CHAPTER XI
5o2
CONSTANTINE.
[III. 8. magnitude.
On each side of the interior of this were many seats disposed in order, which were occupied by those who had been invited to attend, according to their rank.
As soon, then, as the whole assembly had seated themselves with becoming orderliness, a general silence prevailed, in expectation of the emperor's arrival.
And first of all, three of his immediate family entered in succession, then others also preceded his approach, not of the soldiers or guards who usually accompanied him, but only friends in the faith.
And now, all rising at the signal which indicated the emperor's entrance, at last he himself proceeded through the midst of the assembly, like some heavenly messenger of God, clothed in raiment which glittered as it were with rays of light, reflecting the glowing radiance of a purple robe, and adorned with the brilliant splendor of gold and precious stones.
Such was the external appearance of his person ; and with regard to his mind, it was evident that he was distinguished by piety and godly fear.
This was indicated by his downcast eyes, the blush on his countenance, and his gait.
For the rest of his personal excellencies, he surpassed all present in height of stature and beauty of form, as well as in majestic dignity of mien, and invincible strength and vigor.
All these graces, united to a suavity of manner, and a serenity becoming his imperial station, declared the excellence of his mental qualities to be above all praise.?
As soon as he had advanced to the upper end of the seats, at first he remained standing, and when a low chair of wrought gold had been set for him, he waited until the bishops had beckoned to him, and then sat down, and after him the whole assembly did the same.
CHAPTER VIII.
That the Assembly was composed, as in the Acts of the Apostles, of Individuals from Various
Nations.
For it is said' that in the Apostles' age, there were gathered " devout men from every nation under heaven'"'; among whom were Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and the parts of Libya about Cyrene ; and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians.
But that assembly was less, in that not all who composed it were ministers of God ; but in the present company, the number of bishops exceeded two hundred and fifty,? while that of the presbyters and deacons in their train, and the crowd of acolytes and other attendants was altogether beyond computation.
CHAPTER IX.
Of the Virtue and Age of the Two Hundred and Lifty Bishops.
Or these ministers of God, some were distinguished by wisdom and eloquence, others by the gravity of their lives, and by patient fortitude of character, while others again united in themselves all these graces.'
There were among them men whose years demanded veneration : others were younger, and in the prime of mental vigor ; and some had but recently entered on the course of their ministry.
For the maintenance of all ample provision was daily furnished by the emperor's command.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER X.
Silence of the Council, after Some Words by the the Bishop Eusebius.
Council in the Palace.
Constantine, entering, took his Seat in the Assembly.
THE bishop who occupied the chief place in the right division of the assembly! then rose, and, addressing the emperor, delivered a concise speech, in a strain of thanksgiving to Almighty God on his behalf.
When he had resumed his seat, silence ensued, and all regarded the emperor with fixed attention; on which he looked serenely round on the assembly with a cheerful aspect, and, having collected his thoughts, in a calm and gentle tone gave utterance to the following words.
Now when the appointed day arrived on which the council met for the final solution of the questions in dispute, each member was present for this in the central building of the palace,' which appeared to exceed the rest in 1 Acts ii. 5 sqq.
2 The number present is given variously as three hundred (Socrates), three hundred and eititeed (Athanasius, &c.), two hundred and seventy (Theodoret), or even two thousand (cf. Hefele).
It has been conjectured that the variation came from the omission of names of the Arians (cf. note of Heinichen, Vol. 3, p. 506-so7), or that it varied during the two months and more. months, and which was originally held in a church.— Bag.]
The exact dates of the Council are controverted, but it seems that it ended August 25, having probably begun June 14.
1 This is the way it is interpreted by Sozomen, 1,17.
The phrase, which is literally " of middling character," is translated by Moiz. and others as if it meant " mild" or " modest," as if it referred in some way to the doctrine of the mean.
2 Compare Prolegomena, under Physical and Mental Characteristics, 1 [Hence it seems probable that this was the last day of the Council; the entire session of which occupied more than two 1 the authority of Sozomen and other writers seems to decide that this was Eusebius himself.
— Bag.]
IL 25a]
THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
Constantine's Address to the Council concerning How he led the Dissentient Bishops to HarPeace. mony of Sentiment.
As soon as the emperor had spoken these words in the Latin tongue, which another interpreted, he gave permission to those who presided in the council to deliver their opinions.
On this some began to accuse their neighbors, who defended themselves, and recriminated in their turn.
In this manner numberless assertions were put forth by each party, and a violent controversy arose at the very commencement.
Notwithstanding this, the emperor gave patient audience to all alike, and received every proposition with steadfast attention, and by occasionally assisting the argument of each party in turn, he gradually disposed even the most vehement disputants to a reconciliation.
At the same time, by the affability of his address to all, and his use of the Greek language, with which he was not altogether unacquainted, he appeared in a truly attractive and amiable light, persuading some, convincing others by his reasonings, praising those who spoke well, and urging all to unity of sentiment, until at last he succeeded in bringing them to one mind and judgment respecting every disputed question.
"Ty was once my chief desire, dearest friends, to enjoy the spectacle of your united presence ; and now that this desire is fulfilled, I feel myself bound to render thanks to God the universal
King, because, in addition to all his other benefits, he has granted me a blessing higher than all the rest, in permitting me to see you not only all assembled together, but all united in a common harmony of sentiment.
I pray therefore that no malignant adversary may henceforth interfere to mar our happy state ; I pray that, now the impious hostility of the tyrants has been forever removed by the power of God our Saviour, that spirit who delights in evil may devise no other means for exposing the divine
Jaw to blasphemous calumny ; for, in my judgment, intestine strife within the Church of God is far more evil and dangerous than any kind of war or conflict; and these our differences appear to me more grievous than any outward trouble.
Accordingly, when, by the will and with the co-operation of God, I had been victorious over my enemies, I thought that nothing more remained but to render thanks to him, and sympathize in the joy of those whom he had restored to freedom through my instrumen-
CHAPTER XIV.
tality ; as soon as I heard that intelligence which Unanimous Declaration of the Council concerrI had least expected to receive, I mean the news of your dissension, I judged it to be of no ing Faith, and the Celebration of Easter. secondary importance, but with the earnest deTue result was that they were not only united as concerning the faith, but that the time for the celebration of the salutary feast of Easter was agreed on by all.
Those points also which were sanctioned by the resolution of the whole body were committed to writing, and received the signature of each several member.'
Then the emperor, believing that he had thus obtained a second victory over the adversary of the Church, proceeded to solemnize a triumphal festival in honor of God. sire that a remedy for this evil also might be found through my means, I immediately sent to require your presence.
And now I rejoice in beholding your assembly ; but I feel that my desires will be most completely fulfilled when I can see you all united in one judgment, and :
On spirit_of peace and concord _prevailing amongst you all, which it becomes you, as-consecrated to the service of God, to commend to others.
Delay_not, then, dear friends : delay not, ye ministers of God, and faithful servants of him who is our common Lord and Saviour: begin from this moment to discard the causes of that disunion which has existed amiong you, and-remove the' perplexities of con-
CHAPTER XV.
How Constantine entertained the Bishops on the Occasion of his Vicennaha. trovérsy by embracing the principles of peace.
For by such conduct you will at the same time Axout this time he completed the twentieth year of his reign.'
On this occasion public festivals were celebrated by the people of the provinces generally, but the emperor himself be acting in a manner most pleasing to the supreme God, and you will confer an exceeding favor on me who am your fellow-servant." jae SA ew eel ene ee 1 The earnest desire of Constantine to Sagal peace in the| invited and feasted with those ministers of God church makes one judge with leniency the rather arbitrary and very
'mechanical method he often took to secure it.
As over against the unity of form or the unity of compromise, there is one only real unity —a unity in the truth, being one in the Truth.
The secret of 1 The extant signatures are of doubtful authenticity.
Compare Hefele, p. 269.
1 Compare Prolegomena, Lz/e.
'peace is reason with right.
CONSTANTINE.
(III. 15.
was present, as one among yourselves (and far be it from me to deny that which is my greatest joy, that I am your fellow-servant), and every whom he had reconciled, and thus offered as it were through them a suitable sacrifice to God.
Not one of the bishops was wanting at the imperial banquet," the circumstances of which were splendid beyond description.
Detachments of the body-guard and other troops surrounded the entrance of the palace with drawn swords, and through the midst of these the men of God proceeded without fear into the innermost of the imperial apartments, in which some were the emperor's own companions at table, while others reclined on couches arranged on either side.®
One might have thought that a picture of Christ's kingdom was thus shadowed forth, and a dream rather than reality. question received due and full examination, until that judgment which God, who sees all things, could approve, and which tended to unity and concord, was brought to light, so that no room was left for further discussion or controversy in relation to the faith.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Fle speaks of their Unanimity respecting the Feast of Easter, and against the Practice of the Jews.
" AT this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of Easter was discussed, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present, that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day.
For what can be more becoming or honorable to us than that this feast from which we date our hopes of immortality, should be observed unfailingly by all alike, according to one ascertained order and arrangement?
And first of all, it appeared an unworthy thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow the practice of the Jews, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul.
For we have it in our power, if we abandon their custom, to prolong the due observance of this ordinance to future ages, by a truer order, which we have preserved from the very day of the passion until the present time.
Let us then have nothing in common with the detestable Jewish crowd ; for we have received from our Saviour a different way.
A course at once legitimate and honorable lies open to our most holy religion.
Beloved brethren, let us with one consent adopt this course, and withdraw ourselves from all participation in their baseness.!.
For their boast is absurd indeed, that it is not in our power without instruction from them to observe these things.
For how should they be capable of forming a sound judgment, who, since their parricidal guilt in slaying their Lord, have been subject to the direction, not of reason, but of ungoverned passion, and are swayed by every impulse of the mad spirit that is in them?
Hence it is that on this point as well as others they have no perception of the truth, so that, being altogether ignorant of the true adjustment of this question, they sometimes celebrate
CHAPTER XVI.
Presents to the Bishops, and Letters to the People generally.
AFTER the celebration of this brilliant festival, the emperor courteously received all his guests, and generously added to the favors he had already bestowed by personally presenting gifts to each individual according to his rank.
He also gave information of the proceedings of the synod to those who had not been present, by a letter in his own hand-writing.
And this letter also I will inscribe as it were on some monument by inserting it in this my narrative of his life.
It was as follows :
CHAPTER XVII.
Constantine's Letter to the Churches respecting the Council at Nicea.
* CONSTANTINUS AUGUSTUS, to the Churches.
" Having had full proof, in the general prosperity of the empire, how great the favor of God has been towards us, I have judged that it ought to be the first object of my endeavors, that unity of faith, sincerity of love, and community Of feeling in regard to the worship of Almighty God, might be preserved among thé highly favored multitude who composé the" Catholic Church.
And, inasmuch as this object could tot bé effectually and certainly secured, unless all, or at least the greater number of the bishops were to meet together, and a discussion of all particulars relating to our most holy religion to take place ; for this reason as numerous an assembly as possible has been convened, at which I myself
2 At the risk of seeming trivial in sober and professedly condensed annotation, one cannot help noting that the human nature of ancient and modern councils is the same, — much controversy and more or less absenteeism, but all present at dinner.
See [the idea seems to be (as explained by Valesius) that if they joined the Jews in celebrating this feast, they would seem to consent to their crime in crucifying the Lord.— Bag.]
He carried out his reprobation of the Jews in his actions in discriminating laws at least, and perhaps in actual persecution.
3 For notice of these couches, see Smith, Dict. Gr. and Rom.
Ant., article Lectica.
Mier]
THE LIFE OF CONSTANTINE.
judgment.
And you will consider not only that the number of churches is far greater in the regions I have enumerated than in any other, but also that it is most fitting that all should unite in desiring that which sound reason appears to demand, and in avoiding all participation in the perjured conduct of the Jews.'
In fine, that I may express my meaning in as few words as possible, it has been determined by the common judgment of all, that the most holy feast of Easter should be kept on one and the same day.
For on the one hand a discrepancy of opinion on so sacred a question is unbecoming, and on the other it is surely best to act on a decision which is free from strange folly and error.
Easter twice in the same year.
Why then should we follow those who are confessedly in grievous error?
Surely we shall never consent to keep this feast a second time in the same year.
But supposing these reasons were not of sufficient weight, still it would be incumbent on your Sagacities® to strive and pray continually that the purity of your souls may not seem in anything to be sullied by fellowship with the customs of these most wicked men.
We must consider, too, that a discordant judgment in a case of such importance, and respecting such religious festival, is wrong.
For our Saviour has left us one feast in commemoration of the day of our deliverance, I mean the day of his most holy passion; and he has willed that his Catholic
Church should be one, the members of which, however scattered in many and diverse places, are yet cherished by one pervading spirit, that is, by the will of God.
And let your Holinesses' sagacity reflect how grievous and scandalous it is that on the selfsame days some should be engaged in fasting, others in festive enjoyment ; and again, that after the days of Easter some
CHAPTER XX.
Exhortation to obey the Decrees of the Council.
'"'REcEIVE, then, with all willingness this truly Divine injunction, and regard it as in truth the gift of God.
For whatever is determined in the holy assemblies of the bishops is to be regarded as indicative of the Divine will. As soon, therefore, as you have communicated these proceedings to all our beloved brethren, you are bound from that time forward to adopt for yourselves, and to enjoin on others the arrangement above mentioned, and the due observance of this most sacred day; that whenever I come into the presence of your love, which I have long desired, I may have it in my power to celebrate the holy feast with you on the same day, and may rejoice with you on all accounts, when I behold the cruel power of Satan removed by Divine aid through the agency of our endeavors, while your faith, and peace, and concord everywhere flourish.
God preserve you, beloved brethren !"' should be present at banquets and amusements, while others are fulfilling the appointed fasts.
It is, then, plainly the will of Divine Providence (as I suppose you all clearly see), that this usage should receive fitting correction, and be reduced to one uniform rule.
CHAPTER XIX.
Exhortation to follow the Example of the Greater Part of the World.
"Since, therefore, it was needful that this matter should be rectified, so that we might have nothing in common with that nation of parricides who slew their Lord: and since that arrangement is consistent with propriety which is observed by all the churches of the western, southern, and northern parts of the world, and by some of the eastern also: for these reasons all are unanimous on this present occasion in thinking it worthy of adoption.
And I myself have undertaken that this decision should meet with the approval of your Sagacities,' in the hope that your Wisdoms? will gladly admit that practice which is observed at once in the city of Rome, and in Africa; throughout Italy, and in Egypt, in Spain, the Gauls, Britain, Libya, and the whole of Greece; in the dioceses of Asia and Pontus, and in Cilicia, with entire unity of BE The emperor transmitted a faithful copy' of this letter to every province, wherein they who read it might discern as in a mirror the pure sincerity of his thoughts, and of his piety toward
God.
CHAPTER XXI.
Recommendation to the Bishops, on their Departure, to Preserve Harmony.
AND now, when the council was on the point of being finally dissolved, he summoned all the bishops to meet him on an appointed day, and on their arrival addressed them in a farewell
2 [Valesius explains this as referring to the conduct of the Jews in professing to acknowledge God as their king, and yet denying him by saying, "' We have no king but Cesar." — Bag.
This Hezn. regards as the correct meaning, although "' equally valid," or "' authoritative," has been regarded as possible.
This word is one of a class of expressions fre2 [Avxivores : class
and which, being intended as Zzt¢les of quently used by Eusebius, i honor, like ''
Excellency," &c., should, where possible, be thus rendered.
In the present instance it is applied to the heads of the churches collectively. — Bag.] More pro' ably in this case it is ot the title, but means " your sagacity.""
1 Rather " sagacity " and " wisdom."