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

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 varied in nothing they have now been left unwritten.) Another letter. Victor Constantius Augustus to Nestorius, Prefect of Egypt. It is manifest that before this an order of ours was issued, so that certain letters against the reputation of Athanasius, the most reverend bishop, should be found, and it is established that these are in the office of your devotion. We wish therefore, that your sobriety, which has been approved by us, should send to our court all the letters whatsoever that have been written concerning the name of the aforementioned person in the office under you, in accordance with this our command. 24.1 And what he wrote after the death of the blessed Constans, are these things, written in Latin, but translated into Greek: 24.2ν Victor Constantius Augustus to Athanasius. That I have always had this prayer, that all things might turn out according to the wish of my late brother Constans, has not escaped your understanding; and in how great a grief I was placed on learning that he had been slain by some most unholy men, your prudence can again conjecture. 24.3 Since, therefore, there are some who in the present time, a time so mournful, are attempting to frighten you, for this reason I have deemed it right that these letters be given to your steadfastness, exhorting you that, as befits a bishop, you teach the people the things owed to the divine religion and with them be at leisure as usual for prayers, and that you not believe in vain rumors, should any 24.4 arise. For this is fixed in our soul, that we wish you to be bishop in your place forever, in accordance with our choice. May divine providence preserve you for many years, most beloved father. 25.1 When these things had been so done, and they had so arranged matters, and had at length set out on their way, his friends, seeing their friend, rejoiced; but of the others, some were abashed at seeing him, others, not having boldness, hid themselves, and others repented of what they had written 25.2 against the bishop. At any rate, all the bishops from Palestine, except two or three, who were themselves under suspicion, so received Athanasius and welcomed communion with him, as even to write and make an apology, that what 25.3 they had formerly written, they had done not of their own choice, but under compulsion. For concerning the bishops in Egypt and the Libyas, and the peoples in them and in Alexandria, it is superfluous even to speak, since all ran together and had unspeakable joy, not only because they were receiving their own people alive beyond expectation, but also because they were being delivered from the heretics as from tyrants and raging dogs. Great, therefore, was the gladness 25.4 of the peoples in their assemblies, provoking one another to virtue. How many of the unmarried who were formerly ready for marriage remained virgins for Christ; how many younger men, seeing others, loved the solitary life; how many fathers exhorted their children; and how many were asked by their children not to be hindered from the ascetic discipline in Christ; how many women persuaded their husbands, and how many were persuaded by their husbands to "be at leisure for prayer," as the apostle said; how many widows, and how many orphans who were formerly hungry and naked, because of the great eagerness of the peoples, no longer hungered, 25.5 but also came forth clothed. And in general, there was so great a contest for virtue, that each household and each person's house was considered to be a church, on account of the inhabitants' love of what is good and their prayer to God. And there was a deep and wonderful peace in the churches, as bishops from all quarters wrote and received from Athanasius the customary letters of peace. 26.1 For indeed Ursacius and Valens, as if scourged by conscience, repented and write to the bishop himself a friendly and peaceful letter, although not

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Ἀλεξανδρείας λαόν. Σκοπὸν ποιούμενοι τὴν ὑμετέραν ἐν ἅπασιν εὐνομίαν ... (Ἐγράφη καὶ αὕτη ὁμοίως εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν ξεʹ λόγον καὶ διὰ τὸ μηδὲν παραλάσσειν κατελείφθησαν νῦν ἄγραφοι.) Ἑτέρα ἐπιστολή Νικητὴς Κωνστάντιος Αὔγουστος Νεστορίῳ ἐπάρχῳ Αἰγύπτου. Φανερόν ἐστι πρὸ τούτου πρόσταξιν ἡμετέραν γεγενῆσθαι, ὥστε κατὰ τῆς ὑπο λήψεως Ἀθανασίου τοῦ αἰδεσιμωτάτου ἐπισκόπου γράμματά τινα εὑρίσκεσθαι, ταῦτά τε συνέστηκεν ἐν τῇ τάξει τῆς σῆς καθοσιώσεως εἶναι. βουλόμεθα τοιγαροῦν, ἵνα ἡ δεδοκιμασμένη ἡμῖν νηφαλιότης σου πάσας τὰς ἐπιστολὰς ὅσας ἂν περὶ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ προειρημένου γενομένας ἐν τῇ ὑπὸ σὲ τάξει ἀκολούθως τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ ταύτῃ κελεύσει εἰς τὸ ἡμέτερον κομητάτον ἀποστείλῃ. 24.1 Ἃ δὲ καὶ μετὰ θάνατον τοῦ μακαρίου Κώνσταντος ἔγραψεν, ἔστι ταῦτα, Ῥωμαιστὶ μὲν γραφέντα, ἑρμηνευθέντα δὲ Ἑλληνιστί· 24.2ν Νικητὴς Κωνστάντιος Αὔγουστος Ἀθανασίῳ. Εὐχὴν ἀεί μοι ταύτην γεγενῆσθαι, ὥστε πάντα καταθυμίως ἀποβαίνειν τῷ ποτέ μου ἀδελφῷ Κώνσταντι, οὐδὲ τὴν σὴν σύνεσιν ἔλαθεν· ἐν ὅσῃ τε λύπῃ διετέθην μαθὼν τοῦτον ἀνῃρῆσθαι παρά τινων ἀνοσιωτάτων, στοχάζεσθαι πάλιν δύναται ἡ σὴ φρόνησις. 24.3 ἐπεὶ οὖν τινές εἰσιν οἱ ἐν τῷ παρόντι καιρῷ, τῷ οὕτω πενθικῷ, πειρώμενοί σε ἐκφοβεῖν, διὰ τοῦτο ταῦτα πρὸς τὴν σὴν στερρότητα δοθῆναι τὰ γράμματα ἐδικαίωσα προτρε πόμενός σε, ἵνα, ὡς πρέπει ἐπίσκοπον, τοὺς λαοὺς τὰ ὀφειλόμενα τῇ θείᾳ θρησκείᾳ διδάσκῃς καὶ μετ' αὐτῶν συνήθως εὐχαῖς σχολάζῃς καὶ μὴ ματαίοις θρύλοις, εἴτινες ἂν 24.4 γένοιντο, πιστεύσῃς. ἡμῖν γὰρ τοῦτο ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ πέπηγεν, ὥστε σε ἀκολούθως τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ προαιρέσει διαπαντὸς ἐν τῷ τόπῳ σου θέλειν ἐπίσκοπον εἶναι. ἡ θεία πρό νοια πολλοῖς ἔτεσί σε διατηροίη, γονεῦ προσφιλέστατε. 25.1 Τούτων οὕτω πραχθέντων οὕτω τε συνταξαμένων καὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ λοιπὸν ἐπιβάντων οἱ μὲν φίλοι φίλον ὁρῶντες ἔχαιρον, τῶν δὲ ἄλλων οἱ μὲν ἐδυσωποῦντο βλέποντες αὐτόν, οἱ δὲ καὶ παρρησίαν οὐκ ἔχοντες ἐκρύπτοντο, οἱ δὲ καὶ μετεγίνωσκον ἐφ' οἷς ἔγραψαν 25.2 κατὰ τοῦ ἐπισκόπου. πάντες γοῦν οἱ ἀπὸ Παλαιστίνης ἐπίσκοποι χωρὶς δύο που ἢ τριῶν καὶ αὐτῶν ὑπόπτων τυγχανόντων οὕτω τὸν Ἀθανάσιον ὑπεδέξαντο καὶ τὴν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἠσπάσαντο κοινωνίαν, ὡς καὶ γράψαι καὶ ἀπολογήσασθαι, ὅτι, ἃ 25.3 πρότερον ἔγραψαν, οὐ κατὰ προαίρεσιν, ἀλλὰ βιαζόμενοι πεποιήκασι. περὶ γὰρ τῶν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ καὶ ταῖς Λιβύαις ἐπισκόπων καὶ τῶν ἐν αὐταῖς καὶ τῶν ἐν Ἀλεξανδρείᾳ λαῶν περιττόν ἐστι καὶ λέγειν, πάντων συντρεχόντων καὶ ἀνεκλάλητον ἐχόντων τὴν χαράν, οὐχ ὅτι μόνον τοὺς ἰδίους παρ' ἐλπίδα ζῶντας ἀπελάμβανον, ἀλλ' ὅτι καὶ τῶν αἱρετικῶν ὡς τυράννων καὶ λυττώντων κυνῶν ἀπηλλάττοντο. μεγάλη γοῦν ἦν εὐφρο 25.4 σύνη τῶν λαῶν ἐν ταῖς συνάξεσι παροξυνόντων ἀλλήλους εἰς ἀρετήν. πόσαι τῶν ἀγάμων πρότερον οὖσαι πρὸς γάμον ἕτοιμοι ἔμειναν παρθένοι τῷ Χριστῷ· πόσοι νεώ τεροι βλέποντες ἑτέρους τὸν μονήρη βίον ἠγάπησαν· πόσοι πατέρες προέτρεπον τέκνα· πόσοι δὲ καὶ παρὰ τέκνων ἠξιώθησαν, μὴ ἐμποδίζεσθαι τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ ἀσκήσεως· πόσαι γυναῖκες ἔπεισαν ἄνδρας, πόσαι δὲ καὶ παρὰ ἀνδρῶν ἐπείσθησαν «σχολάζειν τῇ προσευχῇ», ὡς εἶπεν ὁ ἀπόστολος· πόσαι χῆραι, πόσοι δὲ καὶ ὀρφανοὶ τὸ πρότερον πεινῶντες καὶ γυμνοὶ τυγχάνοντες ἐκ πολλῆς τῆς τῶν λαῶν προθυμίας οὔτε λοιπὸν ἐπείνων, 25.5 ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐνδεδυμένοι προήρχοντο. καὶ ὅλως τοσαύτη ἦν ἅμιλλα περὶ ἀρετήν, ὡς ἑκάστην οἰκίαν καὶ οἶκον ἑκάστου νομίζειν ἐκκλησίαν εἶναι διὰ τὴν τῶν ἐνοικούντων φιλοκαλίαν τε καὶ τὴν πρὸς τὸν θεὸν εὐχήν. εἰρήνη τε ἦν ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις βαθεῖα καὶ θαυμαστὴ γραφόντων τῶν πανταχόθεν ἐπισκόπων καὶ δεχομένων παρὰ Ἀθανασίου τὰ συνήθη τῆς εἰρήνης γράμματα. 26.1 Καὶ γὰρ καὶ Οὐρσάκιος καὶ Οὐάλης ὥσπερ ὑπὸ τοῦ συνειδότος μαστιζόμενοι μετ έγνωσαν καὶ γράφουσι μὲν αὐτῷ τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ φιλικὴν καὶ εἰρηνικὴν ἐπιστολήν, καίτοι μὴ

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