and thus they seek to kill us and show themselves terrible to our acquaintances, so that all are put to flight6.4 and expect death from them. But it is not right for you to shrink from their lawlessness on account of these things, but rather both to avenge and be indignant against those who have thus innovated against us. For if, when one member suffers, “all the members suffer with it,” and, according to the blessed apostle, we must “weep with those who weep,” then since so great a church is suffering, let each one, as if suffering himself, avenge the matter. For the Savior who is blasphemed by them is common to all, and the canons which are being broken by them belong to all.6.5 For if, while you were sitting in the church and the peoples were gathered without any blame, someone had suddenly come by an order as a successor against one of you and such things had been done against you, would you not have been indignant? Would you not have demanded to be avenged? On account of this it is just for you to be indignant, so that, if these things are kept silent, such an evil might not spread little by little to every church, and our teaching-office in the future become a market and a trading-place.

7.1 You know, therefore, beloved, the things concerning the Ariomanites; for you all have often renounced their impiety both privately and publicly; and you know those around Eusebius, as I said before, being of the same heresy as they, on account of which they also plotted against us long ago. But the things that have now happened through them and by them, more bitter than wars, I have made clear to you, so that, taking up a zeal that hates evil according to the history from the beginning, you may cast out those who have worked such evils against the church.7.2 For if last year the brothers in Rome, when these things had not yet happened, but on account of the first matters, wrote for a synod to be held, so that those things too might be avenged—which synod those around Eusebius, fearing, took preemptive action to disturb the church and wished to destroy us, so that in the future they might do what they want with impunity and not have one to reprove them—how much more ought you all to be indignant at such great transgressions and to condemn7.3 them, inasmuch as they have added these things also to their former ones? I beseech you, do not overlook such great things, nor permit the renowned church of the Alexandrians to be trampled underfoot by heretics. For on account of these things, it is with good reason that both the laity and the ministers are by themselves, being silent on account of the violence of the prefect, but turning away from the impiety of the Ariomanites.7.4 If, therefore, Gregory writes to you, or anyone else on his behalf, do not receive his letters, brothers, but tear them up and put to shame those who bring them as being impious and ministers of wickedness. And if he dares to write even a form of peace, do not receive these either; for those who are received bring them out of fear of the governor on account of his many acts of violence.7.5 And since it is likely that those around Eusebius will also write to you about him, for this reason I have been eager to forewarn you, so that in this also, imitating the impartiality of God, you may cast out those sent from them, because in such a time they have contrived persecutions and corruptions of virgins and deaths and robberies of those in the churches, and fire and blasphemies in the churches on account of the Ariomanites, to be done by heathens and Jews. 7.6 And the impious and mad Gregory could not deny that he is an Arian, having as proof the one who signs his letters. For this Ammon who signs was long ago cast out of the church by the blessed Alexander, the bishop before me, for many evils and for impiety.7.7 Therefore, for the sake of all things, be willing also to write back to us and to condemn the impious, so that now also the ministers and laity here, seeing your orthodoxy and hatred of evil, may rejoice in your like-minded faith in God, while those who have committed such transgressions against the church, being re-educated by your letters, may be able, though late, to repent.7.8 Greet the brotherhood among you. All those with me

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καὶ οὕτως ἡμᾶς ἀποκτεῖναι ζητοῦσι καὶ τοῖς γνωρίμοις ἡμῶν φοβεροὺς ἑαυτοὺς δεικνύουσιν, ὡς πάντας φυ6.4 γαδεύεσθαι καὶ θάνατον παρ' αὐτῶν προσδοκᾶν. ἀλλ' οὐ διὰ ταῦτα καὶ ὑμᾶς αὐτῶν τὴν παρανομίαν καταπτῆξαι χρή, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον καὶ ἐκδικῆσαι καὶ ἀγανακτῆσαι κατὰ τῶν οὕτως καινοτομηθέντων καθ' ἡμῶν. εἰ γὰρ πάσχοντος μέλους ἑνὸς «συμπάσχει πάντα τὰ μέλη» καὶ κατὰ τὸν μακάριον ἀπόστολον «κλαίειν μετὰ κλαιόντων» δεῖ, πασχούσης τῆς τηλικαύτης ἐκκλησίας ἕκαστος ὡς αὐτὸς πάσχων ἐκδικείτω τὸ πρᾶγμα. κοινὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ σωτὴρ ὁ ὑπ' αὐτῶν βλασφημούμενος, καὶ πάντων εἰσὶν οἱ κανόνες οἱ ὑπ' αὐτῶν 6.5 παραλυόμενοι. ἆρα γὰρ εἰ, καθεζομένων ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ συναγομένων τῶν λαῶν χωρίς τινος μέμψεως, εἴ τις ἐξαίφνης διὰ προστάγματος διάδοχος ἐληλύθει καθ' ἑνὸς ὑμῶν καὶ τοιαῦτα ἐγεγόνει καθ' ὑμῶν, οὐκ ἂν ἠγανακτήσατε; οὐκ ἂν ἠξιώσατε ἐκδικηθῆναι; διὰ τοῦτο ἀγανακτῆσαι ὑμᾶς δίκαιόν ἐστιν, ἵνα μὴ τούτων σιωπωμένων κατ' ὀλίγον καὶ εἰς ἑκάστην ἐκκλησίαν τὸ τοιοῦτον κακὸν διαβῇ καὶ λοιπὸν ἐμπόριον καὶ ἀγοραῖον τὸ καθ' ἡμᾶς διδασκαλεῖον γένηται.

7.1 Τὰ μὲν οὖν κατὰ τοὺς Ἀρειομανίτας οἴδατε, ἀγαπητοί· πολλάκις γὰρ αὐτῶν τὴν ἀσέβειαν ἰδίᾳ καὶ κοινῇ πάντες ἀπεκηρύξατε· οἴδατε δὲ καὶ τοὺς περὶ Εὐσέβιον, ὡς προεῖπον, τῆς αὐτῆς ἐκείνοις ὄντας αἱρέσεως, δι' ἣν καὶ πάλαι ἡμῖν ἐπεβούλευσαν. τὰ δὲ νῦν δι' αὐτοὺς καὶ ὑπ' αὐτῶν γενόμενα πικρότερα πολέμων ἐδήλωσα ὑμῖν, ἵνα κατὰ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἱστορίαν μισοπόνηρον ζῆλον ἀναλαβόντες ἐξάρητε τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα πονηρὰ ἐργα7.2 σαμένους κατὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας. εἰ γὰρ καὶ πέρυσιν οἱ κατὰ Ῥώμην ἀδελφοὶ μήπω τούτων γενομένων, ἀλλ' ἕνεκα τῶν πρώτων σύνοδον ἔγραψαν γενέσθαι, ἵνα κἀκεῖνα ἐκδικηθῇ, ἥνπερ εὐλαβούμενοι οἱ περὶ Εὐσέβιον προύλαβον διαταράξαι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ ἠθέλησαν ἡμᾶς ἀνελεῖν, ἵνα λοιπὸν ἐπ' ἀδείας πράττωσιν ἃ βούλονται καὶ μὴ ἔχωσι τὸν ἐλέγχοντα, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ἐπὶ τοῖς τηλικούτοις παρανομήμασιν ἀγανακτῆσαι πάντες ὀφείλετε καὶ 7.3 καταψηφίσασθαι αὐτῶν, ὅσῳ καὶ ταῦτα τοῖς προτέροις προσέθηκαν; παρακαλῶ, μὴ παρίδητε τὰ τηλικαῦτα μηδὲ ἐπιτρέψητε τὴν περιβόητον Ἀλεξανδρέων ἐκκλησίαν ὑπὸ αἱρετικῶν καταπατηθῆναι. διὰ ταῦτα γὰρ εἰκότως καὶ οἱ λαοὶ καὶ οἱ λειτουργοὶ καθ' ἑαυτούς εἰσι, διὰ μὲν τὰς τοῦ ἐπάρχου βίας σιωπῶντες, τὴν δὲ ἀσέβειαν τῶν Ἀρειομανιτῶν 7.4 ἐκτρεπόμενοι. ἐὰν τοίνυν γράφῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς Γρηγόριος ἢ ἄλλος τις περὶ αὐτοῦ, μὴ δέξησθε, ἀδελφοί, τὰ γράμματα αὐτοῦ, ἀλλὰ σχίσατε καὶ δυσωπήσατε τοὺς κομίζοντας ὡς ἀσεβεῖς καὶ πονηρίας ὄντας διακόνους. ἐὰν δὲ καὶ τύπον εἰρηνικὸν τολμήσῃ γράφειν, μηδὲ ταῦτα δέχεσθε· τῷ γὰρ φόβῳ τοῦ ἡγεμόνος οἱ δεχόμενοι κομίζουσι διὰ τὰς πολλὰς 7.5 αὐτοῦ βίας. ἐπειδὴ δὲ εἰκὸς καὶ τοὺς περὶ Εὐσέβιον γράφειν ὑμῖν περὶ αὐτοῦ, διὰ τοῦτο προυπομνῆσαι ὑμᾶς ἐσπούδασα, ἵνα καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τὸ ἀπροσωπόληπτον τοῦ θεοῦ μιμησάμενοι ἐκδιώξητε τοὺς παρ' αὐτῶν, ὅτι ἐν τοιούτῳ καιρῷ διωγμοὺς καὶ φθορὰς παρθένων καὶ θανάτους καὶ ἁρπαγὰς τῶν ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, καὶ πυρκαιὰν καὶ βλασφημίας ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις ἕνεκεν τῶν Ἀρειομανιτῶν κατεσκεύασαν ὑπὸ ἐθνικῶν καὶ Ἰουδαίων γενέσθαι. 7.6 οὐκ ἂν δὲ ὁ ἀσεβὴς καὶ μεμηνὼς Γρηγόριος ἀρνήσηται ἑαυτὸν εἶναι Ἀρειανὸν ἔχων ἔλεγχον τὸν ὑπογράφοντα αὐτοῦ τὰ γράμματα. Ἀμμὼν γὰρ οὗτος ὁ ὑπογράφων ἔκπαλαι μὲν ὑπὸ τοῦ μακαρίτου Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ πρὸ ἐμοῦ ἐπισκόπου ἐπὶ πολλοῖς κακοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ ἀσεβείᾳ 7.7 ἐξεβλήθη τῆς ἐκκλησίας. πάντων οὖν ἕνεκεν καὶ ἀντιγράψαι ἡμῖν θελήσατε καὶ καταγνῶναι τῶν ἀσεβῶν, ἵνα καὶ νῦν οἱ μὲν λειτουργοὶ οἱ ἐνταῦθα καὶ οἱ λαοὶ τὴν ὀρθοδοξίαν καὶ μισοπονηρίαν ὑμῶν ὁρῶντες εὐφραίνωνται τῇ εἰς θεὸν ὁμοψύχῳ ὑμῶν πίστει, οἱ δὲ τοιαῦτα κατὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας παρανομήσαντες μεταπαιδευθέντες ἐκ τῶν ὑμῶν γραμμάτων 7.8 κἂν ὀψέ ποτε μεταγνῶναι δυνηθῶσι. προσείπατε τὴν παρ' ὑμῖν ἀδελφότητα. οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ πάντες

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