Section 346
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 315 and greatness would be no trifling subject to elucidate. But we have dwelt in a separate work on the particulars of his life, and the school which he established, as also the trials which he en dured amid the persecution in the different confessions, and be sides this, the death of martyrdom with which he was crowned. He, indeed, was the most admirable of all here. Among the very eminent men that have flourished near our own times, of presby ters we have known Pierius of Alexandria, Melchius also bishop of the churches in Pontus. The former indeed was greatly ce lebrated for his voluntary poverty, and his philosophical know ledge, and was abundantly exercised in expositions of the Scrip tures, and the discourses in the public assemblies of the church. But Miletius was called by the learned, the honey (f*£/U) of At tica, and was the most perfect original of learned men that could be described. It is impossible also to admire sufficiently the superiority of his eloquence : it might be said perhaps that he derived this from nature, but who is there that could excel him in the excellence of his other skill and erudition. For in all the sciences that require the exercise of argumentation, if you were to make trial, you would readily say that he was a most subtle and acute reasoner. The virtues of his life were also a paral lel to these. We have had the opportunity of observing him during the persecution, escaping its fury for seven years, in the regions of Palestine. But the church of Jerusalem, after Hymenasus, was under the episcopal care of Zambdas, and he not long after dying, Hermon was the last before the persecution of our day ; the same that now holds the apostolic chair preserved there to this day. At Alexandria, however, Maximus, who held the episcopal office eighteen years after the death of Dionysius, was succeeded by Theonas. In his time Achillas, who had been honoured with the order of presbyter, was noted at Alexan dria, having entrusted to him the school for religious instruction. In his life and actions he exhibited a most rare instance of sound wisdom, and a genuine specimen of evangelical deportment. But after Theonas had discharged the duties of the office nineteen years, he was succeeded in the episcopate of Alexandria by Pe ter, who was also very eminent, and held the office twelve years ; 29*