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

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 been summoned by anyone at all, did they write, but of their own will they went up to Rome, and in the church, where there was no fear from without, but only the fear of God is and each has free choice, they repented and wrote of their own accord. And yet, having become Arians a second time, devising such an unseemly pretext again, they do not blush. 30.1 Then approaching him together they besought the Emperor Constantius, saying, "Even at the first when we made our request we were not believed; for we said, when you were sending for Athanasius, that in summoning him you are casting out our heresy. For this man from the beginning 30.2 has been against it, and he does not cease anathematizing it. He therefore has already filled every place writing against us, and most people are in communion with him, and of those who seemed to be with us, some have been added to him, and others are about to be; but we have been left alone. And there is a fear lest the heresy become known, and henceforth we and you be called heretics. And if this should happen, see that we are not reckoned with the Manichees. Begin therefore to persecute again, and stand up for the heresy; for it too has you 30.3 as emperor." Such then were their words of villainy. And he, while passing through, when he was hastening against Magnentius, and seeing the communion of the bishops with Athanasius, as if set on fire, changed his mind, and neither remembered his oaths, but also forgot what he had written, and became unmindful of his duties to his brother. For he had made oaths both in writing to him and after seeing Athanasius, that he would not act otherwise than as the people wished and might be agreeable to the bishop 30.4. But his zeal for impiety made him forget all things at once. But one should not be surprised if Constantius changed after so many letters and so many oaths, seeing that even Pharaoh, the tyrant of Egypt at that time, though often promising, and on this account receiving a respite from his torments, changed his mind, until at last he perished along with those who were of the same mind with him. 31.1 These then he first compelled to change their minds, city by city, and being then at Arles and Milan, he acted as the heretics advised and suggested, or rather, so also did they themselves act, and leap upon all, 31.2 having the authority. And immediately here there were commands and letters to the Prefect, that for the time being the corn should be taken away from Athanasius and be given to those who hold the opinions of Arius, and that those who wished should have license to insult those who assembled with him. And there was a threat to the magistrates, if they did not hold assemblies with the Arians. But these were the preludes to the things that were done 31.3 afterwards by the Duke Syrianus. And again to the parts abroad there were commands, and notaries from city to city and palace officials were sent bearing threats both to the bishops and to the magistrates, in order that the magistrates should press the matter, and that the bishops should either write against Athanasius, being in communion with the Arians, or else should themselves endure the punishment of exile, and that the people who assembled with these should know that there would be against them bonds and insults and scourgings 31.4 and the confiscation of their private property. And the command was not neglected; for those who were sent had with them clergy of Ursacius and Valens, in order both to exasperate and to accuse the negligent magistrates to the emperor. And they permitted the heresies, as lesser sisters of their own, to blaspheme against the Lord, but they plotted against Christians alone, not bearing to hear pious words concerning Christ. How many bishops, therefore, according to what is written, "were brought before governors and kings," 31.5 and heard from the magistrates: "Either subscribe, or depart from the churches, for you are to be deposed

11

παρόντος, οὐ παλατινῶν ἢ νοταρίων ἀποσταλέντων, ὁποῖα νῦν αὐτοὶ ποιοῦσιν, ἀλλ' οὐδὲ βασιλέως παρόντος οὐδὲ ὅλως κληθέντες παρά τινος ἔγραψαν, ἀλλ' αὐτοὶ θέλοντες ἀνῆλθον εἰς τὴν Ῥώμην καὶ ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, ἔνθα φόβος μὲν ἔξωθεν οὐκ ἦν, μόνος δὲ ὁ τοῦ θεοῦ φόβος ἐστὶ καὶ ἐλευθέραν ἕκαστος ἔχει τὴν προαίρεσιν δι' ἑαυτῶν μετενόησαν καὶ ἔγραψαν. καὶ ὅμως Ἀρειανοὶ δεύτερον γενόμενοι τοιαύτην πάλιν ἀπρεπῆ πρόφασιν ἐπινοήσαντες οὐκ ἐρυθριῶσιν. 30.1 Ἔπειτα κοινῇ προσελθόντες παρεκάλουν τὸν βασιλέα Κωνστάντιον λέγοντες «καὶ τὸ πρῶτον ἀξιοῦντες οὐκ ἐπιστεύθημεν· ἐλέγομεν γάρ, ὅτε μετεπέμπου τὸν Ἀθα νάσιον, ὅτι τοῦτον προσκαλούμενος τὴν ἡμετέραν αἵρεσιν ἐκβάλλεις. οὗτος γὰρ ἐξ ἀρχῆς 30.2 κατ' αὐτῆς γέγονε καὶ οὐ παύεται ταύτην οὗτος ἀναθεματίζων. αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν ἤδη πεπλήρωκε τὰ πανταχοῦ γράφων καθ' ἡμῶν, καὶ οἱ μὲν πλεῖστοι τὴν μετ' αὐτοῦ κοι νωνίαν ἔχουσι, τῶν δὲ καὶ δοξάντων μεθ' ἡμῶν εἶναι οἱ μὲν προσετέθησαν αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ μέλλουσιν· ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐμείναμεν μόνοι. καὶ φόβος μὴ καὶ ἡ αἵρεσις γνωσθῇ καὶ λοιπὸν ἡμεῖς καὶ σὺ χρηματίσωμεν αἱρετικοί. κἂν τοῦτο γένηται, σκόπει μὴ μετὰ Μανιχαίων λογισθῶμεν. ἄρξαι πάλιν οὖν διώκειν καὶ πρόστα τῆς αἱρέσεως· καὶ γὰρ καὶ αὕτη σὲ 30.3 βασιλέα ἔχει.» τοιαῦτα μὲν οὖν ἦν τούτων τὰ τῆς πανουργίας ῥήματα. καὶ αὐτὸς δὲ διερχόμενος, ὅτε πρὸς Μαγνέντιον ἔσπευδε, καὶ βλέπων τὴν πρὸς Ἀθανάσιον τῶν ἐπισκόπων κοινωνίαν, ὡς ὑπὸ πυρὸς ἀναφθεὶς μετεβάλλετο τὴν γνώμην καὶ οὔτε τῶν ὅρκων ἐμνημόνευσεν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧν ἔγραψεν ἐπελάθετο καὶ τῶν πρὸς τὸν ἀδελφὸν καθη κόντων ἀγνώμων γέγονε. καὶ γὰρ καὶ αὐτῷ γράφων καὶ Ἀθανάσιον ἑωρακὼς ὅρκους δέδωκε, μὴ ἄλλως ποιήσειν, ἢ ὡς ἂν ὁ λαὸς βούληται καὶ τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ καταθυμίως 30.4 τυγχάνοι. ἀλλ' ἡ πρὸς τὴν ἀσέβειαν σπουδὴ πάντων ἀθρόως αὐτὸν ἐπιλαθέσθαι πεποίηκεν. οὐ δεῖ δὲ θαυμάζειν, εἰ μετὰ τοσαῦτα γράμματα καὶ τοσούτους ὅρκους ἠλλοιώθη Κωνστάντιος, ὅπουγε καὶ ὁ τῆς Αἰγύπτου τότε τύραννος Φαραὼ πολλάκις ἐπαγγελ λόμενος καὶ διὰ τοῦτο λαμβάνων τῶν βασάνων ἄνεσιν μετετίθετο, ἕως εἰς τέλος ἀπώλετο σὺν αὐτοῖς τοῖς ὁμονοήσασιν αὐτῷ. 31.1 Τούτους μὲν οὖν κατὰ πόλιν πρῶτον ἐβιάζετο μετατίθεσθαι, γενόμενος δὲ ἐν τῇ Ἀρελατῷ καὶ τῇ Μεδιολάνῳ λοιπόν, ὡς οἱ αἱρετικοὶ συνεβούλευσαν καὶ ὑπέθεντο, οὕτως αὐτὸς ἔπραττε, μᾶλλον δὲ οὕτως καὶ αὐτοὶ διεπράττοντο καὶ ἐνήλλοντο κατὰ πάντων 31.2 ἔχοντες τὴν ἐξουσίαν. καὶ εὐθὺς ὧδε μὲν ἐντολαὶ καὶ γράμματα πρὸς τὸν ἔπαρχον, ἵνα τέως ὁ σῖτος ἀφαιρεθῇ παρὰ Ἀθανασίου καὶ δοθῇ τοῖς τὰ Ἀρείου φρονοῦσι, καὶ ἵνα ἐξῇ ὑβρίζειν τοῖς βουλομένοις τοὺς μετ' αὐτοῦ συναγομένους. ἀπειλή τε ἦν τοῖς δικασταῖς, εἰ μὴ συνάγοιντο μετὰ τῶν Ἀρειανῶν. ἦν δὲ ταῦτα προοίμια τῶν μετὰ 31.3 ταῦτα γενομένων διὰ τοῦ δουκὸς Συριανοῦ. εἰς δὲ τὰ ἔξω μέρη προστάγματα πάλιν, καὶ νοτάριοι κατὰ πόλιν καὶ παλατινοὶ φέροντες ἀπειλὰς ἀπεστέλλοντο πρός τε τοὺς ἐπισκόπους καὶ τοὺς δικαστάς, ἵν' οἱ μὲν δικασταὶ ἐπείγωσιν, οἱ δὲ ἐπίσκοποι ἢ ἵνα κατὰ Ἀθανασίου γράφωσι κοινωνίαν ἔχοντες πρὸς τοὺς Ἀρειανοὺς ἢ τιμωρίαν αὐτοὶ μὲν ὑπομένωσιν ἐξοριστίας, οἱ δὲ τούτοις συνερχόμενοι λαοὶ δεσμὰ καὶ ὕβρεις καὶ πληγὰς 31.4 κατ' αὐτῶν καὶ ἀφαίρεσιν τῶν ἰδίων ὑπαρχόντων ἔσεσθαι γινώσκοιεν. οὐκ ἠμελεῖτο δὲ τὸ πρόσταγμα· καὶ γὰρ εἶχον οἱ ἀποσταλέντες μεθ' ἑαυτῶν κληρικοὺς Οὐρσακίου καὶ Οὐάλεντος, ἵνα καὶ παροξύνωσι καὶ ἀμελοῦντας τοὺς δικαστὰς κατενέγκωσι τῷ βασιλεῖ. καὶ τὰς μὲν αἱρέσεις ὡς μικροτέρας ἑαυτῶν ἀδελφὰς συνεχώρουν βλασφημεῖν εἰς τὸν κύριον, μόνοις δὲ τοῖς Χριστιανοῖς ἐπεβούλευον οὐ φέροντες ἀκούειν περὶ Χριστοῦ λόγων εὐσεβῶν. πόσοι τοιγαροῦν ἐπίσκοποι κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον «ἐπὶ ἡγεμόνας καὶ βασιλέας ἤχθησαν» 31.5 καὶ παρὰ δικαστῶν ἤκουσαν· «ἢ ὑπογράψατε ἢ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ἀναχωρεῖτε, καθαιρεθῆναι γὰρ ὑμᾶς

11