Defence Against The Arians.

Defence Against The Arians.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

are indignant at learning that certain persons | Arians are heretics as they, and the like senhave set aside their judgment. tence has been passed both against one and the other.

And, after such bold proceedings as these, who are they that have lighted up the flame of discord? for in your letter you blame us for having done this.

Is it we, who have sympathised with the sufferings of the brethren, and have acted in all respects according to the Canon; or they who contentiously and contrary to the Canon have

24. We have also been informed of the following circumstance by those who were at Alexandria.

A certain Carpones, who had been excommunicated by Alexander for Arianism, was sent hither by one Gregory with certain others, also excommunicated for the same heresy.

However, I had learnt the matter also from the Presbyter Macarius, and the Deacons Martyrius and Hesychius.

For before the Presbyters of Athanasius arrived, they urged me to send letters to one Pistus at Alexandria, though at the same time the Bishop Athanasius was there.

And when the Presbyters of the Bishop Athanasius came, they informed me that this Pistus was an Arian, and that he had been excommunicated 9 by the Bishop Alexander and the Council of set aside the sentence of the Three hundred, and dishonoured the Council in every way?

For not only have the Arians been. received into communion, but Bishops also have made a practice of removing from one place to another+ Now if you really believe that all Bishops have the same and equal authority 5, and you do not, as you assert, account of them according to the magnitude of their cities; he that is entrusted with a small city ought to abide in the place committed to him, and not from disdain of his trust to remove

Nica, and then ordained? by one Secundus, whom also the great Council excommunicated as an Arian.

This statement Martyrius and his fellows did not gainsay, nor did they deny that Pistus had received his ordination from Secundus.

Now consider, after this who are most justly liable to blame? I, who could not be prevailed upon to write to the Arian Pistus; or those, who advised me to do dishonour to thé great Council, and to address the irreligious as if they were religious persons? Moreover, when the Presbyter Macarius, who had been sent hither by Eusebius with Martyrius and the rest, heard of the opposition which had been made by the Presbyters of Athanasius, while we were expecting his appearance with Martyrius and Hesychius, he departed in the night, in spite of a bodily ailment; which leads us to conjecture that his departure arose from shame on account of the exposure which had been made concerning Pistus.

For it is impossible that the ordination of the Arian Secundus should be considered valid in the Catholic Church.

This would indeed be dishonour to the Council, and to the Bishops who composed it, if the decrees they framed, as in the presence of God, with such extreme earnestness and care, should be set aside as worthless, to one that has never been put under him; despising that which God has given him, and making much of the vain applause of men.

You ought then, dearly beloved, to have come and not declined, that the matter may be brought to a conclusion; for this is what reason demands.

But perhaps you were prevented by the time fixed upon for the Council, for you complain in your letter that the interval before the day we appointed ® was too short.

But this, beloved, is a mere excuse.

Had the day forestalled any when on the journey, the interval allowed would then have been proved to be too short.

But when persons do not wish to come, and detain even my Presbyters up to the month of January7, it is the mere excuse of those who have no confidence in their cause; otherwise, as I said before, they would have come, not regarding the length of the journey, not considering the shortness of the time, but trusting to the justice and reasonableness of their cause.

But perhaps they did not come on account of the aspect of the times 8, for again you declare in your letter, that we ought to have considered the present circumstances of the East, and not to have urged you to come.

Now if as you say you did not come because the times were such, you ought to have considered such times beforehand, and not to have become the authors of schism, and of mourning and lamentation in the Churches.

But as the matter stands, men, who have been 25.

If, as you write?, the decrees of all Councils ought to be of force, according to the precedent in the case of Novatus3 and Paul of Samosata, all the more ought not the sentence of the Three hundred to be reversed, certainly a general Council ought not to be set at nought by a few individuals.

For the 9 Cf. supr. DZos. Ar.

3 Cf. ZA. 4g. 7,19, Hist. Ar. 63.

2 Vid. also Hilar. Aragzz. iii. 20.

3 The instance of Novatian makes against the Eusebians, because for some time after Novatian was condemned in the West, his cause was abandoned in the East. Tillemont, Mem. t. 7. p. 277.

5 Cyprian. de Unit. Eecl. 4.

7 A.D. 340.

4 Vid. supr. 2. 6. mpodecuia.

The Persian war.

Ast. Arian. § 11.

VOL.

EV.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

in letters, no credit whatever is due to the statements they contain.

In the next place if you require us to believe what you have written, it is but consistent that we should not refuse, credit to those who have written in his favour; especially, considering that you write from a distance, while they are on the spot, are acquainted with the man, and the events which are occurring there, and testify in writing to his manner of life, and positively affirm that he has been the victim of a conspiracy throughout. the cause of these things, shew that it is not the times that are to blame, but the determination of those who will not meet a Council.

26. But I wonder also how you could ever have written that part of your letter, in which you say, that I alone wrote, and not to all of you, but to Eusebius and his fellows only.

In this complaint one may discover more of readiness to find fault than of regard for truth.

I received the letters against Athanasius from none other than Martyrius, Hesychius and their fellows, and I necessarily wrote to them who had written against him.

Either then Eusebius and his fellows ought not alone to have written, apart from you all, or else you, to whom I did not write, ought not to be offended that I wrote to them who had written to me.

If it was right that I should address my letter to you all, you also ought to have written with them but now considering what was reasonable, I wrote to them, who had addressed themselves to me, and had given me information.

But if you were displeased because I alone wrote to them, it is but consistent that you should also be angry, because they wrote to me alone.

But for this also, beloved, there was a fair and not unreasonable cause.

Nevertheless it is necessary that I should acquaint you that, although I wrote, yet the sentiments I expressed were not those of myself alone, but of all the Bishops throughout Italy and in these parts.

I indeed was unwilling to cause them all to write, lest the others should be overpowered by their number.

The Bishops however assembled on the appointed day, and agreed in these opinions, which I again write to signify to you ; so that, dearly beloved, although I alone address you, yet you may be assured that these are the sentiments of all.

Thus much for the excuses, not reasonable, but unjust and _ suspicious, which some of you have alleged for your conduct.

Again, a certain Bishop Arsenius was said at one time to have been made away with by Athanasius, but we have learned that he is alive, nay, that he is on terms of friendship with him.

He has positively asserted that the Reports drawn up in the Mareotis were ex parte ones; for that neither the Presbyter Macarius, the accused party, was present, nor yet his Bishop, Athanasius himself.

This we have learnt, not only from his own mouth, but also from the Reports which Martyrius,

Hesychius and their fellows, brought to us9; for we found on reading them, that the accuser

Ischyras was present there, but neither Macarius, nor the Bishop Athanasius; and that the Presbyters of Athanasius desired to attend, but were not permitted.

Now, beloved, if the trial was to be conducted honestly, not only the accuser, but the accused also ought to have been present.

As the accused party Macarius attended at Tyre, as well as the accuser Ischyras, when nothing was proved, so not only ought the accuser to have gone to the Mareotis, but also the accused, so that in person he might either be convicted, or by not being convicted might shew the falseness of the accusation.

But now, as this was not the case, but the accuser only went out thither, with those to whom Athanasius objected, the proceedings wear a suspicious appearance.

28. And he complained also that the persons who went to the Mareotis went against his wish, for that Theognius, Maris, Theodorus,

Ursacius, Valens, and Macedonius, who were the persons they sent out, were of Suspected character.

This he shewed not by his own assertions merely, but from the letter of Alexander who was Bishop of Thessalonica ; for he produced a letter written by him to Dionysius?, the Count who presided in the Council, in which he shews most clearly that there was a conspiracy on foot against Athanasius.

He has also brought forward a genuine document, all in the handwriting of the accuser Ischyras himself ?, in which he calls God Almighty to 27. Now although what has already been said were sufficient to shew that we have not admitted to our communion our brothers Athanasius and Marcellus either too readily, or unjustly, yet it is but fair briefly to set the matter before you.

Eusebius and his fellows wrote formerly against Athanasius and his fellows, as you also have written now; but a great number of Bishops out of Egypt and other provinces wrote in his favour.

Now in the first place, your letters against him are inconsistent with one another, and the second have no sort of agreement with the first, but in many instances the former are answered by the latter, and the latter aré impeached by the former.

Now where there is this contradiction 9 Infr. § 83 fin.

T Infr. § 80.

2 § 64.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

witness that no cup was broken, nor table overthrown, but that he had been suborned by Certain persons to invent these accusations.

Moreover, when the Presbyters of the Mareotis arrived 3, they positively affirmed that Ischyras for he set up a charge respecting the burning of certain books, when, as they pretend, Macarius burst in upon them, but was convicted of falsehood by the witnesses he himself brought to prove it. was not a Presbyter of the Catholic Church, and that Macarius had not committed any such offence as the other had laid to his charge.

The Presbyters and Deacons also who came to us testified in the fullest manner in favour of the Bishop Athanasius, strenuously asserting that none of those things which were alleged against him were true, but that he was the victim of a conspiracy.

29. Now when these things were thus represented to us, and so many witnesses appeared in his favour, and so much was advanced by him in his own justification, what did it become us to do? what did the rule of the Church require of us, but that we should not condemn him, but rather receive him and treat him like a Bishop, as we have done?

Moreover, besides all this he continued here a year and six months 8, expecting the arrival of yourselves and of whoever chose to come, and by his presence he put everyone to shame, for he would not have been here, had he not felt confident in his cause; and he came not of his own accord, but on an invitation by letter from us, in the manner in which we wrote to vou% But still you complain after all of our transgressing the Canons.

Now consider; who are they that have so acted? we who received this man with such ample proof of his innocence, or they who, being at Antioch at the distance of six and thirty posts?, nominated a stranger to be Bishop, and sent him to Alexandria with a military force; a thing which was not done even when Athanasius was banished into Gaul, though it would have been done then, had he been really proved guilty of the offence.

But when he returned, of course he found his Church unoccupied and waiting for him, And all the Bishops of Egypt and Libya wrote and protested4 that his ordination was lawful and strictly ecclesiastical, and that all that you had advanced against him was false, for that no murder had been committed, nor any persons despatched on his account, nor any cup broken, but that all was false.

Nay, the Bishop Athanasius also shewed from the ex parte reports drawn up in the Mareotis, that a catechumen was examined and said 5, that he was within with Ischyras, at the time when they say Macarius the Presbyter of Athanasius burst into the place ; and that others who were examined said,—one, that Ischyras was in a small cell,—and another, that he was lying down behind the door, being sick at that very time, when they say Macarius came thither.

Now from these representations of his, we are naturally led to ask the question, How was it possible that a man who was lying behind the door sick could get up, conduct the service, and offer? and how could it be that Oblations were offered when catechumens were within®? for if there were catechumens present, it was not yet the time for presenting the Oblations.

These representations, as I said, were made by the 30. But now I am ignorant under what colour these proceedings have been carried on.

In the first place, if the truth must be spoken, it was not right, when we had written to summon a council, that any persons should anticipate its decisions: and in the next place, it was not fitting that such novel proceedings should be adopted against the Church.

For what canon of the Church, or what Apostolical tradition warrants this, that when a Church was at peace, and so many Bishops were in unanimity with Athanasius the Bishop of Alexandria, Gregory should be sent thither, a stranger to the city, not having been baptized

Bishop Athanasius, and he showed from the reports, what was also positively affirmed by those who were with him, that Ischyras has never been a presbyter at all in the Catholic Church, nor has ever appeared as a presbyter in the assemblies of the Church ; for not even when Alexander admitted those of the Meletian schism, by the indulgence of the great Council, was he named by Meletius among his presbyters, as they deposed7; which is the strongest argument possible that he was not even a presbyter of Meletius ; for otherwise, he would certainly have been numbered with the rest.

Besides, it was shewn 8 Spring of 339 A.D. to autumn of 340.

9 Hist. Ar.

9. t Or rather, hated povat. They are enumerated in the Itinerary of Antoninus, and are set down on Montfaucon's plate.

The route passes over the Delta to Pelusium, and then coasts all the way to Antioch.

'These povai were day's journeys, Coustant in Hilar.

Psalm 118, Lit. 5. 2. or half a day's journey, Herman. ibid; and were at unequal intervals, Ambros. in Psalm x18, Serm. 5. § 5.

Gibbon says that by the government conveyances, "it was easy to travel an 100 miles in a day along the Roman roads." ch. ii. Movy or mansio properly means the building, where soldiers or other public officers rested at night (hence its application to monastic houses).

Such buildings included granaries, stabling, &c. vid. Con.

Theod. ed. Gothofr. 1665. t. 1. p. 47, t2: p.- 507Du Cange Géoss. t. 4. p. 426. Col. 2. also by Athanasius from the reports, that Ischyras had spoken falsely in other instances : a 4 Supr. § 6.

5 Infr. § 83.

rt X. v. 8.

7 Infr. § 71.

6 Bingh. Ant.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

a a a er

the Mareotis; and that the Presbyters who desired to attend the inquiry were not permitted to do so, while the said inquiry respecting the cup and the Table was carried on before the Prefect and his band, and in the presence of Heathens and Jews.

'This at first seemed incredible, but it was proved to have been so from the Reports; which caused great astonishment to us, as I suppose, dearly beloved, it does to you also.

Presbyters, who are the ministers of the Mysteries, are not permitted to attend, but an enquiry concerning Christ's

Blood and Christ's Body is carried on before an external judge, in the presence of Catechumens, nay, worse than that, before Heathens and Jews, who are in ill repute in regard to Christianity.

Even supposing that an offence had been committed, it should have been investigated legally in the Church and by the Clergy, not by heathens who abhor the Word and know not the Truth.

I am _ persuaded that both you and all men must perceive the nature and magnitude of this sin.

Thus much concerning Athanasius. there, nor known to the general body, and desired neither by Presbyters, nor Bishops, nor Laity—that he should be appointed at Antioch, and sent to Alexandria, accompanied not by presbyters, nor by deacons of the city, nor by bishops of Egypt, but by soldiers? for they who came hither complained that this was the case.

Even supposing that Athanasius was in the position of a criminal after the Council, this appointment ought not to have been made thus illegally and contrary to the rule of the Church, but the Bishops of the province ought to have ordained one in that very Church, of that very Priesthood, of that very. Clergy

?; and the Canons received from the Apostles ought not thus to be set aside.

Had this offence been committed against any one of you, would you not have exclaimed against it, and demanded justice as for the transgression of the Canons?

Dearly beloved, we speak honestly, as in the presence of God, and declare, that this proceeding was neither pious, nor lawful, nor ecclesiastical.

Moreover, the account which is given of the conduct of Gregory on his entry into the city, plainly shews the character of his appointment.

In such peaceful times, as those who came from Alexandria declared them to have been, and as the Bishops also represented in their letters, the Church was set on fire; Virgins were stripped ; Monks were trodden under foot ;

Presbyters and many of the people were scourged and suffered violence ; Bishops were cast into prison; multitudes were dragged about from place to place ; the holy Mysteries 3, about which they accused the Presbyter Macarius, were seized upon by heathens and cast upon the ground; and all to constrain certain persons to admit the appointment of Gregory.

Such conduct plainly shews who they are that transgress the Canons.

Had the appointment been lawful, he would not have had recourse to illegal proceedings to compel the obedience of those who in a legal way resisted him.

And notwithstanding all this, you write that perfect peace prevailed in Alexandria and Egypt.

Surely not, unless the work of peace is entirely changed, and you call such doings as these peace.

32. With respect to Marcellus 5, forasmuch as you have charged him also of impiety towards

Christ, I am anxious to inform you, that when he was here, he positively declared that what you had written concerning him was not true ; but being nevertheless requested by us to give an account of his faith, he answered in his own person with the utmost boldness, so that we recognised that hemaintains nothing outsidethetruth.

He made a confession ° of the same godly doctrines concerning our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ as the Catholic Church confesses; and he affirmed that he had held these opinions for a very long time, and had not recently adopted them: as indeed our Presbyters 7, who were at a former date present at the Council of Nica, testified to his orthodoxy; for he maintained then, as he has done now, his opposition to Arianism (on which points it is right to admonish you, lest any of you admit such heresy, instead of abominating it as alien from sound doctrine®).

Seeing then that he professed orthodox opinions, and had testimony to his orthodoxy, what, I ask again in his case, ought we to have done, except to receive him as a Bishop, as we did, and not reject him from our communion?

These things I have written, not so much for the purpose of defending their cause,

31. I have also thought it necessary to point out to you this circumstance, viz. that Athanaslus positively asserted that Macarius was kept at 'Tyre under a guard of soldiers, while only his accuser accompanied those who went to 5 Julius here acquits Marcellus; but he is considered heretical by S. Epiphanius, Joc. cit. S. Basil, Zp. 69, 125, 263, 265.

S. Chyrsostom in Hedy. Hom. ii. 2. Theodoret, Her. ii, to, vid. Petav. de Trin. i. 13. who condemns him, and Bull far more strongly, Def. F. N. it. 1. § 9, Montfaucon defends him

(in a special Dissertation, Coddect. Nov. tom. 2.) and Tillemont.

Ment. tom. 7. p. 513, and Natalis Alex. Szec. iv. Dissert. 30. [Pro« legg. ch. ii. ¢ 3 (2) c.] 2 mee Bingh. Axt. II. xi.

Athan. only suggests this, supr. Zucyc.

3, S. Hil same of the conduct of the 'Arians at Tou louse ; taketh. beotea ee wk eee bruised with lead; nay, even on hrist Himself (the Saints understand m i : laid."

Contr. Constant. rz. yee ec Vid. Epipb. Her. 72. 2, 3. and 847. in, 7 Vincentius and Vito.

vr im. 1, TO.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

against some of you (for I will not mention names) certain charges of so dreadful a nature that I have declined setting them down in writing: perhaps you also have heard them from others.

It was for this cause especially that I wrote to desire. you to come, that you might be present to hear them, and that all irregularities might be corrected and differences healed.

And those who were called for these purposes ought not to have refused, but to have come the more readily, lest by failing to do so they should be suspected of what was alleged against them, and be thought unable to prove what they had written. as in order to convince you, that we acted justly and canonically in receiving these persons, and that you are contentious without a cause.

But it is your duty to use your anxious endeavours and to labour by every means to correct the irregularities which have been committed contrary to the Canon, and to secure the peace of the Churches ; so that the peace of our Lord which has been given to us 9 may remain, and the Churches may not be divided, nor you incur the charge of being authors of schism.

For I confess, your past conduct is an occasion of schism rather than of peace.

33. For not only the Bishops Athanasius and Marcellusand their fellowscame hither and complained of theinjusticethat had been donethem, but many other Bishops also?, from Thrace, from Ccele-Syria, from Phoenicia and Palestine, and 34. Now according to these representations, since the Churches are thus afflicted and treacherously assaulted, as our informants positively affirmed, who are they that have lighted up a flame of discord5?

We, who grieve for such a state of things and sympathize with the sufferings of the brethren, or they who have brought these things about?

While then such extreme confusion existed in every Church, which was the cause why those who visited us came hither, I wonder how you could write that unanimity prevailed in the Churches.

These things tend not to the edification of the Church, but to her destruction ; and those who rejoice in them are not sons of peace, but of confusion: but our God is nota God of confusion, but of peace ® Wherefore, as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ knows, it was from a regard for your good name, and with prayers that the Churches might not fall into confusion, but might continue as they were regulated by the Apostles, that I thought it necessary to write thus unto you, to the end that you might at length put to shame those who through the effects of their mutual enmity have brought the Churches to this condition.

Presbyters, not a few, and others from Alexandria and from other parts, were present at the'Council here, and in addition to their other statements, lamented before all the assembled

Bishops the violence and injustice which the Churches had suffered, and affirmed that similar outrages to those which had been committed in Alexandria had occurred in their own Churches, and in others also. Again there lately came Presbyters with letters from Egypt and Alexandria, who complained that many

Bishops and Presbyters who wished to come to the Council were prevented ; for they said that, since the departure of Athanasius? even up to this time, Bishops who are confessors 3 have been beaten with stripes, that others have been cast into prison, and that but lately aged men, who have been an exceedingly long period in the Episcopate, have been given up to be employed in the public works, and nearly all the Clergy of the Catholic Church with the people are the objects of plots and persecutions.

Moreover they said that certain Bishops and other brethren had been banished For I have heard, that it is only a certain few? who are the authors of all these things.

Now, as having bowels of mercy, take ye care to correct, as I said before, the irregularities which have been committed contrary to the Canon, so that if any mischief has already befallen, it may be healed through your zeal. for no other reason than to compel them against their will to communicate with Gregory and his Arian associates.

We have heard also from others, what is confirmed by the testimony of the Bishop Marcellus, that a number of outrages, similar to those which were comAnd write not that I have preferred the communion of Marcellus and Athanasius to yours, for such like complaints are no indications of peace, but of contentiousness and hatred ot the brethren.

For this cause I have written the foregoing, that you may understand that we acted not unjustly in admitting them to our communion, and so may cease this strife.

It ee mitted at Alexandria, have occurred also at Ancyra in Galatia+.

And in addition to all this, those who came to the Council reported

Joh. xiv. 27.

1 The names of few are known; perhaps Marcellus, Asclepas, Paul of Constantinople, Lucius of Adrianople. vid. Montf. iv doc.

Tillem. Mem. tom. 7. p. 272.

2 These outrages took place immediately on the dismission -of Elpidius and Philoxenus, the Pope's legates, from Antioch, Athan.

Hist, Ar. 12. this accusation on the party of Marcellus; Hilar. "vag. ili. 9. but the character of the outrages fixes them on the Arians, vid. infr.

2 45, note [There were doubtless outrages on both sides].

5 Vid. supr. ? 25.

6 x Cor. xiv. 33.

7 Ad Ep. eg. 5. de Syn. 5.

3 e.g. Sarapammon and Potamo, both Confessors, who were of the number of the Nicene Fathers, and had defended Athan. at Fyre, were, the former banished, the latter beaten to death. vid. infr. Hist. Ar. 12.

4 The Pseudo-Sardican Council, i.e. that of Philippopolis, retort

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

And why was nothing said to us concerning the Church of the Alexandrians in particular ?

Are you ignorant that the custom has been for word to be written first to us, and then for a just decision to be passed from this place 3?

If then any such suspicion rested upon the Bishop there, notice thereof ought to have been sent to the Church of this place; whereas, after neglecting to inform us, and proceeding on their own authority as they pleased, now they desire to obtain our concurrence in their decisions, though we never condemned him.

Not so have the constitutions4 of Paul, not so have the traditions of the Fathers directed ; this is another form of procedure, a novel practice.

I beseech you, readily bear with me: what I write is for the common good.

For what we have received from the blessed Apostle Peter 5, that I signify to you; and I should not have written this, as deeming that these things were manifest unto all men, had not these proceedings so disturbed us.

Bishops are forced away from their sees and driven into banishment, while others from different quarters are appointed in their place; others are treacherously assailed, so that the people have to grieve for those who are forcibly taken from them, while, as to those who are sent in their room, they are obliged to give over seeking the man whom they desire, and to receive those they do not. you had come hither, and they had been condemned, and had appeared unable to produce reasonable evidence in support of their cause, you would have done well in writing thus.

But seeing that, as I said before, we acted agreeably to the Canon, and not unjustly, in holding communion with them, I beseech you for the sake of Christ, suffer not the members of Christ to be torn asunder, neither trust to prejudices, but seek rather the peace of the Lord.

It is neither holy nor just, in order to gratify the petty feeling of a few persons, to reject those who have never been condemned, and thereby to grieve the Spirit®.

But if you think that you are able to prove anything against them, and to confute them face to face, let those of you who please come hither: for they also promised that they would be ready to establish completely the truth of those things which they have reported to us.

35. Give us notice therefore of this, dearly beloved, that we may write both to them, and to the Bishops who will have again to assemble, so that the accused may be condemned in the presence of all, and confusion no longer prevail in the Churches.

What has already taken place is enough: it is enough surely that Bishops have been sentenced to banishment in the presence of Bishops; of which it behoves me not to speak at length, lest I appear to press too heavily on those who were present on those occasions.

But if one must speak the truth, matters ought not to have proceeded so far; their petty feeling ought not to have been suffered to reach the present pitch.

Let us grant the ' removal," as you write, of Athanasius and Marcellus, from their own places, yet what must one say of the case of the other Bishops and Presbyters who, as I said before, came hither from various parts, and who complained that they also had been forced away, and had suffered the like injuries?

O beloved, the decisions of the Church are no longer according to the Gospel, but tend only to banishment and deaths, Supposing, as you assert, that some offence rested upon those persons, the case ought to have been conducted against them, not after this manner, but according to the Canon of the Church.

Word should have been written of it to us all?, that so a just sentence might proceed from all.

For the sufferers were Bisliops, and Churches of no ordinary note, but those which the Apostles themselves had governed in their own persons 2.

I ask of you, that such things may no longer be, but that you will denounce in writing those persons who attempt them; so that the Churches may no longer be afflicted thus, nor any Bishop or Presbyter be treated with insult, nor any one be compelled to act contrary to his judgment, as they have represented to us, lest we become a laughing-stock among the heathen, and above all, lest we excite the wrath of God Ep. 9.) at Alexandria.

St.Paul at Ancyra in Galatia (Tertull. contr. Marcion. iv. 5.) vid. Coustant. i# doc.

3 Socrates says somewhat differently, '* Julius wrote back.... that they acted against the Canons, because they had not called him to a Council, the Ecclesiastical Canon commanding that the Churches ought not to make Canons beside the will of the Bishop of Rome."

Hist. ii. 17.

Sozomen in like manner, "for it' was a sacerdotal law, to declare invalid whatever was transacted beside the will of the Bishop of the Romans."

Hist. iii. 10, vid. Pope Damasus ap. Theod. Hist. v. ro. Leon. Epist. 14. &c.

In the passage in the text the prerogative of the Roman see is limited, as Coustant observes, to the instance of Alexandria; and we actually find in the third century a complaint lodged against its Bishop

Dionysius with the Pope.

[Prolegg. ch: iv. § 4.] 4 dvaragers. St. Paul says ows év rails éxxAnalas Staracoopma.

1 Cor, vii. 17. rd 8& Aowra Svardéoua.

Ibid. xi. 34. vid. Pearson, Vind. Ignat. p. 298.

Hence Coustant in col. Athan. would suppose Julius to refer to x Cor. v. 4. which Athan. actually quotes, Zp.

Encycl, § 2. supr. p. 93.

Pearson, loc. cit. considers the Srataters of the Apostles, as a collection of regulation and usages, which more or less represented, or claimed to represent, what may be called St, Paul's vzle, or St. Peter's rude, &c.

Cotelier considers the dvardges as the same as the didaxai, the "doctrine" or "teaching" of the Apostles. Prefat. in Const. Apost.

So does Beveridge, Cod. Can. Illustr. ii. 9. § 5.

8 Eph. iv 30.

9 Hist. Arian. § 67.

I Coustant im loc. fairly insists on the word 'fall," as shewing that S. Julius does not here claim the prerogative of judging dy himself all Bishops whatever, and that what follows relates merely to the Church of Alexandria.

5 [Petri] in Sede sua vivit potestas et excellit auctoritas Serm, iil, 3. vid. contra Barrow on the Supremacy,

Leon. p116. ed. 1836. but all Bishops together through the whole St. Peter, or any other Apostle not one Bishop, Church, do succeed 2 St. Peter (Greg. M. Epist. vii. Ind. 15. 40.) or St. Mark (Leo

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

11g against us.

For every one of us shall give account in the Day of judgment ® of the things which he has done in this life.

May we all be possessed with the mind of God! so that the Churches may recover their own Bishops, and rejoice evermore in Jesus Christ our Lord; through Whom to the Father be glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

I pray for your health in the Lord, brethren dearly beloved and greatly longed for. absent ; if therefore you think that you have any thing against them, you may convict them face to face.

But if you pretend to be unwilling to do so, while in truth you are unable, you plainly shew yourselves to be calumniators, and this is the decision the Council will give you."

When they heard this they were self-condemned (for they were conscious of their machinations and fabrications against us), and were ashamed to appear, thereby proving themselves to have been guilty of many base calumnies, 36. Thus wrote the Council of Rome by Julius, Bishop of Rome.

The holy Council therefore denounced their indecent and suspicious flight ', and admitted us to make our defence; and when we had related their conduct towards us, and proved the truth of our statements by witnesses and other evidence, they were filled with astonishment, and all acknowledged that our opponents had good reason to be afraid to meet the Council, lest their guilt should be proved before their faces.

They said also, that probably they had come from the East, supposing that Athanasius and his fellows would not appear, but that, when they saw them confident in their cause, and challenging a trial, they fled.

They accordingly received us as injured persons who had been falsely accused, and confirmed yet more towards us their fellowship and love.

But they deposed Eusebius's associates in wickedness, who had become even more shameless than himself, viz., Theodorus? of Heraclea, Narcissus of Neronias, Acacius3 of Czesarea, Stephanus + of Antioch, Ursacius and Valens of Pannonia,

Menophantus of Ephesus, and George5 of Laodicea ; and they wrote to the Bishops in all parts of the world, and to the diocese of each of the injured persons, in the following terms.

CHAPTER III.

Letters of the Council of Sardica to the Churches of Egypt and of Alexandria, and to all Churches.

But when, notwithstanding, Eusebius and his fellows proceeded without shame, disturbing the Churches, and plotting the ruin of many, the most religious Emperors Constanius and Constans being informed of this, commanded the Bishops from both the West and East to meet together in the city of Sardica.

In the meantime Eusebius® died: but a great number assembled from all parts, and we challenged the associates of Eusebius and his fellows to submit to a trial.

But they, having before their eyes the things that they had done, and perceiving that their accusers had come up to the Council, were afraid to do this; but, while all besides met with honest intentions, they again brought with them the Counts? Musonianus® and Hesychius the Castrensian9, that, as their custom was, they might effect their own aims by their authority.

But when the Council met without Counts, and no soldiers were permitted to be present, they were confounded, and conscience-stricken, because they could no longer obtain the judgment they wished, but such only as reason and truth required.

We, however, frequently repeated our challenge, and the Council of Bishops called upon them to come forward, saying, "You have come for the purpose of undergoing a trial; why then do you now withdraw yourselves?

Either you ought not to have come, or having come, not to conceal yourselves.

Such conduct will prove your greatest condemnation.

Behold, Athanasius and his fellows are here, whom you accused while Letter of the Council of Sardica to the Church of Alexandria.

The Holy Council, by the grace of God assembled at Sardica, from® Rome, Spain, Gaul, Italy, Campania, Calabria, Apulia, Africa, Sardinia, Pannonia, Moesia, Dacia, Noricum, Siscia, Dardania, the other Dacia,

Macedonia, Thessaly, Achaia, Epirus, Thrace, Rhodope, Palestine, Arabia, Crete, and Egypt, to their beloved brothers, the Presbyters and Deacons, and to all the Holy Church of God abiding at Alexandria, sends health in the Lord.

37. We were not ignorant, but the fact was 6 Matt. xii. 36.

68 Of Nicodemia.

7 Hist. Ar. 15.

8 Muscnian was originally of Antioch, and his name Strategius; he had been promoted and honoured with a new name by Constantine, for whom he had collected information about the Manichees.

Amm. Marc. xv. 13, $1.

In 354, he was Pretorian Prefect of the East. (vid. de Sy. 1, note x.) Libanius praises him. t To Philippopolis.

2 p. 111, note 2.

3 [Prolegg. ch. ii. § 8(2) b.] 4 Hist. Arian. § 20.

5 [Prolegg. ch. ii. § 3 (2) c. 1. and §8 (2).c.]_.

6 Vid. supr. p. 100, where Isauria, Thessaly, Sicily, added.

Also Theod. H. Z&. ii. 6. vid. p. 120 note 9 a.

9 The Castrensians were the officers of the bse castra, as otparémedoy, infr. § 86. being at this time used for the Imperial Court. vid. Gothofred in Cod. Theod. vi. 30. p. 218.

Du Cange in voc.

Britain, &c.,

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

becoming, or rather how impossible, such a proceeding was. And as for the Reports which were framed in the Mareotis by certain most wicked and most abandoned youths 8, to whose hands one would not commit the very lowest office of the ministry, it is certain that they were ex parte statements.

For neither was our brother the Bishop Athanasius present on the occasion, nor the Presbyter Macarius who was accused by them.

And besides, their enquiry, or rather their falsification of facts, was attended by the most disgraceful circumstances.

Sometimes heathens, sometimes Catechumens, were examined, not that they might declare what they knew, but that they might assert those falsehoods which they had been taught by others.

And when you Presbyters, who were in charge in the absence of your Bishop, desired to be present at the enquiry, in order that you might shew the truth, and disprove the falsehoods, no regard was paid to you ; they would not permit you to be present, but drove you away with insult. well known to us, even before we received the letters of your piety, that the supporters of the abominated heresy of the Arians were practising many dangerous machinations, rather to the destruction of their own souls, than to the injury of the Church.

For this has ever been the object of their unprincipled craft; this is the deadly design in which they have been continually engaged ; viz. how they may best expel from their places and persecute all who are to be found anywhere of orthodox sentiments, and maintaining the doctrine of the Catholic Church, which was delivered to them from the Fathers.

Against some they have laid false accusations; others they have driven into banishment; others they have destroyed by the punishments inflicted on them.

At any rate they endeavoured by violence and tyranny to surprise the innocence of our brother and fellow-Bishop Athanasius, and therefore conducted their enquiry into his case without any care, without any faith, without any sort of justice.

Accordingly having no confidence in the part they had played on that occasion, nor yet in the reports they had circulated against him, but perceiving that they were unable to produce any certain evidence respecting the case, when they came to the city of Sardica, they were unwilling to meet the Council of all the holy Bishops.

From this it became evident that the decision of our brother and fellow-Bishop Julius was a just one7; for after cautious deliberation and care he had determined, that we ought not to hesitate at all about communion with our brother Athanasius.

For he had the credible testimony of eighty Bishops, and was also able to advance this fair argument in his support that by the mere means of our dearly beloved brethren his own Presbyters, and by correspondence, he had defeated the design of Eusebius and his feHows, who relied more upon violence than upon a judicial enquiry.

Now although their calumnies have been most plainly exposed before all men by these circumstances; yet we found also, on reading the Reports, that the most iniquitous Ischyras, who has obtained from them the empty title of Bishop as his reward for the false accusation, had convicted himself of calumny.

He declares in the Reports that at the very time when, according to his positive assertions, Macarius entered his cell, he lay there sick; whereas Eusebius and _ his fellows had the boldiess to write that Ischyras was standing up and offering when Macarius came in.

38. The base and slanderous charge which they next alleged against him, has become well-known to all men.

They raised a great outcry, affirming that Athanasius had committed murder, and had made away with one Arsenius a Meletian Bishop, whose loss they pretended to deplore with feigned lamentations and fictitious tears, and demanded that the body of 'a living man, as if a dead one, should be given up to them.

But their fraud was not undetected ; one and all knew that the person was alive, and was numbered among the living.

And when these men, who are ready upon any opportunity, perceived their falsehoods detected

(for Arsenius shewed himself alive, and so proved that he had not been made away with, and was not dead), yet they would not rest, but proceeded to add other to their former calumnies9, and to slander the man by a fresh expedient.

Well; our brother Athanasius, dearly beloved, was not confounded, but again in the Wherefore all the Bishops from all parts determined upon holding communion with Athanasius on the ground that he was innocent.

And let your charity also observe, that when he came to the holy Council assembled at Sardica, the Bishops of the East were informed of the circumstance, as we said before, both by letter, and by injunctions conveyed by word of mouth, and were invited by us to be present.

But, being condemned by their Own conscience, they had recourse to unbecoming excuses, and set themselves to avoid the enquiry.

They demanded that an innocent man should be rejected from our communion, as a culprit, not considering how un7 Vid. infr. § 51, note.

8 Supr. p. 107, note 9.

9 Vid. supr. § 36. in/r. § 87.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

I2I present case alsowith great boldnesschallenged them to the proof, and we too prayed and exhorted them to come to the trial, and if they were able, to establish their charge against him.

O great arrogance!

QO dreadful pride! or rather, if one must say the truth, O evil and accusing conscience! for this is the view which all men take of it.

Gregory, that now being admonished, exhorted, and persuaded by us, they withdraw from that his detestable communion, and_ straightway unite themselves to the Catholic Church.

40. But forasmuch as we have learnt that Aphthonius, Athanasius the son of Capito, Paul, and Plutio, our fellow Presbyters 3, have also suffered from the machinations of Eusebius and his fellows, so that some of them have had trial of exile, and others have fled on peril of their lives, we have in consequence thought it necessary to make this known unto you, that you may understand that we have received and acquitted them also, being aware that whatever has been done by Eusebius and his fellows against the orthodox has tended to the glory and commendation of those who have been attacked by them.

It were fitting that your Bishop and our brother Athanasius should make this known to you respecting them, to his own respecting his own; but as for more abundant testimony he wished the holy Council also to write to you, we deferred not to do so, but hastened to signify this unto you, that you may receive them as we have done, for they also are deserving of praise, because through their piety towards Christ they have been thought worthy to endure violence at the hands of the heretics.

Wherefore, beloved brethren, we admonish and exhort you, above all things to maintain the night faith of the Catholic Church.

You have undergone many severe and grievous trials ; many are the insults and injuries which the Catholic Church has suffered, but ' he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved ".'

Wherefore even though they still recklessly assail you, let your tribulation be unto you for joy.

For such afflictions are a sort of martyrdom, and such confessions and tortures as yours will not be without their reward, but ye shall receive the prize from God.

Therefore strive above all things in support of the sound faith, and of the innocence of your Bishop and our fellow-minister Athanasius.

We also have not held our peace, nor been negligent of what concerns your comfort, but have deliberated and done whatsoever the claims of charity demand.

We sympathize with our suffering brethren, and their afflictions we consider as our own.

What decrees have been passed by the holy Council against those who are at the head of the Arian heresy, and have offended against you, and the rest of the Churches, you will learn from the subjoined documents+.

We have sent them to you, that you may understand from them that the Catholic Church will not overlook those who offend against her.

39. Accordingly we have written to beseech our most religious and godly Emperors, that their kindness would give orders for the release of those who are still suffering from affliction and oppression, and would command that none of the magistrates, whose duty it is to attend only to civil causes, give judgment upon Clergy?, nor henceforward in any way, on pretence. of providing for the Churches, attempt anything against the brethren; but that every one may live, as he prays and desires to do, free from persecution, from violence and fraud, and in quietness and peace may follow the Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

As for Gregory, who has the reputation of being illegally appointed by the heretics, and has been sent by them to your city, we wish your unanimity to understand, that he has been deposed by a judgment of the whole sacred Council, although indeed he has never at any time been considered to be a Bishop at all.

Wherefore receive gladly your Bishop Athanasius, for to this end we have dismissed him in peace.

And we exhort all those who either through fear, or through the intrigues of certain persons, have held communion with Letter of the Council of Sardica to the Bishops of Egypt and Libya, The holy Council, by the grace of God assembled at Sardica, to the Bishops of Egypt and Libya, their fellow-ministers and dearly beloved brethren, sends health in the Lord.

41. We were not ignorant 5, but the fact was well known to us, even before we received the letters of your piety, that the supporters of the abominated heresy of the Arians were practising many dangerous machinations, rather to the destruction of their own souls, than to the injury of the Church.

For this has ever been the object of their craft and villainy: this is the deadly design in which. they have been continually engaged, viz. how they may best expel from their places and persecute all who are to be found anywhere of orthodox sentiments, and maintaining the doctrine of the 1 Matt. x. 22. be ; 2 Vid. Bingham. Antiqu. V. ii. 5. &c. Gieseler Eccl. Hist. vol. I. p. 242. Bassi. Bzblioth.

Jur. t. |. p. 276.

Bellarm. de C eric.

28.

3 Supr. p. 109.

4 Vid. Encycl. Letter, 72%. § 46, 5 It will be observed that this Letter is nearly a transcript of the foregoing.

It was first printed in the Benedictine Edition.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

might assert those falsehoods which they had been taught by others.

And when you Presbyters, who were in charge in the absence of your Bishop, desired to be present at the enquiry, in order that you might shew the truth, and disprove falsehood, no regard was paid to you; they would not permit you to be present, but drove you away with insult.

Catholic Church, which was delivered to them irom the Fathers.

Against some they have laid false accusations ; others they have driven into banishment; others they have destroyed by the punishments inflicted on them.

At any rate they endeavoured by violence and tyranny to surprise the innocence of our brother and fellow-Bishop Athanasius, and therefore conducted their enquiry into his case without any

Now although their calumnies have been most plainly exposed before all men by these circumstances; yet we found also, on reading the Reports, that the most iniquitous Ischyras, who has obtained from them the empty title of Bishop as his reward for the false accusation, had convicted himself of calumny.

He declares in the Reports, that at the very time when, according to his positive assertions, Macarius entered his cell, he lay there sick ; whereas Eusebius and his fellows had the boldness to write that Ischyras was standing offering when Macarius came in. faith, without any sort of justice.

Accordingly having no confidence in the part they had played on that occasion, nor yet in the reports they had circulated against him, but perceiving that they were unable to produce any certain evidence respecting the case, when they came to the city of Sardica, they were unwilling to meet the Council of all the holy Bishops.

From this it became evident that the decision of our brother and fellow-Bishop Julius was a just one; for after cautious deliberation and care he had decided, that we ought not to hesitate at all about communion with our brother Athanasius.

For he had the credible testimony of eighty Bishops, and was also able to advance this fair argument in his support, that by the mere means of our dearly beloved brethren his own Presbyters, and by correspondence, he had defeated the designs of Eusebius and his fellows, who relied more upon violence than upon a judicial inquiry.

42. The base and slanderous charge which they next alleged against him has become well known unto all men.

They raised a great outcry, affirming that Athanasius had committed murder, and made away with one Arsenius a Meletian Bishop, whose loss they pretended to deplore with feigned lamentations, and fictitious tears, and demanded that the body of a living man, as if a dead one, should be given up to them.

But their fraud was not undetected ; one and all knew that the person was alive, and was numbered among the living.

And when these men, who are ready upon any opportunity, perceived their falsehood detected

(for Arsenius shewed himself alive, and so proved that he had not been made away with, and was not dead), yet they would not rest, but proceeded to add other to their former calumnies, and to slander the man by a fresh expedient.

Well: our brother Athanasius, dearly beloved, was not confounded, but again in the present case also with great boldness challenged them to the proof, and we too prayed and exhorted them to come to the trial, and if they were able, to establish their charge against him.

O great arrogance!

O dreadful pride! or rather, if one must say the truth, O evil and accusing conscience! for this is the view which all men take of it.

Wherefore all the Bishops from all parts determined upon holding communion with Athanasius on the ground that he was innocent.

And let your charity also observe, that when he came to the holy Council assembled at Sardica, the Bishops of the East were informed of the circumstance, as we said before, both by letter, and by injunctions conveyed by word of mouth, and were invited by us to be present.

But, being condemned by their own conscience, they had recourse to unbecoming excuses, and began to avoid the enquiry.

They demanded that an innocent man should be rejected from our communion, as a culprit, not considering how unbecoming, or rather how impossible, such a proceeding was.

And as for the reports which were framed in the Mareotis by certain most wicked and abandoned youths, to whose hands one would not commit the very lowest office of the ministry, it is certain that they were ex parte statements.

For neither was our brother the Bishop Athanasius present on the occasion, nor the Presbyter Macarius, who was accused by them.

And besides, their enquiry, or rather their falsification of facts, was attended by the most disgraceful circumstances.

Sometimes Heathens, sometimes Catechumens, were examined, not that they might declare what they knew, but that they

Wherefore, beloved brethren, we admonish and exhort you, above all things, to maintain the night faith of the Catholic Church.

You have undergone many severe and grievous trials; many are the insults and _ injuries which the Catholic Church has suffered, but 'he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved®.'

Wherefore, even though they 6 Matt. x. 22.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

cA . shall still recklessly assail you, let your tribulation be unto you for joy. For such afflictions are a sort of martyrdom, and such confessions and tortures as yours will not be without their reward, but ye shall receive the prize from God.

Therefore strive above all things in support of the sound Faith, and of the innocence of your Bishop and our brother

Athanasius.

We also have not held our peace, nor been negligent of what concerns your comfort, but have deliberated and done whatsoever the claims of charity demand.

We sympathize with our suffering brethren, and their afflictions we consider as our own, and have mingled our tears with yours.

And you, brethren, are not the only persons who have suffered: many others also of our brethren in ministry have come hither, bitterly lamenting these things. from them, that the Catholic Church will not overlook those who offend against her.

Encyclical Letter of the Council of Sardica.

The holy Council®, by the grace of God, assembled at Sardica, to their dearly beloved brethren, the Bishops and fellow-Ministers of the Catholic Church every where, sends health in the Lord.

44. The Arianmadmen have dared repeatedly to attack the servants of God, who maintain the right faith ; they attempted to substitute a spurious doctrine, and to drive out the orthodox; and at last they made so violent an assault against the Faith, that it became known even to the piety of our most religious Emperors.

Accordingly, the grace of God assisting them, our most religious Emperors have themselves assembled us together out of different provinces and cities, and have permitted this holy Council to be held in the city of Sardica; to the end that all dissension may be done away, and all false doctrine being driven from us, Christian godliness may alone be maintained by all men.

The Bishops of the East also attended, being exhorted to do so by the most religious Emperors, chiefly on account of the reports they have so often circulated concerning our dearly beloved brethren and fellow-ministers Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Marcellus, Bishop of Ancyro-Galatia.

Their calumnies have probably already reached you, and perhaps they have attempted to disturb your ears, that you may be induced to believe their charges against the innocent, and that they may obliterate from your minds any suspicions respecting their own wicked heresy.

But they have not been permitted to effect this to any great extent; for the Lord is the Defender of 43. Accordingly, we have written to beseech our most religious and godly Emperors, that their kindness would give orders for the release of those who are still suffering from affliction and oppression, and would command that none of the magistrates, whose duty it is to attend only to civil causes, give judgment upon Clergy, nor henceforward in any way, on pretence of providing for the Churches, attempt anything against the brethren, but that every one may live, as he prays and desires to do, free from persecution, from violence and fraud, and in quietness and peace may follow the Catholic and Apostolic Faith.

As for Gregory, who has the reputation of being illegally appointed by the heretics, and who has been sent by them to your city, we wish your unanimity to understand, that he has been deposed by the judgment of the whole sacred Council, although indeed he has never at any time been considered to be a Bishop at all.

Wherefore receive gladly your Bishop Athanasius ; for to this end we have dismissed him in peace.

His Churches, Who endured death for their sakes and for us all, and provided access to heaven for us all through Himself'

When therefore Eusebius and his fellows wrote long ago to Julius our brother and Bishop of the Church of the Romans, against our forementioned brethren, that is to say, Athanasius, Marcellus, and Asclepas9, the Bishops from the other parts wrote also, testifying to the innocence of our fellow-minister AthanaAnd we exhort all those, who either through fear, or through intrigues of certain persons, have held communion with Gregory, that being now admonished, exhorted, and persuaded by us, they withdraw from his detestable communion, and straightway unite themselves to the Catholic Church.

What decrees have, been passed by the holy Council against Theodorus, Narcissus, Stephanus, Acacius, Menophantus, Ursacius,

Valens, and George', who are the heads of the Arian heresy, and have offended against you and the rest of the Churches, you will learn from the subjoined documents. We have sent them to you, that your piety may assent to our decisions, and that you may understand

8 Vid. Theod. Aisé. ii. 6. Hil. Fragm. ii.

__ 9 Asclepas, or Asclepius of Gaza, Epiph. Wer. 69. 4, was one of the Nicene Fathers, and according to Theod. H7s¢. 1. 27. was at the Council of Tyre, which Athan. also attended, but only by compulsion.

According to the Eusebians at Philippopolis, they had deposed him [17 years previously, but the number must be corrupt, or the statement incorrect].

They state, however, at the same time, that he had been qondemned by Athanasius and Marcellus, vid. Hilar. Fragm. iii, 13. Sozomen, Hist. iii. 8. says that they deposed him on the charge of having overturned an altar; and, after Athan. 72/7. § 47, that he was acquitted at Sardica on the ground that Eusebius of Czsarea and others had reinstated him in his see (before 339).

'There is mention of a Church built by him in Gaza ap. Bolland. Febr. 26. Vit. L. Porphyr. n. 20. p. 648.

7 § 36

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

ee about by their calumnies.

For they had proceeded to such a pitch of madness, as even to attempt to destroy Bishops; and would have destroyed them, had they not escaped their hands.

Our fellow-ministers, Theodulus of blessed memory?, died during his flight from their false accusations, orders having been given in consequence of these to put him to death.

Others also exhibited swordwounds ; and others complained that they had been exposed to the pains of hunger through their means.

Nor were they ordinary persons who testified to these things, but whole Churches, in whose behalf legates appeared 3, and told us of soldiers sword in hand, of multitudes armed with clubs, of the threats of judges, of the forgery of false letters. For there sius, and declaring that the representations of Eusebius and his fellows were nothing else but mere falsehood and calumny.

And indeed their calumnies were clearly proved by the fact that, when they were invited to a Council by our dearly beloved fellow-minister Julius, they would not come, and also by what was written to them by Julius himself.

For had they had confidence in the measures and the acts in which they were engaged against our brethren, they would have come.

And besides, they gave a still more evident proof of their conspiracy by their conduct in this great and holy Council.

For when they arrived at the city of Sardica, and saw our brethren Athanasius, Marcellus,

Asclepas, and the rest, they were afraid to come to a trial, and though they were repeatedly invited to attend, they would not obey the summons.

Although all we Bishops met together, and above all that man of most happy old age, Hosius, one who on account of his age, his confession, and the many labours he has undergone, is worthy of all reverence; and although we waited and urged them to come to the trial, that in the presence of our fellow-ministers they might establish the truth of those charges which they had circulated and written against them in their absence ; yet they would not come, wher they were thus invited, as we said before, thus giving proof of their calumnies, and almost proclaiming to the world by this their refusal, the plot and conspiracy in which they have been engaged.

They who are confident of the truth of their assertions are able to make them good against their opponents face to face. were read certain false letters of Theognius and his fellows against our fellow-ministers

Athanasius, Marcellus, and Asclepas, written with the design of exasperating the Emperors against them; and those who had then been

Deacons of Theognius proved the fact.

From these men, we heard of virgins stripped naked, churches burnt, ministers in custody, and all for no other end, but only for the sake of the accursed heresy of the Arian madmen, whose communion whoso refused was forced to suffer these things.

When they perceived then how matters lay, they were in a strait what course to choose.

They were ashamed to confess what they had done, but were unable to conceal it any longer.

They therefore came to the city of Sardica, that by their arrival they might seem to remove suspicion from themselves of such offences.

But when they saw those whom they had calumniated, and those who had suffered at their hands; when they had before their eyes their accusers and the proofs of their guilt, they were unwilling to come forward, though invited by our fellow-ministers Athanasius, Marcellus, and Asclepas, who with great freedom complained of their conduct, and urged and challenged them to the trial, promising not only to refute their calumnies, but also to bring proof of the offences which they had committed against But as they would not meet us, we think that no one can now doubt, however they may again have recourse to their bad practices, that they possess no proof against our fellow-ministers, but calumniate them in their absence, while they avoid their presence.

45. They fled, beloved brethren, not only on account of the calumnies they had uttered, but because they saw that those had come who had various charges to advance against them.

For chains and irons were brought forward which they had used; persons appeared who had returned from banishment; there came also our brethren, kinsmen of those who were still detained in exile, and friends of such as had perished through their means.

And what was the most weighty ground of accusation, Bishops were present, one' of whom brought forward the irons and chains which they had caused him to wear, and others appealed to the death which had been brought

2 Theodulus, Bishop of Trajanopolis in Thrace, who is here spoken of as deceased, seems to have suffered this persecution from the Eusebians upon their retreat from Sardica, vid. Athan. Ast.

Arian. § 19. We must suppose then with Montfaucon, that the Council, from whom this fetter proceeds, sat some considerable time after that retreat, and that the proceedings spoken of took place in the interval.

Socrates, however, makes 'Theodulus survive Constans, who died 350. #. &. ii. 26.

3 The usual proceeding of the Arians was to retort upon the Catholics the charges which they brought against them, supr. § 33, note: 4. pocordiagly, in their Encyclical from Philippopolis, they say that ''a vast multitude had congregated at Sardica, of wicked and abandoned persons, from Constantinople and Alexandria; who lay under charges of murder, blood, slaughter, robbery, plunder, spoiling, and all nameless sacrileges and crimes; who had broken altars, burnt Churches, ransacked private houses," &c. &c. Hil.

Fragmt. iii. 19.

1 Perhaps Lucius of Hadrianople, says Montfaucon, referring to Anol, de Mug. § 3. vid. also Hist. Arian. 19.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

their Churches.

But they were seized with such terrors of conscience, that they fled ; and in doing so they exposed their own calumnies, and confessed by running away the offences of which they had been guilty.

Athanasius, appeared before the Council, and testified that he was not even a Presbyter of Meletius, and that Meletius never had either

Church or Minister in the Mareotis.

And yet this man, who has never been even a Presbyter, they have now brought forward as a Bishop, that by this name they may have the means of overpowering those who are within hearing of his calumnies.

46. But although their malice and their calumnies have been plainly manifested on this as well as on former occasions, yet that they may not devise means of practising a further mischief in consequence of their flight, we have considered it advisable to examine the part they have played according to the principles of truth; this has been our purpose, and we have found them calumniators by their acts, and authors of nothing else than a plot against our brethren in ministry.

For Arsenius, who they said had been murdered by Athanasius, is still alive, and is numbered among the living ; from which we may infer that the reports they have spread abroad on other subjects are fabrications also.

And whereas they spread abroad a rumour concerning a cup, which they said had been broken by 47. The book of our fellow-minister Marcellus was also read, by which the fraud of Eusebius and his fellows was plainly discovered.

For what Marcellus had advanced by way of enquiry', they falsely represented as his professed opinion; but when the subsequent parts of the book were read, and the parts preceding the queries themselves, his faith was found to be correct.

He had never pretended, as they positively affirmed 5, that the Word of God had His beginning from holy Mary, nor that His kingdom had an end; on the contrary he had written that His kingdom was both without beginning and without end. Our fellow-minister Asclepas also produced Reports which had been drawn up at Antioch in the presence of his accusers and Eusebius of Czesarea, and proved that he was innocent by the declarations of the Bishops who judged his cause®. They had good reason therefore, dearly beloved brethren, for not hearkening to our frequent summons, and for deserting the Council. They were driven to this by their own consciences ; but their flight only confirmed the proof of their own calumnies, and caused those things to be believed against them, which their accusers, who were present, were asserting and arguing.

But besides all these things, they had not only received those who were formerly degraded and ejected on account of the heresy of Arius, but had even promoted them to a higher station, advancing

Macarius the Presbyter of Athanasius, those who came from Alexandria, the Mareotis, and the other parts, testified that nothing of the kind had taken place.

And the Egyptian Bishops? who wrote to Julius our fellowminister, positively affirmed that there had not arisen among them even any suspicion whatever of such a thing.

Moreover, the Reports, which they say they have to produce against him, are, as is notorious, ex parte statements ; and even in the formation of these very Reports, Heathens and Cate¢humens were examined; one of whom, a Catechumen, said ? in his examination that he was present in the room when Macarius broke in upon them; and another declared, that Ischyras of whom they speak so much, lay sick in his cell at the time; from which it appears that the Mysteries were never celebrated at all, because Catechumens were present, and also that Ischyras was not present, but was lying sick on his bed.

Besides, this most worthless Ischyras, who has falsely asDeacons to the Presbytery, and of Presbyters making Bishops, for no other end, but that they might disseminate and spread abroad impiety, and corrupt the orthodox faith.

48. Their leaders are now, after Eusebius and his fellows, Theodorus of Heraclea, Narcissus of Neronias in Cilicia; Stephanus of Antioch,

George of Laodicea, Acacius of Czesarea in serted, as he was convicted of doing, that Athanasius had burnt some of the sacred books, has himself confessed that he was sick, and was lying in his bed when Macarius came; from which it is plain that he is a slanderer.

Nevertheless, as a reward for these his calumPalestine, Menophantus of Ephesus in Asia,

Ursacius of Singidunum in Meesia, and Valens of Mursa in Pannonia?, These men would not permit those who,came with them from nies, they have given to this very Ischyras the title of Bishop, although he is not even a Presbyter.

For two Presbyters, who were once associated with Meletius, but were afterwards received by the blessed Alexanthe East to meet the holy Council, nor even to approach the Church of God; but as they were coming to Sardica, they held Councils in nn EEE aE der, Bishop of Alexandria, and are now with 6 De Ee ee ee i eee 4 Cf. de Decr. § 25, note 5 De Syn. § 25, note.

6 § 44, note 9.

7 Vid. supr. §§ 13, note, and 36.

About Stephanus, Hist. Arian. § 20. vid. infr.

3 Cf. § 28.

2 p. ror.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

the Episcopate, and we have decided that they not only are not Bishops, but that they are unworthy of holding communion with the faithful. various places by themselves, and made an engagement under threats, that when they came to Sardica, they would not so much as appear at the trial, nor attend the assembling of the holy Council, but simply coming and making known their arrival as a matter of form, would speedily take to flight.

This we have been able to ascertain from our fellow-ministers, Macarius of Palestine and Asterius of Arabia 8, who after coming in their company, separated themselves from their unbelief.

These came to the holy Council, and complained of the violence they had suffered, and said that no right act was being done by them; adding that there were many among them who adhered to orthodoxy, but were prevented by those men from coming hither, by means of the threats and promises which they held out to those who wished to separate from them.

On this account it was that they were so anxious that all should abide in one dwelling, and would not suffer them to be by themselves even for the shortest space of time.

For they who separate the Son and alienate the Word from the Father, ought themselves to be separated from the Catholic Church and to be alien from the Christian name.

Let them therefore be anathema to you, because they have 'corrupted the-word of truth*.' It is an Apostolic injunction 2, 'If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.' Charge your people that no one hold communion with them, for there is no communion of light with darkness ; put away from you all these, for there is no concord of Christ in Belial3.

And take heed, dearly beloved, that ye neither write to them, nor-receive letters from them; but desire rather, brethren and fellow-ministers, as being present in spirit 34 with our Council, to assent to our judgments by your subscriptions 4, to the end that concord may be preserved by all our fellow-ministers everywhere.

May Divine Providence protect and keep you, dearly beloved brethren, in sanctification and joy.

49. Since then it became us not to hold our peace, nor to pass over unnoticed their calumnies, imprisonments, murders, wounds, conspiracies by means of false letters, outrages, stripping of the virgins, banishments, destruction of the Churches, burnings, translations from small cities to larger dioceses, and above: all, the rising of the illnamed Arian heresy by their means against the orthodox faith; we have therefore pronounced our dearly beloved brethren and fellow-ministers Athanasius, Marcellus, and Asclepas, and those who minister to the Lord with them, to be innocent and clear of offence, and have written to the diocese of each, that the people of each Church may know the innocence of their own Bishop, and may esteem him as their Bishop and expect his coming.

I, Hosius, Bishop, have subscribed this, and all the rest likewise.

This is the letter which the Council of Sardica sent to those who were unable to attend, and they on the other hand gave their judgment in accordance; and the following are the names both of those Bishops who subscribed in the Council, and of the others also.

50. Hosius of Spain 5, Julius of 'Rome by his Presbyters Archidamus and Philoxenus,

Protogenes of Sardica, Gaudentius, Macedonius, Severus, Preetextatus, Ursicius, Lucillus, Eugenius, Vitalius, Calepodius, Florentius,

Bassus, Vincentius, Stercorius, Palladius, Domitianus, Chalbis, Gerontius, Protasius, Eulogus, Porphyrius, Dioscorus, Zosimus, Januarius, Zosimus, Alexander, Eutychius, Socrates, Diodorus, Martyrius, Eutherius, Eucarpus, Athenodorus, Irenzus, And as for those who like wolves9 have invaded their Churches, Gregory at Alexandria,

Basil at Ancyra, and Quintianus at Gaza, let them neither give them the title of Bishop, nor hold any communion at all with them, nor receive letters *° from them, nor write to them.

And for Theodorus, Narcissus, Acacius, Stephanus, Ursacius, Valens, Menophantus, and George, although the last from fear did not come from the East, yet because he was deposed by the blessed Alexander, and because both he and the others were connected with the Arian madness, as well as on account of the charges which lie against them, the holy

Council has unanimously deposed them from X 2 Cor. ii. 17.

2 Gal. i. 9.

3 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15.

3* 1 Cor. v. 3.

4 In like manner the Council of Chalcedon was confirmed by as many as 470 subscriptions, according to Ephrem (Phot. B26. p. 801) by 1600 according to Eulogius (ibid. p. 877), ie. of Bishops,

Archimandrites, &c.

5 Hosius is called by Athan. the father and the president of the Council. 77st. Arian. 15.16. Roman controversialists here explain why Hosius does not sign himself as the Pope's Jegate, De Marc.

Concord. v. 4. Alber, D7ssert. ix. and Protestants why his legates rank before al] the other Bishops, even before Protogenes, Bishop of the place. Basnage, Aum. 347. 5.

Febronius considers that Hosius signed here and at Nicza, as a sort of representative of the civil, and the Legates of ecclesiastical supremacy. de Stat. Eccl. vi. 4.

And so Thomassin, " Imperator velut exterior Episcopus: preefuit autem summus Pontifex, ut Episcopus interior."

Dissert. in Conc. x. 14.

The popes never attended in person the Eastern Councils, St. Leo excuses himself on the plea of its being against usage.

Epp. 37. and 93.

[Silvester's absence from Nicza was due solely to extreme old age.

But Sardica was a ester council.) 8 [For Macarius, read Arius.] These two Bishops were soon after the Council banished by Euszbian influence into upper Libya, where they suffered extreme ill usage. vid. Hist. Arian. § 18.

9 Vid. Acts xx. 29. l p.g5, note 4.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

Julanus, Alypius, Jonas, Aetius, Restitutus, Marcellinus, Aprianus, Vitalius, Valens, Hermogenes, Castus, Domitianus, Fortunatius, Marcus, Annianus, Heliodorus, Muszeus, Asterius, Paregorius, Plutarchus, Hymeneeus, Athanasius, Lucius, Amantius, Arius, Asclepius, Dionysius, Maximus, Tryphon, Alexander, Antigonus, Aélianus, Petrus,

Symphorus, Musonius, Eutychus, Philologius, Spudasius, Zosimus, Patricius, Adolius, Sapricius®. tius, Viator, Facundinus, Joseph, Numedius,

Sperantius, Severus, Heraclianus, Faustinus, Antoninus, Heraclius, Vitalius, Felix, Crispinus, Paulianus.

From Cyprus; Auxibius, Photius, Gerasius, Aphrodisius, Irenicus, Nunechius, Athanasius,

Macedonius, Triphyllius, Spyridon, Norbanus, Sosicrates.

From Palestine; Maximus, Aetius, Arius, Theodosius, Germanus, Silvanus, Paulus, Claudius, Patricius, Elpidius, Germanus, Eusebius,

Zenobius, Paulus, Petrus.

'From Gaul the following; Maximianus %, Verissimus®", Victurus, Valentinus?, Desiderius,

Eulogius, Sarbatius, Dyscolius?, Superior, Mercurius, Declopetus, Eusebius, Severinus 3, Satyrus, Martinus, Paulus, Optatianus,

Nicasius, Victor 4, Sempronius, Valerinus, Pacatus, Jesses, Ariston, Simplicius, Metianus, Amantus 5,

Amillianus, Justinianus, Victorinus®, Satornilus, Abundantius, Donatianus, Maximus.

These are the names of those who subscribed to the acts of the Council; but there are very many beside, out of Asia, Phrygia, and Isauria%, who wrote in my behalf before this Council was held, and whose names, nearly sixty-three in number, may be found in their own letters.

They amount altogether to three hundred and forty-four *°.

From Africa; Nessus, Gratus7, Megasius, Coldeus, Rogatianus, Consortius, Rufinus, Manninus, Cessilianus, Herennianus, Marianus,

Valerius, Dynamius, Mizonius, Justus, Celestinus, Cyprianus, Victor, Honoratus, Marinus,

Pantagathus, Felix, Baudius, Liber, Capito, Minervalis, Cosmus, Victor, Hesperio, Felix,

Severianus, Optantius, Hesperus, Fidentius, Salustius, Paschasius.

CHAP EER LIV:

Imperial and Ecclesiastical Acts tn consequence of the Decision of the Council of Sardica.

51. WHEN the most religious Emperor Constantius heard of these things, he sent for me, having written privately to his brother Constans of blessed memory, and to me three several times in the following terms.

Constantius Victor Augustus to Athanasius *% Our benignant clemency will not suffer you to be any longer tempest-tossed by the wild waves of the sea; for our unwearied piety has not lost sight of you, while you have been bereft of your native home, deprived of your goods, and have been wandering in savage wildernesses.

And although I have for a long time deferred expressing by letter the purpose of my mind concerning you, principally because I expected that you would appear before us of your own accord, and would seek a relief of your sufferings; yet forasmuch as fear, it may be, has prevented you from fulfilling your intentions, we have therefore addressed to your fortitude letters full of our bounty, to the end that you may use all speed and without fear present yourself in our presence, thereby to obtain the enjoyment of your wishes, and that, having experience of our kindness, you may be

From Egypt; Liburnius, Amantius, Felix, Ischyrammon, Romulus, Tiberinus, Consortius,

Heraclides, Fortunatius, Dioscorus, Fortunatianus, Bastamon, Datyllus, Andreas, Serenus,

Arius, Theodorus, Evagoras, Helias, Timotheus, Orion, Andronicus, Paphnutius, Hermias, Arabion, Psenosiris, Apollonius, Muis,

Sarapampon®, Philo, Philippus, Apollonius, Paphnutius, Paulus, Dioscorus, Nilammon, Serenus, Aquila, Aotas, Harpocration, Isac, Theodorus, Apollos, Ammonianus, Nilus, Heraclius, Arion, Athas, Arsenius, Agathammon,

Theon, Apollonius, Helias, Paninuthius, Andragathius, Nemesion, Sarapion, Ammonius, Ammonius, Xenon, Gerontius, Quintus, Leonides, Sempronianus, Philo, Heraclides, Hieracys, Rufus, Pasophius, Macedonius, Apollodorus, Flavianus, Psaes, Syrus, Apphus, Sarapion, Esaias, Paphnutius, Timotheus, Elurion,

Gaius, Museeus, Pistus, Heraclammon, Heron, Helias, Anagamphus, Apollonius, Gaius, Phion the contrary, 7" voc. explains it of 'the high road." | Tillemont professes himself unable to give a satisfactory sense to it. vol. viii. lotas, Paulus, Tithoes, Eudemon, Julius.

Those on the road9 of Italy are Probaa . 685.

[The word occurs in the XIth. Sardican canon, where the Greek version (Can. XX. in Bruns) glosses it xavaAlp Toe mapodw.] 9¢ Cf. § 36.

; io Athan. says, supr. § 1. that the Letter of the Council was signed in all by more than joo.

It will be observed, that Athan.'s numbers in the text do not accurately agree with each other.

The subscriptions enumerated are 284, to which 63 being added, made a total of 347, not 344.

[The enumeration of Ath, includes many who signed i afterwards. Those 'trom Palestine are simply the signatories of the synodal letter of 346, below § 57The number,

170, mentioned by Ath.

"/ist. Av. 15 gives an orthodox majority of 20.

See additional Note at end of thiag , and Gwatkin, Studies, p. 121, note.| I Written A.D. 345.

6 [The above names, with a few exceptions, comprise those present at the Council.

See additional Note at the end of this Apology, where a list is given in alphabetical order of all bishops present, with their Sees.] 62 Of Treveri.

6b Of Lyons.

1 Of Arles.

2 Of Rheims.

3 Of Sens.

4 Of Worms.

5 Of Strassburg.

6 Of Paris.

7 Of Carthage.

8 % 33, note 3a, and 78, 9 of év TH KavaAdtw THs "ITaAius.

'' Canalis est, non via regia aut militaris, verum via tranversa, que in regiam seu basilicam influit, quasi aque canalis in alveum."

Gothofred. in Cod. Theod. vi. de Curiosis, p. 196. who illustrates the word at length.

Du Cange

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

52. Julius to the Presbyters, Deacons, and people residing at Alexandria 5. restored again to your own, For this purpose I have besought my lord and brother

Constans Victor Augustus, in your behalf, that he would give you permission to come, in order that you may be restored to your country with the consent of us both, receiving this as a pledge of our favour.

I congratulate you, beloved brethren, that you now behold the fruit of your faith before your eyes; for any one may see that such indeed is the case with respect to my brother and fellow-Bishop Athanasius, whom for the innocency of his life, and by reason of your prayers, God is restoring to you again.

Wherefore it is easy to perceive, that you have continually offered up to God pure prayers and full of love.

Being mindful of the heavenly promises, and of the conversation that leads to them, which you have learnt from the teaching of my brother aforesaid, you knew certainly and understood by the right faith that is in you, that he, whom you always had as present in your most pious minds, would not be separated from you for ever. Wherefore there is no need that I should use many words in writing to you; for your faith has already anticipated whatever I could say to you, and has by the grace of God procured the accomplishment of the common prayers of you all.

Therefore, I repeat again, I congratulate you, because you have preserved your souls unconquered in the faith; and I also congratulate no less my brother Athanasius, in that, though he is enduring many afflictions, he has at no time been forgetful of your love and earnest desires towards him.

For although for a season he seemed to be withdrawn trom you in body, yet he has continued to live as always present with you in spirit ©, The Second Letter.

Although we made it very plain to you in a former letter that you may without hesitation come to our Court, because we greatly wished to send you home, yet, we have further sent this present letter to your fortitude to exhort you without any distrust or apprehension, to place yourself in the public conveyances ?, and to hasten to us, that you may enjoy the fulfilment of your wishes.

The Third Letter.

Our pleasure was, while we abode at Edessa, and your Presbyters were there, that, on one of them being sent to you, you should make haste to come to our Court, in order that you might see our face, and straightway proceed to Alexandria.

But as a very long period has elapsed since you received letters from us, and you have not yet come, we therefore hasten to remind you again, that you may endeavour even now to present yourself before us with speed, and so may be restored to your country, and obtain the accomplishment of your prayers.

And for your fuller information we have sent Achitas the Deacon, from whom you will be able to learn the purpose of our soul, that you may now secure the objects of your prayers.

53. Wherefore he returns to you now more illustrious than when he went away from you.

Such was the tenor of the Emperor's letters ; on receiving which I went up to Rome to bid farewell to the Church and the Bishop: for I was at Aquileia3 when the above was written.

The Church was filled-with all joy, and the Bishop Julius rejoiced with me in my return and wrote to the Church+; and as we passed along, the Bishops of every place sent us on our way in peace.

'The letter of Julius was as follows.

Fire tries and purifies the precious materials, gold and silver: but how can one describe the worth of such a man, who, having passed victorious through the perils of so many tribulations, is now restored to you, being pronounced innocent not by our voice only, but by the voice of the whole Council7?

Receive therefore, beloved brethren, with all godly honour and rejoicing, your Bishop Athanasius, together with those who have been partners with him in so many labours.

And rejoice that you now obtain the fulfilment of your prayers, after that in your salutary letter you have given meat and drink to your Pastor, who, so to speak, longed and thirsted after your godliness.

For while he sojourned in a foreign land, you were his consolation; and you refreshed him during his persecutions by your most faithful minds and spirits.

And it delights me now to conceive 2 Gothof. in Cod. Theod. viii. 5, Pp. 507.

3 AZol. Const. 3, 15.

4 "They acquainted Julius the Bishop of Rome with their case ' and he, according to the prerogative (mpov6u.ca) of the Church in Rome, fortified them with letters in which he spoke his mind, and sent them back to the East, restoring each to his own place, and remarking on those who had violently deposed them.

'They then set out from Rome, and on the strength (Gadpovvres) of the letters of Bishop Julius, take possession of their Churches."

Socr. ii. IS.

It must be observed, that in the foregoing sentences Socrates has spoken of '' (z7zperial) Rome."

Sozomen says, '' Whereas the care of all (xnSemovias) pertained to him on account of the dignity of his see, he restored each to his own Church." iii. 8.

"I answer." says Barrow, "the Pope did not restore them Judicially, but declaratively, that is, declaring his approbation of their right and innocence, did admit them to communion...

. Besides, the Pope's proceeding was taxed, and protested against, as irregular; . 3.4 and, lastly, the restitution of Athanasius and the other Bishops had no complete effect, till it was confirmed by the synod of Sardica backed by the imperial authority."

Suprem. p. 360. ed. 1836. i 5 Written early in 346 a.p.

_ © Athan. here omits a paragraph in his own praise. vid. Socr. ii, 23.

7 § 35, note 3.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

and figure to my mind the joy of every one of you at his return, and the pious greetings of the concourse, and the glorious festivity of those that run to meet him.

What a day will that be to you, when my brother comes back again, and your former sufferings 'terminate, and his much-prized and desired return inspires you all with an exhilaration of perfect joy!

The like joy it is ours to feel in a very great degree, since it has been granted us by God, to be able to make the acquaintance of so eminent a man.

It is fitting therefore that I should conclude my letter with a prayer.

May Almighty God, and His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, afford you continual grace, giving you a reward for the admirable faith which you displayed in your noble confession in behalf of your Bishop, that He may impart unto you and unto them that are with you, both here and hereafter, those better things, which 'the eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him 8,' through our Lord Jesus

Christ, through Whom to Almighty God be glory for ever and ever.

Amen. I pray, dearly beloved brethren, for your health and strength in the Lord. the sacred catalogue should understand, that an assurance of safety is given to all who adhere to him, whether Bishops, or other Clergy.

And union with him will be a sufficient guarantee, in the case of any person, of an upright intention, For whoever, acting according to a better judgment and part, shall choose to hold communion with him, we-order, in imitation of that Providence which ' has already gone before, that all such should have the advantage of the grace which by the will of the Most High is now offered to them from us.

May God preserve you.

The Second Letter.

Constantius, Victor, Maximus, Augustus, to the people of the Catholic Church at Alexandria.

55. Having in view your welfare in all respects, and knowing that you have for a long time been deprived of episcopal superintendence, we have thought good to send back to you your Bishop Athanasius, a man known to all men for the uprightness that is in him, and for the good disposition of his personal character.

Receive him, as you are wont to receive every one, in a suitable manner, and, using his advocacy as your succour in your prayers to God, endeavour to preserve continually that unanimity and peace according to the order of the Church which is at the same time becoming in you, and most advantageous for us, For it is not becoming that any dissension or faction should be raised among you, contrary to the prosperity of our times.

We desire that this offence may be altogether removed from you, and we exhort you to continue stedfastly in your accustomed prayers, and to make him, as we said before, your advocate and helper towards God.

So that, when this your determination, beloved, has influenced the prayers of all men, even those heathen who are still addicted to the false worship of idols may eagerly desire to come to the knowledge of our sacred religion.

Again therefore we exhort you to continue in these things, and gladly to receive your Bishop, who is sent back to you by the decree of the Most High, and by our decision, and determine to greet him cordially with all you soul and with all your mind.

For this is what is both becoming in you, and agreeable to our clemency.

In order that all occasions of disturbance and sedition may be taken away from those who are maliciously disposed, we have by letter commanded the magistrates who are among you to-subject to the vengeance of 54. The Emperor, when I came to him9 with these letters, received me kindly, and sent me forth to my country and Church, addressing the following to the Bishops, Presbyters, and People.

Constantius, Victor, Maximus, Augustus, to the Bishops and Presbyters of the Catholic

Church.

The most reverend Athanasius has not been deserted by the grace of God, but although for a brief season he was subjected to trial to which human nature is liable, he has obtained from the all-surveying Providence such an answer to his prayers as was meet, and is restored by the will of the Most High, and by our sentence, at once to his country and to the Church, over which by divine permission he presided.

Wherefore, in accordance with this, it is fitting that it should be provided by our clemency, that all the decrees which have heretofore been passed against those who held communion with him, be now consigned to oblivion, and that all suspicions respecting them be henceforward set at rest, and that immunity, such as the Clergy who are associated with him formerly enjoyed, be duly confirmed to them.

Moreover to our other acts of favour towards him we have thought good to add the following, that all persons of 8 x Cor. ii.

9 [At Agties September (?) 346. See Prolegg. ch. ii. 4 6 (3).] I Vid. Bingh. Antigu. I v. 10.

VOL. IV.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS:.

hoped that his eyes would see what you are now actually obtaining?

Of a truth, your prayers have been heard by the God of all, Who cares for His Church, and has looked upon your tears and groans, and has therefore heard your petitions.

For ye were as sheep scattered and fainting, not having a shepherd 5.

Wherefore the true Shepherd, Who careth for His own sheep, has visited you from heaven, and has restored to you him whom you desire.

Behold, we also, being ready to do all things the law all whom they find to be factious.

Wherefore taking into consideration both these things, our decision in accordance with the will of the Most High, and our regard for you and for concord among you, and the punishment that awaits the disorderly, observe such things as are proper and suitable to the order of our sacred 'religion, and receiving the afore-mentioned Bishop with all reverence and honour, take care to offer up with him your prayers to God, the Father of all, in behalf of yourselves, and for the well-being of your whole lives.

| for the peace of the Church, and being prompted by the same affection as yourselves, have saluted him before you; and communicating with you through him, we send you these greetings, and our offering of thanksgiving, that you may know that we also are united in the bond of love that joins you to him.

You are bound to pray also for the piety of our most God-beloved Emperors, who, when they knew your earnest longings after him, and his. innocency, determined to restore him to you with all honour.

Wherefore receive him with uplifted hands, and take good heed that you offer up due thanksgiving on his behalf to God

Who has bestowed these blessings upon you ; so that you may continually rejoice with God and glorify our Lord, in Christ Jesus our Lord, through Whom to the Father be glory for ever.

56. Having written these letters, he also commanded that the decrees, which he had formerly sent out against me in consequence of the calumnies of Eusebius and his fellows, should be cancelled and struck out from the Orders of the Duke and the Prefect of Egypt ; and Eusebius the Decurion? was sent to withdraw them from the Order-books.

His letter -on this occasion was as follows.

Constantius, Victor, Augustus, to Nestorius 3.

(And in the same terms, to the Governors of Augustamnica, the Thebais, and Libya.) Whatever Orders are found to have been passed heretofore, tending to the injury and dishonour of those who hold communion with the Bishop Athanasius, we wish them to be now erased.

For we desire that whatever immunities his Clergy possessed before, they should again possess the same.

And we wish this our Order to be observed, that when the Bishop Athanasius is restored to his Church, those who hold communion with him may Amen.

I have set down here the names of those who subscribed this letter, although I have mentioned them before®.

They are these; Maximus, Aetius, Arius, Theodorus7, Germanus, Silvanus, Paulus, Patricius, Elpidius, Germanus, Eusebius, Zenobius, Paulus, Macrinus §, Petrus, Claudius. enjoy the immunities which they have always enjoyed, and which the rest of the Clergy enjoy ; so that they may have the satisfaction of being on an equal footing with others.

58. When Ursacius and Valens saw all this, they forthwith condemned themselves for what they had done, and going up to 57. Being thus set forward on my journey, as I passed through Syria, I met with the Bishops of Palestine,.who when they had called a Council+ at Jerusalem, received me cordially, and themselves also sent me on my way in peace, and addressed the following letter to the Church and the Bishops.

Rome, confessed their crime, declared themselves penitent, and sought forgiveness 9, addressing the following letters to Julius, Bishop of ancient Rome, and to ourselves.

Copies of them were sent to me from Paulinus, Bishop of Treveri 7°, A Translation from the Latin of a Letter* to The Holy Council, assembled at Jerusalem, to the fellow-ministers in Egypt and Libya, and to the Presbyters, Deacons, and People

Julius, concerning the recantation of Ursacius and Valens?, at Alexandria, brethren beloved and greatly longed for, sends health in the Lord.

Ursacius and Valens to the most blessed lord, pope Julius.

We cannot give worthy thanks to the God of all, dearly beloved, for the wonderful things which He has done at all times, and especially at this time for your Church, in restoring to you your pastor and lord, and our fellow-minister Athanasius.

For who ever 5 Matt. ix. 36.

9 Cf. § 20, note 4. i Hist. Arian. 25. 26.

2 (Gibbon, ch. xxi. note r08, doubts the fact of this recantation on the ground of the dissimilar tone of the two letters that follow.

Newman explains that they treat Julius as 'a superior,' Athanasius as 'an equal;' but surely he was something more than anequal.

Fear of Constans, and the desire to secure themselves from attack, would make it important for them at any price to obtain the favour of the first bishop of the West.

In order to do this they had to make their peace with Athanasius; but in doing so, they went no further than they could help.]

6§50, 7 Theodosius, susr.

8 Not sugr. to Tp.Bépwr, Paul in7*. Hist. Ar. 26.

2 Member of the Curia or Council.

3 Prefect of vid. Vita Ant. 86, Fest. Ind. xvii.—xxiv.

A dea ee 4 Hist. Avian, 25.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

a Whereas it is well known that we have heretofore in letters laid many grievous charges against the Bishop Athanasius, and whereas,

Valens, though they were slow to do so, at last confessed the truth. when we were corrected by the letters of your

Goodness, we were unable to render an account of the statement we had made; we do

PARTLY li

CHAPTER V.

Documents connected with the charges of the now confess before your Goodness, and in the presence of all the Presbyters our brethren, that all the reports which have heretofore come to your hearing respecting the case of the aforesaid Athanasius, are falsehoods and fabrications, and are utterly inconsistent with his character.

Wherefore we earnestly desire communion with the aforesaid Athanasius, especially since your Piety, with your characteristic generosity, has vouchsafed to pardon our error.

But we also declare, that if at any time the Eastern Bishops, or even Athanasius himself, ungenerously should wish to bring us to judgment for this matter, we will not depart contrary to your judgment.

And as for the heretic Arius and his supporters, who say that once the Son was not, and that the Son was made of that which was not, and who deny that Christ is God and the Son of God before the worlds, we anathematize them

Meletians against S. Athanasius.

59. PETER was Bishop among us before the persecution, and during the course of it he suffered martyrdom.

When Meletius, who held the title of bishop in Egypt, was convicted of many crimes, and among the rest of offering sacrifice to idols, Peter deposed him in a general council of the bishops.

Whereupon Meletius did not appeal to another council, or attempt to justify himself before those who should come after, but made a schism, so that they who espoused his cause are even yet called Meletians instead of Christians.

He began immediately to revile the bishops, and made false accusations, first against Peter himself, and against his successor

Achillas, and after Achillas, against Alexander*.

And he thus practised craftily, following the example of Absalom, to the end that, as he was disgraced by his deposition, he might by his calumnies mislead the simple.

While Meletius was thus employed, the Arian heresy also had arisen.

But in the Council of Niczea, while the heresy was anathematized, and the Arians were cast out, the Meletians on whatever grounds 3 (for it is not necessary now to mention the reason) were received.

Five months however had not yet passed 4 when, the blessed Alexander having died, the Meletians, who ought to have remained quiet, and to have been grateful that they were received on any terms, like dogs unable to forget their vomit, were again troubling the Churches. both now and for evermore, as also we have set forth in our former declaration at Milan 3.

We have written this with our own hands, and we profess again, that we have renounced for ever, as we said before, the Arian heresy and its authors.

I Ursacius subscribed this my confession in person ; and likewise I Valens, Ursacius and Valens, Bishops, to their lord and brother, the Bishop Athanasius.

Having an opportunity of sending by our brother and fellow Presbyter Muszeus, who is coming to your Charity, we salute you affectionately, beloved brother, through him, from Aquileia, and pray you, being as we trust in health, to read our letter.

You will also give us confidence, if you will return to us an answer in writing.

For know that we are at peace with you, and in communion with the Church, of which the salutation prefixed to this letter is a proof.

May Divine Providence preserve you, my Lord, our beloved brother !

Upon learning this, Eusebius, who had the lead in the Arian heresy, sends and buys the Meletians with large promises, becomes their secret friend, and arranges with them for their assistance on any occasion when he might wish for it.

At first he sent to me, urging me to admit Arius and his fellows to communion 5, and threatened me in his verbal communications, while in his letters he [merely] made a request. And when I refused, declaring that it was not right that those who had invented

Such were their letters, and such the sentence and the judgment of the Bishops in my behalf.

But in order to prove that they did not act thus to ingratiate themselves, or under compulsion in any quarter, I desire, with your permission, to recount the whole matter from the beginning, so that you may perceive that the bishops wrote as they did with upright and just intentions, and that Ursacius and Cf. Orat.i.2and notes.

2 Ad. Zp. Hg. § 22. supr. § rr.

3 [Prolegg. ch. ii. § 3 (1) aa fin] Athan. speaks more openly against this arrangement. infr.§ 71.

|, 4 [According to the tenses in the original the five months mark the date not of Alexander's death (April 17, 328), but of the renewed Meletian troubles.

The settlement did not keep them quiet for five months.

The terminus a quo of the five months is somewhat doubtful ; but it certainly is not the Council of Nicaea, see § 71, &c. Montf. Monit. in Vit. S. Athanasit, also Prolegg. ch. ii. § 3 (1) and ch. v. 43a.) 5 Ad. £p. Ag. 23.

3 A.D. 347:

K 2

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

oe OS ee eee driven from the presence ; and, as I returned, he wrote the following letter to the people. heresy contrary to the truth, and had been anathematized by the Ecumenical® Council, should be admitted to communion, he caused the Emperor also, Constantine, of blessed memory, to write to me, threatening me, in case I should not receive Arius and his fellows, with those afflictions, which I have before undergone, and which I am still suffering.

The following is a part of his letter.

Syncletius and Gaudentius, officers of the palace', were the bearers of it.

Constantine, Maximus, Augustus, to the people of the Catholic Church at Alexandria.

61. Beloved brethren, I greet you well, calling upon God, Who is the chief witness of my intention, and on the Onlybegotten, the Author of our Law, Who is

Sovereign over the lives of all men, and Who hates dissensions.

But what shall I say to you?

That I am in good health?

Nay, but I should be able to enjoy better health and strength, if you were possessed with mutual love one towards another, and had rid yourselves of your enmities, through which, in consequence of the storms excited by contentious men, we have left the haven of brotherly love.

Alas! what perverseness is this! What evil consequences are produced every day by the tumult of envy which has been stirred up among you! Hence it is that evil reports have settled upon the people of God.

Whither has the faith of righteousness departed ? For we are so involved in the mists of darkness, not only through manifold errors, but through the faults of ungrateful men, that we bear with those who favour folly, and though we are aware of them, take no heed of those who set aside goodness and truth.

What strange inconsistency is this!

We do not convit our enemies, but we follow the example of robbery which they set us, whereby the most pernicious errors, finding no one to oppose them, easily, if I may so speak, make a way for themselves.

Is there no understanding among us, for the credit of our common nature, since we are thus neglectful of the injunctions of the law?

Part of a Letter from the Emperor Constantine.

Having therefore knowledge of my will, grant free admission to all who wish to enter into the Church.

For if I learn that you have hindered or excluded any who claim to be admitted into communion with the Church, I will immediately send some one who shall depose you by my command, and shall remove you from your place.

60, When upon this I wrote and endeavoured to convince the Emperor, that that anti-Christian heresy had no communion with the Catholic Church, Eusebius forthwith, availing himself of the occasion which he had agreed upon with the Meletians, writes and persuades them to invent some pretext, so that, as they had practised against Peter and Achillas and Alexander, they might devise and spread reports against us also.

Accordingly, after seeking for a long time, and finding nothing, they at last agree together, with the advice of Eusebius and his fellows, and fabricate their first accusation by means of Ision, Eudemon, and Callinicus 8, respecting the linen vestments 9, to the effect that I had imposed a law upon the Egyptians, and had required its observance of them first.

But when certain Presbyters of mine were found to be present, and the Emperor took cognizance of the matter, they were condemned (the Presbyters were Apis and Macarius), and the Emperor wrote, condemning Ision, and ordering me to appear before him.

His letters were as follows*, But some one will say, that love is a thing brought out by nature.

But, I ask, how is it that we who have got the law of God for our guide in addition to our natural advantages, thus tolerate the disturbances and disorders raised by our enemies, who seem inflamed, as it were, with firebrands?

How is it, that having eyes, we see not, neither understand, though we are surrounded by the intelligence of the law? What a stupor has seized upon our life, that we are thus neglectful of ourselves, and that although God admonishes us!

Is it not an intolerable evil? and ought we not to esteem such men as our enemies, and not the household and people of God?

For they are infuriated against us, abandoned as they are: they lay grievous crimes to our charge, and make attacks upon us as enemies.

Eusebius, having intelligence of this, persuades them to wait ; and when I arrive, they next accuse Macarius of breaking the cup, and bring against me the most heinous accusation possible, viz. that, being an enemy of the Emperor, I had sent a purse of gold to one Philumenus.

The Emperor therefore heard us on this charge also in Psammathia 2, when they, as usual, were condemned, and 6 Supr. § 7, and de Decr. 27.

7 madarivor, vid. Apol. ad Const. § 19.

< Infr. § 71 ity Sosa. 2. a o7txdpta, ecclesiasti ee D.C.A, I They are lost.

; Lo ® Suburb of Nicomedia, infr. § 65.

62. And I would have you yourselves to consider with what exceeding madness they do

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

this.

The foolish men carry their maliciousness at their tongues' end.

They carry about with them a sort of leaden anger, so that they reciprocally smite one another, and inwill be able to exhort you as is suitable,

May God preserve you, beloved brethren.

Such was the letter of Constantine.

63. After these occurrences the Meletians remained quiet for a little time, but after wards shewed their hostility again, and contrived the following plot, with the aim of pleasing those who had hired their services.

The Mareotis is a country district of Alexandria, in which Meletius was not able to make a schism.

Now while the Churches still existed within their appointed limits, and all the Presbyters had congregations in them, and while the people were living in peace, a certain person named Ischyras'4, who was not a clergyman, but of a worthless disposition, endeavoured to lead astray the people of his own village, declaring himself to be a clergyman.

Upon learning this, the Presbyter of the place informed me of it when I was going through my visitation of the Churches, and I sent Macarius the Presbyter with him to summon Ischyras.

They found him sick and lying in a cell, and charged his father to admonish his son not to continue any such practices as had been reported against him.

But when he recovered from his sickness, being prevented by his friends gnd his father from pursuing the same course, he fled over to the Meletians; and they communicate with Eusebius and his fellows, and at last that calumny is invented by them, that Macarius had broken a cup, and that a certain Bishop named Arsenius had been murdered by me.

Arsenius they placed in concealment, in order that he might seem made away with, when he did not make his appearance ; and they carried about a hand, pretending that he had been cut to pieces.

As for Ischyras, whom they did not even know, they began to spread a report that he was a Presbyter, in order that what he said about the cup might mislead the people.

Ischyras, however, being censured by his friends, came to me weeping, and said that no such thing as they had reported had been done by Macarius, and that himself had been suborned by the Meletians to invent this calumny.

And he wrote the following letter. volve us by way of increasing their own punishment.

The good teacher is accounted an enemy, while he who clothes himself with the vice of envy, contrary to all justice makes his gain of the gentle temper of the people; he ravages, and consumes, he decks himself out, and recommends himself with false praises; he subverts the truth, and corrupts the faith, until he finds out a hole and hiding-place for his conscience.

Thus their very perverseness makes them wretched, while they impudently prefer themselves to places of honour, however unworthy they may be.

Ah! what a mischief is this! they say "Such an one is too old; such an one is a mere boy; the office belongs to me; it is due to me, since it is taken away from him. I will gain over all men to my side, and then I will endeavour with my power to ruinhim."

Plain indeed is this proclamation of their madness to all the world; the sight of companies, and gatherings, and rowers under command in their offensive cabals.

Alas! what preposterous conduct is ours, if I may say it! Do they make an exhibition of their folly in the Church of God? And are they not yet ashamed of themselves?

Do they not yet blame themselves?

Are they not smitten in their consciences, so that they now at length shew that they entertain a proper sense of their deceit and contentiousness? Theirs is the mere force of envy, supported by those baneful influences which naturally belong to it.

But those wretches have no power against your Bishop.

Believe me, brethren, their endeavours will have no other effect than this, after they have worn down our days, to leave to themselves no place of repentance in this life.

Wherefore I beseech you, lend help to yourselves; receive kindly our love, and with all your strength drive away those who desire to obliterate from among us the grace of unanimity ; and looking unto God, love one another.

I received gladly your Bishop Athanasius, and addressed him in such a manner, as being persuaded that he was a man of God.

To the Blessed pope 5 Athanasius, Ischyras sends health in the Lord, It is for you to understand these things, not for me to judge of them.

I thought it becom-. ing that the most reverend Athanasius himself should convey my salutation to you, knowing his kind care of you, which, in a manner worthy of that peaceable faith which 64. As when I came to you, my Lord Bishop, desiring to be received into the Church, you reproved me for what I formerly said, as though I had proceeded to such lengths of my own free choice, I therefore

I myself profess, is continually engaged in the good work of declaring saving knowledge, and 4 Cf. $8 46, 72, 775 Cf. de Syn. 16, [and Fest. Ind. passim], 3 apxvepeoiav.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

a en a a ne eee ee ee SSS — Paul, who was then Bishop of Tyre, and at last out of very shame could not deny it. submit to you this my apology in writing, in order that you may understand, that violence was used towards me, and blows inflicted on me by Isaac and Heraclides, and Isaac of Letopolis, and those of their party.

And I declare, and take God as my witness in this matter, that of none of the things which they have stated, do I know you to be guilty.

For no breaking of a cup or overturning of the Holy Table ever took place, but they compelled me by violent usage to assert all this.

And this defence I make and submit to you in writing, desiring and claiming for myself to be admitted among the members of your congregation, I pray that you may have health in the Lord.

This he did in order to fulfil his contract with Eusebius and his fellows, lest, if he were discovered, the game they were playing should at length be broken up ; which in fact came to pass.

For when I wrote the Emperor word, that Arsenius was discovered, and reminded him of what he had heard in Psammathia concerning Macarius the Presbyter, he stopped the proceedings of the Censor's court, and wrote condemning the proceedings against me as calumnious, and commarded Eusebius and his fellows, who were coming into the East to appear against me, to return.

Now in order to shew that they accused me of having murdered Arsenius (not to bring forward the letters of many persons on the subject), it shall be sufficient only to produce one from Alexander the Bishop of Thessalonica, from which the tenor of the rest may be inferred.

He then being acquainted with the reports which Archaph, who is also called John, circulated against me on the subject of the murder, and having heard that Arsenius was alive, wrote as follows.

I submit this my handwriting to you the Bishop Athanasius in the presence of the Presbyters, Ammonas of Dicella, Heraclius of Phascos, Boccon of Chenebri, Achillas of Myrsine, Didymus of Taphosiris, and Justus from Bomotheus®; and of the Deacons, Paul,

Peter, and Olympius, of Alexandria, and Ammonius, Pistus, Demetrius, and Gaius, of the Mareotis.

65. Notwithstanding this statement of Ischyras, they again spread abroad the same charges against me everywhere, and also reported them to thé Emperor Constantine.

He too had heard before of the affair of the cup in Psammathia 7, when I was there, and had detected the falsehood of my enemies.

But now he wrote to Antioch to Dalmatius® the Censor requiring him to institute a judicial enquiry respecting the murder.

Accordingly the Censor sent me notice to prepare for my defence against the charge. Upon receiving his letters, although at first I paid no regard to the thing because I knew that nothing of what they said was true, yet seeing that the Emperor was moved, I wrote to my fellow-ministers into Egypt, and sent a deacon, desiring to learn something of Arsenius, for I had not seen the man for five or six years.

Well, not to relate the matter at length, Arsenius was found in concealment, in the first instance in Egypt, and afterwards my friends discovered him again in concealment in Tyre also.

And what was most remarkable, even when he was discovered he would not confess that he was Arsenius, until he was convicted in court before Letter of Alexander.

To his dearly beloved son and fellow-minister like-minded, the lord Athanasius, Alexander the Bishop sends health in the Lord.

66. I congratulate the most excellent Sarapion, that he is striving so earnestly to adorn himself with holy habits, and is thus advancing to higher praise the memory of his father.

For, as the Holy Scripture somewhere says, 'though his father die, yet he is as though he were not dead9:' for he has left behind him a memorial of his life.

What my feelings were towards the ever memorable Sozon, you yourself, my lord*°, are not ignorant, for you know the sacredness of his memory, as well as the goodness of the young man.

I have received only one letter from your reverence, which I had by the hands of this youth.

I mention this to you, my lord, in order that you may know.

Our dearly beloved brother and deacon Macarius, afforded me great pleasure by writing to me from Constantinople, that the false accuser Archaph had met with disgrace, for having given out before all men that a live man had been murdered.

That he will receive from the righteous Judge, together with all the tribe of his associates, that punishment, which his crimes deserve, the unerring Scriptures assure us.

May the Lord of all preserve you for 6 [Cf. the list of Mareotic clergy sup», p.

72.

The three deacons of Alexandria are in the Eee. ah es 7 Vid. § 60.

8 Dalmatius was the name of father and son, the brother and nephew of Constantine.

Socrates, Hist. i. 27. gives the title of Censor to the son; but the Chron. Pasch. Pp. 531 (Dind.) gives it to the father, Valesius, and apparently Tillemont (ZmipeEi vol. 4. p. 657) think Socrates mistaken.

The younger almatius was created Cesar by Constantine a few year before his eath ; and as well as his brother Hannibalian, and a number of other relatives, was put to death by the soldiery, on the death of Constantine, vid. Hist. Ar. 69. [Gwatkin, p. 108 note].

9 Ecclus. 30. 4

10 déomota. Theod. H £. i. 5. init.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

tar many years, my lord, in every way most fortitude, and to exhort you that you would endeavour to restore the people of God to tranquillity, and to merciful feelings.

For in my own mind I hold these things to be of the greatest importance, that we should cultivate truth, and ever keep righteousness in our thoughts, and have pleasure especially in those who walk in the right way of life.

But as concerning those who are deserving of all execration, I mean the most perverse and ungodly Meletians, who have at last stultified themselves by their folly, and are now raising unreasonable commotions by envy, uproar, and tumult, thus making manifest their own ungodly dispositions, I will say thus much.

You see that those who they pretended had been slain with the sword, are still amongst us, and in the enjoyment of life.

Now what could be a stronger presumption against them, and one so manifestly and clearly tending to their condemnation, as that those whom they declared to have been murdered, are yet in the enjoyment of life, and accordingly will be able to speak for themselves ? ind.

67. And they who lived with Arsenius bear witness, that he was kept in concealment for this purpose, that they might pretend his death ; for in searching after him we found the person

[who had done so], and he in consequence wrote the following letter to John, who played the chief part in this false accusation.

To his dearly beloved brother John, Pinnes, Presbyter of the Monastery?! of Ptemencyrcis, in the nome of Anteopolis, sends greeting.

I wish you to know, that Athanasius sent his deacon into the Thebais, to search everywhere for Arsenius; and Pecysius the Presbyter, and Silvanus the brother of Helias, and Tapenacerameus, and Paul monk of Hypsele, whom he first fell in with, confessed that Arsenius was with us.

Upon learning this we caused him to be put on board a vessel, and to sail to the lower countries with Helias the monk.

Afterwards the deacon returned again suddenly with certain others, and entered our monastery, in search of the same Arsenius, and him they found not, because, as I said before, we had sent him away to the lower countries; but they conveyed me together with Helias the monk, who took him out of the way, to Alexandria, and brought us before the Duke'; when I was unable to deny, but confessed that he was alive, and had not been murdered: the monk also who took him out of the way confessed the same.

Wherefore I acquaint you with these things, Father, lest you should determine to accuse Athanasius; for I said that he was alive, and had been concealed with us, and all this is become known in Egypt, and it cannot any longer be kept secret.

But this further accusation was advanced by these same Meletians.

They positively affirmed that you, rushing in with lawless violence, had seized upon and broken a cup, which was deposited in the most Holy Place ; than which there certainly could not be a more serious charge, nor a more grievous offence, had such a crime actually been perpetrated.

But what manner of accusation is this? What is the meaning of this change and variation and difference in the circumstances of it, insomuch that they now transfer this same accusation to another person ?, a' fact which makes it clearer, so to speak, than the light itself, that they designed to lay a plot for your wisdom? After this, who can be willing to follow them, men that have fabricated such charges to the injury of another, seeing too that they are hurrying themselves on to ruin, and are conscious that they are accusing you of false and feigned crimes?

Who then, as I said, will follow after them, and thus go headlong in the way of destruction ; in that way in which it seems they alone suppose that they have hope of safety and of help? But if they were willing to walk according to a pure conscience, and to be directed by the best wisdom, and to go in the way of a sound mind, they would easily perceive that no help can come to them from Divine

Providence, while they are given up to such doings, and tempt their own destruction.

I should not call this a harsh judgment of them, but the simple truth.

I, Paphnutius, monk of the same monastery, who wrote this letter, heartily salute you.

I pray for your health.

The following also is the letter which the Emperor wrote when he learnt that Arsenius was found to be alive.

Constantine, Victor, Maximus, Augustus, to the pope Athanasius.

68. Having read the letters of your wisdom, I felt the inclination to write in return to your

3x [The yovy here is not a monastery in the later sense, but a village or cluster of cells.

This intercepted letter demonstrates the existence of Zeletian monks, of which there is other evidence also: (see below, Introd. to Vit. Ant.

The objection of Weingarten to the genuineness of this letter is purely arbitrary))].

t According to the system of government introduced by Diocletian and Constantine, there were thirty-five military commanders of the troops, under the Magistri militum, and all of these bore the name of duces or dukes; the comites, or counts, were ten out of the number, who were distinguished as companions of the Emperor. vid. Gibbon, ch. 17. Three of these dukes were stationed in Egypt [i.e. in the whole prefecture; one only in the province of Egypt in the narrower sense]. a 2 Cf. § 28.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

a a a a rannus, Plusian, and the rest.

Wherefore we beseech your goodness to write to us speedily in answer, and likewise to our fellowministers concerning us, informing them that we will henceforth abide by the fore-mentioned resolution and will be at peace with the pressed by me according to the dictates of| Catholic Church, and at unity with our fellowequity is confirmed also by real facts.

Wherefore, seeing that in such conduct there is so great an offence, let them understand that I have thus judged; and that I have come to this determination, that if they excite any further commotion of this kind, I will myself in person take cognizance of the matter, and that not according to the ecclesiastical, but according to the civil laws, and so I will in future find them out, because they clearly are robbers, so to speak, not only against human kind, but against the divine doctrine itself.

May God ever preserve you, beloved brother !

And finally, I will add, that I wish this letter to be read frequently by your wisdom in public, that it may thereby come to the knowledge of all men, and especially reach the ears of those who thus act, and thus raise disturbances ; for the judgment which is exministers in the [various] districts.

And we are persuaded that your prayers, being acceptable unto God, will so prevail with Him, that this peace shall be firm and indissoluble unto the end, according to the will of God the Lord of all, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The sacred Ministry that is under you, we and those that are with us salute.

Very shortly, if God permit, we will come to visit your goodness.

I, Arsenius, pray for your health in the Lord for many years, most blessed Pope.

70. But a stronger and clearer proof of the calumny against us is the recantation of John, of which the most God-beloved Emperor Constantine of blessed memory is a witness, for knowing how John had accused himself, and having received letters from him expressing his repentance, he wrote to him as follows.

69. But that the wickedness of the calumniators might be more fully displayed, behold

Arsenius also wrote to me after he was discovered in his place of concealment; and as the letter which Ischyras had written confessed the falsehood of their accusation, so that of Arsenius proved their maliciousness still more completely.

Constantine, Maximus, Augustus to John.

The letters which I have received from your prudence were extremely pleasing to me, because I learned from them what I very much longed to hear, that you had laid aside every petty feeling, had joined the Communion of the Church as became you, and were now in perfect concord with the most reverend Bishop Athanasius.

Be assured therefore that so far I entirely approve of your conduct; because, giving up all skirmishing, you have done that which is pleasing to God, and have embraced the unity of His

Church.

In order therefore that you may obtain the accomplishment of your wishes, I have thought it right to grant you permission to enter the public conveyance 5, and to come

To the blessed Pope Athanasius, Arsenius, Bishop of those who were heretofore under Meletius in the city of the Hypselites, together with the Presbyters and Deacons, wishes much health in the Lord.

Being earnestly desirous of peace and union with the Catholic Church, over which by the grace of God you preside, and wishing to submit ourselves to the Canon of the Church, according to the ancient rule3, we write unto you, dearly beloved Pope, and declare in the name of the Lord, that we will not for the future hold comniunion with those who continue in schism, and are not yet at peace with the Catholic Church, whether Bishops,

Presbyters, or Deacons.

Neither will we take part with them if they wish to establish anything in a Council; neither will we send letters of peace 3* unto them nor receive such from them ; neither yet without the consent of you, the bishop of the metropolis, will we publish any determination concerning Bishops, or on any other general ecclesiastical question ; but we will yield obedience to all the canons that have heretofore been ordained, after the example of the Bishops+ Ammonian, Ty5 On the "cursus publicus," vid. Gothofred. 7% Cod. Theod. viii. tit. 5.

It was provided for the journeys of the Emperor, for persons whom he summoned, for magistrates, ambassadors, and for such private persons as the Emperor indulged in the use of it, which was gratis.

The use was granted by Constantine to the Bishops who were summoned to Nicza, as far as it went, in addition (though aliter Valesius in loc.) to other means of travelling.

Euseb. v. Consté. iii. 6. The cursus publicus brought the Bishops to the Council of Tyre. z/d. iv. 43.

In the conference between Liberius and Constantius, Theod. A7Zs¢. ii. 13. it is objected that the cursus publicus is not sufficient to convey Bishops to the Council which Liberius proposes; he answers that the Churches are rich enough to convey their Bishops as far as the sea.

Thus S. Hilary was compelled (data evectionis copia, Sulp. Sev. Hzs¢. ii. 57.) to attend at Seleucia, as Athan. at Tyre.

Julian complains of the abuse of the cursus publicus, perhaps with an allusion to these Councils of Constantius, vid. Cod. Theod. viii. tit. 5. 1. 12. where Gothofred quotes Liban. Epitaph. in Julian. 'vol. i. p. 569. ed. Reiske.) Vid. the well-known passage of Ammianus, who speaks of the Councils being the ruin of the res vehicularia Hist, xxi, 16, The Eusebians at Philippopolis say the same thing,

Hilar. Frag. iii. 25.

The Emperor provided board and perhaps 3 Vid. spr. p. 92, note .33_the (so-called) Apostolical Canon apparently referred to here, is Can. 27. according to Beveridge.

® Cf. p.

95, note 4.

4 i.e. Meletian Bishops who had conformed ; or, since they are not in the list, § 7z. Catholic Bishops with whom the conforming party were familiar; or Meletians after the return of Meletius. vid. Tillemont, Je. vol. 8 p. 658

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

to the court® of my clemency.

Let it then be your care to make no delay; but as this letter gives you authority to use the public conveyance, come to me immediately, that you may have your desires fulfilled, and by appearing in my-presence may enjoy that pleasure which it is fit for you to receive.

May God preserve you continually, dearly beloved brother. sitting in judgment on the case.

I objected to Eusebius and his fellows as being my enemies on account of the heresy ; next, I shewed in the following manner that the person who was called my accuser was not a Presbyter at all.

When Meletius was admitted into communion (would that he had never been so admitted 2 !) the blessed Alexander who knew his craftiness required of him a schedule of the Bishops whom he said he had in Egypt, and of the presbyters and deacons that were in Alexandria itself, and if he had any in the country district.

This the Pope Alexander has done, lest Meletius, having received the freedom of the Church, should tender3 many, and thus continually, by a fraudulent procedure, foist upon us whomsoever he pleased.

Accordingly he has made out the following schedule of those in Egypt.

CHAPTER VI.

Documents connected with the Council of Tyre.

_ 71. Thus ended the conspiracy.

The Meletians were repulsed and covered with shame ; but notwithstanding this Eusebius and his fellows still did not remain quiet, for it was noi for the Meletians but for Arius and his fellows, that they cared, and they were afraid lest, if the proceedings of the former should be stopped, they should no longer find persons to play the parts', by whose assistance they might bring in that heresy.

They therefore again stirred up the Meletians, and persuaded the Emperor to give orders that a Council should be held afresh at Tyre, and Count

Dionysius was despatched thither, and a military guard was given to Eusebius and his fellows.

Macarius also was sent as a prisoner to Tyre under a guard of soldiers ; and the Emperor wrote to me, and laid a peremptory command upon me, so that, however unwilling, I set out.

The whole conspiracy may be understood from the letters which the Bishops of Egypt wrote ; but it will be necessary to relate how it was contrived by them in the outset, that so may be perceived the malice and wickedness that was exercised against me.

There are in Egypt, Libya, and Pentapolis, nearly one hundred Bishops; none of whom laid anything to my charge; none of the Presbyters found any fault with me; none of the people spoke aught against me; but it was the Meletians who were ejected by Peter, and the Arians, that divided the plot between them, while the one party claimed to themselves the right of accusing me, the other of A schedule presented by Meletius to the Bishop Alexander.

I, Meletius of Lycopolis, Lucius of Antinopolis, Phasileus of Hermopolis, Achilles of Cusze, Ammonius of Diospolis.

In Ptolemais, Pachymes of Tentyre.

In Maximianopolis, Theodorus of Coptus.

In Thebais, Cales of Hermethes, Colluthus of Upper Cynopolis, Pelagius of Oxyrynchus, Peter of Heracleopolis, Theon of Nilopolis, Isaac ¢ of Letopolis, Heraclides of Niciopolis 4, Isaac of Cleopatris, Melas of Arsenoitis.

In Heliopolis, Amos of Leontopolis, Ision of Athribis.

In Pharbethus, Harpocration of Bubastus, Moses of Phacuse, Callinicus5 of Pelusium,

Eudemon of Tanis 5, Ephraim of Thmuis.

In Sais, Hermzon of Cynopolis and Busiris, Soterichus of Sebennytus, Pininuthes of Phthenegys, Cronius of Metelis, Agathammon of the district of Alexandria.

In Memphis, John who was ordered by, the Emperor to be with the Archbishop ®.

These are those of Egypt.

And the Clergy that he had in Alexandria were Apollonius Presbyter, Irenzeus Presbyter,

Dioscorus Presbyter, Tyrannus Presbyter.

And Deacons; Timotheus Deacon, Antinous Deacon, Hephestion Deacon.

And Macarius Presbyter of Parembole 7, lodging for the Bishops at Ariminum; which the Bishops of Aquitaine, Gaul, and Britain,. declined, except three British from poverty.

Sulp. Hist. ii. 56.

Hunneric in Africa, after assembling 466 Bishops at Carthage, dismissed them without modes of conveyance, provision, or baggage.

Victor Utic. //7st, iil. init, In the Emperor's letter previous to the assembling of the sixth Ecumenical Council, a.D. 678, (Harduin, Conc. t. 3. p. 1048 fin.) he says he has members.

72. These Meletius presented actually in person 8 to the Bishop Alexander, but he made no mention of the person called Ischyras, nor ever given orders for the conveyance and maintenance of its

"Pope John VIII. reminds Ursus, Duke of Venice {a.D. 876.), of the same duty of providing for the members of a Council, ''secundum pios principes, qui in talibus munifice 2 Cf. § 59.

3 [mwAjon: i. pe them off on the church.

Cf, Lat. venditare.| 4 Cf. § 6 5 Cf. § 60.

6 [The 'archbishop' $s Meletius ; this is the first occurrence of the word ; it evidently has not its later fixed sense.

The hissemper erant intenti."

Colet. Conci/.

(Ven. 1730,) t. xi. p. 14. atparémedsov: vid. Chrys. on the Statues, p. 382, note 6.

Gothofr. in Cod. Theod. vi. 32, 1. 1.

Castra sunt ubi Princeps est. torical allusion is obscure.] i ; 7 A village on the Mareotic lake. vid. Socr. iv. 23. Athan

Opp. ed. Pat. t. 3. p. 86—89. ibid. 35, 1. 15. also Kiesling. de Discipl. Cler. i. 5. p. 16. Beveridge in Can, Afost. 83. interprets orpareia of any civil engagement as opposed to clerical.

® Cf. § 17, note 1.

[Prolegg. ch. ii. § 3 re ore Pe and ch. v. § 3a.)

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

of the whole district found fault with them because they were there by themselves, and required that they too might be present at their proceedings (for they said that they knew both the circumstances of the case, and the history of the person named Ischyras), they would not allow them; and although they had with them Philagrius the Prefect of Egypt*, who was an apostate, and heathen soldiers, during an enquiry which it was not becoming even for Catechumens to witness, they would not admit the Clergy, lest there as well as at Tyre there might be those who would expose them. professed at all that he had any Clergy in the Mareotis.

Notwithstanding our enemies did not desist from their attempts, but still he that was no Presbyter was feigned to be one, for there was the Count ready to use compulsion towards us, and soldiers were hurrying us about.

But even then the grace of God prevailed: for they could not convict Macarius in the matter of the cup; and Arsenius, whom they reported to have been murdered by me, stood before them alive and shewed the falseness of their accusation.

When therefore they were unable to convict Macarius, Eusebius and his fellows, who became enraged that they had lost the prey of which they had been in pursuit, persuaded the Count Dionysius, who is one of them, to send to the Mareotis, in order to see whether they could not find out something there against the Presbyter, or rather that they might at a distance patch up their plot as they pleased in our absence: for this was their aim.

However,—when we represented that the journey to the Mareotis was a superfluous undertaking (for that they ought not to pretend that statements were defective which they had been employed upon so long, and ought not now to defer the matter; for they had said whatever they thought they could say, and now being at a loss what to do, they were making pretences) ; or if they must needs go to the Mareotis, that at least the suspected parties should not be sent,—the Count was convinced by my reasoning, with respect to the suspected persons ; but 73. But in spite of these precautions they were not able to escape detection: for the Presbyters of the City and of the Mareotis, perceiving their evil designs, addressed to them the following protest.

To Theognius, Maris, Macedonius, Theodorus, Ursacius, and Valens, the Bishops who have come from Tyre, these from the Presbyters and Deacons of the Catholic Church of Alexandria under the most reverend Bishop

Athanasius.

It was incumbent upon you when you came hither and brought with you the accuser, to bring also the Presbyter Macarius; for trials are appointed by Holy Scripture to be so constituted, that the accuser and accused may stand up together.

But since neither you brought Macarius, nor our most reverend Bishop Athanasius came hither with you, we claimed for ourselves the right of being present at the investigation, that we might see that the enquiry was conducted impartially, and might ourselves be convinced of the truth.

But when you refused to allow this, and wished, in company only with the Prefect of Egypt and the accuser, to do whatever you pleased, we confess that we saw a suspicion of evil in the affair, and perceived that your coming was only the act of a cabal and a conspiracy.

Wherefore we address to you this letter, to be a testimony before a genuine Council, that it may be known to all men, that you have carried on an ex parte proceeding and for your own ends, and have desired nothing else but to form a conspiracy against us.

A copy of this, lest it should be kept secret by you, we have handed in to Palladius also the Controller? of Augustus.

For what you have already done causes us to suspect you, and to they did anything rather than what I proposed, for the very persons whom I objected against on account of the Arian heresy, these were they who promptly went off, viz. Diognius, Maris,

Theodorus, Macedonius, Ursacius, and Valens.

Again, letters were written to the Prefect of Egypt, and a military guard was provided ; and, what was remarkable and altogether most suspicious, they caused

Macarius the accused party to remain behind under a guard of soldiers, while they took with them the accuser 9.

Now who after this does not see through this conspiracy?

Who does not clearly perceive the wickedness of Eusebius and his fellows?

For if a judicial enquiry must needs take place in the Mareotis, the accused also ought to have been sent thither.

But if they did not go for the purpose of such an enquiry, why did they take the accuser? It was enough that he had not been able to prove the fact.

But this they did in order that they might carry on their designs against the absent Presbyter, whom they could not convict when present, and might concoct a plan as they pleased.

For when the Presbyters of Alexandria and Seth poe ee ae ogee nie ee ee 1 Cf. Encycl. § 3.

2 Curiosus; the Curiosi (in curis agendis) were properly the overseers of the public roads, Du Cange in voc., but they became in Consequence a sort of imperial spy, and were called the Emperor's eyes,

Gothofr, iz Cod. Theod, t. 2. p. 194. ed. 1665.

Constantius confined them to the school of the Agentes in rebus (infr. Agol. ad Const. § 10.), under the Master of the Offices,

Gothofr. 77d. p. 192.

9 Supr. § 13.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

E39 reckon on the like conduct from you hereafter. him; but all that is alleged respecting this affair is mere calumny.

And this we say, not as having been absent from the Bishop, for we are all with him when he makes his visitation of the Mareotis, and he never goes about alone, but is accompanied by all of us

I Dionysius Presbyter have handed in this letter.

Alexander Presbyter, Nilaras Presbyter, Longus Presbyter, Aphthonius Presbyter, Athanasius Presbyter, Amyntius Presbyter, Pistus

Presbyter, Plution Presbyter, Dioscorus Presbyter, Apollonius Presbyter, Sarapion Presbyter, Ammonius Presbyter, Gaius Presbyter,

Rhinus Presbyter, Zthales Presbyter.

Presbyters and Deacons, and by a considerable number of the people.

Wherefore we make these assertions as having been present with him in every visitation which he has made amongst us, and testify that neither was a cup ever broken, nor table overturned, but the whole story is false, as the accuser himself also witnesses under his own hand®.

For when, after he had gone off with Meletians, and had reported these things against our Bishop Athanasius, he wished to be admitted to communion, he was not received, although he wrote and confessed under his own hand that none of these things were true, but that he had been suborned by certain persons to say so.

Deacons; Marcellinus Deacon, Appianus Deacon, Theon Deacon, Timotheus Deacon, a second Timotheus Deacon.

74. This is the letter, and these the names of the Clergy of the city; and the following was written by the Clergy of the Mareotis, who know the character of the accuser, and who were with me in my visitation.

To the holy Council of blessed Bishops of the Catholic Church, all the Presbyters and Deacons of the Mareotis send health in the Lord.

75. Wherefore also Theognius, Theodorus, 'Maris, Macedonius, Ursacius, Valens, and their

Knowing that which is written, 'Speak that thine eyes have seen,' and, ' A false witness shall fellows came into the Mareotis, and when they found that none of these things were true, but it was likely to be discovered that they had framed a false accusation against our Bishop

Athanasius, Theognius and his fellows being themselves his enemies, caused the relations of Ischyras and certain Arian madmen to say whatever they wished.

For none of the people spoke against the Bishop; but these persons, through fear of Philagrius the Prefect of Egypt, and by threats and with the support of the Arian madmen, accomplished whatever they desired.

For when we came to disprove the calumny, they would not permit us, but cast us out, while they admitted whom they pleased to a participation in their schemes, and concerted matters with them, influencing them by fear of the Prefect Philagrius.

Through his means they prevented us from being present, that we might discover whether those who were suborned by them were members of the Church or Arian madmen.

And you also, dearly beloved Fathers, know, as you teach us, that the testimony of enemies avails nothing. That what we say is the truth the handwriting? of Ischyras testifies, as do also the facts themnot be unpunished 3,' we testify what we have seen, especially since the conspiracy which has been formed against our Bishop Athanasius has made our testimony necessary.

We wonder how Ischyras ever came to be reckoned among the number of the Ministers of the Church, which is the first point we think it necessary to mention.

Ischyras never was a Minister of the Church; but when formerly he represented himself to be a Presbyter of Colluthus, he found no one to believe him, except only his own relations+.

For he never had a Church, nor was ever considered a Clergyman by those who lived but a short distance from his village, except only, as we said before, by his own relations.

But, notwithstanding he assumed this designation, he was deposed in the presence of our Father Hosius at the Council which assembled at Alexandria 5, and was admitted to communion as a layman, and so he continued subsequently, having fallen from his falsely reputed rank of presbyter.

Of his character we think it unnecessary to speak, as all men have it in their power to become acquainted therewith.

But since he has falsely accused our Bishop Athanasius of breaking a cup and overturning a table, we are necessarily obliged to address you on this point.

We have said already that he never had a Church in the Mareotis; and we declare before God as our witness, that no cup was broken, nor table overturned by our Bishop, nor by any one of those who accompanied selves, because when we were conscious that no such thing as was pretended had taken place, they took with them Philagrius, that through fear of the sword and by threats they might frame whatever plots they wished.

These things we testify as in the presence of God; we make. these assertions as knowing a a a ig 6 Supr. § 64.

7 xelp, infr. Apol. ad Const. § rr.

3 Prov. xxv. 7, LXX, xix. 5.

44 Cf. § 12.

5 A.D. 324-

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

their piety.

For neither is he a Presbyter of the Catholic Church nor does he possess a church, nor has a cup ever been broken, but the whole story is false and an invention. that there will be a judgment held by God; desiring indeed all of us to come to you, but being content with certain of our number, so that the letters may be instead of the presence of those who have not come.

I, Ingenius Presbyter, pray you health in the Lord, beloved fathers.

'Theon Presbyter, Ammonas P., Heraclius P., Boccon P., Tryphon P., Peter P., Hierax P., Sarapion P., Marcus P.,

Ptollarion P., Gaius P., Dioscorus P., Demetrius P., Thyrsus P.

Dated in the Consulship of Julius Consfantius the most illustrious Patrician9, brother of the most religious Emperor Constantine

Augustus, and of Rufinus Albinus, most illustrious men, on the tenth day of the month

Thoth'

These were the letters of the Presbyters, Deacons; Pistus Deacon, Apollos D., Serras

D., Pistus D., Polynicus D., Ammonius D., Maurus D., Hephestus D., Apollos D., Metopas D., Apollos D., Serapas D., Meliphthongus

747. The following also are the letters and protests of the Bishops who came with us to Tyre, when they became aware of the conspiracy and plot.

D., Lucius D., Gregoras D.

To the Bishops assembled at Tyre, most honoured Lords, those of the Catholic Church who have come from Egypt with Athanasius send greeting in the Lord.

76. Lhe same to the Controlier, and to Philagrius, at that time Prefect of Egypt.

To Flavius Philagrius, and to Flavius Palladius, Ducenary®, Officer of the Palace, and Controller, and to Flavius Antoninus, Commissary of Provisions, and Centenary of my lords the most illustrious Prefects of the sacred Preetorium, these from the Presbyters and Deacons of the Mareotis, a nome of the Catholic Church which is under the most Reverend Bishop Athanasius, we address this testimony by those whose names are underwritten :—

We suppose that the conspiracy which has been formed against us by Eusebius, Theognius,

Maris, Narcissus, Theodorus, Patrophilus, and their fellows is no longer uncertain.

From the very beginning we all demurred, through our fellow-minister Athanasius, to the holding of the enquiry in their presence, knowing that the presence of even one enemy only, much more of many, is able to disturb and injure the hearing of a cause.

And you also yourselves know the enmity which they entertain, not only towards us, but towards all the orthodox, how that for the sake of the madness of Arius, and his impious doctrine, they direct their assaults, they form conspiracies against all.

And when, being confident in the truth, we desired to shew the falsehood, which the Meletians had employed against the Church,

Eusebius and his fellows endeavoured by some means or other to interrupt our representations, and strove eagerly to set aside our testimony, threatening those who gave an honest judgment, and insulting others, for the sole purpose of carrying out the design they had against us.

Your godly piety, most honoured Lords, was probably ignorant of their conspiracy, but we suppose that it has now been made manifest.

For indeed they have themselves plainly disclosed it; for they desired to send to the Mareotis those of their party who are suspected by us, so that, while we were absent and remained here, they might disturb the people and accomplish what they wished. They knew

Whereas Theognius, Maris, Macedonius, Theodorus, Ursacius, and Valens, as if sent by all the Bishops who assembled at Tyre, came into our Diocese alleging that they had received orders to investigate certain ecclesiastical affairs, among which they spoke of the breaking of a cup of the Lord, of which information was given them by Ischyras, whom they brought with them, and who says that he is a Presbyter, although he is not,— for he was ordained by the Presbyter Colluthus who pretended to the Episcopate, and was afterwards ordered by a whole Council, by Hosius and the Bishops that were with him, to take the place of a Presbyter, as he was before ; and accordingly all that were ordained by Colluthus resumed the same rank which they held before, and so Ischyras himself proved to be a layman,—and the church which he says he has, never was a church at all, but a quite small private house belongingto an orphan boy of the name of Ision ;—for this reason we have offered this testimony, adjuring you by Almighty God, and by our Lords Constantine

Augustus, and the most illustrious Cesars his sons, to bring these things to the knowledge of 9 The title Patrician was revived by Constantine as a personal distinction.

It was for life, and gave precedence over all the great officers of state except the Consul, It was usually bestowed on favourites, or on ministers as a reward of services.

Gibbon, Hzsé, ch.17.

This Julius Constantius, who was the father of Julian, was the first who bore the title, with L. Optatus, who had been consul the foregoing year.

Illustrissimus was the highest of the three ranks of honour. zézd.

8 On the different kinds of Ducenaries, vid. Gothofr, in Cod.

Theod, XI. vii, 1.

Here, as in Euseb. Hist. Vii. 30. the word stands for a Procurator, whose annual pay amounted to 200 sestertia, vid. Salmas. Hist Aug. t, 1. p: 533.

In like manner a Centenary is one who receives 100, to [Sep. 8. 335 A.D.

See note on leap-year at the end of the table of Egyptian months, below, Intrcd. to J e¢ies.|

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS,

I4l that the Arian madmen, and Colluthians' and Meletians, were enemies of the Catholic Church, and therefore they were anxious to send them, that in the presence of our enemies they might devise against us whatever schemes they pleased.

And those of the Meletians who are here, even four days previously (as they knew that this enquiry was about to take place), despatched at evening certain of their party, as couriers, for the purpose of collecting Meletians out of Egypt into the Mareotis, because there were none at all there, and Colluthians and Arian madmen, from other parts, and to prepare them to speak against us.

For you also know that Ischyras himself confessed before you, that he had not more than seven persons in his congregation.

When therefore we heard that, after they had made what preparations they pleased against us, and had sent these suspected persons, they were going about to each of you, and requiring your subscriptions, in order that it might appear as if this had been done with the consent of you all; for this reason we hastened to write to you, and to present this our testimony; declaring that we are the objects of a conspiracy under which we are suffering by and through them, and demanding that having the fear of God in your minds, and condemning their conduct in sending whom they pleased without our consent, you would refuse your subscriptions, lest they pretend that those things are done by you, which they are contriving only among themselves.

Surely it becomes those who are in Christ, not to regard human motives, but to prefer the truth before all things.

And be not afraid of their threatenings, which they employ against all, nor of their plots, but rather fear God.

If it was at all necessary that persons should be sent to the Mareotis, we also ought to have been there with them, in order that we might convict the enemies of the Church, and point out those who were aliens, and that the investigation of the matter might be impartial.

For you know that Eusebius and his fellows contrived that a letter should be presented, as coming from the Colluthians, the Meletians, and Arians, and directed'against us: but it is evident that these enemies of the Catholic Church speak nothing that is true concerning us, but say everything against us.

And the law of God forbids an enemy to be either a witness or a judge.

Wherefore as you will have to give an account in the day of judgment, receive this testimony, and recognising the conspiracy which has been framed against us, beware, if you are requested by them, of doing anything against us, and of taking part in the designs of Eusebius and his fellows.

For you know, as we said before, that they are our enemies, and you are aware why Eusebius of Czsarea became such last year.

We pray that you may be in health, greatly beloved Lords.

78. To the most illustrious Count Flavius Dionysius, from the Bishops of the Catholic

Church in Egypt who have come to Tyre.

We suppose that the conspiracy which has been formed against us by Eusebius, Theognius, Maris, Narcissus, Theodorus, Patrophilus and their fellows, is no longer uncertain.

From the very beginning we all demurred, through our fellow-minister Athanasius, to the holding of the enquiry in their presence, knowing that the presence of even one enemy only, much more of many, is able to disturb and injure the hearing ot a cause.

For their enmity is manifest which they entertain, not only towards us, but also towards all the orthodox, because they direct their assaults, they form conspiracies against all.

And when, being confident in the truth, we desired to shew the falsehood which the Meletians had employed against the Church, Eusebius and his fellows endeavoured by some means or other to interrupt our representations, and strove eagerly to set aside our testimony, threatening those who gave an honest judgment and insulting others, for the sole purpose of carrying out the design they had against us.

Your goodness was probably ignorant of the conspiracy which they have formed against us, but we suppose that it has now been made manifest.

For indeed they have themselves plainly disclosed-it ; for they desired to send to the Mareotis those of their party who are suspected by us, so that, while we were absent and remained here, they might disturb the people and accomplish what they wished.

They knew that Arian madmen, Colluthians, and Meletians were enemies of the Church, and therefore they were anxious to send them, that in the presence of our enemies, they might devise against us whatever schemes they pleased.

And those of the Meletians who are here, even four days previously (as they knew that this enquiry was about to take place), despatched at evening two individuals of their own party, as couriers, for the purpose of collecting Meletians out of Egypt into the Mareotis, because there were none at all there, and Colluthians, and Arian madmen, from other

2 Colluthus formed a schism on the doctrine that God was not the cause of any sort of evil, e.g. did not inflict pain and suffering.

Though a Priest, he took on himself to ordain, even to the Priesthood [§ 22].

St. Alexander even seems to imply that he did so for money. eod. H.£. i. 3. [Prolegg. ch. ii. § 2.] od at Caesarea, A.D. 334. to attend had refused to attend a s: eM DC Bs lees bh 2 (Ath. a See that. H.E. i, 28, Prolegg. ch. 11.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

i a a treacherous designs of the fore-mentioned Eusebius and his fellows, and therefore we demand that the case be reserved for the most religious and God-beloved Emperor, before whom we shall be able to set forth our own and the Church's just claims.

And we are convinced that when his piety shall have heard our cause, he will not condemn us.

Wherefore we again adjure you by Almighty God, and by our most religious Emperor, who, together with the children of his piety, has thus ever been victorious 3 and prosperous these many years, that you proceed no further, nor suffer yourselves to move at all in the Council in relation to our affairs, but reserve the hearing of them for his piety. We have likewise made the same representations to my Lords the orthodox Bishops. parts, and to prepare them to speak against us.

And your goodness knows that he himself confessed before you, that he had not more than seven persons in his congregation.

When therefore we heard that, after they had made what preparations they pleased against us, and had sent these suspected persons, they were going about to each of the Bishops and requiring their subscriptions, in order that it might appear that this was done with the consent of them all; for this reason we hastened to refer the matter to your honour, and to present this our testimony, declaring that we are the objects of a conspiracy, under which we are suffering by and through them, and demanding of you that having in your mind the fear. of God, and the pious commands of our most religious Emperor, you would no longer tolerate these persons, but condemn their conduct in sending whom they pleased without our consent.

80. Alexander', Bishop of Thessalonica, on receiving these letters, wrote to the Count

Dionysius as follows.

I Adamantius Bishop have subscribed this letter, Ischyras, Ammon, Peter, Ammonianus,

Tyrannus, Taurinus, Sarapammon, ®lurion, Harpocration, Moses, Optatus, Anubion, Saprion, Apollonius, Ischyrion, Arbeethion, Potamon, Paphnutius, Heraclides, Theodorus,

A gathammon, Gaius, Pistus, Athas, Nicon, Pelagius, The Bishop Alexander to my master Dionysius.

I see that a conspiracy has evidently been formed against Athanasius; for they have determined, I know not on what grounds, to send all those to whom he has objected, without giving any information to us, although it was agreed that we should consider together who ought to be sent.

Take care therefore that nothing be done rashly (for they have come to me in great alarm, saying that the wild beasts have already roused themselves, and are going to rush upon them; for they had heard it reported, that John had sent certains), lest they be beforehand with us, and concoct what schemes they please.

For you know that the Colluthians who are enemies of the Church, and the Arians, and Meletians, are all of them leagued together, and are able to work much evil.

Consider therefore what is best to be done, lest some mischief arise, and we be subject to censure, as not having judged the matter fairly.

Great suspicions are also entertained of these persons, lest, as being devoted to the Meletians, they should go through those Churches whose Bishops are here®, and raise an alarm amongst them, and so disorder the whole of Egypt:

For they see that this is already taking place to a great extent.

Theon, Paninuthius, Nonnus, Ariston, Theodorus, Irenzeus, Blastammon, Philippus, Apollos,

Dioscorus, Timotheus of Diospolis, Macarius, Heraclammon, Cronius, Myis, Jacobus, Ariston,

Artemidorus, Phinees, Psais, Heraclides.

Another from the same.

79. The Bishops of the Catholic Church who have come from Egypt to Tyre, to the most illustrious Count Flavius Dionysius.

Perceiving that many conspiracies and plots are being formed against us through the machinations of Eusebius, Narcissus, Flacillus, Theognius, Maris, Theodorus,

Patrophilus, and their fellows (against whom we wished at first to enter an objection, but were not permitted), we are constrained to have recourse to the present appeal.

We observe also that great zeal is exerted in behalf of the Meletians, and that a plot is laid against the Catholic Church in Egypt in our persons.

Wherefore we present this letter to you, beseeching you to bear in mind the Almighty Power of God, who defends the kingdom of our most religious and godly Emperor Constantine, and to reserve the hearing of the affairs which concern us for the most religious Emperor himself.

For it is but reasonable, since you were commissioned by his Majesty, that you should reserve the matter for him upon our appealing to his piety.

We can no longer endure to be the objects of the Accordingly the Count Dionysius wrote to Eusebius and his fellows as follows.

81. This is what I have already mentioned to my lords, Flacillus7 and his fellows, that Athanasius has come forward and complained

3 Cf. Euseb. v. Const. ii. 48.

4 Cf. § 16.

5 Cf. §§ 17, 65, 70.

6 At Ty: re.

7 Perhaps president of the Council, cf. § 20.

[But see Prolegg. ch, ii. § 5.]

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

scheming in the dark have fallen foul of their own friends, and while they desired to destroy us have like insane persons wounded themselves. For in their investigation of the subject of the Mysteries, they questioned Jews, they examined Catechumens'; 'Where were you,' they said, 'when Macarius came and overturned the Table?'

They answered, ' We were within;' whereas there could be no oblation if Catechumens were present.

Again, although they had written word everywhere, that Macarius came and overthrew everything, while the Presbyter was standing and celebrating the Mysteries, yet when they questioned whomsoever they pleased, and asked them, that those very persons have been sent whom he objected to; and crying out that he has been wronged and deceived.

Alexander the lord of my soul 7* has also written to me on the subject ; and that you may perceive that what his Goodness has said is reasonable, I have subjoined his letter to be read by you.

Remember also what I wrote to you before: I impressed upon your Goodness, my lords, that the persons who were sent ought to be commissioned by the general vote and decision of all.

Take care therefore lest our proceedings fall under censure, and we give just grounds of blame to those who are disposed to find fault with us.

For as the accuser's side ought not to suffer any oppression, so neither 'Where was Ischyras when Macarius rushed in?' those persons answered that he was lying sick in a cell.

Well, then, he that was lying was not standing, nor was he that lay ought the defendant's. And I think that there is no slight ground of blame against us, when my lord Alexander evidently disapproves of what we have done. sick in his cell offering the oblation.

Be82. While matters were proceeding thus we withdrew from them, as from an assembly of treacherous men§®, for whatsoever they pleased they did, whereas there is no man in the world but knows that ex parte proceedings cannot stand good.

This the divine law determines ; for when the blessed Apostle was suffering under a similar conspiracy and was brought to trial, he demanded, saying, 'The Jews from Asia ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had aught against me9.' On which occasion Festus also, when the Jews wished to lay such a plot against him, as these men have now laid against me, said, 'It is not the manner of sides whereas Ischyras said that certain books had been burnt by Macarius, they who were suborned to give evidence, declared that nothing of the kind had been done, but that Ischyras spoke falsely.

And what is most remarkable, although they had again written word everywhere, that those who were able to give evidence had been concealed by us, yet these persons made their appearance, and they questioned them, and were not ashamed when they saw it proved on all sides that they were slanderers, and were acting in this matter clandestinely, and according to their pleasure.

For they prompted the witnesses by signs, while the Prefect threatened them, and the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accuser face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concernsoldiers pricked them with their swords; but the Lord revealed the truth, and shewed them ing the crime laid against him*°.' But Eusebius and his fellows both had the boldness to pervert to be slanderers.

Therefore also they concealed the minutes of their proceedings, which they retained themselves, and charged those who wrote them to put out of sight, and to com mit to no one whomsoever.

But in this the law, and have proved more unjust even than those wrong-doers.

For they did not proceed privately at the first, but when in consequence of our being present they found also they were disappointed; for the person who wrote them was Rufus, who is now public executioner in the Augustalian? prefecture, and is able to testify to the truth of this ; and Eusebius and his fellows sent them to Rome by the hands of their own friends, and Julius the Bishop transmitted them to me.

And now they are mad, because we obtained and read what they wished to conceal. themselves weak, then they straightway went out, like the Jews, and took counsel together alone, how they might destroy us and bring in their heresy, as those others demanded Barabbas.

For this purpose it was, as they have themselves confessed, that they did all these things.

83. Although these circumstances were amply sufficient for our vindication, yet in order that the wickedness of these men and the freedom of the truth might be more fully exhibited,

84. As such was the character of their machinations, so they very soon shewed plainly the reasons of their conduct.

For when they went away, they took the Arians with them to Jerusalem, and there admitted them to communion, having sent out a letter concerning

I have not felt averse to repeat them again, in order to shew that they have acted in a manner inconsistently with themselves, and as men

© Vid. § 46.

% Vid. Encyc. 35, p93, note 2.

7* i.e. my beloved lord.

Jer. ix. 2

9 Acts xxiv. 18, x9.

© Acts xxv. 16.

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

OSS corner,' in order to overthrow, as far as was in their power, the authority of so great a Council. them, part3 of which, and the beginning, is as follows.

The holy Council by the grace of God assembled at Jerusalem, to the Church of God which is in Alexandria, and to the Bishops,

Presbyters, and Deacons, in all Egypt, the Thebais, Libya, Pentapolis, and throughout the world, sends health in the Lord.

Moreover, the price which they paid for false testimony yet more fully manifests their wicked. ness and impious intentions.

The Mareotis, as I have already said, is a country district of Alexandria, in which there has never been either a Bishop or a Chorepiscopus'*; but the Churches of the whole district are subject to the Bishop of Alexandria, and each Presbyter has under his charge one of the largest villages, which are about ten or more in numbers.

Now the village in which Ischyras lives is a very small one, and possesses so few inhabitants, that there has never been a church built there, but only in the adjoining village.

Nevertheless, they determined, contrary to ancient usage®, to nominate a Bishop for this place, and not only so, but even to appoint one, who was not so much as a Presbyter.

Knowing as they did the unusual nature of such a proceeding, yet being constrained by the promises they had given in return for his false impeachment of me, they submitted even to this, lest that abandoned person, if he were ungratefully treated by them, should disclose the truth, and thereby shew the wickedness of Eusebius and his fellows.

Notwithstanding this he has no church, nor a people to obey him, but is scouted by them all, like a dog7, although they have even caused the Emperor to write to the Receiver-General (for everything is in their power), commanding that a church should be built for him, that being posessed of that, his statement may appear credible about the cup and the table.

They caused him immediately to be nominated a Bishop also, because if he were without a church, and not even a Presbyter, he would appear to be a false accuser, and a fabricator of the whole matter.

At any rate he has no people, and even his own relations are not obedient to him, and as the name which he retains is an empty one, so also the following letter is ineffectual, which he keeps, making a display of it as an exposure of the utter

Having come together out of different Provinces to a great meeting which we have held for the consecration of the Martyry %* of the Saviour, which has been appointed to the service of God the King of all and of His

Christ, by the zeal of our most God-beloved Emperor Constantine, the grace of God hath afforded us more abundant rejoicing of heart ; which our most God-beloved Emperor himself hath occasioned us by his letters, wherein he hath stirred us up to do that which is right, putting away all envy from the Church of God, and driving far from us all malice, by which the members of God have been heretofore torn asunder, and that we should with simple and peaceable minds receive Arius and his fellows, whom envy, that enemy of all goodness, has caused for a season to be excluded from the Church.

Our most religious Emperor has also in his letter testified to the correctness of their faith, which he has ascertained from themselves, himself receiving the profession of 't from them by word of mouth, and has now nade manifest to us by subjoining to his own etters the men's orthodox opinion in writing.

85. Every one that hears of these things must see through their treachery.

For they made no concealment of what they were doing; unless perhaps they confessed the truth without wishing it.

For if I was the hindrance to the admittance of Arius and his fellows into the Church, and if they were received while I was suffering from their plots, what other conclusion can be arrived at, than that these things were done on their account, and that all their proceedings against me, and the story which they fabricated about the breaking of the cup and the murder of Arsenius, were for the sole purpose of introducing impiety into the Church, and of preventing their being condemned as heretics ?

For this was what the Emperor threatened formerly in his letters to me.

And they were not ashamed to write in the manner they did, and to affirm that those persons whom the whole Ecumenical Council anathematized held orthodox sentiments.

And as they undertook to say and do anything without scruple, so they were not afraid to meet together 'in a ee 4 That Chorepiscopi were real Bishops, vid. Bevereg. in Conc.

Ancyr. Can. 13. Routh in Conc. Neocas. Can. 13. referring to Rhabanus Maurus.

Thomassin on the other hand denies tha} they were Bishops, Disci#Z. Eccl. i. 2. c. 1. [see D.C.A. s.v.]

5 Ten under each Presbyter. Vales ad Socr. Hist. i. 27.

Ten altogether, Montfaucon in loc. with more probability; and so Tillemont, vol. 8. p. 20.

[Six villages are mentioned sur. § 64, Jin.) 6 It was against the Canon of Sardica, and doubtless against ancient usage, to ordain a Bishop for so small a village, vid.

Bingham, Antiqu. II, xii., who, however, maintains by instances, that at least small towns might be sees.

Also it was against usage that a layman, as Ischyras, should be made a Bishop. ibid. x.

4y HAs t. Hilary, however, makes him a Deacon.

Frag, ii. 16.

7 Dogs without owners, and almost in a wild state, abound, as is well known, in Eastern cities; vid. Psalm lix. 6, 14, 15.

2 Kings ix. 35, 36. and for the view taken in Scripture of dogs, vid. Bochart, Azevoz. ii. 56 [and Dict. Bib. s.v.]. it ike a Syn. § ax.

3 [i.e. Church, see D.C.A. s.v.

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

_ -- TI-- -'Y'--rrrRoooooo with him, approached me in the middle of the wickedness of himself and of Eusebius and his fellows.

| road, so unexpectedly, as to occasion me much amazement.

God, who knoweth all things, is my witness, that I should have been unable at first sight even to recognise him, had not some

The Letter of the Receiver-General®, Flavius Hemerius sends health to the Taxcollector of the Mareotis. of my attendants, on my naturally inquiring of them, informed me both who it was, and under what injustice he was suffering.

I did not however enter into any conversation with him at Ischyras the Presbyter having petitioned the piety of our Lords, Augusti and Ceesars, that; a Church might be built in the district of Irene, belonging to Secontarurus9, their divinity has commanded that this should be done as soon as possible.

Take care therefore, as soon as you receive the copy of the sacred Edict, which with all due veneration is placed above, and the Reports which have been formed before my devotion, that you quickly make an abstract of them, and transfer them to the that time, nor grant him an interview ; but when he requested to be heard I was refusing, and all but gave orders for his removal ; when with increasing boldness he claimed only this favour, that you should be summoned to appear, that he might have an opportunity of complaining before me in your presence, of the ill-treatment he has met with.

As this appeared to me Order book, so that the sacred command may be put in execution. to be a reasonable request, and suitable to the tines, I willingly ordered this letter to be

86. While they were thus plotting and scheming, I went up' and represented to the Emperor the unjust conduct of Eusebius and his fellows, for he it was who had commanded the Council to be held, and his Count presided at it. When he heard my report, he was greatly moved, and wrote to them as follows. wcitten to you, in order that all of you, who constituted the Council which was held at Tyre, might hasten without delay to the Court? of my clemency, so as to prove by facts that you had passed an impartial and uncorrupt judgment.

This, I say, you must do before me, whom not even you will deny to be a true servant of God.

Constantine, Victor', Maximus, Augustus, to the Bishops assembled at Tyre.

For indeed through my devotion to God, peace is preserved everywhere, and the Name of God is truly worshipped even by the barbarians, who have hitherto been ignorant of the truth.

And it is manifest, that he who is ignorant of the truth, does not know God either. Nevertheless,. as I said before, even the barbarians have now come to the knowledge of God, by means of me, His true servant3, and have learned to fear Him Whom they perceive from actual facts to be my shield and protector everywhere.

And from this chiefly they have come to know God, Whom they fear through the dread which they have of me.

But we, who are supposed to set forth (for I will not say to guard) the holy mysteries of His Goodness, we, I say, engage in nothing but what tends to dissension and hatred, and, in short, whatever contributes to the destruction of mankind.

But hasten, as I said before, and all of you with all speed come to us, being persuaded that I shall endeavour with all my might to amend what is amiss, so that those things specially may be preserved and firmly established in the law of God, to which no blame nor dishonour may attach; while the enemies of the law, who under pretence of His holy Name bring in manifold and divers blasphemies, shall be I know not what the decisions are which you have arrived at in your Council amidst noise and tumult: but somehow the truth seems to have been perverted in consequence of certain confusions and disorders, in that you, through your mutual contentiousness, which you are resolved should prevail, have failed to perceive what is pleasing to God.

However, it will rest with Divine Providence to disperse the mischiefs which manifestly are found to arise from this contentious spirit, and to shew plainly to us, whether you, while assembled in that place, have had any regard for the truth, and whether you have made your decisions uninfluenced by either favour or enmity.

Wherefore I wish you all to assemble with all speed before my piety, in order that you may render in person a true account of your proceedings.

The reason why I have thought good to write thus to you, and why I summon you before me by letter, you will learn from what I am going to say.

As I was entering on a late occasion our all-happy home of Constantinople, which bears our name (I chanced at the time to be on horseback), on a sudden the Bishop

Athanasius, with certain others whom he had 2 @rpardredov, § 70. note 6.

8 "Once in an entertainment, at which he (Constantine) received Bishops, he made the remark that he too was a Bishop; using pretty much these words in my hearing, 'You are Bishops ot

| Matters within the Church, I am appointed by God to be Bishop 8 Catholicus, § 14, Afol. Const. § 10.

[The mention, below, of 'Augusti and Caesars' makes 337 the earliest likely date for this letter.] 9 Cf. § 17. note 7. [Prolegg. ch. ii. § 4.]

10 Cf. § 9. t Euseb, vw. Const. i. 48. of matters external to it."

Euseb. }'72. Const. iv. 2a.

5 a ae

APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.

memory which I have inherited from him.

When he comes to present himself before you, you will learn with what reverence he has been treated.

Indeed it is not wonderful, whatever I have done on his behalf; for the thoughts of your longing desire for him, and the appearance of so great a man, moved my soul, and urged me thereto.

May Divine Providence continually preserve you, beloved brethren. scattered abroad, and entirely crushed, and utterly destroyed. f 87. When Eusebius and his fellows read this letter, being conscious of what they had done, they prevented the rest of the Bishops from going up, and only themselves went, viz. Eusebius, Theognius, Patrophilus, the other Eusebius, Ursacius, and Valens. And they no longer said anything about the cup and Arsenius

(for they had not the boldness to do so), but inventing another accusation which concerned the Emperor himself, they declared before him, that Athanasius had threatened that he would cause the corn to be withheld which was sent from Alexandria to his own home', The Bishops Adamantius, Anubion, Agathammon, Arbethion, and Peter, were present and heard this.

It was proved also by the anger of the Emperor; for although he had written the preceding letter, and had condemned their injustice, as soon as he heard such a charge as this, he was immediately incensed, and instead of granting me a hearing, he sent me away into Gaul.

And this again shews their wickedness further ; for when the younger Constantine, of blessed memory, sent me back home, remembering what his father had written 5, he also wrote as follows.

Dated from Treveri the rsth before the Calends of July % 88. This being the reason why I was sent away into Gaul, who, I ask again, does not plainly perceive the intention of the Emperor, and the murderous spirit of Eusebius and his fellows, and that the Emperor had done this in order to prevent their forming some more desperate scheme ? for he listened to them in simplicity7._

Such were the practices of Eusebius and his fellows, and such their machinations against me.

Who that has witnessed them will deny that nothing has been done in my favour out of partiality, but that that great number of Bishops both individually and collectively wrote as they did in my behalf and condemned the falsehood of my enemies justly, and in accordance with the truth?

Who that has observed such proceedings as these will deny that Valens and Ursacius had good reason to condemn themselves, and to write® as they did, to accuse themselves when they repented, choosing rather to suffer shame for a short time, than to undergo the punishment of false accusers for ever and ever 9?

Constantine Cesar, to the people of the Catholic Church of the city of Alexandria.

I suppose that it has not escaped the knowledge of your pious minds, that Athanasius, the interpreter of the adorable Law, was sent away into Gaul for a time, with the intent that, as the savageness of his bloodthirsty and inveterate enemies persecuted him to the hazard of his sacred life, he might thus escape suffering some irremediable calamity, through the perverse dealing of those evil men.

In order theréfore to escape this, he was snatched out of the jaws of his assailants, and was ordered to pass some time under my government, and so was supplied abundantly with all necessaries in this city, where he lived, although indeed his celebrated virtue, relying entirely on divine assistance, sets at nought the sufferings of adverse fortune.

Now seeing that it was the fixed intention of our 89. Wherefore also my blessed fellow- |ministers, acting justly and according to the laws of the Church, while certain affirmed that my case was doubtful, and endeavoured to compel them to annul the sentence which was passed in my favour, have now endured all manner of sufferings, and have chosen rather to be banished than to see the judgment of so many Bishops reversed.

Now if those genuine Bishops had withstood by words only those who plotted against me, and wished to undo all that had been done in my behalf; or if they had been ordinary men, and not the 6 June 17. A.D. 337 [see Gwatk. Stud., 136].

7 emjxovoe yap arA@s.

Montfaucon in Onomast.

(Athan. t. 2. ad calc.) points out some passages in his author, where éraxoveww, like Umaxovewv, means ''to answer." vid. Agol.

Comst.

§ 16 init. Orat, iii. 27 fin.

8 Cf. § 58.

9 Here ends the second part of the Apology, as is evident by turning back to § 58. (supr. ps 130) to which this paragraph is an allusion, The express oject of the second part was to prove, what has now been proved by documents, that Valens and Ursacius did but succumb to plain facts which they could not resist.

It is observable too from this passage that the Apology was written before their relapse, i.e. before A.D. 351 or 352.

'The remainin two sections are wri.ten after 357, as they mention the fall o Liberius and Hosius, and speak, of Constantius in different language from any which has been found above.

[Introdd. to Afoé.

Const. and Hist. Ar.) master Constantine Augustus, my Father, to restore the said Bishop to his own place, and to your most beloved piety, but he was taken away by that fate which is common to all men, and went to his rest before he could accomplish his wish ; I have thought proper to fulfil that intention of the Emperor of sacred 4 Constantinople.

_ 5 [See Bright, Hest. Writ. p. xii. note 3, and on the date of this letter, Prolegg. ch. v. § 3b, and note 6 below.]

DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.

Bishops of illustrious cities, and the heads of great Churches, there would have been room to suspect that in this instance they too had acted contentiously and in order to gratify me.

But when they not only endeavoured to convince by argument, but also endured banishment, and one of them is Liberius, Bishop of Rome, (for although he did not endure? to the end the sufferings of banishment, yet he remained in his exile for two years, being aware of conspiracy formed against us), and since there is also the great suffered these things on account of nothing else but the Arian impiety.

90. Now if anyone wishes to become acquainted with my case, and the falsehood of Eusebius and his fellows, let him read what has been written in my behalf, and let him hear the witnesses, not one, or two, or three, but that great number of Bishops; and again let him attend to the witnesses of these proceedings,

Liberius and Hosius, and their fellows, who when they saw the attempts made against us, chose rather to endure all manner of sufferings than to give up the truth, and the judgment which had been pronounced in our favour.

And this they did with an honourable and righteous intention, for what they suffered proves to what straits the other Bishops were reduced.

And they are memorials and records against the Arian heresy, and the wickedness of false accusers, and afford a pattern and model for those who come after, to contend for the truth unto death ?, and to abominate the Arian heresy which fights against Christ, and is a forerunner of Antichrist, and not to believe those who attempt to speak against me.

For the defence put forth, and the sentence given, by so many Bishops of high character, are a trustworthy and sufficient testimony in our behalf.

Hosius, together with the Bishops of Italy, and of Gaul, and others from Spain, and from Egypt, and Libya, and all those from Pentapolis (for although for a little while, through fear of the threats of Constantius, he seemed not to resist them', yet the great violence and tyrannical power exercised by Constantius, and the many insults and stripes inflicted upon him, proved that it was not because he gave up my cause, but through the weakness of old age, being unable to bear the stripes, that he yielded to them for a season), therefore I say, it is altogether right that all, as being fully convinced, should hate and abominate the injustice and the violence which they have used towards me ; especially as it is well known that I have

10 See Hist. Ar. § 41.

8 Cf. Afol. Fug., $5, and Hist. Ar. § 45 2 Ecclus. iv. 28.

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON APOL. C. ARIANOS, $ 50.

List oF BISHOPS PRESENT AT SARDICA.

[THe materials for an authentic list are (1) the names given by Athanasius, Aol. c. Ar. 50, previous to the lists of bishops from various provinces who signed the letter of the council when in circulation.

These names, given with no specification of their sees, are 77 in number.

(2) The list of signatures to the letter of the council to Julius, given by Hilary, Fragm. ii., 59 in number.

The signatures to the letters discovered by Maffei and printed in Migne, Patr. Gr. xxvi. 1331, sqq.

Of these, 26 sign (3) the council's letter to the Mareotic Churches, and 61, in part the same, sign (4) the letter of Athanasius to the same (Ze¢ver 46 in this volume).

These signatures comprise 30 "ames not given by Hilary, while those in (1) add six which are absent from (2) and (3) alike.

This raises the total to 95.

We add (5) Gratus of Carthage, present according to the Greek text of the Canons, although he afterward signed the letter in a local council of his own, like Maximin of Treveri,

Verissimus of Lyons, and Arius of Palestine, who are therefore given by Athanasius in his second list (the former two being omitted from the first) : also Euphrates of Cologne, who was sent by Constans to Antioch with the council's decisions (Prolegg. ch. ii. § 6), and was therefore most likely present at the council itself.

We thus get 97 in all.

This total is confirmed if we subtract from the '170 more or less' of Hist. Arian. 15 the 76 seceders to Philippopolis (Sabinus in Socr. ii. 16), 73 of whom sign their letter, given by Hilary.

This leaves 94 'more or less,' so that the list now to be given, in elucidation of that of Athanasius, has strong claims to rank as approximately correct.

The numbers after the names refer to the sources (I, 2, 3, 4, 5) specified above.

1. ADOLIUS (1), See unknown; 2, AETIUS (I, 3), Thessalonica in Macedonia; 3. ALEXANDER (I, 4), Cypara

(ie. Cyparissus?) i Achaia; 4. ALEXANDER (2), Montemnae (?) in Achaia; 5. ALEXANDER (1, 2, 3), Larissa in Thessaly;

6. ALYPIUS

(I, 2, 3), Megara in Achaia; 7. AMANTIUS (1, 4), Viminacium, by deputy ; 8. AMMONIUS (4), See unknown ; 9. 'ANIANUS (1, 2, 4), Casiulo in Spain;

10. ANTIGON us (1, 4), Palla, or Pallene in Macedonia; 11. APPIANUS (4), See unknown; 12. APRIANUS (1, 4), Zetabiv (Petovio) in lL, 2

ADDITIONAL NOTE ON APOL.

C. ARIANOS, §

50.

Pannonia; 13. APRIANUS (4), See unknown; 14. ARIUS (1, 2, 3), of Palestine, See unknown (see note on Hist. Ar. 18); 15. ASCLEPAS (1, 2, 4), Gasa; 16. ASTERIUS (1, 2, 3), [Petra in] Arabia;

17. ATHANASIUS

(1, 2, 3, 4), Alexandria; 18. ATHENODORUS(I, 2, 3,4), Platea in Achaia; 19. Bassus (1, 2, 3), Dio cletianapolis "in Macedonia"

(really in Thrace);

20. CALEPODIUS

(1, 2, 3), of Campania (? Naples) ; 21. Catvus (2, 4), Castrum Martis in Dacia Ripensis;

22. CALoES or 'Chalbis' (1, 4), See unknown; 23. Castus (1, 2, 4), Saragossa in Spain;

24. Cocras (2), Asapofebiae in Achaia (= Asopus), perhaps the 'Socrates' of (1); 25. Cyponius (4), Cydon in Crete; 26. DIODORUS (1, 2,4), Zenedos; 27. DIONYSIUS

(1, 2, 3), Zlida (Elis?) in Achaia; 28. Dioscorus (1, 2, 3), Thrace, See unknown;

29. DomMETIUS (or Domitianus) (1, 4), Acaria Constantias (possibly Castra Constantia = Coutances);

30. DOMITIANUS (I, 2, 3),

Asturica in Spain; 31. ELIoDoRUS (I, 2, 3), Wicopolis; 32. EucARPUS (1, 4), Opus in Achaia; 33. EUCARPUS

(4), See unknown; 34. Eucissus (4), Cissamus in Crete; 35EUGENIUS (4 = Evacrius in 2?), Heracles

(in Lucania? texts very corrupt); 36. EUGENIUS (1?, 4), See unknown; 37. EULoGIUS (1, 4), See unknown ; EUPHRATES, see below (97); 38. EuTasius (2), Pannonia, Seeunknown; 39. EUTERIUS (1, 2), ' Procia de Cayndo' (corrupt); 40. Eurycutus (1, 4), Methone in Achaia; 41. EUTYCHIUS (1, 2), Achaza, See unknown ;

42. FLORENTIUS (1, 2, 4), Emerita $2 Spain; 43. FORTUNATIANUS (1, 2), Aquileia; GALBA (see above (22) ;

44. GAUDENTIUS (1, 2, 4), Maissus; 45. GERONTIUS (I, 2, 3,4), @ Macedonia in Brevi(?) in Hil. ; GRATUS, see below (96); 46. HELIANUS (1, 4), Zyrtana (?); HELIODORUS, see above (31); 47HERMOGENES (1, 4), Stcyaz (2) ;

48. HyMENAEUS (1, 2, 4), Hypata in Thessaly; 49. JANUARIUS (1, 2, 4), Beneventum in Campania; 50. JOHN

(3), See unknown ; 51. JONAS (1, 2, 3), Particopolis in Macedonia; 52. IRENAEUS (1, 2, 4), Scyros in Achaia ;

53. JULIANUS (1, 2, 4), of Zhebes in Achaia (or Thera? see note to Letter 46); 54. JULIANUS(1, 4), See unknown ;

Juuius, see below (95); LeRENIUS (2), see above (52); 55. Lucius (1, 2, 3, 4), Hadrianople in Thrace;

56. Lucius ('LucttLus' Ath. twice) (1, 2, 4), Verona; 57. MACEDONIUS (1, 2, 4), Uliana in Dardania ;

58. MARCELLUs (2, 4, Marcellinus in 1), Ancyra; 59. MARCUS (1, 2, 4), Stscia om the Save;

60. MARTYRIUS

(2, 4), Vaupactus in Achaia; 61. MARTYRIUS (I, 4), See unknown ; 62. MAXIMUS (I, 2), Luca in Tuscany ;

63. MaxImus (i.e. MAXIMINUS) (4), Zvevird; 64. MuSONIUS (1, 4), Heraclea in Crete; 65. MovysEs (or Musaeus, 1, 2), Thebes in Thessaly; 66. OLYMPIUS (4), Aent in Thrace; 67. Osius (HosIus),

(1, 2, 3), Cordova; 68. PALLADIUS (1, 2, 4), Dium in Macedonia; 69. PAREGORIUS (I, 2, 3, 4), Scupi in Dardania;

70. PATRICIUS (1), See unknown; 71. PETER (1), See unknown;

72. PHILOLOGIUS

(1), See unknown;

73. PLUTARCHUS

(1, 2, 3), Patrae in Achaia;

74. PORPHYRIUS

(I, 2, 3, 4), Philippi in Macedonia;

75. PRAETEXTATUS

(1, 2, 4), Barcelona; 76. PROTASIUS (1, 2, 4), Medan;

77. PROTOGENES (I, 2, 4),

Sardica; 78. RESTITUTUS (1, 3), See unknown; 79. SAPRICIUS (1), See unknown; 80. SEVERUS (4), Chalcis in Thessaly (Euboea) ; 81. SEVERUS (1, 2, 3), Ravenna; SOCRATES (1), see above, no. 24; 82. SPUDASIUS

(1), See unknown; 83. STERCORIUS (I, 2, 4), Canustum in Apulia; 84. SYMPHORUs (1, 4), Mierapythua in Crete; TITIUS (2), see above (40); 85. TRYPHO (1, 2, 4), Achata (See uncertain from corruption of text) ;

86. VALENS (I, 2, 3), 'Seto' in Dacia Rifensis; 87. VERISSIMUS (2, 4, text of latter gives 'Broseus' corruptly), Lyons; 88. VINCENTIUS (1, 2, 3), Capua; 89. VITALIS (1,2), Aguae in Dacia Ripensis ; 90. VITALIS

1, 3, 4), Vertara in Africa; 91. URSACIUS (1, 2, 4), Brixta in Italy; 92. ZOSIMUS (1, 2, 4), Lychnidus or Lignidus in Dacia; 93. Zosimus (1, 4), Horrea Margi in Moesia;

94. Zostmus (1, 4), See unknown ; 95. JULIUS (1, 4), Rome (by deputies); 96. GRATUS (5), Carthage; 97. EUPHRATES (5), Cologne.

The names, both of bishops and of sees, have suffered much in transcription, and the above list is the result of comparing the divergent errors of the various lists.

The details of the latter will be found in the originals, and in the discussion of the Ballerini, on whose work (in Leonis M. Opp. vol. iii. pp. xlii. sqq.) our list is founded.

In some cases the names of the see are clearly corrupt beyond all recognition, The signatures appended to the canons in the collections of councils, are taken (with certain uncritical adaptations) from the Hilarian list, with the addition, in some copies, of Alexander (3 supra), whose name, therefore, has probably dropped out of the Hilarian text in course of transmission. ]

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