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

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 Athanasius, they might hinder him. 52.1 For this reason, when Diogenes came and Syrianus laid a trap, both they and we 52.1 and the people demanded the emperor’s letters, thinking that, just as it is written, "Let no lie be spoken from the mouth of a king," so also an emperor, having made a promise, will neither lie 52.2 nor change. How then, if he made the concession on account of his brother, did he write even after his death? And if even then he wrote on account of his memory, why after this did he show such complete ingratitude, persecuting the man himself and writing such things, in which he alleges a judgment of bishops, but acts himself as it seems good to him, not escaping notice, however, 52.3 but even having the proof of his villainy near at hand? For if it is a judgment of bishops, what has the emperor to do with it? But if it is a threat of the emperor, what need is there here of the so-called bishops? For when was such a thing ever heard of? When did a judgment of the Church receive its authority from an emperor, or was such a judgment ever recognized at all? Many synods have been held before this, many judgments of the Church have taken place; but the fathers never persuaded an emperor concerning these things, nor did an emperor meddle in the affairs of the Church. 52.4 Paul the apostle had friends from Caesar's household and writing to the Philippians he sent greetings from them, but he did not take them as partners in judgments. 52.5 But now this is a new spectacle and an invention of the Arian heresy. For heretics and the emperor Constantius have come together, so that he, using the bishops as a pretext, might with his authority act against whomever he wishes and while persecuting not be called a persecutor. And so that they, having the emperor's power, might plot against whomever they wish; and they wish this against those who are not 52.6 impious like themselves. And one might see this being played out among them as on a stage, with the so-called bishops playing a part, and Constantius carrying out their wishes, and him in turn making promises, like Herod to Herodias, and them in turn dancing their slanders for the exile and death of those who are pious towards the Lord. 53.1 Whom then have they not harmed with their slanders? Against whom have the Christ-fighters not plotted? Whom has Constantius not exiled when accused by them? When has he not listened to them eagerly? And, what is strange, whom has he ever received who spoke against them, and not rather accepted them, whatever they might say? What church now worships Christ with freedom? For if it is pious, it is in danger; and if it plays the hypocrite, 53.2 it is in fear. He has filled all things with hypocrisy and impiety, as far as in him lies. For if anywhere there is someone pious and Christ-loving (and there are many such everywhere, like the prophets and the great Elijah), they are in hiding, if they too can find a faithful man like Obadiah and either go away into a cave and the holes of the earth or spend their time wandering in deserts. 53.3 For the senseless ones make such slanders as Jezebel also fabricated against Naboth and the Jews against the Savior, and so he, being the patron of the heresy and wishing to pervert the truth as Ahab did the vineyard into a vegetable garden, does what they wish, since he himself also heard from them the things he wished. 54.1 Thus, as I said before, he banished the true bishops, since they were not impious as he wished, so also now against Athanasius he has sent Heraclius the count, and while he posted the edicts publicly, he announced the emperor’s commands, that if they did not obey the letters, there would be a taking away of the bread-dole and a destruction of the idols, and that the captivity of many 54.2 magistrates and of those from the people would certainly come to pass. Then, threatening these things, he was not ashamed to say publicly in a loud voice: “The emperor rejects 54.3 Athanasius, but to the Arians the

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Φιλικισσίμῳ τῷ τότε δουκὶ καὶ Νεστορίῳ τῷ ἐπάρχῳ, ἵνα, εἴτε Φίλιππος ὁ ἔπαρχος εἴτε τις ἄλλος ἐπιβουλεύειν Ἀθανασίῳ τολμήσῃ, τοῦτον ἐκεῖνοι κωλύωσι. 52.1 ∆ιὰ τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ ὅτε ∆ιογένης ἦλθε καὶ Συριανὸς ἐνήδρευσεν, αὐτοί τε καὶ ἡμεῖς 52.1 καὶ ὁ λαὸς ἀπῃτοῦμεν γράμματα βασιλέως νομίζοντες, ὅτι, ὥσπερ γέγραπται, «μηδὲν ψεῦδος ἀπὸ στόματος λεγέσθω βασιλεῖ» οὕτω καὶ βασιλεὺς ἐπαγγειλάμενος οὔτε ψεύσεται 52.2 οὔτε μεταβληθήσεται. πῶς οὖν, εἰ διὰ τὸν ἀδελφὸν συνεχώρησεν, ἔγραψε καὶ μετὰ θάνατον αὐτοῦ; εἰ δὲ καὶ τότε διὰ τὴν ἐκείνου μνήμην ἔγραψε, διὰ τί μετὰ ταῦτα τὸ ὅλον ἠγνωμόνησεν αὐτὸν διώκων τὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ τοιαῦτα γράφων, ἐν οἷς προφα σίζεται μὲν κρίσιν ἐπισκόπων, πράττει δὲ αὐτός, ὡς ἂν αὐτῷ δοκῇ, οὐ λανθάνων ὅμως, 52.3 ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐγγὺς ἔχων τὸν ἔλεγχον τῆς πανουργίας; εἰ γὰρ ἐπισκόπων ἐστὶ κρίσις, τί κοινὸν ἔχει πρὸς ταύτην βασιλεύς; εἰ δὲ βασιλέως ἐστὶν ἀπειλή, τίς ἐνταῦθα χρεία τῶν λεγομένων ἐπισκόπων; πότε γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ αἰῶνος ἠκούσθη τοιαῦτα; πότε κρίσις ἐκκλησίας παρὰ βασιλέως ἔσχε τὸ κῦρος ἢ ὅλως ἐγνώσθη τοῦτο τὸ κρῖμα; πολλαὶ σύνοδοι πρὸ τούτου γεγόνασι, πολλὰ κρίματα τῆς ἐκκλησίας γέγονεν, ἀλλ' οὔτε οἱ πατέρες ἔπεισάν ποτε περὶ τούτων βασιλέα οὔτε βασιλεὺς τὰ τῆς ἐκκλησίας περιειργάσατο. 52.4 Παῦλος ἀπόστολος εἶχε φίλους τοὺς τῆς τοῦ Καίσαρος οἰκίας καὶ γράφων ἠσπάζετο τοὺς Φιλιππησίους ἀπὸ τούτων, ἀλλ' οὐκ εἰς κρίματα τούτους κοινωνοὺς παρελάμ 52.5 βανε. νῦν δὲ θέαμα καινὸν καὶ τοῦτο τῆς ἀρειανῆς αἱρέσεώς ἐστιν εὕρημα. συνῆλθον γὰρ αἱρετικοὶ καὶ βασιλεὺς Κωνστάντιος, ἵνα κἀκεῖνος τὴν ἐπισκόπων ἔχων πρόφασιν τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ καθ' ὧν ἂν ἐθέλοι πράττῃ καὶ διώκων μὴ λέγηται διώκτης. καὶ οὗτοι δὲ τὴν βασιλέως ἔχοντες δυναστείαν ἐπιβουλεύωσιν οἷς ἂν ἐθέλωσι· θέλουσι δὲ τοῖς μὴ 52.6 ἀσεβοῦσιν ὡς αὐτοί. τοῦτο δὲ ὡς ἐπὶ σκηνῆς ἄν τις ἴδοι κωμῳδούμενον παρ' αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοὺς μὲν λεγομένους ἐπισκόπους ὑποκρινομένους, τὸν δὲ Κωνστάντιον τὰ ἐκείνων ἐνεργοῦντα καὶ πάλιν ἐπαγγελλόμενον μὲν τοῦτον, ὡς Ἡρώδης τῇ Ἡρωδιάδι, τούτους δὲ πάλιν ὀρχουμένους τὰς διαβολὰς ἐπὶ ἐξορισμῷ καὶ θανάτῳ τῶν εἰς τὸν κύριον εὐσε βούντων. 53.1 Τίνα οὖν οὐκ ἔβλαψαν διαβάλλοντες; τίνων οὐ γεγόνασιν ἐπίβουλοι οἱ χριστο μάχοι; τίνα Κωνστάντιος οὐκ ἐξώρισε κατενεχθέντα παρ' αὐτῶν; πότε καταθυμίως αὐτῶν οὐκ ἤκουσε; καὶ τὸ παράδοξον τίνα πώποτε λέγοντα κατ' ἐκείνων ἐδέξατο καὶ οὐ μᾶλλον λέγοντας ἐκείνους, οἷα κἂν εἴπωσιν, ἀπεδέξατο; ποία ἐκκλησία νῦν μετ' ἐλευ θερίας τὸν Χριστὸν προσκυνεῖ; ἄν τε γὰρ εὐσεβὴς ᾖ, κινδυνεύει, ἄν τε ὑποκρίνηται, 53.2 φοβεῖται. πάντα ὑποκρίσεως καὶ ἀσεβείας, ὅσον εἰς αὐτὸν ἧκε, πεπλήρωκεν. εἰ γὰρ καί πού τίς ἐστιν εὐσεβὴς καὶ φιλόχριστος (εἰσὶ δὲ πανταχοῦ πολλοὶ τοιοῦτοι ὡς οἱ προφῆται καὶ Ἠλίας ὁ μέγας), κρύπτονται, ἄν που καὶ αὐτοὶ ὡς τὸν Ἀβδιοῦ πιστὸν ἄνθρωπον εὕρωσι καὶ ἢ εἰς σπήλαιον καὶ τὰς ὀπὰς τῆς γῆς ἀπέλθωσιν ἢ ἐπ' ἐρημίαις 53.3 περιερχόμενοι διατρίψωσι. τοιαῦτα γὰρ διαβάλλουσιν οἱ ἄφρονες, οἷα καὶ ἡ Ἰεζάβελ ἐπλάσατο κατὰ τοῦ Ναβουθαὶ καὶ οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι κατὰ τοῦ σωτῆρος, καὶ λοιπὸν ἐκεῖνος προστάτης τῆς αἱρέσεως ὢν τήν τε ἀλήθειαν μεταστρέψαι θέλων ὡς ὁ Ἀχαὰβ τὸν ἀμ πελῶνα εἰς κῆπον λαχανίας, ἃ θέλουσιν ἐκεῖνοι πράττει, ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς ἅπερ ἤθελεν ἤκουσε παρ' αὐτῶν. 54.1 Οὕτω, καθὰ προεῖπον, τοὺς ἀληθινοὺς ἐπισκόπους, ἐπεὶ μὴ ἠσέβουν ὡς ἤθελεν αὐτός, ἐξώρισεν, οὕτως καὶ κατὰ Ἀθανασίου νῦν ἀπέστειλεν Ἡράκλειον τὸν κόμητα καὶ τὰ μὲν διατάγματα προέθηκε δημοσίᾳ, ἐντολὰς δὲ βασιλέως ἀπήγγειλεν, εἰ μὴ πεισθεῖεν τοῖς γράμμασιν, ἀφαίρεσιν τοῦ ἄρτου καὶ τῶν εἰδώλων ἔσεσθαι καταστροφὴν πολλῶν 54.2 τε πολιτευτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀπὸ τοῦ δήμου πάντως αἰχμαλωσίαν γενήσεσθαι. εἶτα ταῦτα ἀπειλῶν οὐκ ᾐσχύνθη δημοσίᾳ μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ λέγειν· «τὸν μὲν Ἀθανάσιον παραι 54.3 τεῖται βασιλεύς, τοῖς δὲ Ἀρειανοῖς τὰς

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