History of the Arians

 a wild beast has come forth upon the earth, this heresy. For not only does it harm the innocent with its words as with teeth, but it has also hired ex

 Nevertheless, since Eusebius was lusting after and wanting to seize the episcopate of the city (for thus also he had moved from Berytus to Nicomedia),

 seeing themselves, who happened to be suspected in all things, not prevailing in an ecclesiastical judgment, they approach Constantius alone and then

 you deemed them worthy to have communion from them, they were not worthy of blows but if you were beating them as wicked men, why were you summoning

 of the accusers, as they themselves had suborned everything and contrived such things. Seeing these things, although they had come with haste, thinkin

 deeds to be revealed. For since those in Adrianople did not wish to have communion with them, as men who had fled from the Synod and had become liable

 wonderful and daring in all things, as they have seen them in Antioch, they plotted together, but Stephen alone undertook the drama as being well-suit

 the people of Alexandria. Making our aim your good order in all things ... (This too was likewise written in the same 65th oration and because it vari

 having received letters from him. And having gone up also to Rome, they were repenting, confessing that everything whatsoever they had done and said a

 present, not with palace officials or notaries having been sent, such as they themselves now do, but not even when the emperor was present, nor having

 the emperor commanded.” How many were harassed by them in every city, so that they might not 31.6 condemn them as friends of the bishops. For letters

 Lucifer the bishop from the metropolis of Sardinia, and Eusebius from Vercelli in Italy, and Dionysius 33.7 from Milan, which is also a metropolis of

 Accept these things.” 36.1 But the bishop, persuading by speech, was teaching: “How is it possible for this to happen against Athanasius? For how can

 of the gates, so that no orthodox person, entering, might see Liberius? Rome also had experience of the Christ-fighters and knew at last what it had n

 with 40.3 Constantius’ soldiers. Truly, wickedness is blind for in that by which they thought to vex the confessors by separating them from one anoth

 he might write against us, but hold communion with the Arians. 43.2 But the old man, finding the hearing of it unpleasant and being grieved that he sh

 What courtier of his compelled him to subscribe against anyone, that Valens and his party should say such things? Cease, I beseech you, and remember t

 (for he was now a hundred years old) the heartless one was put to shame. For the new Ahab, another Belshazzar who had arisen among us, overlooked all

 he writes evil things again to the council and the people of Alexandria, inciting the younger men, so that they all might come together and either exp

 to Felicissimus, the then duke, and to Nestorius the prefect, so that if either Philip the prefect or anyone else should dare to plot against Athanasi

 ordered the church to be handed over.” And while all were marveling at this and nodding to one another and saying, “Has Constantius become a heretic?”

 the miracle had a more manifest proof. For a certain licentious young man, running in and daring to do so, sat upon the throne. And sitting down, the

 And to their women they have given authority to abuse whomever they wish. And the respectable and faithful women would turn aside and yield the way to

 And they, seeing the man blind from birth now seeing, and the man who had been a paralytic for a long time made well, they accused the Lord who had do

 the evils that have come to pass, after the persecution which occurred through Heraclius, they again do not cease slandering to the emperor. For they

 the antichrist himself? For he himself, because of his heresy, was the first to hasten to rival Saul in cruelty. For that one, when the priests had gi

 writing, he repents, and repenting, he is provoked, and again he laments and not having what he should do, he shows the desolation of his soul's mind.

 For they did not even pity them when they were sick, but even drove them on when they were bearing up with difficulty on account of their weakness, so

 he is, such as that one might become. For he speaks words against the most high, being the head of the impious heresy, and he makes war against the sa

 to the man. But if you speak having heard from these men, it is just for you to believe also the things said by him, but if you do not believe him, bu

 having caused the Arian heresy to be so much as 78.5 named in it. For still only in the whole of Egypt was there freedom of speech for orthodoxy, and

 It is good to be content with the divine scripture and for all to be persuaded by it as it commands, both because of the other heresies and especially

 as the soldiers were coming on, and men were being shot with arrows and killed. And some of the soldiers also turned to plundering and stood the virgi

seeing themselves, who happened to be suspected in all things, not prevailing in an ecclesiastical judgment, they approach Constantius alone and then lament as to the patron of the heresy, saying, "spare the heresy; you see that all have deserted from us; few of us are now left. Begin to persecute, since we are being abandoned even by the few and we remain desolate. For those whom we compelled, when these men were exiled, 9.3 these others, having returned, persuaded them to think against us again. Write therefore against everyone and send Philagrius as a second prefect of Egypt, for he himself is able to persecute skillfully, having already shown it by experience, and especially also being an apostate. And send Gregory as bishop to Alexandria, for he too is able to establish our heresy." 10.1 Constantius therefore then writes, and he persecutes all and sends Philagrius as prefect and a certain eunuch Arsakius, and he also sends Gregory with military authority. And such things happened as also before. For having gathered a crowd of herdsmen and shepherds and other idlers from the marketplace and licentious youths with swords and clubs, they suddenly attacked 10.2 the church called that of Quirinus. And some they killed, and others they trampled underfoot, and having beaten others with blows they threw them into prison and exiled them, and dragging many women, they hauled them to the court in public and pulling them by the hair, they insulted them, they confiscated the property of others, they took away the bread of others for no other reason than that they should join the Arians and receive Gregory, the one sent from the emperor. 11.1 Athanasius therefore, even before these things happened and having only heard, sailed to Rome, knowing both the rage of the heretics, and so that the synod might take place, as was pleasing; but Julius writes and sends presbyters, Elpidius and Philoxenus, having also set 11.2 a deadline, that they should either come or know that they themselves were suspect in all things. But the party of Eusebius, as soon as they heard that there would be an ecclesiastical judgment, at which a count is not present, no soldiers before the doors, the business of the synod is not accomplished by imperial command (for by these means they always prevailed against the bishops and without these they do not dare to speak at all), were so terrified, as to detain the presbyters even after the deadline, and to invent an unseemly pretext that "we are not able to come now on account of the 11.3 wars being waged by the Persians." But this was not true, but fear from their conscience. For what does war have to do with bishops? Or why, being unable on account of the Persians to come to Rome, although it was far away and across the sea, did they roam about the regions of the east and those near them like lions seeking who opposed them, so that by slandering they might exile them? 12.1 Of course, having dismissed the presbyters on this implausible pretext, they conferred with one another; "Since we are not able to prevail by an ecclesiastical judgment, let us show our usual audacity." They write therefore to Philagrius and they make him, with Gregory, go out gradually into Egypt and then bishops were scourged and 12.2 cruelly bound. For example Sarapammon, a bishop and confessor, they exile, and Potamon, a bishop and confessor, who himself also lost his eye in the persecution, they beat so severely with blows on the neck, that they did not stop sooner, until the man was thought to be dead. So then he was thrown aside and with difficulty after an hour, being tended and revived, he breathed again, God having given him life. but after a short time from the pain 12.3 of the blows he died, having in Christ the boast of a second martyrdom. And how many other monks were scourged while Gregory was sitting with Balacius, the so-called dux, how many bishops were beaten, how many virgins were struck. 13.1 Then the wretched Gregory after these things urged everyone to have communion with him; and yet if

4

γενομένων ὁρῶντες ἑαυτοὺς οἱ πρὸς πάντα τυγχάνοντες ὕποπτοι μὴ περιγινο μένους ἐν ἐκκλησιαστικῇ κρίσει προσέρχονται μόνῳ Κωνσταντίῳ καὶ λοιπὸν ἀποδύρονται ὡς πρὸς τὸν τῆς αἱρέσεως προστάτην «φεῖσαι» λέγοντες «τῆς αἱρέσεως· ὁρᾷς πάντας ἀποστάντας ἀφ' ἡμῶν· ὀλίγοι λοιπὸν ὑπελείφθημεν. ἄρξαι διώκειν, ἐπεὶ καὶ παρὰ τῶν ὀλίγων ἀφιέμεθα καὶ μένομεν ἔρημοι. οὓς γὰρ ἐβιασάμεθα τούτων ἐξορισθέντων, 9.3 τούτους ἐπανελθόντες ἔπεισαν πάλιν φρονεῖν καθ' ἡμῶν. γράψον οὖν κατὰ πάντων καὶ πέμψον Φιλάγριον δεύτερον ἔπαρχον τῆς Αἰγύπτου, αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐπιτηδείως δύναται διώκειν ἤδη μὲν τῇ πείρᾳ δείξας, μάλιστα δὲ καὶ παραβάτης ὤν. πέμψον δὲ καὶ Γρη γόριον ἐπίσκοπον εἰς Ἀλεξάνδρειαν, καὶ οὗτος γὰρ δύναται συστῆσαι τὴν ἡμετέραν αἵρεσιν». 10.1 Γράφει τοίνυν τότε Κωνστάντιος, πάντας δὲ διώκει καὶ πέμπει Φιλάγριον ἔπαρχον καὶ Ἀρσάκιόν τινα εὐνοῦχον, πέμπει δὲ καὶ Γρηγόριον μετὰ στρατιωτικῆς ἐξουσίας. καὶ τοιαῦτα γέγονεν, οἷα καὶ τὸ πρότερον. συναγαγόντες γὰρ πλῆθος βουκόλων καὶ ποιμένων ἄλλων τε ἀγοραίων καὶ ἀσελγῶν νεωτέρων μετὰ ξιφῶν καὶ ῥοπάλων ἐπῆλθον 10.2 ἀθρόως τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τῇ καλουμένῃ Κυρίνου. καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἀπέκτειναν, τοὺς δὲ κατεπά τησαν, ἄλλους τε πληγαῖς κατακόψαντες εἰς δεσμωτήριον ἐνέβαλον καὶ ἐξώριζον, πολλάς τε γυναῖκας κατασύροντες εἷλκον εἰς τὸ δικαστήριον δημοσίᾳ καὶ τῶν τριχῶν ἕλκοντες ὕβριζον, ἄλλους ἐδήμευον, ἄλλων ἄρτους ἀφῃροῦντο δι' οὐδὲν ἕτερον, ἢ ἵνα τοῖς Ἀρειανοῖς προσθῶνται καὶ Γρηγόριον δέξωνται τὸν ἀπὸ βασιλέως ἀποσταλέντα. 11.1 Ἀθανάσιος μὲν οὖν καὶ πρὶν γενέσθαι ταῦτα καὶ μόνον ἀκούσας ἔπλευσεν εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην εἰδώς τε τὸν θυμὸν τῶν αἱρετικῶν, καὶ ἵνα, ὡς ἤρεσεν, ἡ σύνοδος γένηται· ὁ δὲ Ἰούλιος γράφει καὶ πέμπει πρεσβυτέρους, Ἐλπίδιον καὶ Φιλόξενον, ὁρίσας καὶ προ11.2 θεσμίαν, ἵνα ἢ ἔλθωσιν ἢ γινώσκοιεν ἑαυτοὺς ὑπόπτους εἶναι κατὰ πάντα. ἀλλ' οἱ περὶ Εὐσέβιον ὡς μόνον ἤκουσαν ἐκκλησιαστικὴν ἔσεσθαι κρίσιν, ἐν ᾗ κόμης οὐ παρα γίγνεται, οὐ στρατιῶται πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν, οὐ βασιλικῷ προστάγματι τὰ τῆς συνόδου τελειοῦται (ἐν τούτοις γὰρ ἀεὶ κατὰ τῶν ἐπισκόπων ἴσχυσαν καὶ ἄνευ τούτων οὐδ' ὅλως λαλῆσαι θαρροῦσιν), οὕτω κατέπτηξαν, ὡς τοὺς μὲν πρεσβυτέρους κατασχεῖν καὶ μετὰ τὴν προθεσμίαν, πλάσασθαι δὲ πρόφασιν ἀπρεπῆ ὅτι «μὴ δυνάμεθα νῦν ἐλθεῖν διὰ τοὺς 11.3 παρὰ Περσῶν γιγνομένους πολέμους». τοῦτο δὲ οὐκ ἦν ἀληθές, ἀλλὰ φόβος τοῦ συνειδότος. τί γὰρ κοινὸν πόλεμος πρὸς ἐπισκόπους; ἢ διατί μὴ δυνάμενοι διὰ τοὺς Πέρσας εἰς Ῥώμην ἐλθεῖν καίτοι μακρὰν ἀπέχουσαν καὶ πέραν θαλάττης οὖσαν τοὺς τῆς ἀνατολῆς τόπους καὶ τοὺς ἐγγὺς ἐκείνων περιήρχοντο ὡς λέοντες ζητοῦντες, τίς αὐτοῖς ἐναντιοῦται, ἵνα διαβάλλοντες ἐξορίσωσιν; 12.1 Ἀμέλει τοὺς πρεσβυτέρους ἀπολύσαντες ἐπὶ τῇ ἀπιθάνῳ ταύτῃ προφάσει συνε λάλουν ἀλλήλοις· «ἐπεὶ μὴ δυνάμεθα ἐκκλησιαστικῇ κρίσει κρατεῖν, τὴν συνήθη τόλμαν ἐπιδειξώμεθα». γράφουσι τοίνυν Φιλαγρίῳ καὶ ποιοῦσιν αὐτὸν μετὰ Γρηγορίου κατ' ὀλίγον ἐξελθεῖν εἰς τὴν Αἴγυπτον καὶ λοιπὸν ἐπίσκοποι μαστίζονται καὶ ἐδεσμοῦντο 12.2 πικρῶς. Σαραπάμμωνα γοῦν ἐπίσκοπον ὁμολογητὴν ἐξορίζουσι, Ποτάμωνα δὲ ἐπίσκοπον ὁμολογητὴν ἀπολέσαντα καὶ αὐτὸν τὸν ὀφθαλμὸν ἐν τῷ διωγμῷ οὕτω κατέκοψαν ταῖς καταυχενίοις πληγαῖς, ὡς μὴ πρότερον παύσασθαι, πρὶν ἂν νομισθῆναι τὸν ἄνθρωπον νεκρόν. οὕτω γοῦν ἐρρίφη καὶ μόγις μετὰ ὥρας θεραπευόμενος καὶ διαρρι πιζόμενος ἀνέπνευσε τοῦ θεοῦ δεδωκότος τὸ ζῆν. ἀλλὰ μετὰ χρόνον ὀλίγον ἐκ τοῦ πόνου 12.3 τῶν πληγῶν ἀπέθανεν ἔχων ἐν Χριστῷ τὸ καύχημα δευτέρου μαρτυρίου. πόσοι τε ἄλλοι μονάζοντες ἐμαστίζοντο καθεζομένου Γρηγορίου μετὰ Βαλακίου τοῦ λεγομένου δουκός, πόσοι ἐπίσκοποι ἐκόπτοντο, πόσαι παρθένοι ἐτύπτοντο. 13.1 Εἶτα ὁ ἄθλιος Γρηγόριος μετὰ ταῦτα παρεκάλει πάντας κοινωνεῖν αὐτῷ· καίτοι εἰ

4