the superintendence of the eunuch Mardonius. In grammar Nicocles the
Lacaedemonian was his instructor; and Ecebolius the Sophist, who was at
that time a Christian, taught him rhetoric: for the emperor had made the
provision that he should have no pagan masters, lest he should be seduced
to the pagan superstitions. For Julian was a Christian at the beginning.
His proficiency in literature soon became so remarkable, that it began to
be said that he was capable of governing the Roman empire; and this popular
rumor becoming generally diffused, greatly disquieted the emperor's mind,
so that he had him removed from the Great City to Nicomedia, forbidding him
at the same time to frequent the school of Libanius the Syrian Sophist. For
Libanius having been driven at that time from Constantinople, by a
combination of the educators there, had retired to Nicomedia, where he
opened a school. Here he gave vent to his indignation against the educators
in the treatise he composed regarding them. Julian was, however,
interdicted from being his auditor, because Libanius was a pagan in
religion: nevertheless he privately, procured his orations, which he not
only greatly admired, but also frequently and with close study perused. As
he was becoming very expert in the rhetorical art, Maximus the philosopher
arrived at Nicomedia (not the Byzantine, Euclid's father) but the Ephesian,
whom the emperor Valentinian afterwards caused to be executed as a
practicer of magic. This took place later; at that time the only thing that
attracted him to Nicomedia was the fame of Julian. From him [Julian]
received, in addition to the principles of philosophy, his own religious
sentiments, and a desire to possess the empire. When these things reached
the ears of the emperor, Julian, between hope and fear, became very anxious
to lull the suspicions which had been awakened, and therefore began to
assume the external semblance of what he once was in reality. He was shaved
to the very skin, (3) and pretended to live a monastic life: and while in
private he pursued his philosophical studies, in public he read the sacred
writings of the Christians, and moreover was constituted a reader (4) in
the church of Nicomedia. Thus by these specious pretexts he succeeded in
averting the emperor's displeasure. Now he did all this from fear, but he
by no means abandoned his hope; telling his friends that happier times were
not far distant, when he should possess the imperial sway. In this
condition of things his brother Gallus having been created Caesar, on his
way to the East came to Nicomedia to see him. But when not long after this
Gallus was slain, Julian was suspected by the emperor; wherefore he
directed that a guard should be set over him: he soon, however, found means
of escaping from them, and fleeing from place to place he managed to be in
safety. At last the Empress Eusebia having discovered his retreat,
persuaded the emperor to leave him uninjured, and permit him to go to
Athens to pursue his philosophical studies. From thence -to be brief -- the
emperor recalled him, and after created him Caesar; in addition to this,
uniting him in marriage to his own sister Helen, he sent him against the
barbarians. For the barbarians whom the Emperor Constantius had engaged as
auxiliary forces against the tyrant Magnentius, having proved of no use
against the usurper, were beginning to pillage the Roman cities. And
inasmuch as he was young he ordered him to undertake nothing without
consulting the other military chiefs.

   Now these generals having obtained such authority, became lax in their
duties, and the barbarians in consequence strengthened themselves. Julian
perceiving this allowed the commanders to give themselves up to luxury and
revelling, but exerted himself to infuse courage into the soldiery,
offering a stipulated reward to any one who should kill a barbarian. This
measure effectually weakened the enemy and at the same time conciliated to
himself the affections of the army. It is reported that as he was entering
a town a civic crown which was suspended between two pillars fell upon his
head, which it exactly fitted: upon which all present gave a shout of
admiration, regarding it as a presage of his one day becoming emperor. Some
have affirmed that Constantius sent him against the barbarians, in the hope
that he would perish in an engagement with them. I know not whether those
who say this speak the truth; but it certainly is improbable that he should
have first contracted so near an alliance with him, and then have sought
his destruction to the prejudice of his own interests. Let each form his
own judgment of the matter. Julian's complaint to the emperor of the
inertness of his military officers procured for him a coadjutor in the
command more in sympathy with his own ardor; and by their combined efforts
such an assault was made upon the barbarians, that they sent him an
embassy, assuring him that they had been ordered by the emperor's letters,
which were produced, to march into the Roman territories. But he cast the
ambassador into prison, and vigorously attacking the forces of the enemy,
totally defeated them; and having taken their king prisoner, he sent him
alive to Constantius. Immediately after this brilliant success he was
proclaimed emperor by the soldiers; and inasmuch as there was no imperial
crown at hand, one of his guards took the chain which he wore about his own
neck, and bound it around Julian's head. Thus Julian became emperor: but
whether he subsequently conducted himself as became a philosopher, let my
readers determine. For he neither entered into communication with
Constantius by an embassy, nor paid him the least homage in acknowledgment
of past favors; but constituting other governors over the provinces, he
conducted everything just as it pleased him. Moreover, he sought to bring
Constantius into contempt, by reciting publicly in every city the letters
which he had written to the barbarians; and thus having rendered the
inhabitants of these places disaffected, they were easily induced to revolt
from Constantius to himself. After this he no longer wore the mask of
Christianity, but everywhere opened the pagan temples, offering sacrifice
to the idols; and designating himself 'Pontifex Maximus,' (5) gave
permission to such as would to celebrate their superstitious festivals. In
this manner he managed to excite a civil war against Constantius; and thus,
as far as he was concerned, he would have involved the empire in all the
disastrous consequences of a war. For this philosopher's aim could not have
been attained without much bloodshed: but God, in the sovereignty of his
own councils, checked the fury of these antagonists without detriment to
the state, by the removal of one of them. For when Julian arrived among the
Thracians, intelligence was brought him that Constantius was dead; and thus
was the Roman empire at that time preserved from the intestine strife that
threatened it. Julian forthwith made his public entry into Constantinople;
and considered with himself how he might best conciliate the masses and
secure popular favor. Accordingly he had recourse to the following
measures: he knew that Constantius had rendered himself odious to the
defenders of the homoousian faith by having driven them from the churches,
and proscribed their bishops. (6) He was also aware that the pagans were
extremely discontented because of the prohibitions which prevented their
sacrificing to their gods, and were very anxious to get their temples
opened, with liberty to exercise their idolatrous rites. In fact, he was
sensible that while both these classes secretly entertained rancorous
feelings against his predecessor, the people in general were exceedingly
exasperated by the violence of the eunuchs, and especially by the rapacity
of Eusebius the chief officer of the imperial bed-chamber. Under these
circumstances he treated all parties with subtlety: with some he
dissimulated; others he attached to himself by conferring obligations upon
them, for he was fond of affecting beneficence; but to all in common he
manifested his own predilection for the idolatry of the heathens. And first
in order to brand the memory of Constantius by making him appear to have
been cruel toward his subjects, he recalled the exiled bishops, and
restored to them their confiscated estates. He next commanded the suitable
agents to see that the pagan temples should be opened without delay. Then
he directed that such individuals as had been victims of the extortionate
conduct of the eunuchs, should receive back the property of which they had
been plundered. Eusebius, the chief of the imperial bed-chamber, he
punished with death, not only on account of the injuries he had inflicted
on others, but because he was assured that it was through his machinations
that his brother Gallus had been killed. The body of Constantius he honored
with an imperial funeral, but expelled the eunuchs, barbers, and cooks from
the palace. The eunuchs he dispensed with, because they were unnecessary in
consequence of his wife's decease, as he had resolved not to marry again;
the cooks, because he maintained a very simple table; and the barbers,
because he said one was sufficient for a great many persons. These he
dismissed for the reasons given; he also reduced the majority of the
secretaries to their former condition, and appointed for those who were
retained a salary befitting their office. The mode of public traveling (7)
and conveyance of necessaries he also reformed, abolishing the use of
mules, oxen, and asses for this purpose, and permitting horses only to be
so employed. These various retrenchments were highly lauded by some few,
but strongly reprobated by all others, as tending to bring the imperial
dignity into contempt, by stripping it of those appendages of pomp and
magnificence which exercise so powerful an influence over the minds of the
vulgar. Not only so, but at night he was accustomed, to sit up composing
orations which he afterwards delivered in the senate: though in fact he was
the first and only emperor since the time of Julius Caesar who made
speeches in that assembly. To those who were eminent for literary
attainments, he extended the most flattering patronage, and especially to
those who were professional philosophers; in consequence of which,
abundance of pretenders to learning of this sort resorted to the palace
from all quarters, wearing their palliums, being more conspicuous for their
costume than their erudition. These impostors, who invariably adopted the
religious sentiments of their prince, were all inimical to the welfare of
the Christians; and Julian himself, whose excessive vanity prompted him to
deride all his predecessors in a book which he wrote entitled The Caesars,
was led by the same haughty disposition to compose treatises against the
Christians also. (8) The expulsion of the cooks and barbers is in a manner
becoming a philosopher indeed, but not an emperor; but ridiculing and
caricaturing of others is neither the part of the philosopher nor that of
the emperor: for such personages ought to be superior to the influence of
jealousy and detraction. An emperor may be a philosopher in all that
regards moderation and self-control; but should a philosopher attempt to
imitate what might become an emperor, he would frequently depart from his
own principles. We have thus briefly spoken of the Emperor Julian, tracing
his extraction, education, temper of mind, and the way in which he became
invested with the imperial power.

CHAPTER II: Of the Sedition exalted at Alexandria, and how

George was slain.

   IT is now proper to mention what took place in the churches under the
same [emperor]. A great disturbance occurred at Alexandria in consequence
of the following circumstance. There was a place in that city which had
long been abandoned to neglect and filth, wherein the pagans had formerly
celebrated their mysteries, and sacrificed human beings to Mithra. (1) This
being empty and otherwise useless, Constantius had granted to the church of
the Alexandrians; and George wishing to erect a church on the site of it,
gave directions that the place should be cleansed. In the process of
clearing it, an adytum (2) of vast depth was discovered which unveiled the
nature of their heathenish rites: for there were found there the skulls of
many persons of all ages, who were said to have been immolated for the
purpose of divination by the inspection of entrails, when the pagans
performed these and such like magic arts whereby they enchanted the souls
of men. The Christians on discovering these abominations in the adytum of
the Mithreum, went forth eagerly to expose them to the view and execration
of all; and therefore carried the skulls throughout the city, in a kind of
triumphal procession, for the inspection of the people. When the pagans of
Alexandria beheld this, unable to bear the insulting character of the act,
they became so exasperated, that they assailed the Christians with whatever
weapon chanced to come to hand, in their fury destroying numbers of them in
a variety of ways: some they killed with the sword, others with clubs and
stones; some they strangled with ropes, others they crucified, purposely
inflicting this last kind of death in contempt of the cross of Christ: most
of them they wounded; and as it generally happens in such a case, neither
friends nor relatives were spared, but friends, brothers, parents, and
children imbrued their hands in each other's blood. Wherefore the
Christians ceased from cleansing the Mithreum: the pagans meanwhile having
dragged George out of the church, fastened him to a camel, and when they
had torn him to pieces, they burnt him together with the camel. (3)

CHAPTER III: The Emperor Indignant at the Murder of George, rebukes the
Alexandrians by Letter.

   THE emperor being highly indignant at the assassination of George,
wrote to the citizens of Alexandria, rebuking their violence in the
strongest terms. A report was circulated that those who detested him
because of Athanasius, perpetrated this outrage upon George: but as for me
I think it is undoubtedly true that such as cherish hostile feelings
against particular individuals are often found identified with popular
commotions; yet the emperor's letter evidently attaches the blame to the
populace, rather than to any among the Christians. George, however, was at
that time, and had for some time previously been, exceedingly obnoxious to
all classes, which is sufficient to account for the burning indignation of
the multitude against him. That the emperor charges the people with the
crime may be seen from his letter which was expressed in the following
terms.

Emperor Caesar Julian Maximus Augustus to the Citizens of Alexandria. (1)

   Even if you have neither respect for Alexander the founder of your
city, nor, what is more, for that great and most holy god Serapis; yet how
is it you have made no account not only of the universal claims of humanity
and social order, but also of what is due to us, to whom all the gods, and
especially the mighty Serapis, have assigned the empire of the world, for
whose cognizance therefore it became you to reserve all matters of public
wrong? But perhaps the impulse of rage and indignation, which taking
possession of the mind, too often stimulate it to the most atrocious acts,
has led you astray. It seems, however, that when your fury had in some
degree moderated, you aggravated your culpability by adding a most heinous
offense to that which had been committed under the excitement of the
moment: nor were you,  although but the common people, ashamed to
perpetrate those very acts on account of which you justly detested them. By
Serapis I conjure you tell me, for what unjust deed were ye so indignant at
George? You will perhaps answer, it was because he exasperated Constantius
of blessed memory against you: because he introduced an army into the
sacred city: because in consequence the governor (2) of Egypt despoiled the
god's most holy temple of its images, votive offerings, and such other
consecrated apparatus as it contained; who, when ye could not endure the
sight of such a foul desecration, but attempted to defend the god from
sacrilegious hands, or rather to hinder the pillage of what had been
consecrated to his service, in contravention of all justice, law, and
piety, dared to send armed bands against you. This he probably did from his
dreading George more than Constantius: but he would have consulted better
for his own safety had he not been guilty of this tyrannical conduct, but
persevered in his former moderation toward you. Being on all these accounts
enraged against George as the adversary of the gods, you have again
polluted your sacred city; whereas you ought to have impeached him before
the judges. For had you thus acted, neither murder, nor any other unlawful
deed would have been committed; but justice being equitably dispensed,
would have preserved you innocent of these disgraceful excesses, while it
brought on him the punishment due to his impious crimes. Thus too, in
short, the insolence of those would have been curbed who contemn the gods,
and respect neither cities of such magnitude, nor so flourishing a
population; but make the barbarities they practice against them the
prelude, as it were, of their exercise of power. Compare therefore this my
present letter, with that which I wrote you some time since. With what high
commendation did I then greet you! But now, by the immortal gods, with an
equal disposition to praise you I am unable to do so on account of your
heinous misdoings. The people have had the audacity to tear a man in
pieces, like dogs; nor have they been subsequently ashamed of this inhuman
procedure, nor desirous of purifying their hands from such pollution, that
they may stretch them forth in the presence of the gods undefiled by blood.
You will no doubt be ready to say that George justly merited this
chastisement; and we might be disposed perhaps to admit that he deserved
still more acute tortures. Should you farther affirm that on your account
he was worthy of these sufferings, even this might also be granted. But
should you add that it became you to inflict the vengeance due to his
offenses, that I could by no means acquiesce in; for you have laws to which
it is the duty of every one of you to be subject, and to evince your
respect for both publicly, as well as in private. If any individual should
transgress those wise and salutary regulations which were originally
constituted for the well-being of the community, does that absolve the rest
from obedience to them? It is fortunate for you, ye Alexandrians, that such
an atrocity has been perpetrated in our reign, who, by reason of our
reverence for the gods, and on account of our grandfather and uncle (3)
whose name we bear, and who governed Egypt and your city, still retain a
fraternal affection for you. Assuredly that power which will not suffer
itself to be disrespected, and such a government as is possessed of a
vigorous and healthy constitution, could not connive at such unbridled
licentiousness in its subjects, without unsparingly purging out the
dangerous distemper by the application of remedies sufficiently potent. We
shall however in your case, for the reasons already assigned, restrict
ourselves to the more mild and gentle medicine of remonstrance and
exhortation; to the which mode of treatment we are persuaded ye will the
more readily submit, inasmuch as we understand ye are Greeks by original
descent, and also still preserve in your memory and character the traces of
the glory of your ancestors. Let this be published to our citizens of
Alexandria. Such was the emperor's letter.

CHAPTER IV: On the Death of George, Athanasius returns to Alexandria, and
takes Possession of his See.

   NOT long after this, Athanasius returning from his exile, was received
with great joy by the people of Alexandria. They expelled at that time the
Arians from the churches, and restored Athanasius to the possession of
them. The Arians meanwhile assembling themselves in low and obscure
buildings, ordained Lucius to supply the place of George. Such was the
state of things at that time at Alexandria.

CHAPTER V: Of Lucifer and Eusebius.

   ABOUT the same time Lucifer and Eusebius (1) were by an imperial order,
recalled from banishment out of the Upper Thebais; the former being bishop
of Carala, a city of Sardinia, the latter of Vercellae, a city of the
Ligurians in Italy, as I have said (2) previously. These two prelates
therefore consulted together on the most effectual means of preventing the
neglected canons (3) and discipline of the church from being in future
violated and despised.

CHAPTER VI: Lucifer goes to Antioch and consecrates Paulinus.

   IT was decided therefore that Lucifer should go to Antioch in Syria,
and Eusebius to Alexandria, that by assembling a Synod in conjunction with
Athanasius, they might confirm the doctrines of the church. Lucifer sent a
deacon as his representative, by whom he pledged himself to assent to
whatever the Synod might decree; but he himself went to Antioch, where he
found the church in great disorder, the people not being agreed among
themselves. For not only did the Arian heresy, which had been introduced by
Euzoius, divide the church, but, as we before said, (1) the followers of
Meletius also, from attachment to their teacher, separated themselves from
those with whom they agreed in sentiment. When therefore Lucifer had
constituted Paulinus their bishop, he again departed.

CHAPTER VII: By the Co-operation of Eusebius and Athanasius a Synod is held
at Alexandria, wherein the Trinity is declared to be Consubstantial.

   As soon as Eusebius reached Alexandria, he in concert with Athanasius
immediately convoked a Synod. The bishops assembled on this occasion out of
various cities, took into consideration many subjects of the utmost
importance. They asserted the divinity of the Holy Spirit (1) and
comprehended him in the consubstantial Trinity: they also declared that the
Word in being made man, assumed not only flesh, but also a soul, in
accordance with the views of the early ecclesiastics. For they did not
introduce any new doctrine of their own devising into the church, but
contented themselves with recording their sanction of those points which
ecclesiastical tradition has insisted on from the beginning, and wise
Christians have demonstratively taught. Such sentiments the ancient fathers
have uniformly maintained in all their controversial writings. Irenaeus,
Clemens, Apollinaris of Hierapolis, and Serapion who presided over the
church at Antioch, assure us in their several works, that it was the
generally received opinion that Christ in his incarnation was endowed with
a soul. Moreover, the Synod convened on account of Beryllus (2) bishop of
Philadelphia in Arabia, recognized the same doctrine in their letter to
that prelate. Origen also every where in his extant works accepts that the
Incarnate God took on himself a human soul. But he more particularly
explains this mystery in the ninth volume of his Comments upon Genesis,
where he shows that Adam and Eve were types of Christ and the church. That
holy man Pamphilus, and Eusebius who was surnamed after him, are
trustworthy witnesses on this subject: both these witnesses in their joint
life of Origen, and admirable defense of him in answer to such as were
prejudiced against him, prove that he was not the first who made this
declaration, but that in doing so he was the mere expositor of the mystical
tradition of the church. Those who assisted at the Alexandrian Council
examined also with great minuteness the question concerning 'Essence' or
'Substance,' and 'Existence,' 'Subsistence,' or 'Personality.' For Hosius,
bishop of Cordova in Spain, who has been before referred to as having been
sent by the Emperor Constantine to allay the excitement which Arius had
caused, originated the controversy about these terms in his earnestness to
overthrow the dogma of Sabellius the Libyan. In the council of Nicaea,
however, which was held soon after, this dispute was not agitated; but in
consequence of the contention about it which subsequently arose, the matter
was freely discussed at Alexandria. (3) It was there determined that such
expressions as ousia and hypostasis ought not to be used in reference to
God: for they argued that the word ousia is nowhere employed in the sacred
Scriptures; and that the apostle has misapplied the term hypostasis (4)
owing to an inevitable necessity arising from the nature of the doctrine.
They nevertheless decided that in refutation of the Sabellian error these
terms were admissible, in default of more appropriate language, lest it
should be supposed that one thing was indicated by a threefold designation;
whereas we ought rather to believe that each of those named in the Trinity
is God in his own proper person. Such were the decisions of this Synod. If
we may express our own judgment concerning substance and personality, it
appears to us that the Greek philosophers have given us various definitions
of ousia, but have not taken the slightest notice of hypostasis. Irenaenus
(5) the grammarian indeed, in his Alphabetical [Lexicon entitled]
Atticistes, even declares it to be a barbarous term; for it is not to be
found in any of the ancients, except occasionally in a sense quite
different from that which is attached to it in the present day. Thus
Sophocles, in his tragedy entitled Phoenix, uses it to signify 'treachery':
in Menander it implies 'sauces'; as if one should call the 'sediment' at
the bottom of a hogshead of wine hypostasis. But although the ancient
philosophical writers scarcely noticed this word, the more modern ones have
frequently used it instead of ousia. This term, as we before observed, has
been variously defined: but can that which is capable of being
circumscribed by a definition be applicable to God who is incomprehensible?
Evagrius in his Monachicus, (6) cautions us against rash and inconsiderate
language in reference to God; forbidding all attempt to define the
divinity, inasmuch as it is wholly simple in its nature: 'for,' says he,
'definition belongs only to things which are compound.' The same author
further adds, 'Every proposition has either a "genus" which is predicted,
or a "species," or a "differentia," or a "proprium," or an "accidens," or
that which is compounded of these: but none of these can be supposed to
exist in the sacred Trinity. Let then what is inexplicable be adored in
silence.' Such is the reasoning of Evagrius, of whom we shall again speak
hereafter. (7) We have indeed made a digression here, but such as will tend
to illustrate the subject under consideration.

CHAPTER VIII: Quotations from Athanasius' 'Defense of his Flight.'

   ON this occasion Athanasius read to those present the Defense which he
had composed some time before in justification of his flight; a few
passages from which it may be of service to introduce here, leaving the
entire production, which is too long to be transcribed, to be sought out
and perused by the studious. (1) See the daring enormities of the impious
persons! Such are their proceedings: and yet instead of blushing at their
former clumsy intrigues against us, they even now abuse us for having
effected our escape out of their murderous hands; nay, are grievously vexed
that they were unable to put us out of the way altogether. In short, they
overlook the fact that while they pretend to upbraid us with 'cowardice,'
they are really criminating themselves: for if it be disgraceful to flee,
it is still more so to pursue, since the one is only endeavoring to avoid
being murdered, while the other is seeking to commit the deed. But
Scripture itself directs us to flee: (2) and those who persecute unto
death, in attempting to violate the law, constrain us to have recourse to
flight. They should rather, therefore, be ashamed of their persecution,
than reproach us for having sought to escape from it: let them cease to
harass, and those who flee will also cease. Nevertheless they set no bounds
to their malevolence, using every art to entrap us, in the consciousness
that the flight of the persecuted is the strongest condemnation of the
persecutor: for no one runs away from a mild and beneficent person, but
from one who is of a barbarous and cruel disposition. Hence it was that
'Every one that was discontented and in debt' fled from Saul to David. (3)
Wherefore these [foes of ours] in like manner desire to kill such as
conceal themselves, that no evidence may exist to convict them of their
wickedness. But in this also these misguided men most egregiously deceive
themselves: for the more obvious the effort to elude them, the more
manifestly will their deliberate slaughters and exiles be exposed. If they
act the part of assassins, the voice of the blood which is shed will cry
against them the louder: and if they condemn to banishment, they will raise
so everywhere living monuments-of their own injustice and oppression.
Surely unless their intellects were unsound they would perceive the dilemma
in which their own counsels entangle them. But since they have lost sound
judgment, their folly is exposed when they vanish, and when they seek to
stay they do not see their wickedness. (4) But if they reproach those who
succeed in secreting themselves from the malice of their blood-thirsty
adversaries, and revile such as flee from their persecutors, what will they
say to Jacob's retreat from the rage of his brother Esau, (5) and to Moses
(6) retiring into the land of Midian for fear of Pharaoh? And what apology
will these babblers make for David's (7) flight from Saul, when he sent
messengers from his own house to dispatch him; and for his concealment in a
cave, after contriving to extricate himself from the treacherous designs of
Abimelech, (8) by feigning madness? What will these reckless asserters of
whatever suits their purpose answer, when they are reminded of the great
prophet Elijah, (9) who by calling upon God had recalled the dead to life,
hiding himself from dread of Ahab, and fleeing on account of Jezebel's
menaces? At which time the sons of the prophets also, being sought for in
order to be slain, withdrew, and were concealed in caves by Obadiah; (10)
or are they unacquainted with these instances because of their antiquity?
Have they forgotten also what is recorded in the Gospel, that the disciples
retreated and hid themselves for fear of the Jews? (11) Paul, (12) when
sought for by the governor [of Damascus] 'was let down from the wall in a
basket, and thus escaped the hands of him that sought him.' Since then
Scripture relates these circumstances concerning the saints, what excuse
can they fabricate for their temerity? If they charge us with 'cowardice,'
it is in utter insensibility to the condemnation it pronounces on
themselves. If they asperse these holy men by asserting that they acted
contrary to the will of God, they demonstrate their ignorance of Scripture.
For it was commanded in the Law that 'cities of refuge' should be
constituted, (13) by which provision was made that such as were pursued in
order to be put to death might have means afforded of preserving
themselves. Again in the consummation of the ages, when the Word of the
Father, who had before spoken by Moses, came himself to the earth, he gave
this express injunction, 'When they persecute you in one city, flee unto
another :' (14) and shortly after, 'When therefore ye shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the
holy place (let whosoever reads, understand), then let those in Judea flee
unto the mountains: let him that is on the house-top not come down to take
anything out of his house; nor him that is in the fields return to take his
clothes.' (15) The saints therefore knowing these precepts, had such a sort
of training for their action: for what the Lord then commanded, he had
before his coming in the flesh already spoken of by his servants. And this
is a universal rule for man, leading to perfection, 'to practice whatever
God has enjoined.' On this account the Word himself, becoming incarnate for
our sake, deigned to conceal himself when he was sought for; (16) and being
again persecuted, condescended to withdraw to avoid the conspiracy against
him. For thus it became him, by hungering and thirsting and suffering other
afflictions, to demonstrate that he was indeed made man. (17) For at the
very commencement, as soon as he was born, he gave this direction by an
angel to Joseph: 'Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee
into Egypt, for Herod will seek the infant's life.' (18) And after Herod's
death, it appears that for fear of his son Archelaus he retired to
Nazareth. Subsequently; when he gave unquestionable evidence of his Divine
character by healing the withered hand, 'when the Pharisees took council
how they might destroy him, (19) Jesus knowing their wickedness withdrew
himself thence.' Moreover, when he had raised Lazarus from the dead, and
they had become still more intent on destroying him, [we are told that]
'Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews, (20) but retired into a region
on the borders of the desert.' Again when the Saviour said, 'Before Abraham
was, I am;' (21) and the Jews took up stones to cast at him; Jesus
concealed himself, and going through the midst of them out of the Temple,
went away thence, and so escaped. Since then they see these things, or
rather understand them, (22) (for they will not see,) are they not
deserving of being burnt with fire, according to what is written, for
acting and speaking so plainly contrary to all that the Lord did and
taught? Finally, when John had suffered martyrdom, and his disciples had
buried his body, Jesus having heard what was done, departed thence by ship
into a desert place apart. (23) Now the Lord did these things and so
taught. But would that these men of whom I speak, had the modesty to
confine their rashness to men only, without daring to be guilty of such
madness as to accuse the Saviour himself of 'cowardice'; especially after
having already uttered blasphemies against him. But even if they be insane
they will not be tolerated and their ignorance of the gospels be detected
by every one. The cause for retreat and flight under such circumstances as
these is reasonable and valid, of which the evangelists have afforded us
precedents in the conduct of our Saviour himself: from which it may be
inferred that the saints have always been justly influenced by the same
principle, since whatever is recorded of him as man, is applicable to
mankind in general. For he took on himself our nature, and exhibited in
himself the affections of our infirmity, which John has thus indicated:
'Then they sought to take him; but no man laid hands on him, because his
hour was not yet come.' (24) Moreover, before that hour came, he himself
said to his mother, 'Mine hour is not yet come;' (25) and to those who were
denominated his brethren, 'My time is not yet come.' Again when the time
had arrived, he said to his disciples, 'Sleep on now, and take your rest:
for behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into
the hands of sinners.' (26). . . So (27) that he neither permitted himself
to be apprehended before the time came; nor when the time was come did he
conceal himself, but voluntarily gave himself up to those who had conspired
against him. (28) . . . Thus also the blessed martyrs have guarded
themselves in times of persecution: being persecuted they fled, and kept
themselves concealed; but being discovered they suffered martyrdom.

   Such is the reasoning of Athanasius in his apology for his own flight.

CHAPTER IX: After the Synod of Alexandria, Eusebius proceeding to Antioch
finds the Catholics at Variance on Account of Paulinus' Consecration; and
having exerted himself in vain to reconcile them, he departs; Indignation
of Lucifer and Origin of a Sect called after him.

   As soon as the council of Alexandria was dissolved, Eusebius bishop of
Vercellae went from Alexandria to Antioch; there finding that Paulinus had
been ordained by Lucifer, and that the people were disagreeing among
themselves, -for the partisans of Meletius held their assemblies apart, --
he was exceedingly grieved at the want of harmony concerning this election,
and in his own mind disapproved of what had taken place. His respect for
Lucifer however induced him to be silent about it, and on his departure he
engaged that all things should be set right by a council of bishops.
Subsequently he labored with great earnestness to unite the dissentients,
but did not succeed. Meanwhile Meletius returned from exile; and finding
his followers holding their assemblies apart from the others, he set
himself at their head. But Euzoius, the chief of the Arian heresy, had
possession of the churches: Paulinus (1) only retained a small church
within the city, from which Euzoius had not ejected him, on account of his
personal respect for him. But Meletius assembled his adherents without the
gates of the city. It was under these circumstances that Eusebius left
Antioch at that time. When Lucifer understood that his ordination of Paul
was not approved of by Eusebius, regarding it as an insult, he became
highly incensed; and not only separated himself from communion with him,
but also began, in a contentious spirit, to condemn what had been
determined by the Synod. These things occurring at a season of grievous
disorder, alienated many from the church; for many attached themselves to
Lucifer, and thus a distinct sect arose under the name of 'Luciferians.'
(2) Nevertheless Lucifer was unable to give full expression to his anger,
inasmuch as he had pledged himself by his deacon to assent to whatever
should be decided on by the Synod. Wherefore he adhered to the tenets of
the church, and returned to Sardinia to his own see: but such as at first
identified themselves with his quarrel, still continue separate from the
church. Eusebius, on the other hand, traveling throughout the Eastern
provinces like a good physician, completely restored those who were weak in
the faith, instructing and establishing them in ecclesiastical principles.
After this he passed over to Illyricum, and thence to Italy, where he
pursued a similar course.

CHAPTER X: Of Hilary Bishop of Poictiers.

   THERE, however, Hilary bishop of Poictiers (a city of Aquitania
Secunda) had anticipated him, having previously confirmed the bishops of
Italy and Gaul in the doctrines of the orthodox faith; for he first had
returned from exile to these countries. Both therefore nobly combined their
energies in defense of the faith: and Hilary being a very eloquent man,
maintained with great power the doctrine of the homoousion in books which
he wrote in Latin. In these he gave sufficient support [to the doctrine]
and unanswerably confuted the Arian tenets. These things took place shortly
after the recall of those who had been banished. But it must be observed,
that at the same time Macedonius, Eleusius, Eustathius, and Sophronius,
with all their partisans, who had but the one common designation
Macedonians, held frequent Synods in various places. (1) Having called
together those of Seleucia who embraced their views, they anathematized the
bishops of the other party, that is the Acacian: and rejecting the creed of
Ariminum, they confirmed that which had been read at Seleucia. This, as I
have stated in the preceding book, (2) was the same as had been before
promulgated at Antioch. When they were asked by some one, 'Why have ye, who
are called Macedonians hitherto, retained communion with the Acacians, as
though ye, agreed in opinion, if ye really hold different sentiments?' they
replied thus, through Sophronius, bishop of Pompeiopolis, a city of
Paphlagonia: 'Those in the West,' said he, 'were infected with the
homoousian error as with a disease: Aetius in the East adulterated the
purity of the faith by introducing the assertion of a dissimilitude of
substance. Now both of these dogmas are illegitimate; for the former rashly
blended into one the distinct persons of the Father and the Son, binding
them together by that cord of iniquity the term homoousion; while Aetius
wholly separated that affinity of nature of the Son to the Father, by the
expression anomoion, unlike as to substance or essence. Since then both
these opinions run into the very opposite extremes, the middle course
between them appeared to us to be more consistent with truth and piety: we
accordingly assert that the Son is "like the Father as to subsistence."'

   Such was the answer the Macedonians made by Sophronius to that
question, as Sabinus assures us in his Collection of the Synodical Acts.
But in decrying Aetius as the author of the Anomoion doctrine, and not
Acacius, they flagrantly disguise the truth, in order to seem as far
removed from the Arians on the one side, as from the Homoousians on the
other: for their own words convict them of having separated from them both,
merely from the love of innovation. With these remarks we close our notice
of these persons.

CHAPTER XI: The Emperor Julian extracts Money from the Christians.

   ALTHOUGH at the beginning of his reign the Emperor Julian conducted
himself mildly toward all men; but as he went on he did not continue to
show the same equanimity. He most readily indeed acceded to the requests of
the Christians, when they tended in any way to cast odium on the memory of
Constantius; but when this inducement did not exist, he made no effort to
conceal the rancorous feelings which he entertained towards Christians in
general. Accordingly he soon ordered that the church of the Novatians at
Cyzicus, which Euzoius had totally demolished, should be rebuilt, imposing
a very heavy penalty upon Eleusius bishop of that city, if he failed to
complete that structure at his own expense within the space of two months.
Moreover, he favored the pagan superstitions with the whole weight of his
authority: and the temples of the heathen were opened, as we have before
stated; (1) but he himself also publicly offered sacrifices to Fortune,
goddess of Constantinople, in the cathedral, (2)  where her image was
erected.

CHAPTER XII: Of Maris Bishop of Chalcedon; Julian forbids Christians from
entering Literary Pursuits.

   ABOUT this time, Maris bishop of Chalcedon in Bithynia being led by the
hand into the emperor's presence, -- for on account of extreme old age he
had a disease in his eyes termed 'cataract,' -- severely rebuked his
impiety, apostasy, and atheism. Julian answered his reproaches by loading
him with contumelious epithets: and  he defended himself by words calling
him 'blind.' 'You blind old fool,' said he, 'this Galilaean God of yours
will never cure you.' For he was accustomed to term Christ 'the Galilaean,'
(1) and Christians Galilaeans. Maris with still greater boldness replied,
'I thank God for bereaving me of my sight, that I might not behold the face
of one who has fallen into such awful impiety.' The emperor suffered this
to pass without farther notice at that time; but he afterwards had his
revenge. Observing that those who suffered martyrdom under the reign of
Diocletian were greatly honored by the Christians, and knowing that many
among them were eagerly desirous of becoming martyrs, he determined to
wreak his vengeance upon them in some other way. Abstaining therefore from
the excessive cruelties which had been practiced under Diocletian; he did
not however altogether abstain from persecution (for any measures adopted
to disquiet and molest I regard as persecution). This then was the plan he
pursued: he enacted a law (2) by which Christians were excluded from the
cultivation of literature; 'lest,' said he, 'when they have sharpened their
tongue, they should be able the more readily to meet the arguments of the
heathen.'

CHAPTER XIII: Of the Outrages committed by the Pagans against the
Christians.

   HE moreover interdicted such as would not abjure Christianity, and
offer sacrifice to idols, from holding any office at court: nor would he
allow Christians to be governors of provinces; 'for,' said he, 'their law
forbids them to use the sword against offenders worthy of capital
punishment.' (1) He also induced many to sacrifice, partly by flatteries,
and partly by gifts. Immediately, as if tried in a furnace, it at once
became evident to all, who were the real Christians, and who were merely
nominal ones. Such as were Christians in integrity of heart, very readily
resigned their commission, (2) choosing to endure anything rather than deny
Christ. Of this number were Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens, each of whom
afterwards became emperor. But others of unsound principles, who preferred
the riches and honor of this world to the true felicity, sacrificed without
hesitation. Of these was Ecebolius, a sophist (3) of Constantinople who,
accommodating himself to the dispositions of the emperors, pretended in the
reign of Constantius to be an ardent Christian; while in Julian's time he
appeared an equally vigorous pagan: and after Julian's death, he again made
a profession of Christianity. For he prostrated himself before the church
doors, and called out, 'Trample on me, for I am as salt that has lost its
savor.' Of so fickle and inconstant a character was this person, throughout
the whole period of his history. About this time the emperor wishing to
make reprisals on the Persians, for the frequent incursions they had made
on the Roman territories in the reign of Constantius, marched with great
expedition through Asia into the East. But as he well knew what a train of
calamities attend a war, and what immense resources are needful to carry it
on successfully and that without it cannot be carried on, he craftily
devised a plan for collecting money by extorting it from the Christians. On
all those who refused to sacrifice he imposed a heavy fine, which was
exacted with great rigor from such as were true Christians, every One being
compelled to pay in proportion to what he possessed. By these unjust means
the emperor soon amassed immense wealth; for this law was put in execution,
both where Julian was personally present, and where he was not. The pagans
at the same time assailed the Christians; and there was a great concourse
of those who styled themselves 'philosophers.' They then proceeded to
institute certain abominable mysteries; (4) and sacrificing pure children
both male and female, they inspected their entrails, and even tasted their
flesh. These infamous rites were practiced in other cities, but more
particularly at Athens and Alexandria; in which latter place, a calumnious
accusation was made against Athanasius the bishop, the emperor being
assured that he was intent on desolating not that city only, but all Egypt,
and that nothing but his expulsion out of the country could save it. The
governor of Alexandria was therefore instructed by an imperial edict to
apprehend him.

CHAPTER XIV: Flight of Athanasius.

   BUT he fled again, saying to his intimates, 'Let us retire for a little
while, friends; it is but a small cloud which will soon pass away.' He then
immediately embarked, and crossing the Nile, hastened with all speed into
Egypt, closely pursued by those who sought to take him. When he understood
that his pursuers were not far distant, his attendants were urging him to
retreat once more into the desert, but he had recourse to an artifice and
thus effected his escape. He persuaded those who accompanied him to turn
back and meet his adversaries, which they did immediately; and on
approaching them they were simply asked 'where they had seen Athanasius':
to which they replied that 'he was not a great way off,' and, that 'if they
hastened they would soon overtake him.' Being thus deluded, they started
afresh in pursuit with quickened speed, but to no purpose; and Athanasius
making good his retreat, returned secretly to Alexandria; and there he
remained concealed until the persecution was at an end. Such were the
perils which succeeded one another in the career of the bishop of
Alexandria, these last from the heathen coming after that to which he was
before subjected from Christians. In addition to these things, the
governors of the provinces taking advantage of the emperor's superstition
to feed their own cupidity, committed more grievous outrages on the
Christians than their sovereign had given them a warrant for; sometimes
exacting larger sums of money than they ought to have done, and at others
inflicting on them corporal punishments. The emperor learning of these
excesses, connived at them; and when the sufferers appealed to him against
their oppressors, he tauntingly said, 'It is your duty to bear these
afflictions patiently; for this is the command of your God.'

CHAPTER XV: Martyrs at Merum in Phrygia, under Julian.

   AMACHIUS governor of Phrygia ordered that the temple at Merum, a city
of that province, should be opened, and cleared of the filth which had
accumulated there by lapse of time: also that the statues it contained
should be polished fresh. This in being put into operation grieved the
Christians very much. Now a certain Macedonius and Theodulus and Tatian,
unable to endure the indignity thus put upon their religion, and impelled
by a fervent zeal for virtue, rushed by night into the temple, and broke
the images m pieces. The governor infuriated at what had been done, would
have put to death many in that city who were altogether innocent, when the
authors of the deed voluntarily surrendered themselves, choosing rather to
die themselves in defense of the truth, than to see others put to death in
their stead. The governor seized and ordered them to expiate the crime they
had committed by sacrificing: on their refusal to do this, their judge
menaced them with tortures; but they despising his threats, being endowed
with great courage, declared their readiness to undergo any sufferings,
rather than pollute themselves by sacrificing. After subjecting them to all
possible tortures he at last laid them on gridirons under which a fire was
placed, and thus slew them. But even in this last extremity they gave the
most heroic proofs of fortitude, addressing the ruthless governor thus: 'If
you wish to eat broiled flesh, Amachius, turn us on the other side also,
lest we should appear but half cooked to your taste.' Thus these martyrs
ended their life.

CHAPTER XVI: Of the Literary Labors of the Two Apollinares and the
Emperor's Prohibition of Christians being instructed in Greek Literature.

   THE imperial law (1) which forbade Christians to study Greek
literature, rendered the two Apollinares of whom we have above spoken, much
more distinguished than before. For both being skilled in polite learning,
the father as a grammarian, and the son as a rhetorician, they made
themselves serviceable to the Christians at this crisis. For the former, as
a grammarian, composed a grammar consistent with the Christian faith: he
also translated the Books of Moses into heroic verse; and paraphrased all
the historical books of the Old Testament, putting them partly into
dactylic measure, and partly reducing them to the form of dramatic tragedy.
He purposely employed all kinds of verse, that no form of expression
peculiar to the Greek language might be unknown or unheard of amongst
Christians. The younger Apollinaris, who was well trained in eloquence,
expounded the gospels and apostolic doctrines in the way of dialogue, as
Plato among the Greeks had done. Thus showing themselves useful to the
Christian cause they overcame the subtlety of the emperor through their own
labors. But Divine Providence was more potent than either their labors, or
the craft of the emperor: for not long afterwards, in the manner we shall
hereafter explain, (2) the law became wholly inoperative; and the works of
these men are now of no greater importance, than if they had never been
written. But perhaps some one will vigorously reply saying: 'On what
grounds do you affirm that both these things were effected by the
providence of God? That, the emperor's sudden death was very advantageous
to Christianity is indeed evident: but surely the rejection of the
Christian compositions of the two Apollinares, and the Christians beginning
afresh to imbue their minds with the philosophy of the heathens, this works
out no benefit to Christianity, for pagan philosophy teaches Polytheism,
and is injurious to the promotion of true religion.' This objection I shall
meet with such considerations as at present occur to me. Greek literature
certainly was never recognized either by Christ or his Apostles as divinely
inspired, nor on the other hand was it wholly rejected as pernicious. And
this they did, I conceive, not inconsiderately. For there were many
philosophers among the Greeks who were not far from the knowledge of God;
and in fact these being disciplined by logical science, strenuously opposed
the Epicureans and other contentious Sophists who denied Divine Providence,
confuting their ignorance. And for these reasons they have become useful to
all lovers of real piety: nevertheless they themselves were not acquainted
with the Head of true religion, being ignorant of the mystery of Christ
which 'had been hidden from generations and ages.' (3) And that this was
so, the Apostle in his epistle to the Romans thus declares: (4) 'For the
wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that
which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto
them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead, that they may be without excuse; because that
when they knew God, they glorified him not as God.' From these words it
appears that they had the knowledge of truth, which God had manifested to
them; but were guilty on this account, that when they knew God, they
glorified him not as God. Wherefore by not forbidding the study of the
learned works of the Greeks, they left it to the discretion of those who
wished to do so. This is our first argument in defense of the position we
took: another may be thus put: The divinely inspired Scriptures undoubtedly
inculcate doctrines that are both admirable in themselves, and heavenly in
their character: they also eminently tend to produce piety and integrity of
life in those who are guided by their precepts, pointing out a walk of
faith which is highly approved of God. But they do not instruct us in the
art of reasoning, by means of which we may be enabled successfully to
resist those who oppose the truth. Besides adversaries are most easily
foiled, when we can use their own weapons against them. But this power was
not supplied to Christians by the writings of the Apollinares. Julian had
this in mind when he by law prohibited Christians from being educated in
Greek literature, for he knew very well that the fables it contains would
expose the whole pagan system, of which he had become the champion to
ridicule and contempt. Even Socrates, the most celebrated of their
philosophers, despised these absurdities, and was condemned on account of
it, as if he had attempted to violate the sanctity of their deities.
Moreover, both Christ and his Apostle enjoin us 'to become discriminating
money-changers,' (5) so that we might 'prove all things, and hold fast that
which is good': (6) directing us also to 'beware lest any one should spoil
us through philosophy and vain deceit.' (7) But this we cannot do, unless
we possess ourselves of the weapons of our adversaries: taking care that in
making this acquisition we do not adopt their sentiments, but testing them,
reject the evil, but retain all that is good and true: for good wherever it
is found, is a property of truth. Should any one imagine that in making
these assertions we wrest the Scriptures from their legitimate
construction, let it be remembered that the Apostle not only does not
forbid our being instructed in Greek learning, but that he himself seems by
no means to have neglected it, inasmuch as he knows many of the sayings of
the Greeks. Whence did he get the saying, 'The Cretans are always liars,
evil beasts, slow-bellies,' (8) but from a perusal of The Oracles of
Epimenides, (9) the Cretan Initiator? Or how would he have known this, 'For
we are also his offspring,' (10) had he not been acquainted with The
Phenomena of Aratus (11) the astronomer? Again this sentence, 'Evil
communications corrupt good manners,' (12) is a sufficient proof that he
was conversant with the tragedies of Euripides. (13) But what need is there
of enlarging on this point? It is well known that in ancient times the
doctors of the church by unhindered usage were accustomed to exercise
themselves in the learning of the Greeks, until they had reached an
advanced age: this they did with a view to improve themselves in eloquence
and to strengthen and polish their mind, and at the same time to enable
them to refute the errors of the heathen. Let these remarks be sufficient
in the subject suggested by the two Apollinares.

CHAPTER XVII: The Emperor preparing an Expedition against the Persians,
arrives at Antioch, and being ridiculed by the Inhabitants, he retorts on
them by a Satirical Publication entitled 'Misopogon, or the Beard-Hater.'

   THE emperor having extorted immense sums of money from the Christians,
hastening his expedition against the Persians, arrived at Antioch in Syria.
There, desiring to show the citizens how much he affected glory, he unduly
depressed the prices of commodities; neither taking into account the
circumstances of that time, nor reflecting how much the presence of an army
inconveniences the population of the provinces, and of necessity lessens
the supply of provisions to the cities. The merchants and retailers (1)
therefore left off trading, being unable to sustain the losses which the
imperial edict entailed upon them; consequently the necessaries failed. The
Antiochians not bearing the insult, -- for they are a people naturally
impatient with insult, -instantly broke forth into invectives against
Julian; caricaturing his beard also, which was a very long one, and saying
that it ought to be cut off and manufactured into ropes. They added that
the bull which was impressed upon his coin, was a symbol of his having
desolated the world. For the emperor, being excessively superstitious, was
continually sacrificing bulls (2) on the altars of his idols; and had
ordered the impression of a bull and altar to be made on his coin.
Irritated by these scoffs, he threatened to punish the city of Antioch, and
returned to Tarsus in Cilicia, giving orders that preparations should be
made for his speedy departure thence. Whence Libanius the sophist took
occasion to compose two orations, one addressed to the emperor in behalf of
the Antiochians, the other to the inhabitants of Antioch on the emperor's
displeasure. It is however affirmed that these compositions were merely
written, and never recited in public. Julian abandoning his former purpose
of revenging himself on his satirists by injurious deeds, expended his
wrath in reciprocating their abusive taunts; for he wrote a pamphlet
against them which he entitled Antiochicus, or Misopogon, thus leaving an
indelible stigma upon that city and its inhabitants. But we must now speak
of the evils which he brought upon the Christians at Antioch.

CHAPTER XVIII: The Emperor consulting an Oracle, the Demon gives no
Response, being awed by the Nearness of Babylas the Martyr.

   HAVING ordered that the pagan temples at Antioch should be opened, he
was very eager to obtain an oracle from Apollo of Daphne. But the demon
that inhabited the temple remained silent through fear of his neighbor,
Babylas (1) the martyr; for the coffin which contained the body of that
saint was close by. When the emperor was informed of this circumstance, he
commanded that the coffin should be immediately removed: upon which the
Christians of Antioch, including women and children, transported the coffin
from Daphne to the city, with solemn rejoicings and chanting of psalms. The
psalms (20) were such as cast reproach on the gods of the heathen, and
those who put confidence in them and their images.

CHAPTER XIX: Wrath of the Emperor, and Firmness of Theodore the Confessor.

   THEN indeed the emperor's real temper and disposition, which he had
hitherto kept as much as possible from observation, became fully
manifested: for he who had boasted so much of his philosophy, was no longer
able to restrain himself; but being goaded almost to madness by these
reproachful hymns, he was ready to inflict the same cruelties on the
Christians, with which Diocletian's agents had formerly visited them.
Since, however, his solicitude about the Persian expedition afforded him no
leisure for personally executing his wishes, he commanded Sallust the
Praetorion Prefect to seize those who had been most conspicuous for their
zeal in psalm-singing, in order to make examples of them. The prefect,
though a pagan, was far from being pleased with his commission; but since
he durst not contravene it, he caused several of the Christians to be
apprehended, and some of them to be imprisoned. One young man named
Theodore, whom the heathens brought before him, he subjected to a variety
of tortures, causing his person to be so lacerated and only released him
from further punishment when he thought that he could not possibly outlive
the torments: yet God preserved this sufferer, so that he long survived
that confession. Rufinus, the author of the Ecclesiastical History written
in Latin, states that he himself conversed with the same Theodore a
considerable time afterwards: and enquired of him whether in the process of
scourging and racking he had not felt the most intense pains; his answer
was, that he felt the pain of the tortures to which he was subjected for a
very short time; and that a young man stood by him who both wiped off the
sweat which was produced by the acuteness of the ordeal through which he
was passing, and at the same time strengthened his mind, so that he
rendered this time of trial a season of rapture rather than of suffering.
Let this suffice concerning the most wonderful Theodore. About this time
Persian ambassadors came to the emperor, requesting him to terminate the
war on certain express conditions. But Julian abruptly dismissed them,
saying, 'You shall very shortly see me in person, so that there will be no
need of an embassy.'

CHAPTER XX: The Jews instigated by the Emperor attempt to rebuild their
Temple, and are frustrated in their Attempt by Miraculous Interposition.

   THE emperor in another attempt to molest the Christians exposed his
superstition. Being fond of sacrificing, he not only himself delighted in
the blood of victims, but considered it an indignity offered to him, if
others did not do likewise. And as he found but few persons of this stamp,
he sent for the Jews and enquired of them why they abstained from
sacrificing, since the law of Moses enjoined it? On their replying that it
was not permitted them to do this in any other place than Jerusalem, he
immediately ordered them to rebuild Solomon's temple. Meanwhile he himself
proceeded on his expedition against the Persians. The Jews who had been
long desirous of obtaining a favorable opportunity for rearing their temple
afresh in order that they might therein offer sacrifice, applied themselves
very vigorously to the work. Moreover, they conducted themselves with great
insolence toward the Christians, and threatened to do them as much
mischief, as they had themselves suffered from the Romans. The emperor
having ordered that the expenses of this structure should be defrayed out
of the public treasury, all things were soon provided, such as timber and
stone, burnt brick, clay, lime, and all other materials. necessary for
building. On this occasion Cyril bishop of Jerusalem, called to mind the
prophecy of Daniel, which Christ also in the holy gospels has confirmed,
and predicted in the presence of many persons, that the time had indeed
come 'in which one stone should not be left upon another in that temple,'
but that the Saviour's prophetic declaration (1) should have its full
accomplishment. Such were the bishop's words: and on the night following, a
mighty earthquake tore up the stones of the old foundations of the temple
and dispersed them all together with the adjacent edifices. Terror
consequently possessed the Jews on account of the event; and the report of
it brought many to the spot who resided at a great distance: when therefore
a vast multitude was assembled, another prodigy took place. Fire came down
from heaven and consumed all the builders' tools: so that the flames were
seen preying upon mallets, irons to smooth and polish stones, saws,
hatchets, adzes, in short all the various implements which the workmen had
procured as necessary for the undertaking; and the fire continued burning
among these for a whole day. The Jews indeed were in the greatest possible
alarm, and unwillingly confessed Christ, calling him God: yet they did not
do his will; but influenced by inveterate prepossessions they still clung
to Judaism. Even a third miracle which afterwards happened failed to lead
them to a belief of the truth. For the next night luminous impressions of a
cross appeared imprinted on their garments, which at daybreak they in vain
attempted to rub or wash out. They were therefore 'blinded' as the apostle
says, (2) and cast away the good which they had in their hands: and thus
was the temple, instead of being rebuilt, at that time wholly overthrown.

CHAPTER XXI: The Emperor's Invasion of Persia, and Death.

   THE emperor meanwhile invaded the country of the Persians a little
before spring, having learnt that the races of Persia were greatly
enfeebled and totally spiritless in winter. For from their inability to
endure cold, they abstain from military service at that season, and it has
become a proverb that 'a Mede will not then draw his hand from underneath
his cloak.' And well knowing that the Romans were inured to brave all the
rigors of the atmosphere he let them loose on the country. After
devastating a considerable tract of country, including numerous villages
and fortresses, they next assailed the cities; and having invested the
great city Ctesiphon, he reduced the king of the Persians to such straits
that the latter sent repeated embassies to the emperor, offering to
surrender a portion of his dominions, on condition of his quitting the
country, and putting an end to the war. But Julian was unaffected by these
submissions, and showed no compassion to a suppliant foe: nor did he think
of the adage, 'To conquer is honorable, but to be more than conqueror gives
occasion for envy.' Giving credit to the divinations of the philosopher
Maximus, with whom he was in continual intercourse, he was deluded into the
belief that his exploits would not only equal, but exceed those of
Alexander of Macedon; so that he spurned with contempt the entreaties of
the Persian monarch. He even supposed in accordance with the teachings of
Pythagoras and Plato on 'the transmigration of souls,' (1) that he was
possessed of Alexander's soul, or rather that he himself was Alexander in
another body. This ridiculous fancy deluded and caused him to reject the
negotiations for peace proposed by the king of the Persians. Wherefore the
latter convinced of the uselessness of them was constrained to prepare for
conflict, and therefore on the next day after the rejection of his embassy,
he drew out in order of battle all the forces he had. The Romans indeed
censured their prince, for not avoiding an engagement when he might have
done so with advantage: nevertheless they attacked those who opposed them,
and again put the enemy to flight. The emperor was present on horseback,
and encouraged his soldiers in battle; but confiding simply in his hope of
success, he wore no armor. In this defenceless state, a dart cast by some
one unknown, pierced through his arm and entered his side, making a wound.
In consequence of this wound he died. Some say that a certain Persian
hurled the javelin, and then fled; others assert that one of his own men
was the author of the deed, which indeed is the best corroborated and most
current report. But Callistus, one of his body-guards, who celebrated this
emperor's deeds in heroic verse, says in narrating the particulars of this
war, that the wound of which he died was inflicted by a demon. This is
possibly a mere poetical fiction, or perhaps it was really the fact; for
vengeful furies have undoubtedly destroyed many persons. Be the case
however as it may, this is certain, that the ardor of his natural
temperament rendered him incautious, his learning made him vain, and his
affectation of clemency exposed him to contempt. Thus Julian ended his life
in Persia, (2) as we have said, in his fourth consulate, (3) which he bore
with Sallust his colleague. This event occurred on the 26th of June, in the
third year of his reign, and the seventh from his having been created
Caesar by Constantius, he being at that time in the thirty-first year of
his age.

CHAPTER XXII: Jovian is proclaimed Emperor.

   THE soldiery being thrown into extreme perplexity by an event so
unexpected, and without delay, on the following day proclaimed Jovian
emperor, a person alike distinguished for his courage and birth. He was a
military tribune when Julian put forth an edict giving his officers the
option of either sacrificing or resigning their rank in the army, and chose
rather to lay down his commission, (1) than to obey the mandate of an
impious prince. Julian, however, being pressed by the urgency of the war
which was before him, retained him among his generals. On being saluted
emperor, he positively declined to accept the sovereign power: and when the
soldiers brought him forward by force, he declared that 'being a Christian,
he did not wish to reign over a people who chose to adopt paganism as their
religion.' They all then with one voice answered that they also were
Christians: upon which he accepted the imperial dignity. Perceiving himself
suddenly left in very difficult circumstances, in the midst of the Persian
territory, where his army was in danger of perishing for want of
necessaries, he agreed to terminate the war, even on terms by no means
honorable to the glory of the Roman name, but rendered necessary by the
exigencies of the crisis. Submitting therefore to the loss of the
government of Syria, (2) and giving up also Nisibis, a city of Mesopotamia,
he withdrew from their territories. The announcement of these things gave
fresh hope to the Christians; while the pagans vehemently bewailed Julian's
death. Nevertheless the whole army reprobated his intemperate heat, and
ascribed to his rashness in listening to the wily reports of a Persian
deserter, the humiliation of ceding the territories lost: for being imposed
upon by the statements of this fugitive, he was induced to burn the ships
which supplied them with provisions by water, by which means they were
exposed to all the horrors of famine. Then also Libanius composed a funeral
oration on him, which he designated Julianus, or Epitaph, wherein he
celebrates with lofty encomiums almost all his actions; but in referring to
the books which Julian wrote against the Christians, he says that he has
therein clearly demonstrated the ridiculous and trifling character of their
sacred books. Had this sophist contented himself with extolling the
emperor's other acts, I should have quietly proceeded with the course of my
history; but since this famous rhetorician has thought proper to take
occasion to inveigh against the Scriptures of the Christian faith, we also
propose to pause a little and in a brief review consider his words.

CHAPTER XXIII: Refutation of what Libanius the Sophist said concerning
Julian.

   'WHEN the winter,' says he, (1) 'had lengthened the nights, the emperor
made an attack on those books which made the man of Palestine both God, and
the Son of God: and by a long series of arguments having proved that these
writings, which are so much revered by Christians, are ridiculous and
unfounded, he has evinced himself wiser and more skillful than the Tyrian
(2) old man. But may this Tyrian sage be propitious to me, and mildly bear
with what has been affirmed, seeing that he has been excelled by his son!'
Such is the language of Libanius the Sophist. But I confess, indeed, that
he was an excellent rhetorician, but am persuaded that had he not coincided
with the emperor in religious sentiment, he would not only have given
expression to all that has been said against him by Christians, but would
have magnified every ground of censure as naturally becomes a rhetorician.
For while Constantius was alive he wrote encomiums-upon him; but after his
death he brought the most insulting and reproachful charges against him. So
that if Porphyry had been emperor, Libanius would certainly have preferred
his books to Julian's: and had Julian been a mere sophist, he would have
termed him a very indifferent one, as he does Ecebolius in his Epitaph upon
Julian. Since then he has spoken in the spirit of a pagan, a sophist, and
the friend of him whom he lauded, we shall endeavor to meet what he has
advanced, as far as we are able. In the first place he says that the
emperor undertook to 'attack' these books during the long winter nights.
Now to 'attack' means to make the writing of a confutation of them a task,
as the sophists commonly do in teaching the rudiments of their art; for he
had perused these books long before, but attacked them at this time. But
throughout the long contest into which he entered, instead of attempting to
disprove anything by sound reasoning, as Libanius asserts, in the absence
of truth he had recourse to sneers and contemptuous jests, of which he was
excessively fond; and thus he sought to hold up to derision what is too
firmly established to be overthrown. For every one who enters into
controversy with another, sometimes trying to pervert the truth, and at
others to conceal it, falsities by every possible means the position of his
antagonist. And an adversary is not satisfied with doing malignant acts
against one with whom he is at variance, but will speak against him also,
and charge upon the object of his dislike the very faults he is conscious
of in himself. That both Julian and Porphyry, whom Libanius calls the
'Tyrian old man,' took great delight in scoffing, is evident from their own
works. For Porphyry in his History of the Philosophers has treated with
ridicule the life of Socrates, the most eminent of all the philosophers,
making such remarks on him as neither Melitus, nor Anytus, his accusers,
would have dared to utter; of Socrates, I say, who was admired by all the
Greeks for his modesty, justice, and other virtues; whom Plato, (3) the
most admirable among them, Xenophon, and the rest of the philosophic band,
not only honor as one beloved of God, but also are accustomed to think of
as having been endowed with superhuman intelligence. And Julian, imitating
his 'father,' displayed a like morbidness of mind in his book, entitled The
Caesars, wherein he traduces all his imperial predecessors, not sparing
even Mark the philosopher. (4) Their own writings therefore show that they
both took pleasure in taunts and reviling; and I have no need of profuse
and clever expressions to do this; but what has been said is enough
concerning their mood in this respect. Now I write these things, using the
oration of each as witnesses respecting their dispositions, but of Julian
in particular, what Gregory of Nazianzus (5) says in his Second Oration
against the Pagans is in the following terms:

   'These things were made evident to others by experience, after the
possession of imperial authority had left him free to follow the bent of
his inclinations: but I had foreseen it all, from the time I became
acquainted with him at Athens. Thither he came, by permission of the
emperor, soon after the change in his brother's fortune. His motive for
this visit was twofold: one reason was honorable to him, viz. to see
Greece, and attend the schools there; the other was a more secret one,
which few knew anything about, for his impiety had not yet presumed to
openly avow itself, viz. to have opportunity of consulting the sacrificers
and other impostors respecting his own destiny. I well remember that even
then I was no bad diviner concerning this person, although I by no means
pretend to be one of those skilled in the art of divination: but the
fickleness of his disposition, and the incredible extravagancy of his mind,
rendered me prophetic; if indeed he is the "best prophet who conjectures
correctly" (6) events. For it seemed to me that no good was portended by a
neck seldom steady, the frequent shrugging of shoulders, an eye scowling
and always in motion, together with a frenzied aspect; a gait irregular and
tottering, a nose breathing only contempt and insult, with ridiculous
contortions of countenance expressive of the same thing; immoderate and
very loud laughter, nods as it were of assent, and drawings back of the
head as if in denial, without any visible cause; speech with hesitancy and
interrupted by his breathing; disorderly and senseless questions, answers
no better, all jumbled together without the least consistency or method.
Why need I enter into minute particulars? Such I foresaw he would be
beforehand as I found him afterwards from experience. And if any of those
who were then present and heard me, were now here, they would readily
testify that when I observed these prognostics I exclaimed, "Ah! how great
a mischief to itself is the Roman empire fostering!" And that when I had
uttered these words I prayed God that I might be a false prophet. For it
would have been far better [that I should have been convicted of having
formed an erroneous judgment], than that the world should be filled with so
many calamities, and that such a monster should have appeared as never
before had been seen: although many deluges and conflagrations are
recorded, many earthquakes and chasms, and descriptions are given of many
ferocious and inhuman men, as well as prodigies of the brute creation,
compounded of different races, of which nature produced unusual forms. His
end has indeed been such as corresponds with the madness of his career.'

   This is the sketch which Gregory has given us of Julian. Moreover, that
in their various compilations they have endeavored to do violence to the
truth, sometimes by the corruption of passages of sacred Scripture, at
others by either adding to the express words, and putting such a
construction upon them as suited their own purpose, many have demonstrated,
by confuting their cavils, and exposing their fallacies. Origen in
particular, who lived long before Julian's time, by himself raising
objections to such passages of Holy Scripture (7) as seemed to disturb some
readers, and then fully meeting them, has shut out the invidious clamors of
the thoughtless. And had Julian and Porphyry given his writings a candid
and serious perusal, they would have discoursed on other topics, and not
have turned to the framing of blasphemous sophisms. It is also very obvious
that the emperor in his discourses was intent on beguiling the ignorant,
and did not address himself to those who possess the 'form' of the truth as
it is presented in the sacred Scriptures. For having grouped together
various expressions in which God is spoken of dispensationally, and more
according to the manner of men, he thus comments on them. (8) 'Every one of
these expressions is full of blasphemy against God, unless the phrase
contains some occult and mysterious sense, which indeed I can suppose.'
This is the exact language he uses in his third book against the
Christians. But in his treatise On the Cynic Philosophy, where he shows to
what extent fables may be invented on religious subjects, he says that in
such matters the truth must be veiled: 'For,' to quote his very words, (9)
'Nature loves concealment; and the hidden substance of the gods cannot
endure being cast into polluted ears in naked words.' From which it is
manifest that the emperor entertained this notion concerning the divine
Scriptures, that they are mystical discourses, containing in them some
abstruse meaning. He is also very indignant because all men do not form the
same opinion of them; and inveighs against those Christians who understand
the sacred oracles in a more literal sense. But it ill became him to rail
so vehemently against the simplicity of the vulgar, and on their account to
behave so arrogantly towards the sacred Scriptures: nor was he warranted in
turning with aversion from those things which others rightly apprehended,
because forsooth they understood them otherwise than he desired they
should. But now as it seems a similar cause of disgust seems to have
operated upon him to that which affected Porphyry, who having been beaten
by some Christians at Caesarea in Palestine and not being able to endure
[such treatment], from the working of unrestrained rage renounced the
Christian religion: and from hatred of those who had beaten him he took to
write blasphemous works against Christians, as Eusebius Pamphilus has
proved who at the same time refuted his writings. So the emperor having
uttered disdainful expressions against the Christians in the presence of an
unthinking multitude, through the same morbid condition of mind fell into
Porphyry's blasphemies. Since therefore they both willfully broke forth
into impiety, they are punished by the consciousness of their guilt. But
when Libanius the Sophist says (10) in derision, that the Christians make
'a man of Palestine both God and the Son of God,' he appears to have
forgotten that he himself has deified Julian at the close of his oration.
'For they almost killed,' says he, 'the first messenger of his death, as if
he had lied against a god.' And a little afterwards he adds, 'O thou
cherished one of the gods! thou disciple of the gods! thou associate n with
the gods!' Now although Libanius may have meant otherwise, yet inasmuch as
he did not avoid the ambiguity of a word which is sometimes taken in a bad
sense, he seems to have said the same things as the Christians had done
reproachfully. If then it was his intention to praise him, he ought to have
avoided equivocal terms; as he did on another occasion, when being
criticised he avoided a certain word, cutting it out of his works.
Moreover, that man in Christ was united to the Godhead, so that while he
was apparently but man, he was the invisible God, and that both these
things are most true, the divine books of Christians distinctly teach. But
the heathen before they believe, cannot understand: for it is a divine
oracle that declares (12) 'Unless ye believe, assuredly ye shall not
understand.' Wherefore they are not ashamed to place many men among the
number of their gods: and would that they had done this, at least to the
good, just, and sober, instead of the impure, unjust, and those addicted to
drunkenness, like the Hercules, the Bacchus, and the Aesculapius, by whom
Libanius does not blush to swear frequently in his orations. And were I to
attempt to enumerate the unnatural debaucheries and infamous adulteries of
these, the digression would be lengthened beyond measure: but for those who
desire to be informed on the subject, Aristotle's Peplum, Dionysius'
Corona, Rheginus' Polymnemon, and the whole host of poets will be enough to
show that the pagan theology is a tissue of extravagant absurdities. We
might indeed show by a variety of instances that the practice of deifying
human beings was far from uncommon among the heathen, nay, that they did so
without the slightest hesitation: let a few examples suffice. The Rhodians
having consulted an oracle on some public calamity, a response was given
directing them to pay their adoration to Atys, a pagan priest who
instituted frantic rites in Phrygia. The oracle was thus expressed:

   'Atys propitiate, the great god, the chaste Adonis, the blessed fair-
haired Dionysius rich in gifts.'

   Here Atys, who from an amatory mania had castrated himself, is by the
oracle designated as Adonis and Bacchus.

   Again, when Alexander, king of the Macedonians, passed over into Asia,
the Amphictyons courted his favor, and the Pythoness uttered this oracle:

   'To Zeus supreme among the gods, and Athene Tritogenia pay homage, and
to the king divine concealed in mortal form, him Zeus begat in honor to be
the protector and dispenser of justice among mortals, Alexander the king.'

   These are the words of the  demon at Delphi, who when he wished to
flatter potentates, did not scruple to assign them a place among the gods.
The motive here was perhaps to conciliate by adulation: but what could one
say of the case of Cleomedes the pugilist, whom they ranked among the gods
in this oracle?

   'The last of the heroes is Cleomedes, the Astypalian. Him honor with
sacrifices; for he is no longer a mortal.'

   Because of this oracle Diogenes the cynic, and Oenomaus the
philosopher, strongly condemned Apollo. The inhabitants of Cyzicus declared
Hadrian to be the thirteenth god; and Adrian himself deified his own
catamite Antinous. (13) Libanius does not term these 'ridiculous and
contemptible absurdities,' although he was familiar with these oracles, as
well as with the work of Adrias on the life of Alexander (14) (the pseudo-
prophet of Paphlagonia): nor does he himself hesitate to dignify Porphyry
in a similar manner, when after having preferred Julian's books to his, he
says, 'May the Syrian be propitious to me.' This digression will suffice to
repel the scoffs of the sophist, without following him farther in what he
has advanced; for to enter into a complete refutation would require an
express work. We shall therefore proceed with our history.

CHAPTER XXIV: The Bishops flock around Jovian, each attempting to draw him
to his own Creed.

   JOVIAN having returned from Persia, ecclesiastical commotions were
again renewed: for those who presided over the churches endeavored to
anticipate each other, in the hope that the emperor would attach himself to
their own tenets. He however had from the beginning adhered to the
homoousian faith, and openly declared that he preferred this to all others.
Moreover, he wrote letters to and encouraged Athanasius bishop of
Alexandria, who immediately after Julian's death had recovered the
Alexandrian church, and at that time gaining confidence from the letters
[spoken of] put away all fear. The emperor further recalled from exile all
those prelates whom Constantius had banished, and who had not been re-
established by Julian. Moreover, the pagan temples were again shut up, and
they secreted themselves wherever they were able. The philosophers also
laid aside their palliums, and clothed themselves in ordinary attire. That
public pollution by the blood of victims, which had been profusely lavished
even to disgust in the reign of Julian, was now likewise taken away.

CHAPTER XXV: The Macedonians and Acacians meet at Antioch, and proclaim
their Assent to the Nicene Creed.

   MEANWHILE the state of the church was by no means tranquil; for the
heads of the sects assiduously paid their court to the emperor their king
that protection for themselves meant also power against their acknowledged
opponents. And first the Macedonians presented a petition to him, in which
they begged that all those who asserted the Son to be unlike the Father,
might be expelled from the churches, and themselves allowed to take their
place. This supplication was presented by Basil bishop of Ancyra, Silvanus
of Tarsus, Sophronius of Pompeiopolis, Pasinicus of Zelae, (1) Leontius of
Comana, Calli-crates of Claudiopolis, and Theophilus of Castabala. The
emperor having perused it, dismissed them without any other answer than
this: 'I abominate contentiousness; but I love and honor those who exert
themselves to promote unanimity.' When this remark became generally known,
it subdued the violence of those who were desirous of altercation and thus
was realized in the design of the emperor. At this time the real spirit of
the Acacian sect, and their readiness to accommodate their opinions to
those invested with supreme authority, became more conspicuous than ever.
For assembling themselves at Antioch in Syria, they entered into a
conference with Melitius, who had separated from them a little before, and
embraced the 'homoousian' opinion. This they did because they saw Melitius
was in high estimation with the emperor, who then resided at Antioch; and
assenting therefore by common consent, they drew up a declaration of their
sentiments acknowledging the homoousion and ratifying the Nicene Creed and
presented it to the emperor. It was expressed in the following terms.

   'The Synod of bishops convened at Antioch out of various provinces, to
the most pious and beloved of God, our lord Jovian Victor Augustus.

   'That your piety has above all things aimed at establishing the peace
and harmony of the church, we ourselves, most devout emperor, are fully
aware. Nor are we insensible that you have wisely judged an acknowledgment
of the orthodox faith to be the sum and substance of this unity. Wherefore
lest we should be included in the number of those who adulterate the
doctrine of the truth, we hereby declare to your piety that we embrace and
steadfastly hold the faith of the holy Synod formerly convened at Nicaea.
Especially since the term homoousios, which to some seems novel (2) and
inappropriate, has been judiciously explained by the fathers to denote that
the Son was begotten of the Father's substance, and that he is like the
Father as to substance. Not indeed that any passion is to be understood in
relation to that ineffable generation. Nor is the term ousia, "substance,"
taken by the fathers in any usual signification of it among the Greeks; but
it has been employed for the subversion of what Arius impiously dared to
assert concerning Christ, viz. -- that he was made of things "not
existing." Which heresy the Anomoeans, who have lately sprung up, still
more audaciously maintain, to the utter destruction of ecclesiastical
unity. We have therefore annexed to this our declaration, a copy of the
faith set forth by the bishops assembled at Nicaea, with which also we are
fully satisfied. It is this: "We believe in one God the Father Almighty,"
and all the rest of the Creed in full. We, the undersigned, in presenting
this statement, most cordially assent to its contents. Melitius bishop of
Antioch, Eusebius of Samosata, Evagrius of Sicily, Uranius of Apamaea,
Zoilus of Larissa, Acacius of Caesarea, Antipater of Rhosus, Abramius of
Urimi, (3) Aristonicus of Seleucia-upon-Belus, Barlamenus of Pergamus,
Uranius of Melitina, Magnus of Chalcedon, Eutychius of Eleutheropolis,
Isacocis of Armenia Major, Titus of Bostra, Peter of Sippi, (4) Pelagius of
Laodicaea, Arabian of Antros, Piso of Adana through Lamydrion a presbyter,
Sabinian bishop of Zeugma, Athanasius of Ancyra through Orphitus and Aetius
presbyters, Irenion bishop of Gaza, Piso of Augusta, Patricius of Paltus
through Lamyrion a presbyter, Anatolius bishop of Beroea, Theotimus of the
Arabs, and Lucian of Arca.' (5)

   This declaration we found recorded in that work of Sabinus, entitled A
Collection of the Acts of Synods. Now the emperor had resolved to allay if
possible the contentious spirit of the parties at variance, by bland
manners and persuasive language toward them all; declaring that he 'would
not molest any one on account of his religious sentiments, and that he
should love and highly esteem such as would zealously promote the unity of
the church.' The philosopher Themistius attests that such was his conduct,
in the oration he composed on his 'consulate.' For he extols the emperor
for his overcoming the wiles of flatterers by freely permitting every one
to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience. And in allusion
to the check which the sycophants received, he facetiously observes (6)
that experience has made it evident that such persons 'worship the purple
and not God; and resemble the changeful Euripus, (7) which sometimes rolls
its waves in one direction. and at others the very opposite way.'

CHAPTER XXVI: Death of the Emperor Jovian.

   THUS did the emperor repress at that time the impetuosity of those who
were disposed to cavil: and immediately departing from Antioch, he went to
Tarsus in Cilicia, where he duly performed the funeral obsequies of Julian,
after which he was declared consul. Proceeding thence directly to
Constantinople, he arrived at a place named Dadastana, situated on the
frontiers of Galatia and Bithynia. There Themistius the philosopher, with
others of the senatorial order, met him, and pronounced the consular
oration before him, which he afterwards recited before the people at
Constantinople. And indeed the Roman empire, blest with so excellent a
sovereign, would doubtless have flourished exceedingly, as it is likely
that both the civil and ecclesiastical departments would have been happily
administered, had not his sudden death bereft the state of so eminent a
personage. For disease caused by some obstruction, having attacked him at
the place above mentioned during the winter season, he died there on the
17th day of February, in his own and his son Varronian's consulate, (1) in
the thirty-third year of his age, after having reigned seven months.

   This book contains an account of the events which took place in the
space of two years and five months.


BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I: After Jovian's Death, Valentinian is proclaimed Emperor, and
takes his Brother Falens as Colleague in the Empire; Valentinian holds the
Orthodox Faith, but Falens is an Arian.

   THE Emperor Jovian having died, as we have said, at Dadastana, in his
own consulate and that of Varronian his son on the 17th of February, the
army leaving Galatia arrived at Nicaea in Bithynia in seven days' march,
and there unanimously proclaimed Valentinian emperor, on the 25th of
February, in the same consulate. He was a Pannonian by race, a native of
the city of Cibalis, and being entrusted with a military command, had
displayed great skill in tactics. He was moreover endowed with such
greatness of mind, that he always appeared superior to any degree of honor
he might have attained. As soon as they had created him emperor, he
proceeded forthwith to Constantinople; and thirty days after his own
possession of the imperial dignity, he made his brother Valens his
colleague in the empire. They both professed Christianity, but did not hold
the same Christian creed: for Valentinian respected the Nicene Creed; but
Valens was prepossessed in favor of the Arian opinions. And this prejudice
was caused by his having been baptized by Eudoxius bishop of
Constantinople. Each of them was zealous for the views of his own party;
but when they had attained sovereign power, they manifested very different
dispositions. For previously in the reign of Julian, when Valentinian was a
military tribune, and Valens held a command in the emperor's guards, they
both proved their zeal for the faith; for being constrained to sacrifice,
they chose rather to give up their military rank than to do so and renounce
Christianity. (1) Julian, however, knowing the necessity of the men to the
state, retained them in their respective places, as did also Jovian, his
successor in the empire. Later on, being invested with imperial authority,
they were in accord in the management of public affairs, but as regards
Christianity, as I have said, they behaved themselves very differently: for
Valentinian while he favored those who agreed with him in sentiment,
offered no violence to the Arians; but Valens, in his anxiety to promote
the Arian cause, grievously disturbed those who differed from them, as the
course of our history will show. Now at that time Liberius presided over
the Roman church; and at Alexandria Athanasius was bishop of the
Homoousians, while Lucius had been constituted George's successor by the
Arians. At Antioch Euzoius was at the head of the Arians: but the
Homoousians were divided into two parties, of one of which Paulinus was
chief, and Melitius of the other. Cyril was again constituted over the
church at Jerusalem. The churches at Constantinople were under the
government of Eudoxius, who openly taught the dogmas of Arianism, but the
Homoousians had but one small edifice in the city wherein to hold their
assemblies. Those of the Macedonian heresy who had dissented from the
Acacians at Seleucia, then retained their churches in every city. Such was
the state of ecclesiastical affairs at that time. (2)

CHAPTER II: Valentinian goes into the West; Valens remains at
Constantinople, and grants the Request of the Macedonians to hold a Synod,
but persecutes the Adherents of the 'Homoousion.'

   OF the emperors one, i.e. Valentinian, speedily went to the western
parts of the empire; for the exigencies of affairs required his presence
thither: meanwhile Valens, residing at Constantinople, was addressed by
most of the prelates of the Macedonion heresy, requesting that another
Synod might be convened for the correction of the creed. The emperor
supposing they agreed in sentiment with Eudoxius and Acacius, gave them
permission to do so: they therefore made preparations for assembling in the
city of Lampsacus. But Valens proceeded with the utmost despatch toward
Antioch in Syria, fearing lest the Persians should violate the treaty into
which they had entered for thirty years in the reign of Jovian, and invade
the Roman territories. They however remained quiet; and Valens employed
this season of external tranquillity to prosecute a war of extermination
against all who acknowledged the homoousion. Paulinus their bishop, because
of his eminent piety, he left unmolested. Melitius he punished with exile:
and all the rest, as many as refused to communicate with Euzoius, he drove
out from the churches in Antioch, and subjected to various losses and
punishments. It is even affirmed that he caused many to be drowned in the
river Orontes, which flows by that city.

CHAPTER III: While Valens persecutes the Orthodox Christians in the East, a
Usurper arises at Constantinople named Procopius: and at the Same Time an
Earthquake and Inundation take Place and injure Several Cities.

   WHILE Valens was thus occupied in Syria, there arose a usurper at
Constantinople named Procopius; who having collected a large body of troops
in a very short time, meditated an expedition against the emperor. This
intelligence created extreme solicitude in the emperor's mind and checked
for a while the persecution he had commenced against all who dared to
differ from him in opinion. And while the commotions of a civil war were
painfully anticipated, an earthquake occurred which did much damage to many
cities. The sea also changed its accustomed boundaries, and overflowed to
such an extent in some places, that vessels might sail where roads had
previously existed; and it retired so much from other places, that the
ground became dry. These events happened in the first consulate of the two
emperors. (1)

CHAPTER IV: The Macedonians hold a Synod at Lampsacus, during a  Period of
Both Secular and Ecclesiastical Agitation; and after confirming the
Antiochian Creed, and anathematizing that promulgated at Ariminum, they
again ratify the Deposition of Acacius and Eudoxius.

   WHILE these events were taking place there  could be no peace either in
the church or in the state. Now those who had been empowered by  the
emperor to hold a council assembled at Lampsacus in the consulate just
mentioned: this was seven years after the council of Seleucia. There, after
confirming the Antiochian Creed, to which they had subscribed at Seleucia,
(1) they anathematized that which had been  set forth at Ariminum (2) by
their former associates in opinion. They moreover again condemned the party
of Acacius and Eudoxius, and declared their deposition to have been just.
(3) The civil war which was then impending prevented Eudoxius bishop of
Constantinople from either gainsaying or revenging these determinations.
Wherefore Eleusius bishop of Cyzicus and his adherents became for a little
while the stronger party; inasmuch as they supported the views of
Macedonius, which although before but obscurely known, acquired great
publicity through the Synod at Lampsacus. This Synod, I think, was the
cause of the increase of the Macedonians in the Hellespont; for Lampsacus
is situated in one of the narrow bays of the Hellespont. Such was the issue
of this council.

CHAPTER V: Engagement between Valens and _Procopius near Nacolia in
Phrygia; after which the Usurper is betrayed by his Chief Officers, and
with them put to Death.

   Under the consulate (1) of Gratian and Dagalaifus in the following
year, the war was begun. For as soon as the usurper Procopius, leaving
Constantinople, began his march at the head of his army toward the emperor,
Valens hastened from Antioch, and came to an engagement with him near a
city of Phrygia, called Nacolia. In the first encounter he was defeated;
but soon after he took Procopius alive, through the treachery of Agilo and
Gomarius, two of his generals, whom he subjected to the most extraordinary
punishments. (2) The traitors he caused to be executed by being sawn
asunder, disregarding the oaths he had sworn to them. Two trees standing
near each other being forcibly bowed down, one of the usurper's legs was
fastened to each of them, after which the trees being suddenly permitted to
recover their erect position, by their rise rent the tyrant into two parts;
and thus torn apart the usurper perished.

CHAPTER VI: After the Death of Procopius Valens constrains those who
composed the Synod, and All Christians, to profess Arianism.

   The emperor having thus successfully terminated the conflict,
immediately began to move against the Christians, with the design of
converting every sect to Arianism. But he was especially incensed against
those who had composed the Synod at Lampsacus, not only on account of their
deposition of the Arian bishops, but because they had anathematized the
creed published at Ariminum. On arriving therefore at Nicomedia in
Bithynia, he sent for Eleusius bishop of Cyzicus, who, as I have before
said, (1) closely adhered to the opinions of Macedonius. Therefore the
emperor having convened a council of Arian bishops, commanded Eleusius to
give his assent to their faith. At first he refused to do so, but on being
terrified with threats of banishment and confiscation of property, he was
intimidated and assented to the Arian belief. Immediately afterwards,
however, he repented; and returning to Cyzicus, bitterly complained in
presence of all the people, asserting that his quiescence was due to
violence, and not of his own choice. He then exhorted them to seek another
bishop for themselves, since he had been compelled to renounce his own
opinion. But the inhabitants of Cyzicus loved and venerated him too much to
think of losing him; they therefore refused to be subject to any other
bishop, nor would they permit him to retire from his own church: and thus
continuing under his oversight, they remained steadfast in their own
heresy.

CHAPTER VII: Eunomius supersedes Eleusius the Macedonian in the See of
Cyzicus, His Origin and Imitation of Aetius, whose Amanuensis he had been.

   The bishop of Constantinople being informed of these circumstances,
constituted Eunomius bishop of Cyzicus, inasmuch as he was a person able by
his eloquence to win over the minds of the multitude to his own way of
thinking. On his arrival at Cyzicus an imperial edict was published in
which it was ordered that Eleusius should be ejected, and Eunomius
installed in his place. This being carried into effect, those who attached
themselves to Eleusius, after erecting a sacred edifice without the city,
assembled there with him. But enough has been said of Eleusius: let us now
give some account of Eunomius. He had been secretary to Aetius, surnamed
Atheus, of whom we have before spoken, (1) and had learnt from conversing
with him, to imitate his sophistical mode of reasoning; being little aware
that while exercising himself in framing fallacious arguments, and in the
use of certain insignificant terms, he was really deceiving himself. This
habit however inflated him with pride, and he fell into blasphemous
heresies, and so became an advocate of the dogmas of Arius, and in various
ways an adversary to the doctrines of truth. And as he had but a very
slender knowledge of the letter of Scripture, he was wholly unable to enter
into the spirit of it. Yet he abounded in words, and was accustomed to
repeat the same thoughts in different terms, without ever arriving at a
clear explanation of what he had proposed to himself. Of this his seven
books On the Apostle's Epistle to the Romans, on which he bestowed a
quantity of vain labor, is a remarkable proof: for although he has employed
an immense number of words in the attempt to expound it, he has by no means
succeeded in apprehending the scope and object of that epistle. All other
works of his extant are of a similar character, in which he that would take
the trouble to examine them, would find a great scarcity of sense, amidst a
profusion of verbiage. This Eunomius Eudoxius promoted to the see of
Cyzicus;"' who being come thither, astonished his auditors by the
extraordinary display of his 'dialectic' art, and thus a great sensation
was produced at Cyzicus. At length the people unable to endure any longer
the empty and assumptions parade of his language, drove him out of their
city. He therefore withdrew to Constantinople, and taking up his abode with
Eudoxius, was regarded as a titular (3) bishop. But lest we should seem to
have said these things for the sake of detraction, let us hear what
Eunomius himself has the hardihood to utter in his sophistical discourses
concerning the Deity himself, for he uses the following language: 'God
knows no more of his own substance than we do; nor is this more known to
him, and less to us: but whatever we know about the Divine substance, that
precisely is known to God; and on the other hand, whatever he knows, the
same also you will find without any difference in us.' This and many other
similar tedious and absurd fallacies Eunomius was accustomed to draw up in
utter insensibility to his own folly. On what account he afterwards
separated from the Arians, we shall state in its proper place. (4)

CHAPTER. VIII: Of the Oracle found inscribed an a Stone, when the Walls of
Chalcedon were demolished by Order of the Emperor Valens.

   As order was issued by the emperor that the walls of Chalcedon, a city
opposite to Byzantium, should be demolished: for he had sworn to do this,
after he should have conquered the usurper, because the Chalcedonians had
sided with the usurper, and had used insulting language toward Valens, (1)
and shut their gates against him as he passed by their city. In consequence
of the imperial decree, therefore, the walls were razed and the stones were
conveyed to Constantinople to serve for the formation of the public baths
which are called Constantianae. (2) On one of these stones an oracle was
found engraven, which had lain concealed for a long time, in which it was
predicted that when the city should be supplied with abundance of water,
then should the wall serve for a bath; and that innumerable hordes of
barbarous nations having overrun the provinces of the Roman empire, and
done a great deal of mischief, should themselves at length be destroyed. We
shall here insert this oracle for the gratification of the studious: (3)
'When nymphs their mystic dance with wat'ry feet Shall tread through proud
Byzantium's stately street; When rage the city wall shall overthrow, Whose
stones to fence a bathing-place shall go: Then savage lands shall send
forth myriad swarms, Adorned with golden locks and burnished arms, That
having Ister's silver streams o'erpast, Shall Scythian fields and Moesia's
meadows waste. But when with conquest flushed they enter Thrace, Fate shall
assign them there a burial-place,'

   Such was the prophecy. And indeed it afterwards happened, that when
Valens by building an aqueduct supplied Constantinople with abundance of
water, the barbarous nations made various irruptions, as we shall hereafter
see. But it happened that some explained the prediction. otherwise. For
when that aqueduct was completed, Clearchus the prefect of the city built a
stately bath, to which the name of 'the Plentiful Water' (4) was given, in
that which is now called the Forum of Theodosius: on which account the
people celebrated a festival with great rejoicings, whereby there was, say
they, an accomplishment of those words of the oracle, 'their mystic dance
with wat'ry feet Shall tread through proud Byzantium's stately street.' But
the completion of the prophecy took place afterwards. While the demolition
was in progress the Constantinopolitans besought the emperor to suspend the
destruction of the walls; and the inhabitants of Nicomedia and Nicaea
sending from Bithynia to Constantinople, made the same request. But the
emperor being exceedingly exasperated against the Chalcedonians, was with
difficulty prevailed upon to listen to these petitions in their favor: but
that he might perform his oath, he commanded that the walls should be
pulled down, while at the same time the breaches should be repaired by
being filled up with other small stones. Whence it is that in the present
day one may see in certain parts of the wall very inferior materials laid
upon prodigiously large stones, forming those unsightly patches which were
made on that occasion. So much will be sufficient on the walls of
Chalcedon.

CHAPTER IX: Valens persecutes the Novatians, because they accepted the
Orthodox Faith.

   The emperor however did not cease his persecution of those who embraced
the doctrine of the homoousion, but drove them away from Constantinople:
and as the Novatians acknowledged the same faith, they also were subjected
to similar treatment. He commanded that their  churches should be shut up,
also their bishop they sent into exile. His name was Agelius, a person that
had presided over their churches from the time of Constantine, and had led
an apostolic life: for he always walked barefoot, and used but one coat,
observing the injunction of the gospel. (1) But the emperor's displeasure
against this sect was moderated by the efforts of a pious and eloquent man
named Marcian, who had formerly been in military service at the imperial
palace, but was at that time a presbyter in the Novatian church, and taught
Anastasia and Carosa, the emperor's daughters, grammar; from the former of
whom the public baths yet standing, which Valens erected at Constantinople,
were named. (2) From respect for this person therefore the Novatian
churches which had been for some time closed, were again opened. The Arians
however would not suffer this people to remain undisturbed, for they
disliked them on account of the sympathy and love the Novatians manifested
toward the Homoousians, with whom they agreed in sentiment. Such was the
state of affairs at that time. We may here remark that the war against the
usurper Procopius was terminated about the end of May, in the consulate (3)
of Gratian and Dagalaifus.

CHAPTER X: Birth of Valentinian the Younger.

   Soon after the conclusion of this war, and under the same consulate,
(1) a son was born to Valentinian, the emperor in the Western parts, to
whom the same name as his father's was given. For Gratian had been born
previously to his becoming emperor.

CHAPTER XI: Hail of Extraordinary Size; and Earthquakes in Bithynia and the
Hellespont.

   On the 2d of June of the following year, in the consulate (1) of
Lupicin and Jovian, there fell at Constantinople hail of such a size as
would fill a maws hand. Many affirmed that this hail had fallen as a
consequence of the Divine displeasure, because of the emperor's having
banished several persons engaged in the sacred ministry, those, that is to
say, who refused to communicate with Eudoxius. (2) During the same
consulate, on the 24th of August, the emperor Valentinian proclaimed his
son Gratian Augustus. In the next year, (3) when Valentinian and Valens
were a second time consuls, there happened on the 11th of October, an
earthquake in Bithynia which destroyed the city of Nicaea on the eleventh
day of October. This was about twelve years after Nicomedia had been
visited by a similar catastrophe. Soon afterwards the largest portion of
Germa in the Hellespont was reduced to ruins by another earthquake.
Nevertheless no impression was made on the mind of either Eudoxius the
Arian bishop, or the emperor Valens, by these occurrences; for they did not
desist from their relentless persecution of those who dissented from them
in matters of faith. Meanwhile these convulsions of the earth were regarded
as typical of the disturbances which agitated the churches: for many of the
clerical body were sent into exile, as we have stated; Basil and Gregory
alone, by a special dispensation of Divine Providence, being on account of
their eminent piety exempted from this punishment. The former of these
individuals was bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia; while Gregory presided
over Nazianzus, (4) a little city in the vicinity of Caesarea. But we shall
have occasion to mention both Basil and Gregory again in the course of our
history. (5)

CHAPTER XII: The Macedonians, pressed by the Emperor's Violence toward
them, send a Deputation to Liberius Bishop of Rome, and subscribe the
Nicene Creed.

   WHEN the maintainers of the 'homoousian' doctrine had been thus
severely dealt with, and put to flight, the persecutors began afresh to
harass the Macedonians; who impelled by fear rather than violence, send
deputations to one another from city to city, declaring the necessity of
appealing to the emperor's brother, and also to Liberius bishop of Rome:
and that it was far better for them to embrace their faith, than to
communicate with the party of Eudoxius. They sent for this purpose
Eustathius bishop of Sebastia, who had been several times deposed, Silvanus
of Tarsus in Cilicia, and Theophilus of Castabala in the same province;
charging them to dissent in nothing from Liberius concerning the faith, but
to enter into communion with the Roman church, and confirm the doctrine of
the homoousian. These persons therefore proceeded to Old Rome, carrying
with them the letters of those who had separated themselves from Acacius at
Seleucia. To the emperor they could not have access, he being occupied in
the Gauls with a war against the Sarmatae; but they presented their letters
to Liberius. He at first refused to admit them; saying they were of the
Arian faction, and could not possibly be received into communion by the
church, inasmuch as they had rejected the Nicene Creed. To this they
replied that by change of sentiment they had acknowledged the truth, having
long since renounced the Anomoean (1) Creed, and avowed the Son to be in
every way 'like the Father': moreover that they considered the terms 'like'
(homoios) and homoousios to have precisely the same import. When they had
made this statement, Liberius demanded of them a written confession of
their faith; and they accordingly presented him a document in which the
substance of the Nicene Creed was inserted. I have not introduced here,
because of their length, the letters from Smyrna, Asia, and from Pisidia,
Isauria, Pamphylia, and Lycia, in all which places they had held Synods.
The written profession which the deputies sent with Eustathius, delivered
to Liberius, is as follows:

   'To our Lord, Brother, and fellow-Minister Libefius: Eustathius,
Theophilus, and Silvanus, salutations in the Lord.

   'On account of the insane opinion of heretics, who cease not to
introduce occasions of offense into the catholic churches, we being
desirous of checking their career, come forward to express our approbation
of the doctrines recognized the Synod of orthodox bishops which has been
convened at Lampsacus, Smyrna, and various other places: from which Synod
we being constituted a deputation, bring a letter to your benignity and to
all the Italian and Western bishops, by which we declare that we hold and
maintain the catholic faith which was established in the holy council at
Nicaea under the reign of Constantine of blessed memory, by three hundred
and eighteen bishops, and has hitherto continued entire and unshaken; in
which creed the term homoousios is holily and devoutly employed in
opposition to the pernicious doctrine of Arius. We therefore, together with
the aforesaid persons whom we represent, profess under our own hand, that
we have held, do hold, and will maintain the same faith even unto the end.
We condemn Arius, and his impious doctrine, with his disciples, and those
who agree with his sentiments; as also the same heresy of Sabellius, (2)
the Patripassians, (3) the Marcionites, (4) the Photinians, (5) the
Marcellians, (6) that of Paul of Samosata, (7) and those who countenance
such tenets; in short all the heresies which are opposed to the aforesaid
sacred creed, which was piously and in a catholic spirit set forth by the
holy fathers at Nicaea. But we especially anathematize that form of the
creed which was recited at the Synod of Ariminum, (8) as altogether
contrary to the before-mentioned creed of the holy Synod of Nicaea, to
which the bishops at Constantinople affixed their signatures, being
deceived by artifice and perjury, by reason of its having been brought from
Nice, (9) a town of Thrace. Our own creed, and that of those whose
delegates we are, is this:

   ' "We believe in one God the Father Almighty, the Maker of all things
visible and invisible: and in one only-begotten God, the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God; begotten of the Father; that is of the substance of the
Father; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten not
made, of the same substance with the Father, through whom all things were
made which are in heaven, and which are upon the earth: who for us men, and
for our salvation, descended, became incarnate, and was made man; suffered,
and rose again the third day; ascended into the heavens, and will come to
judge the living and the dead. [We believe] also in the Holy Spirit. But
the Catholic and Apostolic Church of God anathematizes those who assert
that 'there was a time when he was not,' and 'that he was not before he was
begotten,' and that 'he was made of things which are not'; or those that
say 'the Son of God is of another hypostasis' or 'substance than the
Father,' or that 'he is mutable, or susceptible of change.'

   '"I, Eustathius, bishop of the city of Sebastia, with Theophilus and
Silvanus, delegates of the Synod of Lampsacus, Smyrna, and other places,
have voluntarily subscribed this confession of faith with our own hands.
And if, after the publication of this creed, any one shall presume to
calumniate either us, or those who sent us, let him come with the letters
of your holiness before such orthodox bishops as your sanctity shall
approve of, and bring the matter to an issue with us before them; and if
any charge shall be substantiated, let the guilty be punished."'

   Liberius having securely pledged the delegates by this document,
received them into communion, and afterwards dismissed them with this
letter:

The Letter of Liberius Bishop of Rome, to the Bishops of the Macedonians.

   To our beloved brethren and fellow-ministers, Evethius, Cyril,
Hyperechius, Uranius, Heron, Elpidius, Maximus, Eusebius, Eucarpius, Heor-
tasius, Neon, Eumathius, Faustinus, Proclinus, Pasinicus, Arsenius,
Severus, Didymion, Brittanius, Callicrates, Dalmatius, Aedesius, Eusto-
chius, Ambrose, Gelonius, Pardalius, Macedonius, Paul, Marcellus,
Heraclius, Alexander, Adolius, Marcian, Sthenelus, John, Macer, Charisius,
Silvanus, Photinus, Anthony, Aythus, Celsus, Euphranon, Milesius,
Patricius, Severian, Eusebius, Eumolpius, Athanasius, Diophantus, Meno-
dorus, Diocles, Chrysampelus, Neon, Eugenius, Eustathius, Callicrates,
Arsenius, Eugenius, Martyrius, Hieracius, Leontius, Philagrius, Lucius, and
to all the orthodox bishops in the East, Liberius bishop of Italy, and the
bishops throughout the West, salutations always in the Lord.

   Your letters, beloved brethren, resplendent with the light of faith,
delivered to us by our highly esteemed brethren, the bishops Eustathius,
Silvanus, and Theophilus, brought to us the much longed-for joy of peace
and concord: and this chiefly because they have demonstrated and assured us
that your opinion and sentiments are in perfect harmony with those both of
our insignificance, and also with those of all the bishops in Italy and the
Western parts. We knowledge this to be the Catholic and Apostolic faith,
which until the time of the Synod at Nicaea had continued unadulterated and
unshaken. This creed your legates have professed that they themselves hold,
and to our great joy have obliterated every vestige and impression of an
injurious suspicion, by attesting it not only in word, but also in writing.
We have deemed it proper to subjoin to these letters a copy of this their
declaration, lest we should leave any pretext to the heretics for entering
into a fresh conspiracy, by which they might stir up the smouldering embers
of their own malice, and according to their custom, rekindle the flames of
discord. Moreover our most esteemed brethren, Eustathius Silvanus, and
Theophilus, have professed this also, both that they themselves, and also
your love, have always held, and will maintain unto the last, the creed
approved of at Nicaea by 318 Orthodox Bishops; which contains the perfect
truth, and both confutes and overthrows the whole swarm of heretics. For it
was not of their own will, but by Divine appointment that so great a number
of bishops was collected against the madness of Arius, as equaled that of
those by whose assistance blessed Abraham through faith destroyed so many
thousand of his enemies. (10) This faith being comprehended in the terms
hypostasis and homoousios, like a strong and impregnable fortress checks
and repels all the assaults and vain machinations of Arian perverseness.
Wherefore when all the Western bishops were assembled at Ariminum, whither
the craft of the Arians had drawn them, in order that either by deceptive
persuasions, or to speak more truly, by the coercion of the secular power,
they might erase, or indirectly revoke what had been introduced into the
creed with so much prudence, their subtlety was not of the least avail. For
almost all those who at Ariminum were either allured into error, or at that
time deceived, have since taken a fight view of the matter; and after
anathematizing the exposition of faith set forth by those who were convened
at Ariminum, have subscribed the Catholic and Apostolic Creed which was
promulgated at Nicaea. They have entered into communion with us, and regard
the dogma of Arius and his disciples with increased aversion, and are even
indignant against it. Of which fact when the legates of your love saw the
indubitable evidences, they annexed yourselves to their own subscription;
anathematizing Arius, and what was transacted at Ariminum against the creed
ratified at Nicaea, to which even you yourselves, beguiled by perjury, were
induced to subscribe. Whence it appeared suitable to us to write to your
love, and to accede to your just request, especially since we are assured
by the profession of your legates that the Eastern bishops have recovered
their senses, and now concur in opinion with the orthodox of the West. We
further give you to understand, lest ye should be ignorant of it, that the
blasphemies of the Synod of Ariminum have been anathematized by those who
seem to have been at that time deceived by fraud, and that all have
acknowledged the Nicene Creed. It is fit therefore that it should be made
generally known by you that such as have had their faith vitiated by
violence or guile, may now emerge from heretical darkness into the Divine
light of catholic liberty. Moreover whosoever of them, after this council,
shall not disgorge the poison of corrupt doctrine, by abjuring all the
blasphemies of Arius, and anathematizing them, let them know that they are
themselves, together with Arius and his disciples and the rest of the
serpents, whether Sabellians, Patripassians, or the followers of any other
heresy, dissevered and excommunicated from the assemblies of the Church,
which does not admit of illegitimate children. May God preserve you
steadfast, beloved brethren.

   When the adherents of Eustathius had received this letter, they
proceeded to Sicily, where they caused a Synod of Sicilian bishops to be
convened, and in their presence avowed the homoousian faith, and professed
their adherence to the Nicene Creed: then having received from them also a
letter to the same effect as the preceding, they returned to those who had
sent them. They on their part, on the receipt of the letters of Liberius,
sent delegates from city to city to the prominent supporters of the
doctrine of the homoousion, exhorting them to assemble simultaneously at
Tarsus in Cilicia, in order to confirm the Nicene Creed, and terminate all
the contentions which had subsequently arisen. And indeed this would
probably have been accomplished had not the Arian bishop, Eudoxius, who at
that time possessed great influence with the emperor, thwarted their
purpose; for on learning of the Synod that bad been summoned to meet [at
Tarsus], he became so exasperated that he redoubled his persecution against
them. That the Macedonians by sending legates to Liberius were admitted to
communion with him, and professed the Nicene Creed, is attested by Sabinus
himself, in his Collection of Synodical Transactions.

CHAPTER XIII: Eunomius separates from Eudoxius; a Disturbance is raised at
Alexandria by Endoxius, and Athanasius flees into Voluntary Exile again,
but in Consequence of the Clamors of the People the Emperor recalls and re-
establishes him in his See.

   ABOUT the same time Eunomius (1) separated himself from Eudoxius, and
held assemblies apart, because after he had repeatedly entreated that his
preceptor Aetius might be received into communion, Eudoxius continued to
oppose it. Now Eudoxius did this against his preference, for he did not
reject the opinion with Aetius since it was the same as his own; (2) but he
yielded to the prevailing sentiment of his own party, who objected to
Aetius as heterodox. This was the cause of the division between Eunomius
and Eudoxius, and such was the state of things at Constantinople. But the
church at Alexandria was disturbed by an edict of the praetorian prefects,
sent hither by means of Eudoxius. Whereupon Athanasius, dreading the
irrational impetuosity of the multitude, and fearing lest he should be
regarded as the author of the excesses that might be committed, concealed
himself for four entire months in an ancestral tomb. Inasmuch however as
the people, on account of their affection for him, became seditious in
impatience of his absence, the emperor, on ascertaining that on this
account agitation pre-railed at Alexandria, ordered by his letters that
Athanasius should be suffered to preside over the churches without
molestation; and this was the reason why the Alexandrian church enjoyed
tranquillity until the death of Athanasius. How the Arian faction became
possessed of the churches after his decease, we shall unfold in the course
of our history. (3)

CHAPTER XIV: The Arians ordain Demophilus after the Death of Eudoxius at
Constantinople; but the Orthodox Party constitute Evagrius his Successor.

   THE Emperor Valens leaving Constantinople again set out towards
Antioch; but on his arrival at Nicomedia, a city of Bithynia, his progress
was arrested by the following circumstances. Eudoxius the bishop of the
Arian church who has been in possession of the seat of the
Constantinopolitan church for nineteen (1) years, died soon after the
emperor's departure from that city, in the third consulate (2) of
Valentinian and Valens. The Arians therefore appointed Demophilus to
succeed him; but the Homoousians considering that an opportunity was
afforded them, elected a certain Evagrius, a person who maintained their
own principles; and Eustathius, who had been bishop of Antioch, formally
ordained him. He had been recalled from exile by Jovian, and had at this
time privately come to Constantinople, for the purpose of confirming the
adherents to the doctrine of the homoousion.

CHAPTER XV: The Emperor banishes Evagrius and Eustathius. The Arians
persecute the Orthodox.

   WHEN this had been accomplished the Arians renewed their persecution of
the Homoousians: and the emperor was very soon informed of what had taken
place, and apprehending the subversion of the city in consequence of some
popular tumult, immediately sent troops from Nicomedia to Constantinople;
ordering that both he who had been ordained, and the one who had ordained
him, should be apprehended and sent into exile in different regions.
Eustathius therefore was banished to Bizya a city of Thrace; and Evagrius
was conveyed to another place. After this the Arians, becoming bolder,
grievously harassed the orthodox party, frequently beating them, reviling
them, causing them to be imprisoned, and fined; in short they practiced
distressing and intolerable annoyances against them. The sufferers were
induced to appeal to the emperor for protection against their adversaries
if haply they might obtain some relief from this oppression. But whatever
hope of redress they might have cherished from this quarter, was altogether
frustrated, inasmuch as they thus merely spread their grievances before him
who was the very author of them.

CHAPTER XVI: Certain Presbyters burnt in a Ship by Order of Valens. Famine
in Phrygia.

   CERTAIN pious men of the clerical order, eighty in number, among whom
Urbanus, Theodore, and Menedemus were the leaders, proceeded to Nicomedia,
and there presented to the emperor a supplicatory petition, informing him
and complaining of the ill-usage to which they had been subjected. The
emperor was filled with wrath; but dissembled his displeasure in their
presence, and gave Modestus the prefect a secret order to apprehend these
persons, and put them to death. The manner in which they were destroyed
being unusual, deserves to be recorded. The prefect fearing that he should
excite the populace to a seditious movement against himself, if he
attempted the public execution of so many, pretended to send the men away
into exile. Accordingly as they received the intelligence of their destiny
with great firmness of mind the prefect ordered that they should be
embarked as if to be conveyed to their several places of banishment, having
meanwhile enjoined on the sailors to set the vessel on fire, as soon as
they reached the mid sea, that their victims being so destroyed, might even
be deprived of burial. This injunction was obeyed; for when they arrived at
the middle of the Astacian Gulf, the crew set fire to the ship, and then
took refuge in a small barque which followed them, and so escaped.
Meanwhile it came to pass that a strong easterly wind blew, and the burning
ship was roughly driven but moved faster and was preserved until it reached
a port named Dacidizus, where it was utterly consumed together with the men
who were shut up in it. Many have asserted that this impious deed was not
suffered to go unpunished: for there immediately after arose so great a
famine throughout all Phrygia, that a large proportion of the inhabitants
were obliged to abandon their country for a time, and betake themselves
some to Constantinople and some to other provinces. For Constantinople,
notwithstanding the vast population it supplies, yet always abounds with
the necessaries of life, all manner of provisions being imported into it by
sea from various regions; and the Euxine which lies near it, furnishes it
with wheat to any extent it may require. (1)

CHAPTER XVII: The Emperor Valens, while at Antioch, again persecutes the
Adherents of the 'Homoousion.'

   THE Emperor Valens, little affected by the  calamities resulting from
the famine, went to Antioch in Syria, and during his residence there
cruelly persecuted such as would not embrace Arianism. For not content with
ejecting out of almost all the churches of the East those who maintained
the 'homoousian' opinion, he inflicted on them various punishments besides.
He destroyed a greater number even than before, delivering them up to many
different kinds of death, but especially drowning in the river.

CHAPTER XVIII: Events at Edessa: Constancy of the Devout Citizens, and
Courage of a Pious Woman.

   BUT we must here mention certain circumstances that occurred at Edessa
in Mesopotamia. There is in that city a magnificent church (1) dedicated to
St. Thomas the Apostle, wherein, on account of the sanctity of the place,
religious assemblies are incessantly held. The Emperor Valens wishing to
inspect this edifice, and having learnt that all who usually congregated
there were opposed to the heresy which he favored, he is said to have
struck the prefect with his own hand, because he had neglected to expel
them thence also. As the prefect after submitting to this ignominy, was
most unwillingly constrained to subserve the emperor's indignation against
them,-- for he did not desire to effect the slaughter of so great a number
of persons, --he privately suggested that no one should be found there. But
no one gave heed either to his admonitions or to his menaces; for on the
following day they all crowded to the church. (2) And when the prefect was
going towards it with a large military force in order to satisfy the
emperor's rage, a poor woman leading her own little child by the hand
hurried hastily by, on her way to the church, breaking through the ranks of
the prefect's company of soldiers. The prefect irritated at this, ordered
her to be brought to him, and thus addressed her: Wretched woman! whither
are you running in so disorderly a manner?' She replied, 'To the same place
that others are hastening.' Have you not heard,' said he, 'that the prefect
is about to put to death all that shall be found there ?' 'Yes,' said the
woman, 'and therefore I hasten that I may be found there.' 'And whither are
you dragging that little child?' said the prefect: the woman answered,
'That he also may be made worthy of martyrdom.' (3) The prefect on hearing
these things, conjecturing that a similar resolution actuated the others
who were assembled there, immediately went back to the emperor, and
informed him that all were ready to die in behalf of their own faith. He
added that it would be preposterous to destroy so many persons at one time,
and thus persuaded the emperor to control his wrath. In this way were the
Edessenes preserved from being massacred by order of their sovereign.

CHAPTER XIX: Slaughter of Many Persons by Valens an Account of their Names,
in Consequence of a Heathen Prediction. (1)

   THE cruel disposition of the emperor was at this time abused by an
execrable demon, who induced certain curious persons to institute an
inquiry by means of necromancy as to who  should succeed Valens on the
throne. To their magical incantations the demon gave responses not distinct
and unequivocal, but as the general practice is, full of ambiguity; for
displaying the four letters th, e, o, and d he declared that the name of
the successor of Valens began with these; and that it was a compound name.
When the emperor was apprised of this oracle, instead of committing to God,
who alone can penetrate futurity, the decision of this matter, in
contravention of those Christian principles to which he pretended the most
zealous adherence, he put to death very many persons of whom he had the
suspicion that they aimed at the sovereign power: thus such as were named
'Theodore,' 'Theodotus,' ' Theodosius,' 'Theodulus,' and the like, were
sacrificed to the emperor's fears; and among the rest was Theodosiolus, a
very brave man, descended from a noble family in Spain. Many persons
therefore, to avoid the danger to which they were exposed, changed their
names, giving up those which they had received from their parents in
infancy as dangerous. This will be enough on that subject.

CHAPTER XX: Death of Athanasius, and Elevation of Peter to His See. (1)

   IT must be said that as long as Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, was
alive, the emperor, restrained by the Providence of God, abstained from
molesting Alexandria and Egypt: indeed he knew very well that the multitude
of those who were attached to Athanasius was very great; and on that
account he was careful lest the public affairs should be hazarded, by the
Alexandrians, who are an irritable race, being excited to sedition. But
Athanasius, after being engaged in so many and such severe conflicts on
behalf of the church, departed this life in the second consulate (2) of
Gratian and Probus, having governed that church amidst the greatest perils
forty-six years. He left as his successor Peter, a devout and eloquent man.

CHAPTER XXI: The Arians are allowed by the Emperor to imprison Peter and to
set Lucius over the See of Alexandria.

   UPON this the Arians, emboldened by their knowledge of the emperor's
religious sentiments, again took courage, and without delay informed him of
the circumstance. He was then residing at Antioch. Then indeed Euzoius who
presided over the Arians of that city, eagerly embracing the favorable
opportunity thus presented, begged permission to go to Alexandria, for the
purpose of putting Lucius the Arian in possession of the churches there.
The emperor acceded to this request, and as speedily as possible Euzoius
proceeded forthwith to Alexandria, attended by the imperial troops. Magnus,
also, the emperor's treasurer, went with him. Moreover an imperial mandate
had been issued to Palladius, the governor of Egypt, enjoining him to aid
them with a military force. Wherefore having apprehended Peter, they cast
him into prison; and after dispersing the rest of the clergy, they placed
Lucius in the episcopal chair.

CHAPTER XXII: Silence of Sabinus on the Misdeeds of the Arians; Flight of
Peter to Rome; Massacre of the Solitaries at the Instigation of the Arians.

   OF the outrages perpetrated upon the installation of Lucius, and the
treatment of those who were ejected, both in the courts and outside of the
courts, and how some were subjected to a variety of tortures, and others
sent into exile even after this excruciating process, Sabinus takes not the
slightest notice. In fact, being half disposed to Arianism himself, he
purposely veils the atrocities of his friends. Peter, however, has exposed
them, in the letters he addressed to all the churches, when he had escaped
from prison. For this [bishop] having managed to escape from prison, fled
to Damasus, bishop of Rome. The Arians though not very numerous, becoming
thus possessed of the Alexandrian churches soon after obtained an imperial
edict directing the governor of Egypt to expel not only from Alexandria but
even out of the country, the favorers of the 'homoousian' doctrine, and all
such as were obnoxious to Lucius. After this they assailed and disturbed
and terribly harassed the monastic institutions in the desert; armed men
rushed in the most ferocious manner upon those who were utterly
defenceless, and who would not lift an arm to repel their violence: so that
numbers of unresisting victims were in this manner slaughtered with a
degree of wanton cruelty beyond description.

CHAPTER XXIII: The Deeds of Same Holy Persons who devoted themselves to a
Solitary Life. (1)

   SINCE I have referred to the monasteries of Egypt, it may be proper
here to give a brief account of them. They were founded probably at a very
early period, but were greatly enlarged and augmented by a devout man whose
name was Ammoun. In his youth this person had an aversion to matrimony; but
when some of his relatives urged him not to contemn marriage, but to take a
wife to himself, he was prevailed upon and was married. On leading the
bride with the customary ceremonies from the banquet-room to the nuptial
couch, after their mutual friends had withdrawn, he took a book (2)
containing the epistles of the apostles and read to his wife Paul's Epistle
to the Corinthians, explaining to her the apostle's admonitions to married
persons. (3) Adducing many external considerations besides, he descanted on
the inconveniences and discomforts attending matrimonial intercourse, the
pangs of child-bearing, and the trouble and anxiety connected with rearing
a family. He contrasted with all this the advantages of chastity; described
the liberty, and immaculate purity of a life of continence; and affirmed
that virginity places persons in the nearest relation to the Deity. By
these and other arguments of a similar kind, he persuaded his virgin bride
to renounce with him a secular life, prior to their having any conjugal
knowledge of each other. Having taken this resolution, they retired
together to the mountain of Nitria, and in a hut there inhabited for a
short time one common ascetic apartment, without regarding their difference
of sex, being according to the apostles, 'one in Christ.' (4) But not long
after, the recent and unpolluted bride thus addressed Ammoun: 'It is
unsuitable,' said she, 'for you who practice chastity, to look upon a woman
in so confined a dwelling; let us therefore, if it is agreeable to you,
perform our exercise apart.' This agreement again was satisfactory to both,
and so they separated, and spent the rest of their lives in abstinence from
wine and oil, eating dry bread alone, sometimes passing over one day, at
others fasting two, and sometimes more. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria,
asserts in his Life of Anthony, (5) that the subject of his memoir who was
contemporary with this Ammoun, saw his soul taken up by angels after his
decease. Accordingly, a great number of persons emulated Ammoun's manner of
life, so that by degrees the mountains of Nitria and Scitis were filled
with monks, an account of whose lives would require an express work. As,
however, there were among them persons of eminent piety, distinguished for
their strict discipline and apostolic lives, who said and did many things
worthy of being recorded, I deem it useful to interweave with my history a
few particulars selected out of the great number for the information of my
readers. It is said that Ammoun never saw himself naked, being accustomed
to say that 'it became not a monk to see even his own person exposed.' And
when once he wanted to pass a river, but was unwilling to undress, he
besought God to enable him to cross without his being obliged to break his
resolution; and immediately an angel transported him to the other side of
the river. Another monk named Didymus (6) lived entirely alone to the day
of his death, although he had reached the age of ninety years. Arsenius,
another of them, would not separate young delinquents from communion, but
only those that were advanced in age: 'for,' said he, when a young person
is excommunicated he becomes hardened; but an elderly one is soon sensible
of the misery of excommunication.' Pior was accustomed to take his food as
he walked along. As a certain one asked him, 'Why do you eat thus?' 'That I
may not seem,' said he, 'to make eating serious business but rather a thing
done by the way.' To another putting the same question he replied, 'Lest
even in eating my mind should be sensible of corporeal enjoyment.' Isidore
affirmed that he had not been conscious of sin even in thought for forty
years; and that he had never consented either to lust or anger. Pambos
being an illiterate man went to some one for the purpose of being taught a
psalm; and having heard the first verse of the thirty-eighth psalm, 'I said
I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my tongue,' (7) he
departed without staying to hear the second verse, saying, 'this one will
suffice, if I can practically acquire it.' And when the person who had
given him the verse reproved him because he had not seen him for the space
of six months, he answered that he had not yet learnt to practice the verse
of the psalm. After a considerable lapse of time, being asked by one of his
friends whether he had made himself master of the verse, his answer was, 'I
have scarcely succeeded in accomplishing it during nineteen years.' A
certain individual having placed gold in his hands for distribution to the
poor, requested him to reckon what he had given him. 'There is no need of
counting,' said he, 'but of integrity of mind.' This same Pambos, at the
desire of Athanasius the bishop, came out of the desert to Alexandria and
on beholding an actress there, he wept. When those present asked him why he
wept, he replied, 'Two causes have affected me: one is the destruction of
this woman; the other is that I exert myself less to please my God than she
does to please obscene characters.' Another said that 'a monk who did not
work ought to be regarded as on a level with the covetous man.' Piterus was
well-informed in many branches of natural philosophy, and was accustomed
frequently to enter into expositions of the principles sometimes of one and
sometimes of another department of science, but he always commenced his
expositions with prayer. There were also among the monks of that period,
two of the same name, of great sanctity, each being called Macarius; one of
whom was from Upper Egypt, the other from the city of Alexandria. Both were
celebrated for their ascetic discipline, the purity of their life and
conversation, and the miracles which were wrought by their hands. The
Egyptian Macarius performed so many cures, and cast out so many devils,
that it would require a distinct treatise to record all that the grace of
God enabled him to do. His manner toward those who resorted to him was
austere, yet at the same time calculated to inspire veneration. The
Alexandrian Macarius, while in all respects resembling his Egyptian
namesake, differed from him in this, that he was always cheerful to his
visitors; and by the affability of his manners led many young men to
asceticism. Evagrius (8) became a disciple of these men, acquired from them
the philosophy of deeds, whereas he had previously known that which
consisted in words only. He was ordained deacon at Constantinople by
Gregory of Nazianzus, and afterwards went with him into Egypt, where he
became acquainted with these eminent persons, and emulated their course of
conduct, and miracles were done by his hands as numerous and important as
those of his preceptors. Books were also composed by him of very valuable
nature, one of which is entitled The Monk, or, On Active Virtue; another
The Gnostic, (9) or, To him who is deemed worthy of Knowledge: this book is
divided into fifty chapters. A third is designated Antirrheticus, and
contains selections from the Holy Scriptures against tempting spirits,
distributed into eight parts, according to the number of the arguments. He
wrote moreover Six Hundred Prognostic Problems, and also two compositions
in verse, one addressed To the Monks living in Communities, and the other
To the Virgin. Whoever shall read these productions will be convinced of
their excellence. It will not be out of place here, I conceive, to subjoin
to what has been before stated, a few things mentioned by him respecting
the monks. These are his words: (10)

   It becomes us to enquire into the habits of the pious monks who have
preceded us, in order that we may correct ourselves by their example: for
undoubtedly very many excellent things have been said and done by them. One
of them was accustomed to say, that 'a drier and not irregular diet
combined with love, would quickly conduct a monk into the haven of
tranquillity.' The same individual freed one of his brethren from being
troubled by apparitions at night, by enjoining him to minister while
fasting to the sick. And being asked why he prescribed this: 'Such
affections,' said he, 'are by nothing so effectually dissipated as by the
exercise of compassion.' A certain philosopher of those times coming to
Anthony the Just, said to him, 'How can you endure, father, being deprived
of the comfort of books?' 'My book, O philosopher,' replied Anthony, 'is
the nature of things that are made, and it is present whenever I wish to
read the words of God.' That 'chosen vessel, (11) the aged Egyptian
Macarius, asked me, why the strength of the faculty of memory is impaired
by cherishing the remembrance of injury received from men; while by
remembering those done us by devils it remains uninjured? And when I
hesitated, scarcely knowing what answer to make, and begged him to account
for it: 'Because,' said he, 'the former is an affection contrary to nature,
and the latter is conformable to the nature of the mind.' Going on one
occasion to the holy father Macarius about mid-day, and being overcome with
the heat and thirst, I begged for some water to drink: 'Content yourself
with the shade,' was his reply, 'for many who are now journeying by land,
or sailing on the deep, are deprived even of this.' Discussing with him
afterwards the subject of abstinence, 'Take courage, my son,' said he: 'for
twenty years I have neither eaten, drunk, nor slept to satiety; my bread
has always been weighed, my water measured, and what little sleep I have
had has been stolen by reclining myself against a wall.' (12) The death of
his father was announced to one of the monks 'Cease your blasphemy,' said
he to the person that told him; 'my father is immortal.' One of the
brethren who possessed nothing but a copy of the Gospels, sold it, and
distributed the price in food to the hungry, uttering this memorable
saying--'I have sold the book which says, "Sell that thou hast and give to
the poor." ' (13) There is an island about the northern part of the city of
Alexandria, beyond the lake called Maria, where a monk from Parembole (14)
dwells, in high repute among the Gnostics. This person was accustomed to
say, that all the deeds of the monks were done for one of these five
reasons;-- on account of God, nature, custom, necessity, or manual labor.
The same also said that there was only one virtue in nature, but that it
assumes various characteristics according to the dispositions of the soul:
just as the light of the sun is itself without form, but accommodates
itself to the figure of that which receives it. Another of the monks said,
'I withdraw myself from pleasures, in order to cut off the occasions of
anger: for I know that it always contends for pleasures, disturbing my
tranquillity of mind, and unfitting me for the attainment of knowledge.'
One of the aged monks said that 'Love knows not how to keep a deposit
either of provisions or money.' He added, 'I never remember to have been
twice deceived by the devil in the same thing.' Thus wrote Evagrius in his
book entitled Practice. (15) And in that which he called The Gnostic he
says, 'We have learned from Gregory the Just, that there are four virtues,
having distinct characteristics:--prudence and fortitude, temperance and
justice. That it is the province of prudence to contemplate the sacred and
intelligent powers apart from expression, because these are unfolded by
wisdom: of fortitude to adhere to truth against all opposition, and never
to turn aside to that which is unreal: of temperance to receive seed from
the chief husbandman, (16) but to repel him who would sow over it seed of
another kind: and finally, of justice to adapt discourse to every one,
according to their condition and capacity; stating some things obscurely,
others in a figurative manner, and explaining others clearly for the
instruction of the less intelligent.' That pillar of truth, Basil of
Cappadocia, used to say that 'the knowledge which men teach is perfected by
constant study and exercise; but that which proceeds from the grace of God,
by the practice of justice, patience, and mercy.' That the former indeed is
often developed in persons who are still subject to the passions; whereas
the latter is the portion of those only who are superior to their
influence, and who during the season of devotion, contemplate that peculiar
light of the mind which illumines them. That luminary of the Egyptians,
holy Athanasius, assures us 'that Moses was commanded to place the table on
the north (17) side. Let the Gnostics therefore understand what wind is
contrary to them, and so nobly endure every temptation, and minister
nourishment with a willing mind to those who apply to them.' Serapion, the
angel of the church of the Thmuitae, declared that 'the mind is completely
purified by drinking in spiritual knowledge': that 'charity cures the
inflammatory tendencies of the soul'; and that 'the depraved lusts which
spring up in it are restrained by abstinence.' 'Exercise thyself
continually,' said the great and enlightened teacher Didymus,' in
reflecting on providence and judgment; and endeavor to bear in memory the
material of whatever discourses thou mayst have heard on these topics, for
almost all fail in this respect. Thou wilt find reasonings concerning
judgment in the difference of created forms, and the constitution of the
universe: sermons on providence comprehended in those means by which we are
led from vice and ignorance to virtue and knowledge.'

   These few extracts from Evagrius we thought it would be appropriate to
insert here. There was another excellent man among the monks, named
Ammonius, who had so little interest in secular matters, that when he went
to Rome with Athanasius, he chose to investigate none of the magnificent
works of that city, con-tenting himself with examining the Cathedral of
Peter and Paul only. This same Ammonius on being urged to enter upon the
episcopal office, cut off his own right ear, that by mutilation of his
person he might disqualify himself for ordination. But when long afterwards
Evagrius, whom Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, wished to make a bishop,
having effected his escape without maiming himself in any way, afterwards
happened to meet Ammonius, and told him jocosely, that he had done wrong in
cutting off his own ear, as he had by that means rendered himself criminal
in the sight of God. To which Ammonius replied, 'And do you think,
Evagrius, that you will not be punished, who from self-love have cut out
your own tongue, to avoid the exercise of that gift of utterance which has
been committed to you?' There were at the same time in the monasteries very
many other admirable and devout characters whom it would be too tedious to
enumerate in this place, and besides if we should attempt to describe the
life of each, and the miracles they did by means of that sanctity with
which they were endowed, we should necessarily digress too far from the
object we have in view. Should any one desire to become acquainted with
their history, in reference both to their deeds and experiences and
discourses for the edification of their auditors, as well as how wild
beasts became subject to their authority, there is a specific treatise as
on the subject, composed by the monk Palladius, who was a disciple of
Evagrius, and gives all these particulars in minute detail. In that work he
also mentions several women, who practiced the same kind of austerities as
the men that have been referred to. Both Evagrius and Palladius flourished
a short time after the death of Valens. We must now return to the point
whence we diverged.

CHAPTER XXIV: Assault upon the Monks, and Banishment of their Superiors,
who exhibit Miraculous Power.

   THE emperor Valens having issued an edict commanding that the orthodox
should be persecuted both in Alexandria and in the test of Egypt,
depopulation and ruin to an immense extent immediately followed: some were
dragged before the tribunals, others cast into prison, and many tortured in
various ways, and in fact all sorts of punishments were inflicted upon
persons who aimed only at peace and quiet. When these outrages had been
perpetrated at Alexandria just as Lucius thought proper, Euzoius returned
to Antioch, and Lucian the Arian, attended by the commander-in-chief of the
army with a considerable body of troops, immediately proceeded to the
monasteries of Egypt, where the general in person assailed the assemblage
of holy men with greater fury even than the ruthless soldiery. On reaching
these solitudes they found the monks engaged in their customary exercises,
praying, healing diseases, and casting out devils. Yet they, regardless of
these extraordinary evidences of Divine power, suffered them not to
continue their solemn devotions, but drove them out of the oratories by
force. Rufinus declares that he was not only a witness of these cruelties,
but also one of the sufferers. Thus in them were renewed those things which
are spoken of by the apostle: (1) 'for they were mocked, and had trial of
scourgings, were stripped naked, put in bonds, stoned, slain with the
sword, went about in the wilderness clad in sheep-skins and goat-skins,
being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy,
wandering in deserts, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.' In all
these things 'they obtained a good report' for their faith and their works,
and the cures which the grace of Christ wrought by their hands. But as it
appears Divine Providence permitted them to endure these evils, 'having for
them provided something better,' (2) that through their sufferings others
might obtain the salvation of God, and this subsequent events seem to
prove. When therefore these wonderful men proved superior to all the
violence which was exercised toward them, Lucius in despair advised the
military chief to send the fathers of the monks into exile: these were the
Egyptian Macarius, and his namesake of Alexandria, both of whom were
accordingly banished to an island where there was no Christian inhabitant,
and in this island there was an idolatrous temple, and a priest whom the
inhabitants worshiped as a god. On the arrival of these holy men at the
island, the demons of that place were filled with fear and trepidation. Now
it happened at the same time that the priest's daughter became suddenly
possessed by a demon, and began to act with great fury, and to overturn
everything that came in her way; nor was any force sufficient to restrain
her, but she cried with a loud voice to these saints of God, saying: --
'Why are ye come here to cast us out from hence also?' (3) Then did the men
there also display the peculiar power which they had received through
Divine grace: for having east out the demon from the maid, and presented
her cured to her father, they led the priest himself, and also all the
inhabitants of the island to the Christian faith. Whereupon they
immediately brake their images in pieces, and changed the form of their
temple into that of a church; and having been baptized, they joyfully
received instruction in the doctrines of Christianity. Thus these marvelous
individuals, after enduring persecution on account of the 'homoousian'
faith, were themselves more approved, became the means of salvation to
others, and confirmed the truth.

CHAPTER XXV: Of Didymus the Blind Man. (1)

   ABOUT the same period God brought into observation another faithful
person, deeming it worthy that through him faith might be witnessed unto:
this was Didymus, a most admirable and eloquent man, instructed in all the
learning of the age in which he flourished. At a very early age, when he
had scarcely acquired the first elements of learning, he was attacked by
disease in the eyes which deprived him of sight. But God compensated to him
the loss of corporeal vision, by bestowing increased intellectual acumen.
For what he could not learn by seeing, he was enabled to acquire through
the sense of hearing; so that being from his childhood endowed with
excellent abilities, he soon far surpassed his youthful companions who
possessed the keenest sight. He made himself master of the principles of
grammar and rhetoric with astonishing facility; and proceeded thence to
philosophical studies, dialectics, arithmetic, music, and the various other
departments of knowledge to which his attention was directed; and he so
treasured up in his mind these branches of science, that he was prepared
with the utmost readiness to enter into a discussion of these subjects with
those who had become conversant therewith by reading books. Not only this,
but he was so well acquainted with the Divine oracles contained in the Old
and New Testament that he composed several treatises in exposition of them,
besides three books on the Trinity. He published also commentaries (2) on
Origen's book Of Principles, in which he commends these writings, saying
that they are excellent, and that those who calumniate their author, and
speak slightingly of his works, are mere cavilers, 'For,' says he, 'they
are destitute of sufficient penetration to comprehend the profound wisdom
of that extraordinary man.' Those who may desire to form a just idea of the
extensive erudition of Didymus, and the intense ardor of his mind, must
peruse with attention his diversified and elaborate works. It is said that
after Anthony had conversed for some time with this Didymus, long before
the reign of Valens, when he came from the desert to Alexandria on account
of the Arians, perceiving the learning and intelligence of the man, he said
to hire, 'Didymus, let not the loss of your bodily eyes distress you: for
you are deprived of such eyes merely as are the common possession of gnats
and flies; rather rejoice that you have eyes such as angels see with, by
which the Deity himself is discerned, and his light comprehended.' This
address of the pious Anthony to Didymus was made long before the times we
are describing: in fact Didymus was then regarded as the great bulwark of
the true faith, answering the Arians, whose sophistic cavilings he fully
exposed, triumphantly refuting all their vain subtleties and deceptive
reasonings.

CHAPTER XXVI: Of Basil of Caesarea, and Gregory of Nazianzus. (1)

   Now Providence opposed Didymus to the Arians at Alexandria. But for the
purpose of confuting them in other cities, it raised up Basil of Caesarea
and Gregory of Nazianzus; concerning these it will be reasonable to give a
brief account in this place. Indeed the universally prevalent memory of the
men would be enough as a token of their fame; and the extent of their
knowledge is sufficiently perceptible in their writings. Since, however,
the exercise of their talents was of great service to the Church, tending
in a high degree to the maintenance of the catholic faith, the nature of my
history obliges me to take particular notice of these two persons. If any
one should compare Basil and Gregory with one another, and consider the
life, morals, and virtues of each, he would find it difficult to decide to
which of them he ought to assign the pre-eminence: so equally did they both
appear to excel, whether you regard the rectitude of their conduct, or
their deep acquaintance with Greek literature and the sacred Scriptures. In
their youth they were pupils at Athens of Himerius (2) and Prohaeresius,
(3) the most celebrated sophists of that age: subsequently they frequented
the school of Libanius (4) at Antioch in Syria, where they cultivated
rhetoric to the utmost. Having been deemed worthy of the profession of
sophistry, they were urged by many of their friends to enter the profession
of teaching eloquence; others would have persuaded them to practice law:
but despising both these pursuits, they abandoned their former studies, and
embraced the monastic life. Having had some slight taste of philosophical
science from him who then taught it at Antioch, they procured Origen's
works, and drew from them the right interpretation of the sacred
Scriptures; for the fame of Origen was very great and widespread throughout
the whole world at that time; after a careful perusal of the writings of
that great man, they contended against the Arians with manifest advantage.
And when the defenders of Arianism quoted the same author in confirmation,
as they imagined, of their own views these two confuted them, and clearly
proved that their opponents did not at all understand the reasoning of
Origen. Indeed, although Eunomius, (5) who was then their champion, and
many others on the side of the Arians were considered men of great
eloquence, yet whenever they attempted to enter into controversy with
Gregory and Basil, they appeared in comparison with them ignorant and
illiterate. Basil being ordained to the office of deacon, was by Meletius,
bishop of Antioch, from that rank elevated to the bishopric of Caesarea in
Cappadocia, which was his native country. Thither he therefore hastened,
fearing lest these Arian dogmas should have infected the provinces of
Pontus; and in order to counteract them, he founded several monasteries,
diligently instructed the people in his own doctrines, and confirmed the
faith of those whose minds were wavering. Gregory being constituted bishop
of Nazianzus, (6) a small city of Cappadocia over which his own father had
before presided, pursued a course similar to that which Basil took; for he
went through the various cities, and strengthened the weak in faith To
Constantinople in particular he made frequent visits, and by his
ministrations there, comforted and assured the orthodox believers,
wherefore a short time after, by the suffrage of many bishops, he was made
bishop of the church at Constantinople. When intelligence of the
proceedings of these two zealous and devoted men reached the ears of the
emperor Valens, he immediately ordered Basil to be brought from Caesarea to
Antioch; (7) where being arraigned before the tribunal of the prefect, that
functionary asked him 'why he would not embrace the emperor's faith?' Basil
with much boldness condemned the errors of that creed which his sovereign
countenanced, and vindicated the doctrine of the homoousion: and when the
prefect threatened him with death, 'Would,' said Basil, 'that I might be
released from the bonds of the body for the truth's sake.' The prefect
having exhorted him to reconsider the matter more seriously, Basil is
reported to have said, 'I am the same to-day that I shall be to-morrow: but
I wish that you had not changed yourself.' At that time, therefore, Basil
remained in custody throughout the day. It happened, however, not long
afterwards that Galates, the emperor's infant son, was attacked with a
dangerous malady, so that the physicians despaired of his recovery; when
the empress Dominica, his mother, assured the emperor that she had been
greatly disquieted in her dreams by fearful visions, which led her to
believe that the child's illness was a chastisement on account of the ill
treatment of the bishop. The emperor after a little reflection sent for
Basil, and in order to prove his faith said to him, 'If the doctrine you
maintain is the truth, pray that my son may not die.' 'If your majesty
should believe as I do,' replied Basil, 'and the church should be unified,
the child shall live.' To these conditions the emperor would not agree:
'God's will concerning the child will be done then,' said Basil; as Basil
said this the emperor ordered him to be dismissed; the child, however, died
shortly after. Such is an epitome of the history of these distinguished
ecclesiastics, both of whom have left us many admirable works, some of
which Rufinus says he has translated into Latin. Basil had two brothers,
Peter and Gregory; the former of whom adopted Basil's monastic mode of
life; while the latter emulated his eloquence in teaching, and completed
after his death Basil's treatise on the Six Days' Work, which had been left
unfinished. He also pronounced at Constantinople the funeral oration of
Meletius, bishop of Antioch; and many other orations of his are still
extant.

CHAPTER XXVII: Of Gregory Thaumaturgus (the Wonder-Worker).

   BUT since from the likeness of the name, and the title of the books
attributed to Gregory, persons are liable to confound very different
parties, it is important to notice that Gregory of Pontus is a different
person. He was a native of Neocaesarea in Pontus, of greater antiquity than
the one above referred to, inasmuch as he was a disciple of Origen. (1)
This Gregory's fame was celebrated at Athens, at Berytus, throughout the
entire diocese of Pontus, and I might almost add in the whole world. When
he had finished his education in the schools of Athens, he went to Berytus
to study civil law, where hearing that Origen expounded the Holy Scriptures
at Caesarea, he quickly proceeded thither; and after his understanding had
been opened to perceive the grandeur of these Divine books, bidding adieu
to all further cultivation of the Roman laws, he became thenceforth
inseparable from Origen, from whom having acquired a knowledge of the true
philosophy, he was recalled soon after by his parents and returned to his
own country; and there, while still a layman, he performed many miracles,
healing the sick, and casting out devils even by his letters, insomuch that
the pagans were no less attracted to the faith by his acts, than by his
discourses. Pamphilus Martyr mentions this person in the books which he
wrote in defence of Origen; to which there is added a commendatory oration
of Gregory's, composed in praise of Origen, when he was under the necessity
of leaving him. There were then, to be brief, several Gregories: the first
and most ancient was the disciple of Origen; the second was the bishop of
Nazianzus; the third was Basil's brother; and there was another Gregory (2)
whom the Arians constituted bishop during the exile of Athanasius. But
enough has been said respecting them.

CHAPTER XXVIII: Of Novatus and his Followers. The Navatians of Phrygia
alter the Time of keeping Easter, following Jewish Usage.

   ABOUT this time the Novatians (1) inhabiting Phrygia changed the day
for celebrating the Feast of Easter. How this happened I shall state, after
first explaining the reason of the strict discipline which is maintained in
their church, even to the present day, in the provinces of Phrygia and
Paphlagonia. Novatus, (2) a presbyter of the Roman Church, separated from
it, because Cornelius the bishop received into communion believers who had
sacrificed during the persecution which the Emperor Decius (3) had raised
against the Church. Having seceded on this account, on being afterwards
elevated to the episcopacy by such bishops as entertained similar
sentiments, he wrote to all the churches (4) that 'they should not admit to
the sacred mysteries those who had sacrificed; but exhorting them to
repentance, leave the pardoning of their offense to God, who has the power
to forgive all sin.' Receiving such letters, the parties in the various
provinces, to whom they were addressed, acted according to their several
dispositions and judgments. As he asked that they should not receive to the
sacraments those who after baptism had committed any deadly sin (5) this
appeared to some a cruel and merciless course: but others received the rule
as just and conducive to the maintenance of discipline, and the promotion
of greater devotedness of life. In the midst of the agitation of this
question, letters arrived from Cornelius the bishop, promising indulgence
to delinquents after baptism. Thus as these two persons wrote contrary to
one another, and each confirmed his own procedure by the testimony of the
Divine word, as it usually happens, every one identified himself with that
view which favored his previous habits and inclinations. Those who had
pleasure in sin, encouraged by the license then granted them, took occasion
from it to revel in every species of criminality. Now the Phrygians appear
to be more temperate than other nations, and are seldom guilty of swearing.
The Scythians, on the other hand, and the Thracians, are naturally of a
very irritable disposition: while the inhabitants of the East are addicted
to sensual pleasures. But the Paphlagonians and Phrygians are prone to
neither of these vices; nor are the sports of the circus and theatrical
exhibitions in much estimation among them even to the present day. And for
this reason, it seems to me, these people, as well as others of the same
character, so readily assented to the letters then written by Novatus.
Fornication and adultery are regarded among them as the grossest
enormities: and it is well known that there is no race of men on the face
of the earth who more rigidly govern their passions in this respect than
the Phrygians and Paphlagonians. The same reason I think had force with
those who dwelt in the West and followed Novatus. Yet although for the sake
of stricter discipline Novatus became a separatist, he made no change in
the time of keeping Easter, (6) but invariably observed the practice that
obtained in the Western churches. For they celebrate this feast after the
equinox, according to the usage which had of old been delivered to them
when first they embraced Christianity. He himself indeed afterwards
suffered martyrdom in the reign of Valerian, (7) during the persecution
which was then raised against the Christians. But those in Phrygia (8) who
are named after him Novatians, about this period changed the day of
celebrating Easter, being averse to communion with other Christians even on
this occasion. This was effected by means of a few obscure bishops of that
sect convening a Synod at the village of Pazum, which is situated near the
sources of the river Sangarius; for there they framed a canon appointing
its observance on the same day as that on which the Jews annually keep the
feast of Unleavened Bread. An aged man, who was the son of a presbyter, and
had been present with his father at this Synod, gave us our information on
this matter. But both Agelius, bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople,
and Maximus of Nicaea, as also the bishops of Nicomedia and Cotyaeum, were
absent, although the ecclesiastical affairs of the Novatians were for the
most part under the control of these bishops. How the church of the
Novatians soon after was divided into two parties in consequence of this
Synod, shall be related in its proper course: (9) but we must now notice
what took place about the same time in the Western parts.

CHAPTER XXIX: Damasus ordained Bishop of Rome. Sedition and Loss of Life
caused by the Rivalry Ursinus.

   WHILE the emperor Valentinian governed in peace, and interfered with no
sect, Damasus after Liberius undertook the administration of the bishopric
at Rome; (1) whereupon a great disturbance was caused on the following
account. (2) A certain Ursinus, a deacon of that church, had been nominated
among others when the election of a bishop took place; as Damasus a was
preferred, this Ursinus, unable to bear the disappointment of his hopes,
held schismatic assemblies apart from the church, and even induced certain
bishops of little distinction to ordain him in secret. This ordination was
made, not in a church, (4) but in a retired place called the Palace of
Sicine, whereupon dissension arose among the people; their disagreement
being not about any article of faith or heresy, but simply as to who should
be bishop. Hence frequent conflicts arose, insomuch that man), lives were
sacrificed in this contention; and many of the clergy as well as laity were
punished on that account by Maximin, the prefect of the city. Thus was
Ursinus obliged to desist from his pretensions at that time, and those who
were minded to follow him were reduced to order.

CHAPTER XXX: Dissension about a Successor to Auxentius, Bishop of Milan.
Ambrose, Governor of the Province, going to appease the Tumult, is by
General Consent and with the Approval of the Emperor Valentinian elected to
the Bishopric of that Church.

   ABOUT the same time it happened that (1) another event took place at
Milan well worthy of being recorded. On the death of Auxentius, who had
been ordained bishop of that church by the Arians, the people again were
disturbed respecting the election of a successor; for as some proposed one
person, and others favored another, the city was full of contention and
uproar. In this state of things the governor of the province, Ambrose by
name, (2) who was also of consular dignity, dreading some catastrophe from
the popular excitement, ran into the church in order to quell the
disturbance. As he arrived there and the people became quiet, he repressed
the irrational fury of the multitude by a long and appropriate address, by
urging such motives as they felt to be right, and all present suddenly came
to an unanimous agreement, crying out 'that Ambrose was worthy of the
bishopric,' and demanding his ordination: 'for by that means only,' it was
alleged, 'would the peace of the church be secured, and all be reunited in
the same faith and judgment.' And inasmuch as such unanimity among the
people appeared to the bishops then present to proceed from some Divine
appointment, immediately they laid hands on Ambrose; and having baptized
him -- for he was then but a catechumen -- they were about to invest him
with the episcopal office. But although Ambrose willingly received baptism,
he with great earnestness refused to be ordained: upon which the bishops
referred the matter to the Emperor Valentinian. This prince regarding the
universal consent of the people as the work of God, sent word to the
bishops to do the will of God by ordaining him; declaring that 'his choice
was by the voice of God rather than by the votes of men.' Ambrose was
therefore ordained; and thus the inhabitants of Milan who were divided
among themselves, were once more restored to unity.

CHAPTER XXXI: Death of Valentinian.

   THE Sarmatae after this having made incursions into the Roman
territories, the emperor marched against them with a numerous army but when
the barbarians understood the formidable nature of this expedition, they
sent an embassy to him to sue for peace on certain conditions. As the
ambassadors were introduced to the emperor's presence, and appeared to him
to be not very dignified fellows, he enquired whether all the Sarmatae were
such as these? As they replied that the noblest personages of their whole
nation had come to him, Valentinian became excessively enraged, and
exclaimed with great vehemence, that 'the Roman empire was indeed most
wretched in devolving upon him at a time when a nation of such despicable
barbarians, not content with being permitted to exist in safety within
their own limits, dared to take up arms, invade the Roman territories, and
break forth into open war.' The violence of his manner and utterance of
these words was so great, that all his veins were opened by the effort, and
all the arteries ruptured; and from the quantity of blood which thereupon
gushed forth he died. This occurred at Bergition Castle, after Gratian's
third consulate (1) in conjunction with Equitius, on the seventeenth day of
November, Valentinian having lived fifty-four years and reigned thirteen.
Upon the decease of Valentinian, six days after his death the army in Italy
proclaimed his son Valentinian, then a young child, emperor, at Acincum, a
city of Italy. (2) When this was announced to the other two emperors, they
were displeased, not because the brother of the one and the nephew of the
other had been declared emperor, but because the military presumed to
proclaim him without consulting them, whom they themselves wished to have
proclaimed. They both, however, ratified the transaction, and thus was
Valentinian the younger seated on his father's throne. Now this Valentinian
was born of Justina, whom Valentinian the elder married while Severa his
former wife was alive, under the following circumstances. Justus the father
of Justina, who had been governor of Picenum under the reign of
Constantius, had a dream in which he seemed to himself to bring forth the
imperial purple out of his right side. When this dream had been told to
many persons, it at length came to the knowledge of Constantius, who
conjecturing it to be a presage that a descendant of Justus would become
emperor, caused him to be assassinated. Justina being thus bereft of her
father, still continued a virgin. Some time after she became known to
Severa, wife of the emperor Valentinian, and had frequent intercourse with
the empress, until their intimacy at length grew to such an extent that
they were accustomed to bathe together. When Severa saw Justina in the bath
she was greatly struck with the beauty of the virgin, and spoke of her to
the emperor; saying that the daughter of Justus was so lovely a creature,
and possessed of such symmetry of form, that she herself, though a woman,
was altogether charmed with her. The emperor, treasuring this description
by his wife in his own mind, considered with himself how he could espouse
Justina, without repudiating Severa, as she had borne him Gratian, whom he
had created Augustus a little while before. He accordingly framed a law,
and caused it to be published throughout all the cities, by which any man
was permitted to have two lawful wives. (3) The law was promulgated and he
married Justina, by whom he had Valentinian the younger, and three
daughters, Justa, Grata, and Galla; the two former of these remained
virgins: but Calla was afterwards married to the emperor Theodosius the
Great, who had by her a daughter named Placidia. For that prince had
Arcadins and Honorius by Flaccilla his former wife: we shall however enter
into particulars respecting Theodosius and his sons in the proper place.
(4)

CHAPTER XXXII: The Emperor Valens, appeased by the Oration of Themistius
the Philosopher, abates his Persecution of the Christians.

   IN the meanwhile Valens, making his residence  at Antioch, was wholly
undisturbed by foreign wars; for the barbarians on every side restrained
themselves within their own boundaries. Nevertheless, he himself waged a
most cruel war against those who maintained the 'homoousian' doctrine,
inflicting on them more grievous punishments every day; until the
philosopher Themistius by his Appealing Oration (1) somewhat moderated his
severity. In this speech he tells the emperor, 'That he ought not to be
surprised at the difference of judgment on religious questions existing
among Christians; inasmuch as that discrepancy was trifling when compared
with the multitude of conflicting opinions current among the heathen; for
these amount to above three hundred; that dissension indeed was an
inevitable consequence of this disagreement; but that God would be the more
glorified by a diversity of sentiment, and the greatness of his majesty be
more venerated, from the fact of its not being easy to have a knowledge of
Him.' The philosopher having said these and similar things, the emperor
became milder, but did not completely give up his wrath; for although he
ceased to put ecclesiastics to death, he continued to send them into exile,
until this fury of his also was repressed by the following event.

CHAPTER XXXIII: The Goths, under the Reign of Valens, embrace Christianity.

   THE barbarians, dwelling beyond the Danube, called the Goths, (1)
having engaged in a civil war among themselves, were divided into two
parties, one of which was headed by Fritigernes, the other by Athanaric.
When the latter had obtained an evident advantage over his rival,
Fritigernes had recourse to the Romans, and implored their assistance
against his adversary. This was reported to the Emperor Valens, and he
ordered the troops which were garrisoned in Thrace to assist those
barbarians who had appealed to him against their more powerful countrymen;
and by means of this subsidy they won a complete victory over Athanaric
beyond the Danube, totally routing the enemy. This became the occasion for
the conversion of many of the barbarians to the Christian religion: (2) for
Fritigernes, to express his sense of the obligation the emperor had
conferred upon him, embraced the religion of his benefactor, and urged
those who were under his authority to do the same. Therefore it is that so
many of the Goths are even to the present time infected with the errors of
Arianism, they having on the occasion preferred to become adherents to that
heresy on the emperor's account. Ulfilas, their bishop at that time,
invented the Gothic letters, (3) and translating the Sacred Scriptures into
their own language, undertook to instruct these barbarians in the Divine
oracles. And as Ulfilas did not re strict his labors to the subjects of
Fritigernes, but extended them to those who acknowledged the sway of
Athanaric also, Athanaric regarding this as a violation of the privileges
of the religion of his ancestors, subjected those who professed
Christianity to severe punishments; so that many of the Arian Goths of that
period became martyrs. Arius indeed, failing in his attempt to refute the
opinion of Sabellius the Libyan, fell from the true faith, and asserted the
Son of God to be 'a new God': (4) but the barbarians embracing Christianity
with greater simplicity of mind despised the present life for the faith of
Christ. With these remarks we shall close our notice of the Christianized
Goths.

CHAPTER XXXIV: Admission of the Fugitive Goths into the Roman Territories,
which caused the Emperor's Overthrow, and eventually the Ruin of the Roman
Empire.

   NOT long after the barbarians had entered into a friendly alliance with
one another, they were again vanquished by other barbarians, their
neighbors, called the Huns; and being driven out of their own country, they
fled into the territory of the Romans, offering to be subject to the
emperor, and to execute whatever he should command them. When Valens was
made acquainted with this, not having the least presentiment of the
consequences, he ordered that the suppliants should be received with
kindness; in this one instance alone showing himself compassionate. He
therefore assigned them certain parts of Thrace for their habitation,
deeming himself peculiarly fortunate in this matter: for he calculated that
in future he should possess a ready and well-equipped army against all
assailants; and hoped that the barbarians would be a more formidable guard
to the frontiers of the empire even than the Romans themselves. For this
reason he in the future neglected to recruit his army by Roman levies; and
despising those veterans who had bravely straggled and subdued his enemies
in former wars, he put a pecuniary value on the militia which the
inhabitants of the provinces, village by village, had been accustomed to
furnish, ordering the collectors of his tribute to demand eighty pieces of
gold for every soldier, although he had never before lightened the public
burdens. This change was the origin of many disasters to the Roman empire
subsequently.

CHAPTER XXXV: Abatement of Persecution against the Christians because of
the War with the Goths.

   THE barbarians having been put into possession of Thrace, and securely
enjoying that Roman province, were unable to bear their good fortune with
moderation; but committing hostile aggressions upon their benefactors,
devastated all Thrace and the adjacent countries. When these proceedings
came to the knowledge of Valens, he desisted from sending the adherents of
the homoousion into banishment; and in great alarm left Antioch, and came
to Constantinople, where also the persecution of the orthodox Christians
was for the same reason come to an end. At the same time Euzoius, bishop of
the Arians at Antioch, departed this life, in the fifth consulate (1) of
Valens, and the first of Valentinian the younger; and Dorotheus was
appointed in his place.

CHAPTER XXXVI: The Saracens, under Mavia their Queen, embrace Christianity;
and Moses, a Pious Monk, is consecrated their Bishop.

   No sooner had the emperor departed from Antioch, than the Saracens, (1)
who had before been in alliance with the Romans, revolted from them, being
led by Maria their queen, whose husband was then dead. All the regions of
the East therefore were at that time ravaged by the Saracens: but a certain
divine Providence repressed their fury in the manner I am about to
describe. A person named Moses, a Saracen by birth, who led a monastic life
in the desert, became exceedingly eminent for his piety, faith, and
miracles. Maria the queen of the Saracens was therefore desirous that this
person should be constituted bishop over her nation, and promised on the
condition to terminate the war. The Roman generals considering that a peace
founded on Such terms would be extremely advantageous, gave immediate
directions for its ratification. Moses was accordingly seized, and brought
from the desert to Alexandria, in order that he might there be invested
with the bishopric: but on his presentation for that purpose to Lucius, who
at that time presided over the churches in that city, he refused to be
ordained by him, protesting against it in these words: 'I account myself
indeed unworthy of the sacred office; but if the exigences of the state
require my bearing it, it shall not be by Lucius laying his hand on me, for
it has been filled with blood.' When Lucius told him that it was his duty
to learn from him the principles of religion, and not to utter reproachful
language, Moses replied,' Matters of faith are not now in question: but
your infamous practices against the brethren sufficiently prove that your
doctrines are not Christian. For a Christian is "no striker, reviles not,
does not fight"; for "it becomes not a servant of the Lord to fight." (2)
But your deeds cry out against you by those who have been sent into exile,
who have been exposed to the wild beasts, and who had been delivered up to
the flames. Those things which our own eyes have beheld are far more
convincing than what we receive from the report of another.' As Moses
expressed these and other similar sentiments his friends took him to the
mountains, that he might receive ordination from those bishops who lived in
exile there. Moses having thus been consecrated, the Saracen war was
terminated; and so scrupulously did Maria observe the peace thus entered
into with the Romans that she gave her daughter in marriage to Victor the
commander-in-chief of the Roman army. Such were the transactions in
relation to the Saracens.

CHAPTER XXXVII: After the Departure of Valens from Antioch, the
Alexandrians expel Lucius, and restore Peter, who had come with Letters
from Damasus Bishop of Rome.

   ABOUT the same time, as soon as the Emperor Valens left Antioch, all
those who had anywhere been suffering persecution began again to take
courage, and especially those of Alexandria. Peter returned to that city
from Rome, with letters from Damasus the Roman bishop, in which he
confirmed the 'homoousian' faith, and sanctioned Peter's ordination. The
people therefore resuming confidence, expelled Lucius, who immediately
embarked for Constantinople: but Peter survived his re-establishment a very
short time, and at his death appointed his brother Timothy to succeed him.

CHAPTER XXXVIII: The Emperor Valens is ridiculed by the People on Account
of the Goths; undertakes an Expedition against them and is slain in an
Engagement near Adrianople.

   THE Emperor Valens arrived at Constantinople on the 30th of May, in the
sixth year of his own consulate, (1) and the second of Valentinian the
Younger, and found the people in a very dejected state of mind: for the
barbarians, who had already desolated Thrace, were now laying waste the
very suburbs of Constantinople, there being no adequate force at hand to
resist them. But when they undertook to make near approaches, even to the
walls of the city, the people became exceedingly troubled, and began to
murmur against the emperor; accusing him of having brought on the enemy
thither, and then indolently prolonging the struggle there, instead of at
once marching out against the barbarians. Moreover at the exhibition of the
sports of the Hippodrome, all with one voice clamored against the emperor's
negligence of the public affairs, crying out with great earnestness, 'Give
us arms, and we ourselves will fight.' The emperor provoked at these
seditious clamors, marched out of the city, on the 11th of June;
threatening that if he returned, he would punish the citizens not only for
their insolent reproaches, but for having previously favored the
pretensions of the usurper Procopius; declaring also that he would utterly
demolish their city, and cause the plough to pass over its ruins, he
advanced against the barbarians, whom he routed with great slaughter, and
pursued as far as Adrianople, a city of Thrace, situated on the frontiers
of Macedonia. Having at that place again engaged the enemy, who had by this
time rallied, he lost his life on the 9th of August, under the consulate
just mentioned, and in the fourth year of the 289th Olympiad. Some have
asserted that he was burnt to death in a village whither he had retired,
which the barbarians assaulted and set on fire. But others affirm that
having put off his imperial robe he ran into the midst of the main body of
infantry; and that when the cavalry revolted and refused to engage, the
infantry were surrounded by the barbarians, and completely destroyed in a
body. Among these it is said the emperor fell, but could not be
distinguished, in consequence of his not having on his imperial habit. He
died in the fiftieth year of his age, having reigned in conjunction with
his brother thirteen years, and three years after the death of the brother.
This book therefore contains [the course of events during] the space of
sixteen years.


BOOK V.

INTRODUCTION.

   BEFORE we begin the fifth book of our history, we must beg those who
may peruse this treatise, not to censure us too hastily because having set
out to write a church history we still intermingle with ecclesiastical
matters, such an account of the wars which took place during the period
under consideration, as could be duly authenticated. For this we have done
for several reasons: first, in order to lay before our readers an exact
statement of facts; but secondly, in order that the minds of the readers
might not become satiated with the repetition of the contentious disputes
of bishops, and their insidious designs against one another; but more
especially that it might be made apparent, that whenever the affairs of the
state were disturbed, those of the Church, as if by some vital sympathy,
became disordered also. (1) Indeed whoever shall attentively examine the
subject will find, that the mischiefs of the state, and the troubles of the
church have been inseparably connected; for he will perceive that they have
either arisen together, or immediately succeeded one another. Sometimes the
affairs of the Church come first in order; then commotions in the state
follow, and sometimes the reverse, so that I cannot believe this invariable
interchange is merely fortuitous, but am persuaded that it proceeds from
our iniquities; and that these evils are inflicted upon us as merited
chastisements, if indeed as the apostle truly says, 'Some men's sins are
open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.'
(2) For this reason we have interwoven many affairs of the state with our
ecclesiastical history. Of the wars carried on during the reign of
Constantine we have made no mention, having found no account of them that
could be depended upon because of their iniquity: but of subsequent events,
as much information as we could gather from those still living (3) in the
order of their occurrence, we have passed in rapid review. We have
continually included the emperors in these historical details; because from
the time they began to profess the Christian religion, the affairs of the
Church have depended on them, so that even the greatest Synods have been,
and still are convened by their appointment. Finally, we have particularly
noticed the Arian heresy, because it has so greatly disquieted the
churches. Let these remarks be considered sufficient in the way of preface:
we shall now proceed with our history.

CHAPTER I: After the Death of Valens the Goths again attach Constantinople,
and are repulsed by the Citizens, aided by Some Saracen Auxiliaries.

   AFTER the Emperor Valens had thus lost his life, in a manner which has
never been satisfactorily ascertained, (1) the barbarians again approached
the very walls of Constantinople, and laid waste the suburbs on every side
of it. Whereat the people becoming indignant armed themselves with whatever
weapons they could severally lay hands on, and sallied forth of their own
accord against the enemy. The empress Dominica caused the same pay to be
distributed out of the imperial treasury to such as volunteered to go out
on this service, as was usually allowed to soldiers. A few Saracens also
assisted the citizens, being confederates, who had been sent by Maria their
queen: the latter we have already mentioned. (2) In this way the people
having fought at this time, the barbarians retired to a great distance from
the city.

CHAPTER II: The Emperor Gratian recalls the Orthodox Bishops, and expels
the Heretics from the Churches. He takes Theodosius as his Colleague in the
Empire.

   GRATIAN being now in possession of the empire, together with
Valentinian the younger, and condemning the cruel policy of his uncle
Valens towards the [orthodox] Christians, recalled those whom he had sent
into exile. He moreover enacted that persons of all sects, without
distinction, might securely assemble together in their churches; and that
only the Eunomians, (1) Photinians, (2) and Manichaeans (3) should be
excluded from the churches. Being also sensible of the languishing
condition of the Roman empire, and of the growing power of the barbarians
and perceiving that the state was in need of a brave and prudent man, he
took Theodosius as his colleague in the sovereign power. This [Theodosius]
was descended from a noble family in Spain, and had acquired so
distinguished a celebrity for his prowess in the wars, that he was
universally considered worthy of imperial dignity, even before Gratian's
election of him. Having therefore proclaimed him emperor at Sirmium a city
of Illyricum in the consulate (4) of Ausonius and Olybrius, on the 16th of
January, he divided with him the care of managing the war against the
barbarians.

CHAPTER III: The Principal Bishops who flourished at that Time.

   Now at this time Damasus who had succeeded Liberius then presided over
the church at Rome. Cyril was still in possession of that at Jerusalem. The
Antiochian church, as we have stated, was divided into three parts: for the
Arians had chosen Dorotheus as the successor of their bishop Euzoius; while
one portion of the rest was under the government of Paulinus, and the
others ranged themselves with Melitius, who had been recalled from exile
Lucius, although absent, having been compelled to leave Alexandria, yet
maintained the episcopal authority among the Arians of that city; the
Homoousians there being headed by Timothy, who succeeded Peter. At
Constantinople Demophilus the successor of Eudoxius presided over the Arian
faction, and was in possession of the churches; but those who were averse
to communion with him held their assemblies apart.(1)

CHAPTER IV: The Macedonians, who had subscribed the 'Homoousian' Doctrine,
return to their Former Error.

   AFTER the deputation from the Macedonians to Liberius, that sect was
admitted to entire communion with the churches in every city, intermixing
themselves indiscriminately with those who from the beginning had embraced
the form of faith published at Nicaea. But when the law of the Emperor
Gratian permitted the several sects to reunite without restraint in the
public services of religion, they again resolved to separate themselves;
and having met at Antioch in Syria, they decided to avoid the word
homoousios again, and in no way to hold communion with the supporters of
the Nicene Creed. They however derived no advantage from this attempt; for
the majority of their own party being disgusted at the fickleness with
which they sometimes maintained one opinion, and then another, withdrew
from them, and thenceforward became firm adherents of those who professed
the doctrine of the homoousion. (1)

CHAPTER V: Events at Antioch in Connection with Paulinus and Meletius.

   ABOUT this time a serious contest was excited at Antioch in Syria, on
account of Melitius. We have already observed (1) that Paulinus, bishop of
that city, because of his eminent piety was not sent into exile: and that
Melitius after being restored by Julian, was again banished by Valens, and
at length recalled in Gratian's reign. (2) On his return to Antioch, he
found Paulinus greatly enfeebled by old age; his partisans therefore
immediately used their utmost endeavors to get him associated with that
bishop in the episcopal office. And when Paulinus declared that 'it was
contrary to the canons (3) to take as a coadjutor one who had been ordained
by the Arians,' the people had recourse to violence, and caused him to be
consecrated in one of the churches without the city. When this was done, a
great disturbance arose; but afterwards the people were brought to unite on
the following stipulations. Having assembled such of the clergy as might be
considered worthy candidates for the bishopric, they found them six in
number, of whom Flavian was one. All these they bound by an oat, not to use
any effort to get themselves ordained, when either of the two bishops
should die, but to permit the survivor to retain undisturbed possession of
the see of the deceased. (4) Thus pledges were given, and the people had
peace and so no longer quarreled with one another. The Luciferians, (5)
however, separated themselves from the rest, because Melitius who had been
ordained by the Arians was admitted to the episcopate. In this state of the
Antiochian church, Melitius was under the necessity of going to
Constantinople.

CHAPTER VI: Gregory of Nazianzus is transferred to the See of
Constantinople. The Emperor Theodosius falling Sick at Thessalonica, after
his Victory over the Barbarians, is there baptized by cholius the Bishop.

   BY the common suffrage of many bishops, Gregory was at this time
translated from the see of Nazianzus to that of Constantinople, (1) and
this happened in the manner before described. About the same time the
emperors Gratian and Theodosius each obtained a victory over the
barbarians. (2) And Gratian immediately set out for Gaul, because the
Alemanni were ravaging those provinces: but Theodosius, after erecting a
trophy, hastened towards Constantinople, and arrived at Thessalonica. There
he was taken dangerously ill, and expressed a desire to receive Christian
baptism. (3) Now he had been instructed in Christian principles by his
ancestors, and professed the 'homoousian' faith. Becoming increasingly
anxious to be baptized therefore, as his malady grew worse, he sent for the
bishop of Thessalonica, and first asked him what doctrinal views he held?
The bishop having replied, 'that the opinion of Arius had not yet invaded
the provinces of Illyricum, nor had the novelty to which that heretic had
given birth begun to prey upon the churches in those countries; but they
continued to preserve unshaken that faith which from the beginning was
delivered by the apostles, and had been confirmed in the Nicene Synod,' the
emperor was most gladly baptized by the bishop Ascholius; and having
recovered from his disease not many days after, he came to Constantinople
on the twenty-fourth of November, in the fifth consulate of Gratian, and
the first of his own?

CHAPTER VII: Gregory, finding Some Dissatisfaction about his Appointment,
abdicates the Episcopate of Constantinople. The Emperor orders Demophilus
the Arian Bishop either to assent to the 'Homoousion,' or leave the City.
He chooses the Latter.

   Now at that time Gregory of Nazianzus, after his translation to
Constantinople, held his assemblies within the city in a small oratory,
adjoining to which the emperors afterwards built a magnificent church, and
named it Anastasia. (1) But Gregory, who far excelled in eloquence and
piety all those of the age in which he lived, understanding that some
murmured at his preferment because he was a stranger, after expressing his
joy at the emperor's arrival, resigned the bishopric of Constantinople.
When the emperor found the church in this state, he began to consider by
what means he could make peace, effect a union, and enlarge the churches.
Immediately, therefore, he intimated his desire to Demophilus, (2) who
presided over the Arian party; and enquired whether he was willing to
assent to the Nicene Creed, and thus reunite the people, and establish
peace. Upon Demophilus' declining to accede to this proposal, the emperor
said to him, 'Since you reject peace and harmony, I order you to quit the
churches.' When Demophilus heard this, weighing with himself the difficulty
of contending against superior power, he convoked his followers in the
church, and standing in the midst of them, thus spoke: 'Brethren, it is
written in the Gospel, (3) "If they persecute you in one city, flee ye into
another." Since therefore the emperor needs the churches, take notice that
we will henceforth hold our assemblies without the city.' Having said this
he departed; not however as rightly apprehending the meaning of that
expression in the Evangelist, for the real import of the sacred oracle is
that such as would avoid the course of this world must seek the heavenly
Jerusalem. (4) He therefore went outside the city gates, and there in
future held his assemblies. With him also Lucius went out, who being
ejected from Alexandria, as we have before related, (5) had made his escape
to Constantinople, and there abode. Thus the Arians, after having been in
possession of the churches for forty years, were in consequence of their
opposition to the peace proposed by the emperor Theodosius, driven out of
the city, in Gratian's fifth consulate, (6) and the first of Theodosius
Angustus, on the 26th of November. The adherents of the 'homoousian' faith
in this manner regained possession of the churches.

CHAPTER VIII: A Synod consisting of One Hundred and Fifty Bishops meets at
Constantinople. The Decrees passed. Ordination of Nectarius.

   The emperor making no delay summoned a Synod (1) of the prelates of his
own faith, in order that he might establish the Nicene Creed, and appoint a
bishop of Constantinople: and inasmuch as he was not without hope that he
might win the Macedonians over to his own views, he invited those who
presided over that sect to be present also. There met therefore on this
occasion of the Homoousian party, Timothy from Alexandria, Cyril from
Jerusalem, who at that time recognized the doctrine of homoousion, (2)
having retracted his former opinion; Melitius from Antioch, he having
arrived there previously to assist at the installation of Gregory;
Ascholius also from Thessalonica, and many others, amounting in all to one
hundred and fifty. Of the Macedonians, the leaders were Eleusius of
Cyzicus, and Marcian of Lampsacus; these with the rest, most of whom came
from the cities of the Hellespont, were thirty-six in number. Accordingly
they were assembled in the month of May, under the consulate (3) of
Eucharius and Evagrius, and the emperor used his utmost exertions, in
conjunction with the bishops who entertained similar sentiments to his own,
to bring over Eleusius and his adherents to his own side. They were
reminded of the deputation they had sent by Eustathius to Liberius (4) then
bishop of Rome; that they had of their own accord not long before entered
into promiscuous communion with the orthodox; and the inconsistency and
fickleness of their  conduct was represented to them, in now at tempting to
subvert the faith which they once acknowledged, and professed agreement
with the catholics in. But they paying little heed alike to admonitions and
reproofs, chose rather to maintain the Arian dogma, than to assent to the
'homoousian' doctrine. Having made this declaration, they departed from
Constantinople; moreover they wrote to their partisans  in every city, and
charged them by no means to harmonize with the creed of the Nicene Synod.
The bishops of the other party remaining at  Constantinople, entered into a
consultation about the ordination of a bishop; for Gregory, as we have
before said, (5) had resigned that see, and was preparing to return to
Nazianzus. Now there was a person named Nectarius, of a senatorial family,
mild and gentle in his manners, and admirable in his whole course of life,
although he at that time bore the office of proctor. This man was seized
upon by the people, and elected (6) to the episcopate, and was ordained
accordingly by one hundred and fifty bishops then present. The same
prelates moreover published a decree, (7) prescribing 'that the bishop of
Constantinople should have the next prerogative of honor after the bishop
of Rome, because that city was New Rome.' They also again confirmed the
Nicene Creed. Then too patriarchs were constituted, and the provinces
distributed, so that no bishop might exercise any jurisdiction over other
churches (8) out of his own diocese: for this had been often
indiscriminately done before, in consequence of the persecutions. To
Nectarius therefore was allotted the great city and Thrace. Helladius, the
successor of Basil in the bishopric of Caesarea in Cappadocia, obtained the
patriarchate of the diocese of Pontus in conjunction with Gregory Basil's
brother bishop of Nyssa (9) in Cappadocia, and Otreius bishop of Melitina
in Armenia. To Amphilochius of Iconium and Optimus of Antioch in Pisidia,
was the Asiatic diocese assigned. The superintendence of the churches
throughout Egypt was committed to Timothy of Alexandria. On Pelagius of
Laodicea, and Diodorus of Tarsus, devolved the administration of the
churches of the East; without infringement however on the prerogatives of
honor reserved to the Antiochian church, and conferred on Melitius then
present. They further decreed that as necessity required it, the
ecclesiastical affairs of each province should be managed by a Synod of the
province. These arrangements were confirmed by the emperor's approbation.
Such was the result of this Synod.

CHAPTER IX: The Body of Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, is honorably
transferred from his Place of Exile. Death of Meletius.

   The emperor at that time caused to be removed from the city of Ancyra,
the body of the bishop Paul, whom Philip the prefect of the Praetorium (1)
had banished at the instigation of Macedonius, and ordered to be strangled
at Cucusus a town of Armenia, as I have already mentioned. (2) He therefore
received the remains with great reverence and honor, and deposited in the
church which now takes its name from him; which the Macedonian party were
formerly in possession of while they remained separate from the Arians, but
were expelled at that time by the emperor, because they refused to adopt
his sentiments. About this period Melitius, bishop of Antioch, fell sick
and died: in whose praise Gregory, the brother of Basil, pronounced a
funeral oration. The body of the deceased bishop was by his friends
conveyed to Antioch; where those who had identified themselves with his
interests again refused subjection to Paulinus, but caused Flavian to be
substituted in the place of Melitius, and the people began to quarrel anew.
Thus again the Antiochian church was divided into rival factions, not
grounded on any difference of faith, but simply on a preference of bishops.

CHAPTER X: The Emperor orders a Convention composed of All the Various
Sects. Arcadius is proclaimed Augustus. The Novatians permitted to hold
their Assemblies in the City of Constantinople: Other Heretics driven out.

   GREAT disturbances occurred in other cities also, as the Arians were
ejected from the churches. But I cannot sufficiently admire the emperor's
prudence in this contingency. For he was unwilling to fill the cities with
disturbance, as far as this was dependent on him, and so after a very short
time (1) he called together a general conference of the sects, thinking
that by a discussion among their bishops, their mutual differences might be
adjusted, and unanimity established. And this purpose of the emperor's I am
persuaded was the reason that his affairs were so prosperous at that time.
In fact by a special dispensation of Divine Providence the barbarous
nations were reduced to subjection under him: and among others, Athanaric
king of the Goths made a voluntary surrender of himself to him, (2) with
all his people, and died soon after at Constantinople. At this juncture the
emperor proclaimed his son Arcadius Augustus, on the sixteenth of January,
in the second consulate (3) of Merobaudes and Saturnilus. Not long
afterwards in the month of June, under the same consulate, the bishops of
every sect arrived from all places: the emperor, therefore, sent for
Nectarius the bishop, and consulted with him on the best means of freeing
the Christian religion from dissensions, and reducing the church to a state
of unity. 'The subjects of controversy, (2) said he, 'ought to be fairly
discussed, that by the detection and removal of the sources of discord, a
universal agreement may be effected.' Hearing this proposition Nectarius
fell into uneasiness, and communicated it to Agelius bishop of the
Novatians, inasmuch as he entertained the same sentiments as himself in
matters of faith. This man, though eminently pious, was by no means
competent to maintain a dispute on doctrinal points; he therefore proposed
to refer the subject to Sisinnius (4) his reader, as a fit person to manage
a conference. Sisinnius, who was not only learned, but possessed of great
experience, and was well informed both in the expositions of the sacred
Scriptures and the principles of philosophy, being convinced that
disputations, far from healing divisions usually create heresies of a more
inveterate character, gave the following advice to Nectarius, knowing well
that the ancients have nowhere attributed a beginning of existence to the
Son of God, conceiving him to be co-eternal with the Father, he advised
that they should avoid dialectic warfare and bring forward as evidences of
the truth the testimonies of the ancients. 'Let the emperor,' said he,
'demand of the heads of each sect, whether they would pay any deference to
the ancients who flourished before schism distracted the church; or whether
they would repudiate them, as alienated from the Christian faith? If they
reject their authority, then let them also anathematize them: and should
they presume to take such a step, they would themselves be instantly thrust
out by the people, and so the truth will be manifestly victorious. But if,
on the other hand, they are not willing to set aside the fathers, it will
then be our business to produce their books, by which our views will be
fully attested.' Nectarius having heard these words of Sisinnius, hastened
to the palace, and acquainted the emperor with the plan which had been
suggested to him; who at once perceiving its wisdom and propriety, carried
it into execution with consummate prudence. For without discovering his
object, he simply asked the chiefs of the heretics whether they had any
respect for and would accept the teachings of those teachers who lived
previous to the dissension in the church? As they did not repudiate them,
but replied that they highly revered them as their masters; the emperor
enquired of them again whether they would defer to them as accredited
witnesses of Christian doctrine? At this question, the leaders of the
several parties, with their logical champions, -- for many had come
prepared for sophistical debate, -- found themselves extremely embarrassed.
For a division was caused among them as some acquiesced in the
reasonableness of the emperor's proposition while others shrunk from it,
conscious that it was by no means favorable to their interests: so that all
being variously affected towards the writings of the ancients, they could
no longer agree among themselves, dissenting not only from other sects, but
those of the same sect differing from one another. Accordant malice
therefore, like the tongue of the giants of old, was confounded, and their
tower of mischief overturned. (5) The emperor perceiving by their confusion
that their sole confidence was in subtle arguments, and that they feared to
appeal to the expositions of the fathers, bad recourse to another method:
he commanded every sect to set forth in writing their own peculiar tenets.
Accordingly those who were accounted the most skillful among them, drew up
a statement of their respective creeds, couched in terms the most
circumspect they could devise; a day was appointed, and the bishops
selected for this purpose presented themselves at the palace. Nectarius and
Agelius appeared as the defenders of the 'homoousian' faith; Demophilus
supported the Arian dogma; Eunomius himself undertook the cause of the
Eunomians; and Eleusius, bishop of Cyzicus, represented the opinions of
those who were denominated Macedonians. The emperor gave them all a
courteous reception; and receiving from each their written avowal of faith,
he shut himself up alone, and prayed very earnestly that God would assist
him in his endeavors to ascertain the truth. Then perusing with great care
the statement which each had submitted to him, he condemned all the rest,
inasmuch as they introduced a separation of the Trinity, and approved of
that only which contained the doctrine of the homoousion. This decision
caused the Novatians to flourish again, and hold their  meetings within the
city: for the emperor delighted with the agreement of their profession with
that which he embraced, promulgated a law securing to them the peaceful
possession of their own church buildings, and assigned to their churches
equal privileges with those to which he gave his more especial sanction.
But the bishops of the other sects, on account of their disagreement among
themselves, were despised and censured even by their own followers: so that
overwhelmed with perplexity and vexation they departed, addressing
consolatory letters to their adherents, whom they exhorted not to be
troubled because many had deserted them and gone over to the homoousian
party; for they said, 'Many are called, but few chosen' (6) -- an
expression which they never used when on account of force and terror the
majority of the people was on their side. Nevertheless the orthodox
believers were not wholly exempt from inquietude; for the affairs of the
Antiochian church caused divisions among those who were present at the
Synod. The bishops of Egypt, Arabia and Cyprus, combined against Flavian,
and insisted on his expulsion from Antioch: but those of Palestine,
Phoenicia, and Syria, contended with equal zeal in his favor. What result
issued from this contest I shall describe in its proper place. (7)

CHAPTER XI: The Emperor Gratian is slain by the Treachery of the Usurper
Maximus. From Fear of him Justina ceases persecuting Ambrose.

   Nearly at the same time with the holding of these Synods at
Constantinople, the following events occurred in the Western parts.
Maximus, from the island of Britain, rebelled against the Roman empire, and
attacked Gratian, who was then wearied and exhausted in a war with the
Alemanni. (1) In Italy, Valentinian being still a minor, Probus, a man of
consular dignity, had the chief administration of affairs, and was at that
time prefect of the Praetorium. Justina, the mother of the young prince,
who entertained Arian sentiments, as long as her husband lived had been
unable to molest the Homoousians; but going to Milan while her son was
still young, she manifested great hostility to Ambrose the bishop, and
commanded that he should be banished. (3) While the people from their
excessive attachment to Ambrose, were offering resistance to those who were
charged with taking him into exile, intelligence was brought that Gratian
had been assassinated by the treachery of the usurper Maximus. In fact
Andragathius, a general under Maximus, having concealed himself in a litter
resembling a couch, which was carried by mules, ordered his guards to
spread a report before him that the litter contained the Emperor Gratian's
wife. They met the emperor near the city of Lyons in France just as he had
crossed the river: who believing it to be his wife, and not suspecting any
treachery, fell into the hands of his enemy as a blind man into the ditch;
for Andragathius, suddenly springing forth from the litter, slew him. (3)
Gratian thus perished in the consulate of Merogaudes and Saturninus, (4) in
the twenty-fourth year of his age, and the fifteenth of his reign. When
this happened the Empress Justina's indignation against Ambrose was
repressed. Afterwards Valentinian most unwillingly, but constrained by the
necessity of the time, admitted Maximus as his colleague in the empire.
Probus alarmed at the power of Maximus, resolved to retreat into the
regions of the East: leaving Italy therefore, he proceeded to Illyricum,
and fixed his residence at Thessalonica a city of Macedonia.

CHAPTER XII: While the Emperor Theodosius is engaged in Military
Preparations against Maximus, his Son Honorius is born. He then proceeds to
Milan in Order to encounter the Usurper.

   But the Emperor Theodosius was filled with great solicitude, and levied
a powerful army against the usurper, fearing test he should meditate the
assassination of the young Valentinian also. While engaged in this
preparation, an embassy arrived from the Persians, requesting peace from
the emperor. Then also the empress Flaccilla bore him a son named Honorius,
on the 9th of September, in the consulate of Richomelius and Clearchus. (1)
Under the same consulate, and a little previously, Agelius bishop of the
Novatians died? In the year following, wherein Arcadius Augustus bore his
first consulate in conjunction with Baudon, (8) Timothy bishop of
Alexandria died, and was succeeded in the episcopate by Theophilus. About a
year after this, Demophilus the Arian prelate having departed this life,
the Arians sent for Marinus a leader of their own heresy out of Thrace, to
whom they entrusted the bishopric: but Marinus did not long occupy that
position, for under him that sect was divided into two parties, as we shall
hereafter explain; (4) for they invited Dotatheus (5) to come to them from
Antioch in Syria, and constituted him their bishop. Meanwhile the emperor
Theodosius proceeded to the war against Maximus, leaving his son Arcadius
with imperial authority at Constantinople. Accordingly arriving at
Thessalonica he found Valentinian and those about him in great anxiety,
because through compulsion they had acknowledged the usurper as emperor.
Theodosius, however, gave no expression to his sentiments in public; he
neither rejected nor admitted (6) the embassy of Maximus: but unable to
endure tyrannical domination over the Roman empire, under the assumption of
an imperial name, he hastily mustered his forces and advanced to Milan, (7)
whither the usurper had already gone.

CHAPTER XIII: The Arians excite a Tumult at Constantinople.

   AT the time when the emperor was thus occupied on his military
expedition, the Arians excited a great tumult at Constantinople by such
devices as these. Men are fond of fabricating statements respecting matters
about which they are in ignorance; and if at any time they are given
occasion they swell to a prodigious extent rumors concerning what they
wish, being ever fond of change. This was strongly exemplified at
Constantinople on the present occasion: for each invented news concerning
the war which was carrying on at a distance, according to his own caprice,
always presuming upon the most disastrous results; and before the contest
had yet commenced, they spoke of transactions in reference to it, of which
they knew nothing, with as much assurance as if they had been spectators on
the very scene of action. Thus it was confidently affirmed that 'the
usurper had defeated the emperor's army,' even the number of men slain on
both sides being specified; and that 'the emperor himself had nearly fallen
into the usurper's hands.' Then the Arians, who had been excessively
exasperated by those being put in possession of the churches within the
city who had previously been the objects of their persecution, began to
augment these rumors by additions of their own. But since the currency of
such stories with increasing exaggeration, in time made even the farmers
themselves believe them --  for those who had circulated them from hearsay,
affirmed to the authors of these falsehoods, that the accounts they had
received from them had been fully corroborated elsewhere; then indeed the
Arians were emboldened to commit acts of violence, and among other
outrages, to set fire to the house of Nectarius the bishop. This was done
in the second consulate (1) of Theodosius Augustus, which he bore with
Cynegius.

CHAPTER XIV: Overthrow and Death of the Usurper Maximus.

   As the emperor marched against the usurper the intelligence of the
formidable preparations made by him so alarmed the troops under Maximus,
that instead of fighting for him, they delivered him bound to the emperor,
who caused him to be put to death, on the twenty-seventh of August, under
the same consulate. (1) Andragathius, who with his own hand had slain
Gratian, understanding the fate of Maximus, precipitated himself into the
adjacent river, and was drowned. Then the victorious emperors made their
public entry into Rome, accompanied by Honorius the son of Theodosius,
still a mere boy, whom his father had sent for from Constantinople
immediately after Maximus had been vanquished. They continued therefore at
Rome celebrating their triumphal festivals: during which time the Emperor
Theodosius exhibited a remarkable instance of clemency toward Symmachus, a
man who had borne the consular office, and was at the head of the senate at
Rome. For this Symmachus was distinguished for his eloquence, and many of
his orations are still extant composed in the Latin tongue: but inasmuch as
he had written a panegyric on Maximus, and pronounced it before him
publicly, he was afterwards impeached for high treason; wherefore to escape
capital punishment he took sanctuary in a church. (2) The emperor's
veneration for religion led him not only to honor the bishops of his own
communion, but to treat with consideration those of the Novatians also, who
embraced the 'homoousian' creed: to gratify therefore Leontius the bishop
of the Novatian church at Rome, who interceded in behalf of Symmachus, he
graciously pardoned him for that crime. Symmachus, after he had obtained
his pardon, wrote an apologetic address to the Emperor Theodosius. Thus the
war, which at its commencement threatened so seriously, was brought to a
speedy termination.

CHAPTER XV: Of Flavian Bishop of Antioch.

   About the same period, the following events took place at Antioch in
Syria. After the death of Paulinus, the people who had been under his
superintendence refused to submit to the authority of Flavian, but caused
Evagrius to be ordained bishop of their own party. (1) As he did not
survive his ordination long, no other was constituted in his place, Flavian
having brought this about: nevertheless those who disliked Flavian on
account of his having violated his oath, held their assemblies apart. (2)
Mean while Flavian 'left no stone unturned,' as the  phrase is, to bring
these also under his control; and this he soon after effected, when he
appeased the anger of Theophilus, then bishop of Alexandria, by whose
mediation he conciliated, Damasus bishop of Rome also. For both these. had
been greatly displeased with Flavian, as well for the perjury of which he
had been guilty, as for the schism he had occasioned among the previously
united people. Theophilus therefore being pacified, sent Isidore a
presbyter to Rome, and thus reconciled Damasus, who was still offended;
representing to him the propriety of overlooking Flavian's past misconduct,
for the sake of producing concord among the people. Communion being in this
way restored to Flavian, the people of Antioch were in the course of a
little while induced to acquiesce in the union secured. Such was the
conclusion of this affair at Antioch. But the Arians of that city being
ejected from the churches, were accustomed to hold their meetings in the
suburbs. Meanwhile Cyril bishop of Jerusalem having died about this time,
(3) was succeeded by John.

CHAPTER XVI: Demolition of the Idolatrous Temples at Alexandria, and the
Consequent Conflict between the Pagans and Christians.

   At the solicitation of Theophilus bishop of Alexandria the emperor
issued an order at this time for the demolition of the heathen temples in
that city; commanding also that it should be put in execution under the
direction of Theophilus. Seizing this opportunity, Theophilus exerted
himself to the utmost to expose the pagan mysteries to contempt. And to
begin with, he caused the Mithreum (1) to be cleaned out, and exhibited to
public view the tokens of its bloody mysteries. Then he destroyed the
Serapeum, and the bloody rights of the Mithreum he publicly caricatured;
the Serapeum also he showed full of extravagant superstitions, and he had
the phalli of Priapus carried through the midst of the forum. The pagans of
Alexandria, and especially the professors of philosophy, were unable to
repress their rage at this exposure, and exceeded in revengeful ferocity
their outrages on a former occasion: for with one accord, at a preconcerted
signal, they rushed impetuously upon the Christians, and murdered every one
they could lay hands on. The Christians also made an attempt to resist the
assailants, and so the mischief was the more augmented. This desperate
affray was prolonged until satiety of bloodshed put an end to it. Then it
was discovered that very few of the heathens had been killed, but a great
number of Christians; while the number of wounded  on each side was almost
innumerable. Fear  then possessed the pagans on account of what was done,
as they considered the emperor's displeasure. For having done what seemed
good in their own eyes, and by their bloodshed having quenched their
courage, some fled in one direction, some in another, and many quitting
Alexandria, dispersed themselves in various cities. Among these were the
two grammarians Helladius and Ammonius, whose pupil I was in my youth at
Constantinople. (2) Helladius was said to be the priest of Jupiter, and
Ammonius of Simius. (3) Thus this disturbance having been terminated, the
governor of Alexandria, and the commander-in-chief of the troops in Egypt,
assisted Theophilus in demolishing the heathen temples. These were
therefore razed to the   ground, and the images of their gods molten into
pots and other convenient utensils for the use of the Alexandrian church;
for the emperor had instructed Theophilus to distribute them for the relief
of the poor. All the images were accordingly broken to pieces, except one
statue of the god before mentioned, which Theophilus preserved and set up
in a public place; 'Lest,' said he, 'at a future time the heathens should
deny that they had ever worshiped such gods.' This action gave great
umbrage to Ammonius the grammarian in particular, who to my knowledge was
accustomed to say that  'the religion of the Gentiles was grossly abused in
that that single statue was not also molten, but preserved, in order to
render that religion ridiculous.' Helladius however boasted in the presence
of some that he had slain in that desperate onset nine men with his own
hand. Such were the doings at Alexandria at that time.

CHAPTER XVII: Of the Hieraglyphics found in the Temple of Serapis.

   Warm the Temple of Serapis was torn down and laid bare, there were
found in it, engraven on stones, certain characters which they call
hieroglyphics, having the forms of crosses. (1) Both the Christians and
pagans on seeing them, appropriated and applied them to their respective
religions: for the Christians who affirm that the cross is the sign of
Christ's saving passion, claimed this character as peculiarly theirs; but
'it symbolizes one thing to Christians and another to heathens.' Whilst
this point was controverted amongst them, some of the heathen converts to
Christianity, who were conversant with these heiroglyphic characters,
interpreted the form of a cross and said that it signifies ' Life to come.'
This the Christians exultingly laid hold of, as decidedly favorable to
their religion. But after other hieroglyphics had been deciphered
containing a prediction that 'When the cross should appear,'--for this was
'life to come,'--'the Temple of Serapis would be destroyed,' a very great
number of the pagans embraced Christianity, and confessing their sins, were
baptized. Such are the reports I have heard respecting the discovery of
this symbol in form of a cross. But I cannot imagine that the Egyptian
priests foreknew the things concerning Christ, when they engraved the
figure of a cross. For if 'the advent' of our Saviour into the world 'was a
mystery hid from ages and from generations,' (2) as the apostle declares;
and if the devil himself, the prince of wickedness, knew nothing of it, his
ministers, the Egyptian priests, are likely to have been still more
ignorant of the matter; but Providence doubtless purposed that in the
enquiry concerning this character, there should something take place
analogous to what happened heretofore at the preaching of Paul. For he,
made wise by the Divine Spirit, employed a similar method in relation to
the Athenians, (3) and brought over many of them to the faith, when on
reading the inscription on one of their altars, he accommodated and applied
it to his own discourse. Unless indeed any one should say, that the Word of
God wrought in the Egyptian priests, as it did on Balaam (4) and Caiaphas;
(5) for these men uttered prophecies of good things is spite of themselves.
This will suffice on the subject.

CHAPTER XVIII: Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor Theodosius.

   THE emperor Theodosius during his short stay in Italy, conferred the
greatest benefit on the city of Rome, by grants on the one hand, and
abrogations on the other. His largesses were indeed very munificent; and he
removed two most infamous abuses which existed in the city. One of them was
the following: there were buildings of immense magnitude, erected in
ancient Rome in former times, in which bread was made for distribution
among the people. (1) Those who had the charge of these edifices, who
Mancipes (2) were called in the Latin language, in process of time
converted them into receptacles for thieves. Now as the bake-houses in
these structures were placed underneath, they build taverns at the side of
each, where they kept prostitutes; by which means they entrapped many of
those who went thither either for the sake of refreshment, or to gratify
their lusts, for by a certain mechanical contrivance they precipitated them
from the tavern into the bake-house below. This was practiced chiefly upon
strangers; and such as were in this way kidnapped were compelled to work in
the bake-houses, where many of them were immured until old age, not being
allowed to go out, and giving the impression to their friends that they
were dead. It happened that one of the soldiers of the emperor Theodosius
fell into this snare; who being shut up in the bake-house, and hindered
from going out, drew a dagger which he wore and killed those who stood in
his way: the rest being terrified, suffered him to escape. When the emperor
was made acquainted with the circumstance he punished the Mancipes, and
ordered these haunts of lawless and abandoned characters to be pulled down.
This was one of the disgraceful Nuisances of which the emperor purged the
imperial city: the other was of this nature. When a woman was detected in
adultery, they punished the delinquent not in the way of correction but
rather of aggravation of her crime. For shutting her up in a narrow
brothel, they obliged her to prostitute herself in a most disgusting
manner; causing little bells to be rung at the time of the unclean deed
that those who passed by might not be ignorant of what was doing within.
This was doubtless intended to brand the crime with greater ignominy in
public opinion. As soon as the emperor was apprised of this indecent usage,
he would by no means tolerate it; but having ordered the Sistra (3)--for so
these places of penal prostitution were denominated--to be pulled down, he
appointed other laws for the punishment of adulteresses. (4) Thus did the
emperor Theodosius free the city from two of its most discreditable abuses:
and when he had arranged all other affairs to his satisfaction, he left the
emperor Valentinian at Rome, and returned himself with his son Honorius to
Constantinople, and entered that city of the 10th of November, in the
consulate of Tatian and Symmachus. (5)

CHAPTER XIX: Of the Office of Penitentiary Presbyters and its Abolition.

   AT this time it was deemed requisite to abolish the office of those
presbyters in the churches who had charge of the penitences: (1) this was
done on the following account. When the Novatians separated themselves from
the Church because they would not communicate with those who had lapsed
during the persecution under Decius, the bishops added to the
ecclesiastical canon (2) a presbyter of penitence in order that those who
had sinned after baptism might confess their sins in the presence of the
presbyter thus appointed. (3) And this mode of discipline is still
maintained among other heretical institutions by all the rest of the sects;
the Homoousians only, together with the Novatians who hold the same
doctrinal views, have abandoned it. The latter indeed would never admit of
its establishment: (4) and the Homoousians who are now in possession of the
churches, after retaining this function for a considerable period,
abrogated it in the time of Nectarius, in consequence of an event which
occurred in the Constantinopolitan church, which is as follows: A woman of
noble family coming to the penitentiary, made a general confession of those
sins she had committed since her baptism: and the presbyter enjoined
fasting and prayer continually, that together with the acknowledgment of
error, she might have to show works also meet for repentance. Some time
after this, the same lady again presented herself, and confessed that she
had been guilty of another crime, a deacon of the church having slept with
her. When this was proved the deacon was ejected from the church: (5) but
the people were very indignant, being not only offended at what had taken
place, but also because the deed had brought scandal and degradation upon
the Church. When in consequence of this, ecclesiastics were subjected to
taunting and reproach, Eudaemon a presbyter of the church, by birth an
Alexandrian, persuaded Nectarius the bishop to abolish the office of
penitentiary presbyter, and to leave every one to his own conscience with
regard to the participation of the sacred mysteries: (6) for thus only, in
his judgment, could the Church be preserved from obloquy. Having heard this
explanation of the matter from Eudaemon I have ventured to put in the
present treatise: for as I have often remarked, (7) I have spared no pains
to procure an authentic account of affairs from those who were best
acquainted with them, and to scrutinize every report, lest I should advance
what might be untrue. My observation to Eudaemon, when he first related the
circumstance, was this: 'Whether, O presbyter, your counsel has been
profitable for the Church or otherwise, God knows; but I see that it takes
away the means of rebuking one another's faults, and prevents our acting
upon that precept of the apostle,(8) "Have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."' Concerning this
affair let this suffice.

CHAPTER XX: Divisions among the Arians and Other Heretics.

   I CONCEIVE it right moreover not to leave unnoticed the proceedings of
the other religious bodies, viz. the Arians, (1) Novatians, and those who
received their denominations from Macedonius and Eunomius. For the Church
once being divided, rested not in that schism, but the separatists taking
occasion from the slightest and most frivolous pretences, disagreed among
themselves. The manner and time, as well as the causes for which they
raised mutual dissensions, we will state as we proceed. But let it be
observed here, that the emperor Theodosius persecuted none of them except
Eunomius; but inasmuch as the latter, by holding meetings in private houses
at Constantinople, where he read the works he had composed, corrupted many
with his doctrines, he ordered him to be sent into exile. Of the other
heretics he interfered with no one; nor did he constrain them to hold
communion with himself; but he allowed them all to assemble in their own
conventicles, and to entertain their own opinions on points of Christian
faith. Permission to build themselves churches without the cities was
granted to the rest: but inasmuch as the Novatians held sentiments
precisely identical with his own as to faith, he ordered that they should
be suffered to continue unmolested in their churches within the cities, as
I have before noticed. (2) Concerning these I think it opportune, however,
to give in this place some farther account, and shall therefore retrace a
few circumstances in their history.

CHAPTER XXI: Peculiar Schism among the Novatians. (1)

   Of the Novatian church at Constantinople Agelius was the bishop for the
space of forty year, (2) viz. from the reign of Constantine until the sixth
year of that of the emperor Theodosius, as I have stated somewhere
previously. (3) He perceiving his end approaching, ordained Sisinnius to
succeed him in the bishopric. (4) This person was a presbyter of the church
over which Agelius presided, remarkably eloquent, and had been instructed
in philosophy by Maximus, at the same time as the emperor Julian. Now as
the Novatian laity were dissatisfied with this election, and wished rather
that he had ordained Marcian, a man of eminent piety, on account of whose
influence their sect had been left unmolested during the reign of Valens,
Agelius therefore to allay his people's discontent, laid his hands on
Marcian also. Having recovered a little from his illness, he went to the
church and thus of his own accord addressed the congregation: 'After my
decease let Marcian be your bishop; and after Marcian, Sisinnius.' He
survived these words but a short time; Marcian accordingly having been
constituted bishop of the Novatians, a division arose in their church also,
from this cause. Marcian had promoted to the rank of presbyter a converted
Jew named Sabbatius, who nevertheless continued to retain many of his
Jewish prejudices; and moreover he was very ambitious of being made a
bishop. Having therefore confidentially attached to his interest two
presbyters, Theoctistus and Macarius, who were cognizant of his designs, he
resolved to defend that innovation made by the Novatians in the time of
Valens, at Pazum a village of Phrygia, concerning the festival of Easter,
to which I have already adverted. (5) And in the first place, under pretext
of more ascetic austerity, he privately withdrew from the church, saying
that 'he was grieved on account of certain persons whom he suspected of
being unworthy of participation in the sacrament.' It was however soon
discovered that his object was to hold assemblies apart. When Marcian
understood this, he bitterly censured his own error, in ordaining to the
presbyterate persons so intent on vain-glory; and frequently said, 'That it
had been better for him to have laid his hands on thorns, than to have
imposed them on Sabbatius.' To check his proceedings, he procured a Synod
of Novatian bishops to be convened at Angarum, (6) a commercial town near
Helenopolis in Bithynia. On assembling here they summoned Sabbatius, and
desired him to explain the cause of his discontent. Upon his affirming that
he was troubled about the disagreement that existed respecting the Feast of
Easter, and that it ought to be kept according to the custom of the Jews,
and agreeable to that sanction which those convened at Pazum had appointed,
the bishops present at the Synod perceiving that this assertion was a mere
subterfuge to disguise his desire after the episcopal chair, obliged him to
pledge himself on oath that he would never accept a bishopric. When he had
so sworn, they passed a canon respecting this feast, which they entitled
'indifferent,' declaring that 'a disagreement on such a point was not a
sufficient reason for separation from the church; and that the council of
Pazum had done nothing prejudicial to the catholic canon. That although the
ancients who lived nearest to the times of the apostles differed about the
observance of this festival, it did not prevent their communion with one
another, nor create any dissension. Besides that the Novatians at imperial
Rome had never followed the Jewish usage, but always kept Easter after the
equinox; and yet they did not separate from those of their own faith, who
celebrated it on a different day.' From these and many such considerations,
they made the 'Indifferent' Canon, above-mentioned, concerning Easter,
whereby every one was at liberty to keep the custom which he had by
predilection in this matter, if he so pleased; and that it should make no
difference as regards communion, but even though celebrating differently
they should be in accord in the church. After this rule had been thus
established, Sabbatius being bound by his oath, anticipated the fast by
keeping it in private, whenever any discrepancy existed in the time of the
Paschal solemnity, and having watched all night, he celebrated the sabbath
of the passover; then on the next day he went to church, and with the rest
of the congregation partook of the sacraments. He pursued this course for
many years, so that it could not be concealed from the people; in imitation
of which some of the more ignorant, and chiefly the Phrygians and
Galatians, supposing they should be justified by this conduct imitated him,
and kept the passover in secret after his manner. But Sabbatius afterwards
disregarding the oath by which he had renounced the episcopal dignity, held
schismatic meetings, and was constituted bishop of his followers, as we
shall show hereafter. (7))

CHAPTER XXII: The Author's Views respecting the Celebration of Easter,
Baptism, Fasting, Marriage, the Eucharist, and Other Ecclesiastical Rites.

   As we have touched the subject I deem it not unreasonable to say a few
words concerning Easter. It appears to me that neither the ancients nor
moderns who have affected to follow the Jews, have had any rational
foundation for contending so obstinately about it. For they have not taken
into consideration the fact that when Judaism was changed into
Christianity, the obligation to observe the Mosaic law and the ceremonial
types ceased. And the proof of the matter is plain; for no law of Christ
permits Christians to imitate the Jews. On the contrary the apostle
expressly forbids it; not only rejecting circumcision, but also deprecating
contention about festival days. In his epistle to the Galatians (1) he
writes, 'Tell me ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the
law?' And continuing his train of argument, he demonstrates that the Jews
were in bondage as servants, but that those who have come to Christ are
'called into the liberty of sons.'(2) Moreover he exhorts them in no way to
regard 'days, and months, and years.' (3) Again in his epistle to the
Colossians (4) he distinctly declares, that such observances are merely
shadows: wherefore he says, 'Let no man judge you in meat, or in drink, or
in respect of any holy-day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath-days;
which are a shadow of things to come.' The same truths are also confirmed
by him in the epistle to the Hebrews (5) in these words: 'For the
priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the
law.' Neither the apostles, therefore, nor the Gospels, (6) have anywhere
imposed the 'yoke of servitude' (7) on those who have embraced the truth;
but have left Easter and every other feast to be honored by the gratitude
of the recipients of grace. Wherefore, inasmuch as men love festivals,
because they afford them cessation from labor: each individual in every
place, according to his own pleasure, has by a prevalent custom celebrated
the memory of the saving passion. The Saviour and his apostles have
enjoined us by no law to keep this feast: nor do the Gospels and apostles
threaten us with any penalty, punishment, or curse for the neglect of it,
as the Mosaic law does the Jews. It is merely for the sake of historical
accuracy, and for the reproach of the Jews, because they polluted
themselves with blood on their very feasts, that it is recorded in the
Gospels that our Saviour suffered in the days of 'unleavened bread.' (8)
The aim of the apostles was not to appoint festival days, but to teach a
righteous life and piety. And it seems to me that just as many other
customs have been established in individual localities according to usage.
So also the feast of Easter came to be observed in each place according to
the individual peculiarities of the peoples inasmuch as none of the
apostles legislated on the matter. And that the observance originated not
by legislation, but as a custom the facts themselves indicate. In Asia
Minor most people kept the fourteenth day of the moon, disregarding the
sabbath: yet they never separated from those who did otherwise, until
Victor, bishop of Rome, influenced by too ardent a zeal, fulminated a
sentence of excommunication against the Quartodecimans (9) in Asia.
Wherefore also Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons in France, severely censured
Victor by letter for his immoderate heat; (10) telling him that although
the ancients differed in their celebration of Easter, they did not desist
from intercommunion. Also that Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, who afterwards
suffered martyrdom under Gordian, (11) continued to communicate with
Anicetus bishop of Rome, although he himself, according to the usage of his
native Smyrna, kept Easter on the fourteenth day of the moon, as Eusebius
attests in the fifth book of his Ecclesiastical History. (12) While
therefore some in Asia Minor observed the day above-mentioned, others in
the East kept that feast on the sabbath indeed, but differed as regards the
month. The former thought the Jews should be followed, though they were not
exact: the latter kept Easter after the equinox, refusing to celebrate with
the Jews; 'for,' said they, 'it ought to be celebrated when the sun is in
Aries, in the month called Xanthicus by the Antiochians, and April by the
Romans.' In this practice, they averred, they conformed not to the modern
Jews, who are mistaken in almost everything, but to the ancients, and to
Josephus according to what he has written in the third book of his Jewish
Antiquities. (13) Thus these people were at issue among themselves. But all
other Christians in the Western parts, and as far as the ocean itself, are
found to have celebrated Easter after the equinox, from a very ancient
tradition. And in fact these acting in this manner have never disagreed on
this subject. It is not true, as some have pretended, that the Synod under
Constantine altered this festival: (14) for Constantine himself, writing to
those who differed respecting it, recommended that as they were few in
number, they could agree with the majority of their brethren. His letter
will be found at length in the third book of the Life of Constantine by
Eusebius; but the passage in it relative to Easter runs thus: (15)

   'It is a becoming order which all the churches in the Western,
Southern, and Northern parts of the world observe, and some places in the
East also. Wherefore all on the present occasion have judged it fight, and
I have pledged myself that it will have the acquiescence of your prudence,
that what is unanimously observed in the city of Rome, throughout Italy,
Africa, and the whole of Egypt, in Spain, France, Britain, Libya, and all
Greece, the diocese of Asia and Pontus, and Cilicia, your wisdom also will
readily embrace; considering not only that the number of churches in the
aforesaid places is greater, but also that while there should be a
universal concurrence in what is most reasonable, it becomes us to have
nothing in common with the perfidious Jews.'

   Such is the tenor of the emperor's letter. Moreover the Quartodecimans
affirm that the observance of the fourteenth day was delivered to them by
the apostle John: while the Romans and those in the Western parts assure us
that their usage originated with the apostles Peter and Paul. Neither of
these parties however can produce any written testimony in confirmation of
what they assert. But that the time of keeping Easter in various places is
dependent on usage, I infer from this, that those who agree in faith,
differ among themselves on questions of usage. And it will not perhaps be
unseasonable to notice here the diversity of customs in the churches. (16)
The fasts before Easter will be found to be differently observed among
different people. Those at Rome fast three successive weeks before Easter,
excepting Saturdays and Sundays. (17) Those in Illyrica and all over Greece
and Alexandria observe a fast of six weeks, which they term 'The forty
days' fast.' (18) Others commencing their fast from the seventh week before
Easter, and fasting three five days only, and that at intervals, yet call
that time 'The forty days' fast.' It is indeed surprising to me that thus
differing in the number of days, they should both give it one common
appellation; but some assign one reason for it, and others another,
according to their several fancies. One can see also a disagreement about
the manner of abstinence from food, as well as about the number of days.
Some wholly abstain from things that have life: others feed on fish only of
all living creatures: many together with fish, eat fowl also, saying that
according to Moses, (19) these were likewise made out of the waters. Some
abstain from eggs, and all kinds of fruits: others partake of dry bread
only; stilt others eat not even this: while others having fasted till the
ninth hour, (20) afterwards take any sort of food without distinction. And
among various nations there are other usages, for which innumerable reasons
are assigned. Since however no one can produce a written command as an
authority, it is evident that the apostles left each one to his own free
will in the matter, to the end that each might perform what is good not by
constraint or necessity. Such is the difference in the churches on the
subject of fasts. Nor is there less variation in regard to religious
assemblies. (21) For although almost all churches throughout the world
celebrate the sacred mysteries on the sabbath (22) of every week, yet the
Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition,
have ceased to do this. The Egyptians in the neighborhood of Alexandria,
and the inhabitants of Thebais, hold their religious assemblies on the
sabbath, but do not participate of the mysteries in the manner usual among
Christians in general: for after having eaten and satisfied themselves with
food of all kinds, in the evening making their offerings (23) they partake
of the mysteries. At Alexandria again, on the Wednesday (24) in Passion
week and on Good Friday, the scriptures are read, and the doctors expound
them; and all the usual services are performed in their assemblies, except
the celebration of the mysteries. This practice in Alexandria is of great
antiquity, for it appears that Origen most commonly taught in the church on
those days. He being a very learned teacher in the Sacred Books, and
perceiving that the 'impotence of the law' (25) of Moses was weakened by
literal explanation, gave it a spiritual interpretation; declaring that
there has never been but one true Passover, which the Saviour celebrated
when he hung upon the cross: for that he then vanquished the adverse
powers, and erected this as a trophy against the devil. In the same city of
Alexandria, readers and chanters (26) are chosen indifferently from the
catechumens and the faithful; whereas in all other churches the faithful
only are promoted to these offices. I myself, also, learned of another
custom in Thessaly. If a clergyman in that country, after taking orders,
should sleep with his wife, whom he had legally married before his
ordination, he would be degraded. (27) In the East, indeed, all clergymen,
and even the bishops themselves, abstain from their wives: but this they do
of their own accord, and not by the necessity of any law; for there have
been among them many bishops, who have had children by their lawful wives,
during their episcopate. It is said that the author of the usage which
obtains in Thessaly was Heliodorus bishop of Tricca in that country; under
whose name there are love books extant, entitled Ethiopica, (28) which he
composed in his youth. The same custom prevails at 'Thessalonica, and in
Macedonia, and in Greece. I have also known of another peculiarity in
Thessaly, which is, that they baptize there on the days of Easter only; in
consequence of which  a very great number of them die without having
received baptism. At Antioch in Syria the site of the church is inverted;
so that the altar does not face toward the east, but toward the west. (29)
In Greece, however, and at Jerusalem and in Thessaly they go to prayers as
soon as the candles are lighted, in the same manner as the Novatians do at
Constantinople. At Caesarea likewise, and in Cappadocia, and in Cyprus, the
presbyters and bishops expound the Scriptures in the evening, after the
candles are lighted. The Novatians of the Hellespont do not perform their
prayers altogether in the same manner as those of Constantinople; in most
things, however, their usage is similar to that of the prevailing (30)
church. In short, it is impossible to find anywhere, among all the sects,
two churches which agree exactly in their ritual respecting prayers. At
Alexandria no presbyter is allowed to address the public: a regulation
which was made after Arius had raised a disturbance in that church. At Rome
they fast every Saturday. (31) At Caesarea of Cappadocia they exclude from
communion those who have sinned after baptism as the Novatians do. The same
discipline was practiced by the Macedonians in the Hellespont, and by the
Quartodecimans in Asia. The Novatians in Phrygia do not admit such as have
twice married; (32) but those of Constantinople neither admit nor reject
them openly, while in the Western parts they are openly received. This
diversity was occasioned, as I imagine, by the bishops who in their
respective eras governed the churches; and those who received these several
rites and usages, transmitted them as laws to their posterity. However, to
give a complete catalogue of all the various customs and ceremonial
observances in use throughout every city and country would be difficult--
rather impossible; but the instances we have adduced are sufficient to show
that the Easter Festival was from some remote precedent differently
celebrated in every particular province. They talk at random therefore who
assert that the time of keeping Easter was altered in the Nicene Synod; for
the bishops there convened earnestly labored to reduce the first dissenting
minority to uniformity of practice with the rest of the people. Now that
many differences existed even in the apostolic age of the church occasioned
by such subjects, was not unknown even to the apostles themselves, as the
book of The Acts testifies. For when they understood that a disturbance
occurred among believers on account of a dissension of the Gentiles, having
all met together, they promulgated a Divine law, giving it the form of a
letter. By this sanction they liberated Christians from the bondage of
formal observances, and all vain contention about these things; and they
taught them the path of true piety, prescribing such things only as were
conducive to its attainment. The epistle itself, which I shall here
transcribe, is recorded in The Aces of the Apostles. (33)

   'The apostles and eiders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren
which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we
have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with
words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the
law; to whom we gave no such commandment: it seemed good unto us, being
assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you, with our beloved
Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ. We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also
tell you the same thing by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and
to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that
ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things
strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall
do well. Fare ye well.'

   These things indeed pleased God: for the  letter expressly says, 'It
seemed good to the Holy Ghost to lay upon you no greater burden than these
necessary things.' There are nevertheless some persons who, disregarding
these precepts, suppose all fornication to be an indifferent matter; but
contend about holy-days as if their lives were at stake, thus contravening
the commands of God, and legislating for themselves, and making of none
effect the decree of the apostles: neither do they perceive that they are
themselves practicing the contrary to those things which God approved. It
is possible easily to extend our discourse respecting Easter, and
demonstrate that the Jews observe no exact rule either in the time or
manner of celebrating the paschal solemnity: and that the Samaritans, who
are an offshoot from the Jews, always celebrate this festival after the
equinox. But this subject would require a distinct and copious treatise: I
shall therefore merely add, that those who affect so much to imitate the
Jews, and are so very anxious about an accurate observance of types, ought
to depart from them in no particular. For if they have chosen to be so
correct, they must not only observe days and months, but all other things
also, which Christ (who was 'made under the law') (34) did in the manner of
the Jews; or which he unjustly suffered from them; or wrought typically for
the good of all men. He entered into a ship and taught. He ordered the
Passover to be made ready in an upper room. He commanded an ass that was
tied to be loosed. He proposed a man bearing a pitcher of water as a sign
to them for hastening their preparations for the Passover. [He did] an
infinite number of other things of this nature which are recorded in the
gospels. And yet those who suppose themselves to be justified by keeping
this feast, would think it absurd to observe any of these things in a
bodily manner. For no doctor ever dreams of going to preach from a ship --
no person imagines it necessary to go up into an upper room to celebrate
the Passover there --they never tie, and then loose an ass again-and
finally no one enjoins another to carry a pitcher of water, in order that
the symbols might be fulfilled. They have justly regarded such things as
savoring rather of Judaism: for the Jews are more solicitous about outward
solemnities than the obedience of the heart; and therefore are they under
the curse, because they do not discern the spiritual bearing of the Mosaic
law, but rest in its types and shadows. Those who favor the Jews admit the
allegorical meaning of these things; and yet they wage a deadly warfare
against the observance of days and months, without applying to them a
similar sense: thus do they necessarily involve themselves in a common
condemnation with the Jews.

   But enough I think has been said concerning these things. Let us now
return to the subject we were previously treating of, the fact that the
Church once divided did not stay with that division, but that those
separated were again divided among themselves, taking occasion from the
most trivial grounds. The Novatians, as I have stated, were divided among
themselves on account of the feast of Easter, the controversy not being
restricted to one point only. For in the different provinces some took one
view of the question, and some another, disagreeing not only about the
month, but the days of the week also, and other unimportant matters; in
some places they hold separate assemblies because of it, in others they
unite in mutual communion.

CHAPTER XXIII: FurtherDissensions among the Arians at Constantinople. The
Psathyrians.

   But dissensions arose among the Arians (1) also on this account. The
contentious questions which were daily agitated among them, led them to
start the most absurd propositions. For whereas it has been always believed
in the church that God is the Father of the Son, the Word, it was asked
whether God could be called 'Father' before the Son had subsistence? Thus
in asserting that the Word of God was not begotten of the Father, but was
created out 'of nothing,' and thus failing into error on the chief and main
point, they deservedly fell into absurd cavilings about a mere name.
Dorotheus therefore being sent for by them from Antioch maintained that God
neither was nor could be called Father before the Son existed. But Marinus
whom they had summoned out of Thrace before Dorotheus, piqued at the
superior deference which was paid to his rival, undertook to defend the
contrary opinion. In consequence of these things there arose a schism among
them, and being thus divided respecting this term, each party held separate
meetings. Those under Dorotheus retained their original places of assembly:
but the followers of Marinus built distinct oratories for themselves, and
asserted that the Father had always been Father, even when the Son was not.
This section of the Arians was denominated Psathyrians, (2) because one of
the most zealous defenders of this opinion was Theoctistus, a Syrian by
birth, and a cake-seller [Psathyropola] (3) by trade. Selenas (4) bishop of
the Goths adopted the views of this party, a man of mixed descent; he was a
Goth by his father's side, but by his mother's a Phrygian, by which means
he taught in the church with great readiness in both these languages. This
faction however soon quarreled among themselves, Marinus disagreeing with
Agapius, whom he himself had preferred to the bishopric of Ephesus. They
disputed, however, not about any point of religion, but in narrow-
mindedness about precedence, in which the Goths sided with Agapius.
Wherefore many of the ecclesiastics under their jurisdiction, abominating
the vain-glorious contest between these two, abandoned them both, and
became adherents to the 'homoousian' faith. The Arians having continued
thus divided among themselves during the space of thirty-five years, were
reunited in the reign of Theodosius the Younger, under the consulate (5) of
Plintha the commander-in-chief of the army, he being a member of the sect
of Psathyrians; these were prevailed on to desist from contention. They
afterwards passed a resolution, giving it all the cogency of law, that the
question which had led to their separation, should never be mooted again.
But this reconciliation extended no farther than Constantinople; for in
other cities where any of these two parties were found, they persisted in
their former separation. So much respecting the division among the Arians.

CHAPTER XXIV: The Eunamians divide into Several Factions.

   But neither did the followers of Eunomius remain without dissensions:
for Eunomius (1) himself had long before this separated from Eudoxius who
ordained him bishop of Cyzicus, taking occasion from that bishop's refusal
to restore to communion his master Aetius who had been ejected. But those
who derived their name from him were subsequently divided into several
factions. For first Theophronius a Cappadocian, who had been instructed in
the art of disputation by Eunomius, and had acquired a smattering of
Aristotle's Categories, and his Book of Interpretation, composed some
treatises which he entitled, On the Exercise of the Mind. Having, however,
drawn down upon himself the reprobation of his own sect, he was ejected as
an apostate. He afterwards held assemblies apart from them, and left behind
him a heresy which bore his own name. Furthermore at Constantinople a
certain Eutychius from some absurd dispute, withdrew from the Eunomians,
and still continues to hold separate meetings. The followers of
Theophronius are denominated 'Eunomiotheophronians'; and those of Eutychius
have the appellation of 'Eunomieutychians.' What those nonsensical terms
were about which they differed I consider unworthy of being recorded in
this history, lest I should go into matters foreign to my purpose. I shall
merely observe that they adulterated baptism: for they do not baptize in
the name of the Trinity, but into the death of Christ. (2) Among the
Macedonians also there was for some time a division, When Eutropius a
presbyter held separate assemblies, and Carterius did not agree with him.
There are possibly in other cities sects which have emanated from these:
but living at Constantinople, where I was born and educated, I describe
more particularly what has taken place in that city; both because I have
myself witnessed some of these transactions, and also because the events
which have there occurred are of pre-eminent importance, and are therefore
more worth of commemoration. Let it however be understood that what I have
here related happened at different periods, and not at the same time. But
if any one should be desirous of knowing the names of the various sects, he
may easily satisfy himself, by reading a book entitled Ancoratus, (3)
composed by Epiphanius, bishop of Cyprus: but I shall content myself with
what I have already stated. The public affairs were again thrown into
agitation from a cause I shall now refer to.

CHAPTER XXV: The Usurper Eugenius compasses the Death of Valentinian the
Younger. Theodosius obtains a Victory over him. There was in the Western
regions a grammarian named Eugenius, (1) who after having for some time
taught the Latin language, left his school, and was appointed to service at
the palace, being constituted chief secretary to the emperor. Possessing a
considerable degree of eloquence, and being on that account treated with
greater distinction than others, he was unable to bear his good fortune
with moderation. For associating with himself Arbogastes, a native of
Galatia Minor, who then had the command of a division of the army, a man
harsh in manner and very bloodthirsty, he determined to usurp the
sovereignty. These two therefore agreed to murder the Emperor Valentinian,
having corrupted the eunuchs of the imperial bed-chamber. These, on
receiving tempting promises of promotion, strangled the emperor in his
sleep. Eugenius immediately assuming the supreme authority in the Western
parts of the empire, conducted himself in such a manner as might be
expected from a usurper. When the Emperor Theodosius was made acquainted
with these things, he was exceedingly distressed, because his defeat of
Maximus had only prepared the way for fresh troubles. He accordingly
assembled his military forces, and having proclaimed his son Honorius
Augustus, on the 10th of January, in his own third consulate a which he
bore with Abundantius, he again set out in great haste toward the Western
parts, leaving both his sons invested with imperial authority at
Constantinople. As he marched against Eugenius a very great number of the
barbarians beyond the Danube volunteered their services, and followed him
in this expedition. After a rapid march he arrived in the Gauls with  a
numerous army, where Eugenius awaited him, also at the head of an immense
body of troops. Accordingly an engagement took place near the river
Frigidus, which is [about thirty-six miles] distant [from Aquileia]. In
that part of the battle where the Romans fought against their own
countrymen, the conflict was doubtful: but where the barbarian auxiliaries
of the Emperor Theodosius were engaged, the forces of Eugenius had greatly
the advantage. When the emperor saw the barbarians perishing, he cast
himself in great agony upon the ground, and invoked the help of God in this
emergency: nor was his request unheeded; for Bacurius (3) his principal
officer, inspired with sudden and extraordinary ardor, rushed with his
vanguard to the part where the barbarians were hardest pressed, broke
through the ranks of the enemy, and put to flight those who a little before
were themselves engaged in pursuit. Another marvelous circumstance also
occurred. A violent wind suddenly arose, which retorted upon themselves the
darts cast by the soldiers of Eugenius, and at the same time drove those
hurled by the imperial forces with increased impetus against their
adversaries. (4) So prevalent was the emperor's prayer. The success of the
struggle being in this way turned, the usurper threw himself at the
emperor's feet, and begged that his life might be spared: but as he lay a
prostrate suppliant at the feet [of the emperor] he was beheaded by the
soldiers, on the 6th of September, in the third consulate of Arcadius, and
the second of Honorius. (5) Arbogastes, who had been the chief cause of so
much mischief, having continued his flight for two days after the battle,
and seeing no chance of escape, despatched himself with his own sword.

CHAPTER XXVI: Illness and Death of Theodosius the Elder.

   The Emperor Theodosius was in consequence of the anxiety and fatigues
connected with this war thrown into bodily illness; and believing the
disease which had attacked him would be fatal, he became more concerned
about the public affairs than his own life, considering how great
calamities often overtook the people after the death of their sovereign. He
therefore hastily summoned his son Honorius from Constantinople, being
principally desirous of setting in order the state of things in the western
parts of the empire. After his son's arrival at Milan, he seemed to recover
a little, and gave directions for the celebration of the games of the
hippodrome on account of his victory. Before dinner he was pretty well, and
a spectator of the sports; but after he had dined he became suddenly too
ill to return to them, and sent his son to preside in his stead; when the
night came on he died, it being the seventeenth of January, during
consulate of Olybrius and Probus. (1) This was in the first year of the two
hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad. The emperor Theodosius lived sixty
years, (2) and reigned sixteen. This book therefore comprehends the
transactions of sixteen years and eight months.


Taken from "The Early Church Fathers and Other Works" originally published
by Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. in English in Edinburgh, Scotland, beginning in
1867. (LNPF II/II, Schaff and Wace). The digital version is by The
Electronic
Bible Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.

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