Part II.

Chapter V.—Documents connected with the charges of the 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 Christians193    a.d. 339. vid. Hist. Arian. §11. [Socrates (iii. 5) and Sozomenus (ii. 8, &c.), confuse the Antiochene Synod, which sent the letter referred to, with the Synod of the ‘Dedication’ held in 341 a.d., after the receipt of the letter of Julius.]    Cf. Orat. i. 2 and notes.. He began immediately to revile the bishops, and made false accusations, first against Peter himself, and against his successor Achillas, and after Achillas, against Alexander194    Vito and Vincentius, Presbyters, had represented Silvester at Nicæa. Liberius sent Vincentius, Bishop, and Marcellus, Bishop, to Constantius; and again Lucifer, Bishop, and Eusebius, Bishop. [The practice was common to all bishops, not peculiar to that of Rome.] S. Basil suggests that Damasus should send legates into the East, Ep. 69. The Council of Sardica, Can. 5, recognised the Pope’s power of sending legates into foreign Provinces to hear certain appeals; “ut de Latere suo Presbyterum mittat.” [It conferred the power (1) upon Julius (2) without any right of initiative, in Can. 3; Can. 5 simply regulates the exercise of the power thus conferred. The genuineness of these Canons has been disputed: at Rome they were quoted in the fifth century as ‘Nicene.’] vid. Thomassin. de Eccl. Disc. Part I. ii. 117. [D.C.B. iii. 530, D.C.A. 197, 1658.]    Ad. Ep. Æg. §22. supr. §11.. 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 Nicæa, while the heresy was anathematized, and the Arians were cast out, the Meletians on whatever grounds195    [Date uncertain; see Prolegg. ch. ii. §6 (1) sub fin., and note there.]    [Prolegg. ch. ii. §3 (1) ad fin.] Athan. speaks more openly against this arrangement. infr. §71. (for it is not necessary now to mention the reason) were received. Five months however had not yet passed196    Infr. §58.    [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 Nicæa, see §71, &c. Montf. Monit. in Vit. S. Athanasii, also Prolegg. ch. ii. §3 (1) and ch. v. §3 a.] 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.

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 communion197    Vid. infr. §36.    Ad. Ep Æg. 23., 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 heresy contrary to the truth, and had been anathematized by the Ecumenical198    By Danius, which had been considered the same name as Dianius, Bishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia, Montfaucon in loc. understands the notorious Arian Bishop of Nicæa, called variously Diognius (supr. §13.), Theognius (infr §28.), Theognis (Philost. Hist. ii. 7.), Theogonius, (Theod. Hist. i. 19.), and assigns some ingenious and probable reasons for his supposition. [‘Danius’ was the Bishop of Cæsarea in Cappad., he also signs at Philippopolis. See D.C.B. under Dianius and Basil.] Flacillus, Arian Bishop of Antioch, as Athan. names him, is called Placillus (in S. Jerome’s Chronicon, p. 785.), Placitus (Soz. iii. 5.), Flacitus (Theod. Hist. i. 21.). Theodorus was Arian Bishop of Heraclea, whose Comments on the Psalms are supposed to be those which bear his name in Corderius’s Catena. [He was not a thorough Arian.]    Supr. §7, and de Decr. 27. 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 palace199    Some of the topics contained in the Eusebian Letter are specified in Julius’s answer. It acknowledged, besides, the high dignity of the [church] of Rome, as being a “School (φροντιστήριον) of Apostles and a Metropolis of orthodoxy from the beginning,” but added that “doctors came to it from the east; and they ought not themselves to hold the second place, for they were superior in virtue, though not in their Church.” And they said that they would hold communion with Julius if he would agree to their depositions and substitutions in the Eastern Sees. Soz. iii. 8.    παλατῖνοι, vid. Apol. ad Const. §19., were the bearers of it.

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, Eudæmon, and Callinicus200    Matt. xviii. 6.    Infr. §71 fin. Sozom. ii. 25., respecting the linen vestments201    As this determination does not find a place among the now received Canons of the Council, the passage in the text becomes of great moment in the argument in favour of the twenty Canons extant in Greek being but a portion of those passed at Nicæa. vid. Alber. Dissert. in Hist. Eccles. vii. Abraham Ecchellensis has argued on the same side (apud Colet. Concil. t. ii. p. 399. Ed. Ven. 1728), also Baronius, though not so strongly, Ann. 325. nn. 157 &c. and Montfaucon in loc. Natalis Alexander, Sæc. 4. Dissert. 28 argues against the larger number, and Tillemont, Mem. vi. 674. [But it is far more likely that Julius is making a free use of Can. Nic. 5; the Arabic canons are apparently referred to in the above note: no one now defends them.]    στιχάρια, ecclesiastical. [See D.C.A. p. 1933.], 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 follows202    The number of the Fathers at the Nicene Council is generally considered to have been 318, the number of Abraham’s servants, Gen. xiv. 14. Anastasius (Hodeg. 3. fin.) referring to the first three Ecumenical Councils, speaks of the faith of the 318, the 150, and the 200. [Prolegg. ch. ii. §3 (1).]    They are lost..

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 Psammathia203    Cf. §32.    Suburb of Nicomedia, infr. §65., when they, as usual, were condemned, and driven from the presence; and, as I returned, he wrote the following letter to the people.

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 Only-begotten, 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 convict 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?

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.

62. And I would have you yourselves to consider with what exceeding madness they do 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 involve 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 ruin him.” Plain indeed is this proclamation of their madness to all the world; the sight of companies, and gatherings, and rowers under command204    Cf. §73.    ἀρχιερεσίαν 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. It is for you to understand these things, not for me to judge of them. I thought it becoming 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 I myself profess, is continually engaged in the good work of declaring saving knowledge, and will 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 afterwards 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 Ischyras205    Cf. supr. Depos. Ar.    Cf. §§46, 72, 77., 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 and 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.

To the Blessed pope206    Cf. Ep. Æg. 7, 19, Hist. Ar. 63.    Cf. de Syn. 16, [and Fest Ind. passim]. Athanasius, Ischyras sends health in the Lord.

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 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.

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 Bomotheus207    Vid. also Hilar. Fragm. iii. 20.    [Cf. the list of Mareotic clergy supr., p. 72. The three deacons of Alexandria are in the list, p. 71].; 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 the Emperor Constantine. He too had heard before of the affair of the cup in Psammathia208    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.    Vid. §60., when I was there, and had detected the falsehood of my enemies. But now he wrote to Antioch to Dalmatius209    Vid. supr. §6.    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. p. 531 (Dind.) gives it to the father. Valesius, and apparently Tillemont (Empereurs, vol. 4. p. 657) think Socrates mistaken. The younger Dalmatius was created Cæsar by Constantine a few years before his death; 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]. 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 Paul, who was then Bishop of Tyre, and at last out of very shame could not deny it.

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 commanded 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.

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 dead210    Cyprian. de Unit. Eccl. 4.    Ecclus. 30. 4.:’ for he has left behind him a memorial of his life. What my feelings were towards the ever memorable Sozon, you yourself, my lord211    προθεσμία    δέσποτα. Theod. H. E. i. 5. init., 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 very many years, my lord, in every way most kind.

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 Monastery212    a.d. 340.    [The μονὴ here is not a monastery in the later sense, but a village or cluster of cells. This intercepted letter demonstrates the existence of Meletian 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)]. of Ptemencyrcis, in the home 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 Duke213    The Persian war. Hist. Arian. §11.    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].; 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.

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 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?

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 person214    Infr. §83 fin.    Cf. §28., 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.

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 expressed by me according to the dictates of equity 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!

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.

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 rule215    Infr. §80.    Vid. supr. p. 92, note 3; the (so-called) Apostolical Canon apparently referred to here, is Can. 27. according to Beveridge., we write unto you, dearly beloved Pope, and declare in the name of the Lord, that we will not for the future hold communion 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 peace216    §64.    Cf. p. 95, note 4. 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 Bishops217    §74.    i.e. Meletian Bishops who had conformed; or, since they are not in the list, §71. Catholic Bishops with whom the conforming party were familiar; or Meletians after the return of Meletius. vid. Tillemont, Mem. vol. 8. p. 658. Ammonian, Tyrannus, Plusian, and the rest. Wherefore we beseech your goodness to write to us speedily in answer, and likewise to our fellow-ministers concerning us, informing them that we will henceforth abide by the fore-mentioned resolution and will be at peace with the Catholic Church, and at unity with our fellow-ministers 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.

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 conveyance218    Supr. §6.    On the “cursus publicus,” vid. Gothofred. in 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 Nicæa, as far as it went, in addition (though aliter Valesius in loc.) to other means of travelling. Euseb. v. Const. iii. 6. The cursus publicus brought the Bishops to the Council of Tyre. ibid. iv. 43. In the conference between Liberius and Constantius, Theod. Hist. 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. Hist. 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. l. 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 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. Hist. iii. 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 given orders for the conveyance and maintenance of its members. 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 semper erant intenti.” Colet. Concil. (Ven. 1730,) t. xi. p. 14., and to come to the court219    Infr. §83.    στρατόπεδον· vid. Chrys. on the Statues, p. 382, note 6. Gothofr. in Cod. Theod. vi. 32, 1. 1. Castra sunt ubi Princeps est. ibid. 35, l. 15. also Kiesling. de Discipl. Cler. i. 5. p. 16. Beveridge in Can. Apost. 83. interprets στρατεία of any civil engagement as opposed to clerical. 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.

Πέτρος παρ' ἡμῖν πρὸ μὲν τοῦ διωγμοῦ γέγονεν ἐπίσκοπος, ἐν δὲ τῷ διωγμῷ καὶ ἐμαρτύρησεν. οὗτος Μελίτιον ἀπὸ τῆς Αἰγύπτου λεγόμενον ἐπίσκοπον ἐπὶ πολλαῖς ἐλεγχ θέντα παρανομίαις καὶ θυσίᾳ ἐν κοινῇ συνόδῳ τῶν ἐπισκόπων καθεῖλεν. ἀλλὰ Μελίτιος οὐ πρὸς ἑτέραν σύνοδον κατέφυγεν οὐδὲ ἐσπούδασεν ἀπολογήσασθαι τοῖς μετὰ ταῦτα, σχίσμα δὲ πεποίηκε καὶ ἀντὶ Χριστιανῶν Μελιτιανοὶ μέχρι νῦν οἱ τῆς ἐκείνου μερίδος ὀνομάζονται. εὐθύς τε τοὺς ἐπισκόπους λοιδορεῖν ἤρξατο καὶ πρῶτον αὐτὸν Πέτρον καὶ τὸν μετ' αὐτὸν Ἀχιλλᾶν διέβαλε καὶ μετὰ Ἀχιλλᾶν Ἀλέξανδρον. τοῦτο δὲ πανούργωςἔπραττε μαθὼν καὶ παρὰ τοῦ Ἀβεσσαλώμ, ἵν', ἐπειδὴ διὰ τὴν καθαίρεσιν ᾐσχύνετο, κἂν ταῖς διαβολαῖς ἀπατῆσαί πως τοὺς ἀκεραίους δυνηθῇ. ταῦτα δὲ πράττοντος τοῦ Μελιτίου γέγονε καὶ ἡ ἀρειανὴ αἵρεσις. ἀλλ' ἐν τῇ συνόδῳ τῇ κατὰ Νίκαιαν ἡ μὲν αἵρεσις ἀνεθεματίσθη καὶ οἱ Ἀρειανοὶ ἐξεβλήθησαν, οἱ δὲ Μελιτιανοὶ ὁπωσδήποτε ἐδέχθησαν· οὐ γὰρ ἀναγκαῖον νῦν τὴν αἰτίαν ὀνομάζειν. οὔπω γὰρ πέντε μῆνες παρῆλθον, καὶ ὁ μὲν μακαρίτης Ἀλέξανδρος τετελεύτηκεν, οἱ δὲ Μελιτιανοὶ δέον ἠρεμεῖν καὶ χάριν ἔχειν, ὅτι κἂν ὅλως ἐδέχθησαν, οἱ δὲ κατὰ τοὺς κύνας οὐκ ἐπιλαθόμενοι ὧν ἐξήρασαν πάλιν τὰς ἐκκλη σίας ἐτάραττον. Εὐσέβιος τοίνυν τοῦτο μαθὼν καὶ προιστάμενος τῆς ἀρειανῆς αἱρέσεως πέμπει καὶ ὠνεῖται τοὺς Μελιτιανοὺς ἐπὶ πολλαῖς ἐπαγγελίαις. καὶ γίνεται μὲν αὐτῶν κρύφα φίλος, συντάττεται δὲ αὐτοῖς εἰς ὃν ἐβούλετο καιρόν. τὴν μὲν οὖν ἀρχὴν προσέπεμπε προτρέπων δέξασθαί με τοὺς περὶ Ἄρειον, καὶ ἀγράφως μὲν ἠπείλει, γράφων δὲ ἠξίου. ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἀντέλεγον· «μὴ χρῆναι» φάσκων «δεχθῆναι τοὺς αἵρεσιν ἐφευρόντας κατὰ τῆς ἀλη θείας καὶ ἀναθεματισθέντας παρὰ τῆς οἰκουμενικῆς συνόδου», ποιεῖ καὶ βασιλέα μοι γράψαι τὸν μακαρίτην Κωνσταντῖνον ἀπειλὴν ἔχοντα, εἰ μὴ λάβοιμι τοὺς περὶ Ἄρειον, ταῦτά με παθεῖν, ἃ πρότερον καὶ νῦν πέπονθα. τὸ τοίνυν μέρος τῆς ἐπιστολῆς ἐστι τοῦτο, καὶ παλατῖνοι Συγκλήτιος καὶ Γαυδέντιος ἦσαν οἱ κομίσαντες τὰ γράμματα· Μέρος ἐπιστολῆς τοῦ βασιλέως Κωνσταντίνου ... Ἔχων τοίνυν τῆς ἐμῆς βουλήσεως τὸ γνώρισμα ἅπασι τοῖς βουλομένοις εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν εἰσελθεῖν ἀκώλυτον παράσχου τὴν εἴσοδον. ἐὰν γὰρ γνῶ ὡς κεκώλυκάς τινας αὐτῶν τῆς ἐκκλησίας μεταποιουμένους ἢ ἀπεῖρξας τῆς εἰσόδου, ἀποστελῶ παρα χρῆμα τὸν καὶ καθαιρήσοντά σε ἐξ ἐμῆς κελεύσεως καὶ τῶν τόπων μεταστήσοντα ...
Ἐπειδὴ τοίνυν καὶ βασιλέα γράφων ἔπειθον «μηδεμίαν εἶναι κοινωνίαν τῇ χριστο μάχῳ αἱρέσει πρὸς τὴν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν», τότε λοιπὸν Εὐσέβιος τὸν καιρὸν ὃν συνεφώ νησε μετὰ τῶν Μελιτιανῶν προφέρων γράφει καὶ πείθει τούτους πλάσασθαι πρόφασιν, ἵν', ὥσπερ κατὰ Πέτρου καὶ Ἀχιλλᾶ καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου μεμελετήκασιν, οὕτω καὶ καθ' ἡμῶν ἐπινοήσωσι καὶ θρυλήσωσι. πολλὰ μὲν οὖν ζητήσαντες καὶ μὴ εὑρόντες ὕστερον μετὰ γνώμης τῶν περὶ Εὐσέβιον συντιθέασι καὶ πλάττονται πρώτην κατηγορίαν διὰ Ἰσίωνος καὶ Εὐδαίμονος καὶ Καλλινίκου περὶ στιχαρίων λινῶν, ὡς ἐμοῦ κανόνα τοῖς Αἰγυπτίοις ἐπιβαλόντος καὶ πρώτους αὐτοὺς ἀπαιτήσαντος. ἀλλὰ πρεσβυτέρων ἡμετέρων εὑρε θέντων ἐκεῖ καὶ βασιλέως ἀκούοντος κατεγνώσθησαν. οἱ μὲν οὖν πρεσβύτεροι ἦσαν Ἄπις καὶ Μακάριος, ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς γράφει καταγινώσκων μὲν Ἰσίωνος, κελεύων δὲ ἐμὲ ἀπαντῆσαι πρὸς αὐτόν. καὶ τὰ μὲν γραφέντα ἐστὶ ταῦτα· Ὁ δὲ Εὐσέβιος μαθὼν πείθει περιμένειν αὐτούς. καὶ ἐλθόντος μου κατηγοροῦσι πάλιν Μακαρίου μὲν περὶ ποτηρίου, ἐμὲ δὲ οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν διαβολήν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἀνωτάτω πα σῶν, ὅτι δὴ κατὰ βασιλέως γενόμενος ἔπεμψα γλωσσόκομον χρυσίου Φιλουμένῳ τινί. ὁ μὲν οὖν βασιλεὺς καὶ περὶ ταύτης ἐν τῇ Ψαμαθίᾳ ἤκουσεν ἡμῶν, αὐτοὶ δὲ συνήθως κατα γνωσθέντες ἐρρίφησαν. καὶ γράφει τοῖς λαοῖς ἐπανερχομένων ἡμῶν ταῦτα·
Κωνσταντῖνος Μέγιστος Σεβαστὸς τῷ λαῷ τῷ κατὰ Ἀλεξάνδρειαν καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας. Ἀγαπητοὶ ἀδελφοί, προσαγορεύω ὑμᾶς ἐπικαλούμενος τὸν θεὸν τὸν τῆς ἐμῆς βου λήσεως μέγιστον μάρτυρα καὶ τὸν τοῦ ἡμετέρου νόμου μονογενῆ δημιουργόν, ὃς καὶ τῆς ζωῆς προκαθέζεται τῶν ἁπάντων καὶ τὰς διχονοίας μισεῖ. πλὴν τί ἂν εἴποιμι; ὅτι καλῶς ὑγιαίνομεν; ἀλλ' ἐξῆν καλλίονος ἀπολαῦσαι τῆς εὐρωστίας, εἰ ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς ἀμοι βαδὶς ἠγαπᾶτε ἀποσεισάμενοι τὰ μίση, δι' ὧν ταῖς τῶν ἐρεσχηλούντων τρικυμίαις τὸν λιμένα τῆς ἀγάπης ἐγκατελίπομεν. φεῦ τῆς ἀτοπίας ταύτης· ὅσα καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν συμπτώματα τοῦ συγκεχυμένου φθόνου κινεῖται. οὕτω πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦ θεοῦ μετῳκίσθη σαν αἱ δυσφημίαι. ποῦ τοίνυν τῆς δικαιοσύνης ἡ πίστις ἀνακεχώρηκεν; ὅπου γε εἰς το σοῦτον τῇ τοῦ σκότους ἀχλύι περιβεβλήμεθα οὐ μόνον διὰ τὴν πολύπλοκον πλάνην, ἀλλὰ καὶ διὰ τὰ τῶν ἀχαρίστων ἐλαττώματα. τῶν μὲν τὴν ἄνοιαν βραβευόντων ἀνεχόμεθα, τῶν δὲ τὴν ἐπιείκειαν καὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν διακρουομένων αἰσθανόμενοι παρενθυμούμεθα. τί τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο τῆς ἡμετέρας κακίας; τοὺς ἐχθροὺς οὐκ ἐλέγχομεν, ἀλλ' ἑπόμεθα τῷ λῃστηρίῳ, δι' οὗ ὁδόν τινα ἑαυτῇ, ἵν' οὕτως εἴπω, ἡ τῆς ἀπωλείας ἀπάτη μηδενὸς ἀντι κειμένου ῥᾳδίως εἰργάσατο. ἆρα οὐδεμία ἐστὶν αἴσθησις οὐδὲ κατὰ χάριν τῆς κοινῆς ἁπάν των φύσεως, εἴ γε τῶν τοῦ νόμου προσταγμάτων ἠμελήσαμεν; ἀλλ' ἐρεῖ τις· κατὰ φύσιν ἡ ἀγάπη ἐξευρίσκεται. τί οὖν ὅτι ἡμεῖς καὶ τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ νόμον πρὸς τῇ εὐφυίᾳ σχόντες ἀνεχόμεθα τῆς ὀχλήσεως καὶ τοῦ θορύβου τῶν ἐχθρῶν πυρσοῖς τισιν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐξαπτο μένων; καὶ οὐχ ὁρῶμεν ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχοντες οὐδὲ αἰσθανόμεθα, καίτοι ταῖς τοῦ νόμου αἰσθή σεσιν ὄντες πεφραγμένοι. ὁπόση ἄρα πτόησις τὴν ἡμετέραν ζωὴν κατείληφεν, ὅπου γε ἡμῶν ἑαυτῶν οὕτως ἀμελοῦμεν καὶ ταῦτα ὑπομιμνήσκοντος τοῦ θεοῦ; εἶτα οὐκ ἔστιν ἀφόρητον τὸ κακόν; οὐ πολεμίους ἡγεῖσθαι προσήκει τούτους, οὐ τὸν οἶκον καὶ τὸν λαὸν τοῦ θεοῦ; ἐμπαροινοῦσιν ἡμῖν καὶ ἐγκαλοῦσί γε οἱ πανώλεις ἐκεῖνοι καὶ ἐπιπλήσ
σουσιν ἐκ τῶν ἐναντίων ἡμῖν. μεθ' ὅσης δὲ ἀπονοίας τοῦτο πράττουσιν, ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς ἐννοεῖν ἀξιῶ. οἱ γὰρ μωροὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γλώττης κειμένην ἔχουσι τὴν κακίαν. οὗτοι γοῦν μολιβδίνας τινὰς ὀργὰς ἐπιφέρονται, ὡς ἑαυτοὺς μὲν κατ' ἀντίδοσιν πλήττειν, ἡμᾶς δὲ πρὸς κέρδος τῆς οἰκείας κολάσεως ἀπάγειν. καὶ ὁ μὲν καλῶς διδάξας πολέμιος κρίνε ται, ὁ δὲ τὴν τοῦ φθόνου κακίαν προβεβλημένος ἐκεῖνος τὴν τοῦ λαοῦ ἡμερότητα οὐ δεόντως καταλαμβάνει, πορθεῖ, καταναλίσκει, καὶ ἑαυτὸν κακοθελεῖ ἐγκωμίῳ κοσμεῖ καὶ συντίθησι, τὴν δὲ ἀλήθειαν ἀνατρέπει καὶ τὴν πίστιν ἀπατᾷ, μέχρις οὗ τῷ οἰκείῳ συνειδότι φωλεὸν καὶ κρυπτηρίαν ἐπιζητήσας εὕρῃ. αὕτη γοῦν αὐτοὺς ἡ σκαιότης ἀθλίους ποιεῖ, ὅταν προπετῶς ἑαυτοὺς ἀναξίους ὄντας ἀποδέχωνται λέγοντες· «φεῦ τῶν κακῶν· ἐκεῖνος πρεσ βύτερός ἐστι καὶ ἐκεῖνος παῖς, ἐμοῦ ἅπτεται ἡ τιμή, ἐμοὶ ὀφείλεται, ἐκείνου περιαιρεθῇ, ἐπεὶ αὐτὸς ἐμαυτῷ ἀφαρπάσας ἅπαντας ἐπ' ἐξουσίας ἀπολέσαι πειράσομαι». λαμπρά τις ἡ τῆς μανίας ἐκβόησις, τάγματα καὶ συλλόγους ἤ, ἵν' οὕτως εἴπω, ἀρχιαιρεσίαν τῶν ἀτόπων τούτων συστημάτων ἰδεῖν. ὢ τῆς ἀτοπίας ἡμῶν, ἵν' οὕτως εἴπω, ἐπὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας τοῦ θεοῦ ἀνοίας ἐστὶν ἐπίδειξις. εἶτα οὐκ αἰδοῦνται; οὐκ αὐτοὶ ἑαυτοὺς ψέγουσιν οὐδὲ τὰς ψυχὰς δάκνονται, ἵνα νῦν γοῦν καταντικρὺ τῆς ἀπάτης καὶ τῆς ἐρεσχηλίας ἄξιόν τι φρονεῖν δόξωσι; βία μόνη ἐστὶ τοῦ φθόνου τοῖς ἰδίοις ἐπερειδομένη φαρμάκοις. οὐδὲν ἴσχυσαν οἱ πονηροὶ κατὰ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου ὑμῶν, ἐμοὶ πιστεύσατε, ἀδελφοί. οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἐσπουδάκασιν, ἢ ἵνα κατατρίψαντες τοὺς ἡμετέρους χρόνους μηδεμίαν χώραν ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ταύτῃ μεταμελείας ἔχωσιν. ἐπικουρήσατε τοίνυν ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς, παρακαλῶ, τὸ φίλτρον τὸ ἡμέτερον ἀγαπήσατε καὶ παντὶ σθένει διώξατε τοὺς τὴν τῆς ἡμετέρας ὁμονοίας χάριν ἀφανίζειν ἐπιθυμοῦντας καὶ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἀπιδόντες ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς ἀγαπᾶτε. ἐγὼ γὰρ τὸν ὑμέτερον ἐπίσκοπον Ἀθανάσιον ἀσμένως προσηκάμην οὕτως τε προσεφθεγξάμην ὡς ἄνθρωπον αὐτὸν θεοῦ ὄντα πεπεισμένος. ὑμέτερόν ἐστι ταῦτα συνιέναι, οὐκ ἐμὸν κρίνειν. τὴν γὰρ παρ' ἐμοῦ πρόσρησιν αὐτὸν Ἀθανάσιον ὑμῖν διακονῆσαι τὸν αἰδεσιμώτατον ἀναγκαῖον ἡγησάμην ἐννοῶν τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν τῆς ἐπιεικείας αὐτοῦ, ἥτις οὐκ ἀναξίως τῆς εἰρηνικῆς μου πίστεως εἰς τὸ ἀγαθὸν τῆς σωτηριώδους γνώμης κατέχεται διαπαντὸς καὶ ἕξει τὸν προτρέποντα λογισμόν. ὁ θεὸς ὑμᾶς διαφυλάξει, ἀδελφοὶ ἀγα πητοί.
Τούτων οὕτως πραχθέντων πρὸς ὀλίγον ἡσυχάσαντες οἱ Μελιτιανοὶ παροξύνονται πάλιν, καὶ ταύτην ὕστερον τίθενται βουλὴν σπουδάζοντες ἀρέσαι τοῖς μισθωσαμένοις αὐτούς. Μαρεώτης χώρα τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας ἐστίν· ἐν ταύτῃ σχίσμα Μελίτιος οὐκ ἠδυνήθη ποιῆσαι. τῶν τοίνυν ἐκκλησιῶν ἐν ὡρισμένοις τόποις οὐσῶν καὶ τῶν πρεσβυ τέρων πάντων ἐν αὐταῖς συναγόντων τῶν τε λαῶν εἰρηνευόντων Ἰσχύρας τις οὕτω λε γόμενος, οὐ κληρικός, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὸν τρόπον πονηρός, ἐπεχείρει τοὺς ἐν τῇ ἰδίᾳ κώμῃ πλανᾶν λέγων εἶναί τινα ἑαυτὸν κληρικόν. τοῦτο μαθὼν ὁ τῶν τόπων πρεσβύτερος περι ερχομένῳ μοι τὰς ἐκκλησίας ἀναγγέλλει. καὶ ἀποστέλλω σὺν αὐτῷ Μακάριον πρεσβύτερον καλέσαι τὸν Ἰσχύραν. εὑρόντες δὲ αὐτὸν νοσοῦντα καὶ κατακείμενον ἐν κελλίῳ ἐντέλλον ται τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ παραγγεῖλαι τῷ υἱῷ μηδέν τι τοιοῦτον ἐπιχειρεῖν, οἷον εἴρηται κατ' αὐτοῦ. ἀλλ' ἀναστὰς ἀπὸ τῆς νόσου καὶ κωλυόμενος ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς καταφεύγει πρὸς τοὺς Μελιτιανούς. κἀκεῖνοι κοινοῦνται τοῖς περὶ Εὐσέβιον καὶ λοιπὸν συντίθεται παρ' αὐτῶν ἡ συκοφαντία ὅτι δὴ ποτήριον μὲν Μακάριος κατέαξεν, Ἀρσένιος δέ τις ἐπίσκοπος ἐφονεύθη παρ' ἡμῶν. καὶ τὸν μὲν Ἀρσένιον κρύπτουσιν ὑπὲρ τοῦ μὴ φαινόμενον αὐτὸν ὡς ἀναιρεθέντα νομίζεσθαι καὶ χεῖρα, φησίν, ὡς συγκοπέντος αὐτοῦ περιέφερον, τὸν δὲ Ἰσχύραν, ὃν οὐκ ᾔδεισαν, ἄρχονται θρυλεῖν ὡς πρεσβύτερον, ἵνα καὶ περὶ ποτηρίου λέγων πλανᾶν δύνηται. ὁ μὲν οὖν Ἰσχύρας μεμφομένων αὐτὸν τῶν ἰδίων ἦλθε πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀποδυρόμενος καὶ λέγων μηδὲν μὲν γεγενῆσθαι παρὰ Μακαρίου, οἷον ἐθρύλησαν, ὑποβεβλῆσθαι δὲ ἑαυτὸν παρὰ τῶν Μελιτιανῶν πλάσασθαι τοιαύτην λοιδορίαν. καὶ γράφει ταῦτα·
Τῷ μακαρίῳ πάπᾳ Ἀθανασίῳ Ἰσχύρας ἐν κυρίῳ χαίρειν. Ἐπειδὴ προσῆλθόν σοι, κύριε ἐπίσκοπε, βουλόμενος τῆς ἐκκλησίας εἶναι, ᾐτιάσω δέ με ἐφ' οἷς πρότερον ἐφθεγξάμην, ὡς ἐμοῦ ἀπὸ προαιρέσεως εἰς τοῦτο παρελθόντος, τούτου ἕνεκεν ταύτην τὴν ἀπολογίαν ἐγγράφως σοι ἐπιδίδωμι, ἵν' εἰδέναι ἔχοις ὅτι βίας μοι γενομένης καὶ πληγῶν ἐπιτεθεισῶν ἀπὸ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἡρακλείδου καὶ Ἰσαὰκ τοῦ τῆςΛητοῦς καὶ ὑπὸ τῶν σὺν αὐτοῖς. ἐγὼ δὲ μάρτυρα τὸν θεὸν εἰς τοῦτο λαμβάνων ἀπο λογοῦμαι ὅτι οὐδὲν ὧν ἐκεῖνοι εἰρήκασι σύνοιδά σε πεποιηκέναι. οὔτε γὰρ ποτηρίου κλάσις γέγονεν οὔτε τῆς ἁγίας τραπέζης καταστροφὴ γεγένηται, ἀλλὰ ταῦτα πάντα ἐκεῖνοι βίαν ἐπιθέντες μοι εἰς τοῦτο παρώρμησάν με. ταῦτα δὲ ἀπελογησάμην σοι καὶ ἐγγράφως ἐπιδέδωκα αἱρούμενος καὶ ἐπιδικαζόμενος εἶναι τῶν ὑπὸ σὲ συναγομένων. ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι ἐν κυρίῳ. Ἐπιδέδωκα δὲ τήνδε μου τὴν χεῖρά σοι τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ Ἀθανασίῳ ἐπὶ παρουσίᾳ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων Ἀμμωνᾶ ∆ικέλλης, Ἡρακλείου Φάσκω, Βόκκονος Χενεβρί, Ἀχιλλᾶ Μυρσίνης, ∆ιδύμου Ταφοσίρεως καὶ Ἰούστου ἀπὸ Βωμοθέου, καὶ διακόνων ἀπὸ μὲν Ἀλεξανδρείας Παύλου καὶ Πέτρου καὶ Ὀλυμπίου, ἀπὸ δὲ Μαρεώτου Ἀμμωνίου καὶ Πιστοῦ καὶ ∆ημητρίου καὶ Γαίου.
Ταῦτα γράψαντος καὶ Ἰσχύρα ὅμως πάλιν τὴν τοιαύτην κατηγορίαν θρυλοῦσι μὲν πανταχοῦ, ἀναφέρουσι δὲ καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ Κωνσταντίνῳ. κἀκεῖνος περὶ μὲν τοῦ ποτη ρίου φθάσας ἦν ἀκούσας αὐτὸς ἐν τῇ Ψαμαθίᾳ παρόντων ἡμῶν καὶ καταγνοὺς τῆς συκο φαντίας τῶν ἐχθρῶν, γράφει δὲ εἰς τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν ∆αλματίῳ τῷ κήνσωρι ἀκοῦσαι περὶ τῆς τοῦ φόνου δίκης. ὁ τοίνυν κήνσωρ ἐπιστέλλει μοι παρασκευάσασθαι πρὸς ἀπο λογίαν τοῦ ἐγκλήματος. ἐγὼ δὲ δεξάμενος τὰ τοιαῦτα γράμματα, καίτοι τὴν ἀρχὴν μηδὲ προσποιούμενος διὰ τὸ εἰδέναι μηδὲν αὐτοὺς λέγειν ἀληθές, ὅμως, ἐπειδὴ βασιλεὺς κεκί νητο, γράφω τοῖς συλλειτουργοῖς εἰς Αἴγυπτον καὶ πέμπω διάκονον βουλόμενος μαθεῖν περὶ Ἀρσενίου· οὐ γὰρ ἑωράκειν τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἔτεσί που πέντε ἢ ἕξ. καὶ τί γάρ; ἵνα μὴ τελείως τὰ τούτων λέγω, ἐγνώσθη κρυπτόμενος ὁ Ἀρσένιος τὴν μὲν ἀρχὴν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ, λοιπὸν δὲ καὶ ἐν Τύρῳ πάλιν κρυπτόμενον αὐτὸν εὗρον οἱ ἡμέτεροι. καὶ τό γε θαυμαστὸν οὐδὲ εὑρεθεὶς ὡμολόγει αὐτὸς εἶναι Ἀρσένιος, ἕως ἐν δικαστηρίῳ ἐπὶ Παύλου τοῦ τηνικαῦτα ἐπισκόπου τῆς Τύρου ἠλέγχθη καὶ καταισχυνθεὶς λοιπὸν οὐκ ἠρνήσατο. τοῦτο δὲ ἐποίει φυλάττων τὴν πρὸς τοὺς περὶ Εὐσέβιον συνθήκην, ἵνα μὴ ὡς εὑρεθέντος λοιπὸν ἐκείνων τὸ δρᾶμα διαλυθῇ, ὅπερ καὶ γέγονε. γράψαντος γάρ μου τῷ βασιλεῖ ὅτι Ἀρσένιος εὑρέθη, καὶ ὑπομνήσαντος αὐτὸν περὶ ὧν ἤκουσεν ἐν τῇ Ψαμαθίᾳ Μακαρίου τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου χάριν, ἔπαυσε μὲν τὸ δικαστήριον τοῦ κήνσωρος, ἔγραψε δὲ κατα γινώσκων τὴν συκοφαντίαν τῶν καθ' ἡμῶν γενομένων καὶ τοὺς περὶ Εὐσέβιον ἐρχομένους εἰς τὴν Ἀνατολὴν καθ' ἡμῶν ἐκέλευσεν ὑποστρέψαι. ὅτι μὲν οὖν κατηγόρησαν ὡς ἀναιρεθέντος Ἀρσενίου, ἵνα μὴ ταῖς παρὰ τῶν πολλῶν γραφείσαις ἐπιστολαῖς χρήσωμαι, ἀρκεῖ μόνον τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρου τοῦ ἐπισκόπου Θεσσαλονίκης παραθέσθαι· ἀπὸ γὰρ ταύτης καὶ τὰς τῶν ἄλλων γνῶναι δυνατόν. ἐκεῖνος τοίνυν εἰδὼς ὅσα μὲν ἐθρύλησε καθ' ἡμῶν Ἀρχὰφ ὁ καὶ Ἰωάννης περὶ φόνου, καὶ μαθὼν ὅτι ζῇ Ἀρσένιος, γράφει ταῦτα·
Κυρίῳ ἀγαπητῷ υἱῷ καὶ ὁμοψύχῳ συλλειτουργῷ Ἀθανασίῳ Ἀλέξανδρος ἐπίσκοπος ἐν κυρίῳ χαίρειν. Συγχαίρω τῷ βελτίστῳ Σαραπίωνι οὕτως ἱεροῖς ἑαυτὸν ἤθεσι κοσμεῖν ἀγωνιζο μένῳ καὶ τήν [τε] τοῦ πατρὸς μνήμην ἐγκωμιαστικώτερον ἐπαύξοντι. «ἐτελεύτησε γάρ», ὥς που ἡ ἱερά φησι γραφή, «ὁ πατὴρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὡς οὐκ ἀπέθανε», κατέλιπε γὰρ τῷ βίῳ μνη μόσυνον. ὅπως μὲν οὖν διεκείμεθα περὶ τὸν μνήμης ἄξιον Σώζοντα, οὐδ' αὐτὸς ἀγνοεῖς, δέσποτα, τὴν περὶ ἐκεῖνον ἱερὰν μνήμην καὶ τὴν προσοῦσαν τῷ νεωτέρῳ ἐπιείκειαν. μίαν μόνην τὴν διὰ τοῦ νεωτέρου τούτου ἐδεξάμην παρὰ τῆς σεμνότητός σου ἐπιστολήν. ἐδήλωσα οὖν σοι αὐτὸ τοῦτο, ἵν' εἰδέναι ἔχοις, δέσποτα. ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἡμῶν καὶ συνδιάκονος Μακάριος εὔφρανέ με ἀπὸ τῆς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως γράψας, ὅπως Ἀρχὰφ ὁ συκοφάντης ἠσχημόνησε τὸν ζῶντα ὡς φονευθέντα παρὰ πᾶσι κηρύξας. ὅτι γὰρ τὴν ἐπὶ τοῖς τολμηθεῖσιν αὐτῷ ἀξίαν εἴσπραξιν κομιεῖται παρὰ τοῦ δικαίου κριτοῦ μετὰ τοῦ ὁμοτρόπου στίφους, αἱ ἀψευδεῖς ἀναφωνοῦσι γραφαί. ὁ τῶν ὅλων διατηροίη σε ἐπὶ μήκιστον δεσπότης, κύριε πάντων χάριν χρηστότατε.
Ὅτι δὲ ἐκρύπτετο Ἀρσένιος διὰ τοῦτο, ἵνα θάνατον οὗτοι πλάσωνται, τοῦτο μαρτυροῦσιν οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ διατρίψαντες· ζητοῦντες γὰρ αὐτὸν εὕρομεν τοῦτον, καὶ ἔργαψε ὁ Πίννης πρὸς Ἰωάννην τὸν ὑποκρινόμενον τὴν τοιαύτην συκοφαντίαν ταῦτα· 67.2ν Τῷ ἀγαπητῷ ἀδελφῷ Ἰωάννῃ Πίννης πρεσβύτερος μονῆς Πτεμενκύρκεως τοῦ Ἀντεοπολίτου νομοῦ χαίρειν. Γινώσκειν σε θέλω ὅτι ἀπέστειλεν Ἀθανάσιος εἰς τὴν Θηβαίδα διάκονον ἑαυτοῦ ἐρευνῆσαι πάντα ἕνεκεν Ἀρσενίου. καὶ πρῶτον μὲν εὑρεθέντες Πεκύσιος πρεσβύτερος καὶ Σιλβανὸς ὁ ἀδελφὸς Ἠλία καὶ Ταπενακεραμεὺς καὶ Παῦλος μοναχὸς ἀπὸ Ὑψηλῆς ὡμολόγησαν ὅτι παρ' ἡμῖν ἐστιν Ἀρσένιος, ἡμεῖς δὲ μαθόντες πεποιήκαμεν αὐτὸν ἐμ βληθῆναι εἰς πλοῖον καὶ πλεῦσαι εἰς τὰ κάτω μέρη μετὰ Ἠλία μοναχοῦ. καὶ ἐξαίφνης μετὰ ταῦτα πάλιν ἀνελθὼν ὁ διάκονος μετά τινων ἐπιστὰς ἐν τῇ μονῇ ἡμῶν ἕνεκεν τοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἀρσενίου αὐτὸν μὲν οὐχ εὕρηκεν διὰ τὸ ἀπεσταλκέναι ἡμᾶς αὐτόν, ὡς προείπομεν, ἐν τοῖς κάτω μέρεσιν, ἐμὲ δὲ μετὰ τοῦ μοναχοῦ τοῦ παραλαβόντος αὐτὸν Ἠλία κατήνεγκαν εἰς τὴν Ἀλεξάνδρειαν καὶ προσήνεγκάν με τῷ δουκί, καὶ οὐκ ἴσχυσα ἀρνήσασθαι, ἀλλ' ὡμολόγησα, ὅτι ζῇ καὶ οὐκ ἀνῃρέθη. τὰ αὐτὰ δὲ καὶ ὁ παραλαβὼν αὐτὸν μοναχὸς ὡμολόγησε. διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτά σοι γνωρίζω, πάτερ, ἵνα μὴ δόξῃ σοι κατηγορῆσαι Ἀθανασίου· εἶπον γὰρ ὅτι ζῇ καὶ παρ' ἡμῖν ἦν κρυπτόμενος. καὶ ἐγνωρίσθη πάντα ταῦτα ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ οὐκέτι δύναται κρυβῆναι τοῦτο. Παφνούτιος μοναχὸς τῆς αὐτῆς μονῆς ὁ γράψας τὴν ἐπιστολὴν πολλά σε ἀσπάζομαι, ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι.
Ἃ δὲ καὶ βασιλεὺς ἔγραψε μαθὼν ὅτι εὑρέθη Ἀρσένιος ζῶν, ἔστι ταῦτα· Νικητὴς Κωνσταντῖνος Μέγιστος Σεβαστὸς τῷ πάπᾳ Ἀθανασίῳ. Τοῖς παρὰ τῆς σῆς συνέσεως ἐντυχὼν γράμμασι ταύτης γνώμης αὐτὸς ἐγενόμην, ὡς ἀντιγράφων τῇ σῇ στερρότητι προτρέψασθαί σε, ὅπως πρὸς εὐταξίαν καὶ οἶκτον τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ λαὸν ἄγειν σπουδάσῃς. ταῦτα γὰρ μάλιστα προηγούμενα ἐν τῇ ἐμαυτοῦ ψυχῇ κατέχω, ὡς ἀλήθειάν τε ἀσκεῖν καὶ ἐν τῇ διανοίᾳ δικαιοσύνην ἀεὶ φυλάττειν καὶ τούτοις μάλιστα χαίρειν τοῖς ὀρθὴν ὁδὸν τοῦ βίου πορευομένοις. περὶ δὲ ἐκείνων τῶν πάσης ἀρᾶς ἀξίων, τῶν Μελιτιανῶν δηλαδὴ τῶν σκαιοτάτων καὶ ἀθεμίτων, οἵτινες τῇ ἐμπληξίᾳ λοιπὸν ἀπονεναρκήκασι καὶ μόνον φθόνῳ καὶ ζάλῃ καὶ θορύβοις τὰ ἄτοπα κινοῦσι τὴν ἀθέμιτον αὐτῶν διάνοιαν ἐπιδεικνύντες, ταῦτα φθέγξομαι. ὁρᾷς γάρ, ὅπως οἱ ἄνδρες, οὓς ἐκεῖνοι ξίφει ἀνῃρῆσθαι ἔφασκον, ἐν μέσοις νῦν εἰσι καὶ τῆς ζωῆς ἀπολαύουσι. πρὸς δὴ ταῦτα τί ἂν γένοιτο πρόκριμα χεῖρον οὕτω φανερῶς καὶ σαφῶς ἐπιφερόμενον τῇ ἐκείνων δίκῃ, ἢ τὸ τούτους, οὓς ἀνῃρῆσθαι ἔλεγον, ζῆν τε καὶ τοῦ βίου ἀπολαύειν, οἵτινες δηλονότι καὶ ὑπὲρ ἑαυτῶν φθέγξασθαι δυνήσονται; προσέκειτο δὲ καὶ τοῖς παρὰ τῶν Μελιτιανῶν ἐκείνων καὶ τοῦτο. διεβεβαιοῦντο γὰρ ἀθεμίτῳ ὁρμῇ ἐπεισελθόντα σε καὶ ἁρπάσαντα ποτήριον ἐν τῷ ἁγιωτάτῳ ἀποκείμενον τόπῳ κεκλακέναι, οὗ πράγ ματος ἀληθῶς οὐδὲν μεῖζον ἦν ἔγκλημα οὔτε τηλικοῦτον ἀτόπημα, εἰ τοῦτο οὕτως πε πρᾶχθαί τε καὶ ἡμαρτῆσθαι συνέβαινεν. ἀλλὰ γὰρ τίς ἡ κατηγορία αὕτη; τίς δὲ ἡ μετά βασις καὶ ποικιλία τοῦ πράγματος, ὡς νῦν εἰς ἕτερον πρόσωπον τὴν κατηγορίαν τοῦ ἐγκλήματος τούτου μετάγειν; ὅπερ δηλονότι πρᾶγμα αὐτοῦ τοῦ φωτὸς ὡς εἰπεῖν ἐστὶ τηλαυγέστερον, ὅτι τῇ σῇ συνέσει ἐπιβουλεῦσαι ἐσπούδαζον. μετὰ δὴ ταῦτα τίς ἂν ἐκείνοις τοῖς ἀνθρώποις τοῖς τοσαῦτα εἰς βλάβην ἀναπλασαμένοις ἀκολουθῆσαι ἐθελή σειεν; ὅταν μάλιστα αὐτοὶ ἑαυτοὺς εἰς ὄλεθρον ἄγωσι καὶ συνορῶσιν ὅτι πεπλασμένων καὶ ψευδῶν πραγμάτων εἰσὶ κατήγοροι; ὡς ἔφην τοίνυν, τίς ἂν ἐκείνοις ἐξακολουθήσειε καὶ εἰς τὴν ὁδὸν τῆς ἀπωλείας πρηνὴς ἀπέλθοι; εἰς ἐκείνην δηλαδὴ εἰς ἣν ἐκεῖνοι μόνοι τὴν ἐλπίδα τῆς σωτηρίας καὶ τῆς ἐπικουρίας ἔχειν οἴονται. εἰ γὰρ βούλοιντο ἐπὶ καθαρὰν ἐλθεῖν συνείδησιν καὶ ὑπομνησθῆναι τῆς ἀρίστης γνώμης καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν ὑγιαίνουσαν ἐλθεῖν διάνοιαν, ῥᾳδίως γνώσονται οὐδεμίαν αὐτοῖς ὑπάρχειν ἐπικουρίαν παρὰ τῆς προνοίας, ἐπειδήπερ τοιούτων εἰσὶ ζηλωταὶ καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ οἰκείῳ ὀλέθρῳ πειράζονται. ταύτην δὴ οὖν οὐ τραχύτητά τινα, ἀλλὰ ἀλήθειαν δικαίως ἂν εἴποιμι. τὸ τελευταῖον δὲ καὶ τοῦτο προστίθημι, ὅτιπερ βουλόμεθα δημοσίᾳ παρὰ τῆς σῆς συνέσεως πολλάκις ἀνα γνωσθῆναι ταῦτα, ὡς ἂν ἐντεῦθεν εἰς τὴν ἁπάντων γνῶσιν ἔλθοι καὶ μάλιστα εἰς τὴν ἐκείνων ἀφικέσθαι δυνηθείη, οἵτινες οὕτω πράττουσιν, οὕτως ἀναστρέφουσιν, ὡς ταῦτα ἅπερ παρ' ἡμῶν δι' εὐθείας λέγεται λόγῳ, τῇ τῆς ἀληθείας εἰρῆσθαι πράξει. ἐπεὶ τοίνυν ἐν τούτῳ τῷ πράγματι τηλικοῦτόν ἐστιν ἀτόπημα, γινωσκέτωσαν οὕτω με κεκρικέναι καὶ ταύτης εἶναι τῆς προαιρέσεως· εἴ τι τοιοῦτον κινοῖεν, μηκέτι λοιπὸν κατὰ τοὺς τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἀλλὰ κατὰ τοὺς δημοσίους νόμους αὐτόν με δι' ἐμαυτοῦ τῶν πραγ μάτων ἀκροασόμενον καὶ λοιπὸν εὑρήσοντα αὐτοὺς ὅτι μὴ μόνον κατὰ τοῦ ἀνθρωπίνου γένους λῃσταί τινες ὄντες, ἀλλὰ γὰρ καὶ κατ' αὐτῆς τῆς θείας διδασκαλίας φαίνονται. ὁ θεός σε διαφυλάξει, ἀδελφὲ ἀγαπητέ.
Ὑπὲρ δὲ τοῦ καὶ πλέον δειχθῆναι τὴν πονηρίαν τῶν συκοφαντῶν, ἰδοὺ καὶ ἔγραψεν Ἀρσένιος μετὰ τὸ εὑρεθῆναι κρυπτόμενον αὐτόν. ὡς γὰρ Ἰσχύρας ἔγραψεν ὁμολογῶν τὴν συκοφαντίαν, οὕτως Ἀρσένιος γράφων ἐλέγχει πλέον ἐκείνων τὴν κακοήθειαν. Ἀθανασίῳ μακαρίῳ πάπᾳ Ἀρσένιος ἐπίσκοπος [τῶν ποτε ὑπὸ Μελίτιον] τῆς Ὑψηλιτῶν πόλεως ἅμα πρεσβυτέροις καὶ διακόνοις ἐν κυρίῳ πλεῖστα χαίρειν. ... Καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀσπαζόμενοι τὴν εἰρήνην καὶ ἕνωσιν πρὸς τὴν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν, ἧς σὺ κατὰ χάριν θεοῦ προίστασαι, προῃρημένοι τε τῷ ἐκκλησιαστικῷ κανόνι κατὰ τὸν παλαιὸν τύπον ὑποτάσσεσθαι, γράφομέν σοι, ἀγαπητὲ πάπα, ὁμολογοῦντες ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τοῦ λοιποῦ μὴ κοινωνήσειν τοῖς ἔτι σχίζουσι καὶ μηδέπω εἰρηνεύουσι πρὸς τὴν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἐπισκόποις τε καὶ πρεσβυτέροις καὶ διακόνοις μήτε συνθέσθαι αὐτοῖς βουλομένοις τι ἐν συνόδῳ μήτε γράμματα εἰρηνικὰ ἀποστέλλειν μήτε δέξασθαι παρ' αὐτῶν μηδ' αὖ δίχα γνώμης σου τοῦ τῆς μητροπόλεως ἐπισκόπου ὅρον τινὰ ἐκφέρειν περὶ ἐπι σκόπων ἢ περὶ δόγματος ἑτέρου κοινοῦ ἐκκλησιαστικοῦ, ἀλλ' εἴκειν πᾶσι τοῖς προτετυπω μένοις κανόσι καθ' ὁμοιότητα τῶν ἐπισκόπων Ἀμμωνιανοῦ καὶ Τυράννου καὶ Πλουσιανοῦ καὶ τῶν λοιπῶν ἐπισκόπων. πρὸς ταῦτα οὖν ἀξιοῦμεν τὴν σὴν χρηστότητα ἀντι γράψαι μὲν ἡμῖν διὰ τάχους ὡσαύτως τε καὶ τοῖς συλλειτουργοῖς περὶ ἡμῶν ὅτι εἴημεν ἤδη ἐπὶ τοῖς προειρημένοις ὅροις εἰρηνεύσαντες πρὸς τὴν καθολικὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ ἑνω θέντες τοῖς συλλειτουργοῖς ἐπὶ τῶν τόπων· πιστεύομεν δέ, ὡς αἱ εὐχαί σου ἐνεργήσουσιν εὐπρόσδεκτοι οὖσαι, ὥστε τὴν τοιαύτην εἰρήνην βεβαίαν καὶ ἀδιάλυτον εἶναι μέχρι τέλους κατὰ τὸ βούλημα τοῦ δεσπότου τῶν ἁπάντων θεοῦ διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν. τὸ ὑπὸ σὲ ἱερατεῖον ἡμεῖς καὶ οἱ σὺν ἡμῖν προσαγορεύομεν. ὅσον δὲ οὐδέπω θεοῦ ἐπιτρέποντος ἀπαντήσομεν πρὸς τὴν σὴν χρηστότητα. Ἀρσένιος ἐρρῶσθαί σε εὔχομαι ἐν κυρίῳ πολλοῖς χρόνοις, μακαριώτατε πάπα.
Μείζων δὲ καὶ φανερώτερος ἔλεγχος τῆς καθ' ἡμῶν συκοφαντίας ἡ μετάνοια Ἰω άννου, καὶ τούτου μάρτυς ὁ θεοφιλέστατος καὶ μακαρίας μνήμης βασιλεὺς Κωνσταντῖνος. εἰδὼς γάρ, ἅπερ Ἰωάννης κατ' αὐτοῦ κατηγόρησε, καὶ δεξάμενος γράμματα μεταγινώ σκοντος αὐτοῦ ἔγραψε ταῦτα· Κωνσταντῖνος Μέγιστος Σεβαστὸς Ἰωάννῃ. Πάνυ μοι καταθύμια γέγονε τὰ παρὰ τῆς σῆς φρονήσεως γράμματα. ἔγνων γὰρ ἐξ αὐτῶν, ἃ μάλιστα γνῶναι ἐπόθουν, πᾶσαν μὲν μικροψυχίαν ἀποτεθεῖσθαί σε, τῇ δὲ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ὡς προσῆκον ἦν, κεκοινωνηκέναι καὶ Ἀθανασίῳ τῷ αἰδεσιμωτάτῳ ἐπισκόπῳ ἐς τὰ μάλιστα εἰς ὁμόνοιαν ἐλθεῖν. εὖ ἴσθι τοίνυν, ὡς ἕνεκά γε τούτων πάνυ σε ἐπαινέσας ἔχω, ὅτι πᾶσαν ἀφεὶς ἁψιμαχίαν, ὃ τῷ θεῷ φίλον ἦν, πεποίηκας τῆς πρὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἑνώσεως ἀντιλαμβανόμενος. ἵνα τοίνυν καὶ ὧν ἐπιθυμεῖς τετυχηκέναι δοκοίης, ἐπιτρέψαι σοι δεῖν ᾠήθην ὀχήματος ἐπιβῆναι δημοσίου καὶ εἰς τὸ στρατόπεδον τῆς ἐμῆς ἡμερότητος σπουδάσαι. σὸν λοιπὸν ἔστω μηδὲν μελλῆσαι, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐπιστολῆς σοι ταύτης ὀχήματος δημοσίου ἐξουσίαν χορηγούσης εὐθέως πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀφικέσθαι, ἵνα καὶ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἐμπλήσῃς τὴν σαυτοῦ καὶ θεασάμενος ἡμᾶς τῆς προσηκούσης ἀπολαύσῃς εὐφροσύνης. ὁ θεός σε διαφυλάξει, ἀδελφὲ ἀγαπητέ.