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

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 that you are a mortal man. Be afraid of the day 44.7 of judgment; keep yourself pure for that day. Do not intrude yourself into Ecclesiastical matters, nor give commands to us concerning them; but rather learn them from us. God has put into your hands the kingdom; to us He has entrusted the affairs of the Church. And as he who would steal your empire opposes the ordinance of God, so also fear lest you, by taking upon yourself the government of the Church, become guilty of a great offense. 'Render,' it is written, 'unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.' Neither, therefore, is it permitted to us to rule upon the earth, 44.8 nor have you, O Emperor, authority to burn incense. These things I write out of concern for your salvation. But with regard to what you have written, this is my opinion. I will not consent to the Arians, but I anathematize their heresy. Nor will I write against Athanasius, whom we and the Roman Church and the whole Council have acquitted. And you also, when you understood this, recalled the man, and permitted him to return with honor 44.9 to his country and his Church. What then is the occasion of this great change? For the same enemies who were so before, are his enemies now. And what they now whisper (for they do not speak in his presence), they also slandered him with before you recalled Athanasius. These things they also rumored when they came to the Council, and being required by me, as I said before, to produce their proofs, they were unable to do so; for if 44.10 they had had any, they would not have fled so disgracefully. Who then has persuaded you, after so long a time, to forget your own letters and words? Stop, and do not be persuaded by wicked men, lest you make yourself responsible for their sakes. For in this way you gratify 44.11 them, but at the judgment you alone will have to make your defense. These men wish to wrong their own enemy through you, and they want you to become a servant of their own wickedness, so that through you they may also sow their abominable heresy into the church. But it is not wise for the sake of the pleasure of others to cast oneself into manifest danger. Cease, I beseech you, and be persuaded by me, Constantius. For it is fitting both for me to write these things, and for you not to despise them ... 45.1 These things, then, the Abrahamic old man, who was truly Hosius, both thought and wrote, but the other neither desisted from his plot, nor ceased from seeking a pretext against him, but even persisted terribly with threats, that he might either by compulsion convert him, or banish him if he would not be persuaded. 45.2 Therefore, just as the captains and satraps of Babylon, when seeking a pretext, 'found none against Daniel, except concerning the law of his God,' so also the present satraps of impiety were not able to invent any other charge against the old man (for he who was truly Hosius was known to all, and his life was irreproachable), except his hatred of the heresy. 45.3 They therefore slander him also, not as that man was slandered to Darius (for Darius heard with displeasure the accusation against Daniel), but as Jezebel against Naboth, and as the Jews said to Herod: 'Not only does he not subscribe against Athanasius, but he also condemns us on his account, and he hates the heresy so much that he even writes to others to endure death rather than become betrayers of the truth. For on its account both our beloved Athanasius is persecuted, and Liberius the bishop of the Romans, and all the others are plotted against.' 45.4 When Constantius, the champion of impiety and king of the heresy, heard these things, and especially that there were others in Spain who thought the same things as Hosius, having tried to make them subscribe and not being able to compel them, he summons Hosius. And instead of banishment, he detains him for a whole year in Sirmium, the godless man neither fearing God, nor the impious man respecting the disposition his father had towards Hosius, nor the 45.5 old age

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ποῖος αὐτοῦ παλατῖνος ἠνάγκασε κατά τινος ὑπογράψαι, ἵνα οἱ περὶ Οὐάλεντα τοιαῦτα λέγωσι; παῦσαι, παρακαλῶ, καὶ μνήσθητι, ὅτι θνητὸς ἄνθρωπος τυγχάνεις, φοβήθητι τὴν ἡμέραν 44.7 τῆς κρίσεως, φύλαξον σεαυτὸν εἰς ἐκείνην καθαρόν. μὴ τίθει σεαυτὸν εἰς τὰ ἐκκλησιαστικά, μηδὲ σὺ περὶ τούτων ἡμῖν παρακελεύου, ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον παρ' ἡμῶν σὺ μάνθανε ταῦτα. σοὶ βασιλείαν ὁ θεὸς ἐνεχείρισεν, ἡμῖν τὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐπίστευσε. καὶ ὥσπερ ὁ τὴν σὴν ἀρχὴν ὑποκλέπτων ἀντιλέγει τῷ διαταξαμένῳ θεῷ, οὕτω φοβήθητι, μὴ καὶ σὺ τὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας εἰς ἑαυτὸν ἕλκων ὑπεύθυνος ἐγκλήματι μεγάλῳ γένῃ. «ἀπόδοτε», γέγραπται, «τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ τῷ θεῷ». οὔτε τοίνυν ἡμῖν ἄρχειν ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς 44.8 ἔξεστιν οὔτε σὺ τοῦ θυμιᾶν ἐξουσίαν ἔχεις, βασιλεῦ. ταῦτα μὲν οὖν κηδόμενος τῆς σῆς σωτηρίας γράφω, περὶ δὲ ὧν ἐπέστειλας ταύτης εἰμὶ τῆς γνώμης. ἐγὼ οὔτε Ἀρειανοῖς συγκατατίθεμαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν αἵρεσιν αὐτῶν ἀναθεματίζω, οὔτε κατὰ Ἀθανασίου γράφω, ὃν ἡμεῖς τε καὶ ἡ Ῥωμαίων ἐκκλησία καὶ πᾶσα ἡ σύνοδος ἐκαθάρισε. καὶ γὰρ ταῦτα καὶ σὺ συνορῶν μετεπέμψω τὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ συνεχώρησας αὐτῷ μετὰ τιμῆς 44.9 εἰς τὴν πατρίδα καὶ τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἐπανελθεῖν. τίς τοίνυν γέγονε πρόφασις τῆς τοσαύτης μεταβολῆς; οἱ αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἐχθροὶ οἱ καὶ πρότερον ὄντες καὶ νῦν εἰσιν αὐτοῦ. καὶ ἃ νῦν ψιθυρίζουσιν (οὐ γὰρ παρόντος αὐτοῦ φθέγγονται), ταῦτα καὶ πρὶν μεταπέμψῃ τὸν Ἀθανάσιον κατελάλουν. ταῦτα καὶ ἐλθόντες εἰς τὴν σύνοδον διεθρύλουν καὶ ἀπαι τούμενοι παρ' ἐμοῦ, καθὰ προεῖπον, τὰς ἀποδείξεις οὐκ ἴσχυσαν παρασχεῖν· εἰ γὰρ 44.10 εἶχον, οὐκ ἂν ἔφυγον οὕτως αἰσχρῶς. τίς οὖν ἔπεισέ σε μετὰ τοσοῦτον χρόνον ἐπιλαθέσθαι τῶν σαυτοῦ γραμμάτων καὶ ῥημάτων; ἐπίσχες καὶ μὴ πείθου κακοῖς ἀνθρώποις, ἵνα μὴ διὰ τὸ πρὸς ἀλλήλους καθῆκον σαυτὸν ὑπεύθυνον ποιήσῃς. ὧδε γὰρ τούτοις καθη 44.11 κεύεις ἐν δὲ τῇ κρίσει μόνος μέλλεις ἀπολογεῖσθαι. οὗτοι τὸν ἴδιον ἐχθρὸν διὰ σοῦ θέλουσιν ἀδικεῖν καὶ βούλονταί σε διάκονον τῆς ἑαυτῶν πονηρίας γενέσθαι, ἵνα διὰ σοῦ καὶ τὴν μυσαρὰν αἵρεσιν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν ἐπισπείρωσιν. οὐκ ἔστι δὲ φρόνιμον δι' ἄλλων ἡδονὴν ἑαυτὸν εἰς προῦπτον κίνδυνον ἐμβάλλειν. παῦσαι, παρακαλῶ, καὶ πείσθητί μοι, Κων στάντιε. ταῦτα γὰρ πρέπει καὶ ἐμὲ γράφειν καὶ σὲ τούτων μὴ καταφρονεῖν ... 45.1 Ταῦτα μὲν ὁ Ἀβραμιαῖος γέρων, ὁ ἀληθῶς Ὅσιος ἐφρόνησέ τε καὶ ἔγραψεν, ὁ δὲ οὔτε τοῦ ἐπιβουλεύειν ἀνεχώρει οὔτε πρόφασιν κατ' αὐτοῦ ζητῶν πέπαυται, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπειλῶν ἐπέμενε δεινῶς, ἵνα ἢ βιαζόμενος μεταγάγῃ ἢ μὴ πειθόμενον ἐξορίσῃ. 45.2 πρόφασιν μὲν οὖν ὥσπερ οἱ τακτικοὶ καὶ σατράπαι τῆς Βαβυλῶνος ζητοῦντες «οὐχ εὕρισκον κατὰ τοῦ ∆ανιὴλ εἰ μὴ ἐν νόμοις θεοῦ αὐτοῦ», οὕτω καὶ οἱ νῦν σατράπαι τῆς ἀσεβείας οὐδὲ πλάσασθαι κατὰ τοῦ γέροντος ἄλλην ἠδυνήθησαν (πᾶσι γὰρ γνώριμος ἦν ὁ ἀληθῶς Ὅσιος καὶ ὁ τούτου βίος ἀνεπίληπτος), εἰ μὴ τὸ κατὰ τῆς αἱρέσεως μῖσος. 45.3 διαβάλλουσι τοίνυν καὶ αὐτὸν οὐκέτι ὡς ἐκεῖνον ∆αρείῳ (ἀηδῶς γὰρ ἤκουε ∆αρεῖος κατὰ τοῦ ∆ανιήλ), ἀλλ' ὡς Ἰεζάβελ κατὰ τοῦ Ναβουθαὶ καὶ ὡς οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι τῷ Ἡρώδῃλέγοντες· «οὐ μόνον οὐχ ὑπογράφει κατὰ Ἀθανασίου, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡμᾶς δι' αὐτὸν κατα κρίνει καὶ τὴν αἵρεσιν οὕτω μισεῖ, ὡς καὶ ἄλλοις γράφειν θάνατον μᾶλλον ὑπομένειν ἢ προδότας γίγνεσθαι τῆς ἀληθείας. δι' αὐτὴν γὰρ καὶ ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἡμῶν Ἀθανάσιος διώκεται καὶ Λιβέριος ὁ Ῥωμαίων ἐπίσκοπος καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι πάντες ἐπιβουλεύονται». 45.4 ταῦτα ἀκούσας ὁ τῆς ἀσεβείας προστάτης καὶ τῆς αἱρέσεως βασιλεὺς Κωνστάντιος καί, ὅτι μάλιστα καὶ ἕτεροί εἰσι κατὰ τὰς Σπανίας ταυτὰ τῷ Ὁσίῳ φρονοῦντες, πειράσας κἀκείνους ὑπογράψαι καὶ μὴ δυνηθεὶς ἀναγκάσαι μεταπέμπεται τὸν Ὅσιον. καὶ ἀντὶ ἐξορισμοῦ κατέχει τοῦτον ὅλον ἐνιαυτὸν ἐν τῷ Σερμίῳ οὔτε τὸν θεὸν φοβηθεὶς ὁ ἄθεος οὔτε τοῦ πατρὸς τὴν διάθεσιν, ἣν εἶχε πρὸς τὸν Ὅσιον, αἰδεσθεὶς ὁ ἀνόσιος οὔτε τὸ 45.5 γῆρας

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