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

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?”; when he should have been blushing, he instead forced the senators and pagan commoners, temple-wardens of the idols, to subscribe and confess to these things, to receive whomever 54.4 the emperor should send as bishop. Indeed, Constantius did this, upholding the canons of the church! For instead of the church, he required signatures from the marketplace; instead of the people, from the temple-wardens. For he knew that he was sending not a bishop for Christians, but some meddler for those very people who were signing. 55.1 The pagans, therefore, as if purchasing by their signature the immunity of their own idols, and some of the tradesmen, though unwilling, nevertheless signed as if concerning a governor or some other judge being sent, on account of the threats uttered by him. For what were they, 55.2 being pagans, going to do other than what seemed good to the emperor? But when the people had gathered in the great church (for it was the fourth day of the week), on the next day Heraclius the count takes with him Cataphronius the prefect of Egypt, and Faustinus the catholicus, and the Bithynian who was a heretic, and they incite the youths of the marketplace who worship idols, saying that this was the emperor's command, that they should attack the church and stone the 55.3 people. Now, most of the people had already left after the dismissal had taken place, but with a few women remaining, it happened as they had ordered. And it was a pitiful sight; for a few women were just sitting down after the prayer, and immediately the youths attacked, naked, with stones and clubs, and they stoned some, and the godless men beat the holy bodies of the virgins with blows, and they tore off their coverings and bared their heads, and when they resisted, the wretches kicked 55.4 them with their feet. These things, then, are terrible and very terrible indeed, but the things that followed were more terrible and more unbearable than any outrage. For knowing the modesty of the virgins and the purity of their hearing, and that they could bear stones and swords more easily than words of obscenity, they used these against them as they attacked. And the Arians prompted the youths to these things, for they laughed while these things were being said and done. And the holy virgins and other modest women fled such utterances as they would the bites of asps, but the enemies of Christ assisted, and perhaps even joined their voices with the youths; for they took pleasure in the words uttered by them with licentiousness. 56.1 Then, as if fulfilling the whole of the command (for this was their object, this both the count and the catholicus enjoined), seizing the benches and the throne and the table (for it was made of wood) and the veils of the church and whatever else they could, they carried them out and burned them before the gateway in the great square, and threw incense upon them. 56.2 O who, upon hearing this, would not weep, and perhaps even close his ears, so as not to endure hearing another speak of it, considering it a harm even just to hear such a thing? For they acclaimed their own idols and said, “Constantius has become a pagan, and the Arians have recognized our ways.” For they do not care even to pretend to be pagans, so long as their heresy may be 56.3 established. For they even attempted to sacrifice a little ox that drew water for the gardens in the Caesareum, and they would have sacrificed it, if it had not been female; for they said that such were not permitted to be sacrificed among them. 57.1 Such things, then, the impious Arians did together with 57.1 the pagans, thinking that these things amounted to an outrage against us. But divine justice exposed their wickedness and wrought a great and extraordinary sign, showing clearly to all through this, that just as in their impiety they dare to act not against another but against the Lord, so in doing these things they attempted to act again to His outrage; and this the more from what happened

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ἐκκλησίας παραδοθῆναι ἐκέλευσε». πάντων τε ἐπὶ τούτῳ θαυμαζόντων καὶ πρὸς ἀλλήλους νευόντων τε καὶ λεγόντων· «εἰ Κωνστάν τιος αἱρετικὸς γέγονε»; δέον ἐρυθριᾶν, ὁ δὲ μᾶλλον ἠνάγκαζε βουλευτὰς καὶ δημότας ἐθνικοὺς νεωκόρους τῶν εἰδώλων ἐπὶ τούτοις ὑπογράφειν καὶ ὁμολογεῖν, δέχεσθαι ὃν 54.4 ἂν ἀποστείλῃ βασιλεὺς ἐπίσκοπον. πάνυ γε κανόνας ἐκκλησίας ἐκδικῶν ἐποίει τοῦτο γενέσθαι Κωνστάντιος. ἀντὶ γὰρ ἐκκλησίας τὴν ἀγοράν, ἀντὶ τῶν λαῶν τοὺς νεω κόρους ἀπῄτει γράμματα· ἐγίγνωσκε γὰρ οὐκ ἐπίσκοπον αὐτὸν Χριστιανοῖς, ἀλλά τινα φιλοπράγμονα πέμπειν αὐτοῖς τοῖς γράφουσιν. 55.1 Ἕλληνες μὲν οὖν ὥσπερ ὠνούμενοι τῇ ὑπογραφῇ τὴν τῶν εἰδώλων ἑαυτῶν ἀσυλίαν καί τινες τῶν ἐργασιῶν ἄκοντες μέν, ἔγραψαν δὲ ὅμως ὡς περὶ ἡγεμόνος ἢ ἄλλου τινὸς ἀπο στελλομένου δικαστοῦ διὰ τὰς παρ' ἐκείνου λεγομένας ἀπειλάς. τί γὰρ ἔμελλον Ἕλληνες 55.2 ὄντες ποιεῖν ἢ τοῦθ' ὅπερ δοκεῖ τῷ βασιλεῖ; τῶν δὲ λαῶν ἐν τῇ μεγάλῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ συν ελθόντων (τετάρτη γὰρ ἦν σαββάτου) λαμβάνει μεθ' ἑαυτοῦ τῇ ἑξῆς Ἡράκλειος ὁ κόμης τὸν ἔπαρχον τῆς Αἰγύπτου Καταφρόνιον καὶ Φαυστῖνον τὸν καθολικὸν τόν τε Βιθυνὸν αἱρετικὸν ὄντα καὶ παροξύνουσι τῶν ἀγοραίων τοὺς νεωτέρους καὶ σεβομένους εἴδωλα, ταύτην ἐντολὴν εἶναι βασιλέως λέγοντες, ἵν' ἐπέλθωσι τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ καὶ λιθάσωσι τοὺς 55.3 λαούς. ἤδη μὲν οὖν ἦσαν οἱ πλεῖστοι τοῦ λαοῦ γενομένης ἀπολύσεως ἐξελθόντες, γυ ναικῶν δὲ ὀλίγων ἀπομεινασῶν γέγονεν ὡς προσέταξαν. καὶ θέαμα οἰκτρὸν ἦν· ἄρτι γὰρ ἦσαν ἀπὸ τῆς εὐχῆς ὀλίγαι καθεζόμεναι, καὶ γυμνοὶ μετὰ λίθων εὐθὺς καὶ ξύλων ἐπῆλθον οἱ νεώτεροι καὶ τὰς μὲν ἐλίθαζον, τὰ δὲ τῶν παρθένων ἅγια σώματα κατέκοπτον πληγαῖς οἱ ἄθεοι εἷλκόν τε τὰ σκεπάσματα καὶ τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν ἐγύμνουν καὶ ἀνθελκούσας ἐλάκτι 55.4 ζον τοῖς ποσὶν οἱ δείλαιοι. δεινὰ μὲν οὖν ταῦτα καὶ λίαν ἐστὶ δεινά, ἀλλὰ τὰ μετὰ ταῦτα δεινότερα καὶ πάσης ὕβρεως ἀφορητότερα γέγονεν. εἰδότες γὰρ τὸ σεμνὸν τῶν παρθένων καὶ τὸ τῆς ἀκοῆς ἄχραντον, καὶ ὅτι μᾶλλον λίθους καὶ ξίφη ἢ τὰ τῆς αἰσχρορημοσύνης φέρειν δύνανται ῥήματα, τούτοις ἐχρῶντο κατ' αὐτῶν ἐπερχόμενοι. Ἀρειανοὶ δὲ ταῦτα τοῖς νεωτέροις ὑπέβαλλον, καὶ γὰρ ἐγέλων τούτων λεγομένων καὶ γιγνομένων. καὶ αἱ μὲν ἅγιαι παρθένοι καὶ ἄλλαι σεμναὶ γυναῖκες ὡς ἀσπίδων δήγματα τὰ τοιαῦτα φθέγματα ἔφευ γον, οἱ δὲ χριστομάχοι συνήργουν, τάχα δὲ καὶ συνεφθέγγοντο τοῖς νεωτέροις· καὶ γὰρ ἥδοντο τοῖς παρ' ἐκείνων ἐκβαλλομένοις μετὰ ἀσελγείας ῥήμασιν. 56.1 Εἶτα ὡς τὸ ὅλον τῆς ἐντολῆς πληροῦντες (τοῦτο γὰρ ἦν τὸ σπουδαζόμενον, τοῦτο καὶ κόμης καὶ ὁ καθολικὸς παρήγγελλον), ἁρπάσαντες τὰ συμψέλλια καὶ τὸν θρόνον καὶ τὴν τράπεζαν (ξυλίνη γὰρ ἦν) καὶ τὰ βῆλα τῆς ἐκκλησίας τά τε ἄλλα, ὅσα ἠδυνήθησαν, ἐξενέγκαντες ἔκαυσαν ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ πυλῶνος ἐν τῇ πλατείᾳ τῇ μεγάλῃ καὶ λίβανον ἐπέβαλον. 56.2 ὦ τίς ἀκούσας οὐ δακρύσειε, τάχα καὶ τὴν ἀκοὴν κλείσειεν, ἵνα μηδὲ ἑτέρου λέγοντος ἀνέχηται βλάβην ἡγούμενος καὶ τὸ μόνον ἀκοῦσαί τι τοιοῦτον; τά τε γὰρ εἴδωλα ἑαυτῶν εὐφήμουν καὶ ἔλεγον· «Ἕλλην γέγονε Κωνστάντιος καὶ οἱ Ἀρειανοὶ τὰ ἡμῶν ἐπέγνωσαν». οὐ φροντίζουσι γὰρ οὐδὲ Ἑλληνισμὸν ὑποκρίνασθαι, ἵνα μόνον ἡ αἵρεσις ἔχῃ τὴν σύστα 56.3 σιν. καὶ γὰρ καὶ βοίδιον ἐπαντλοῦν τοὺς κηπευομένους ἐν τῷ Καισαρείῳ τόπους ἐπεχεί ρησαν ἐπιθῦσαι, καὶ ἔθυσαν ἂν, εἰ μὴ θῆλυ τοῦτο ἦν· τὰ τοιαῦτα γὰρ ἔλεγον μὴ ἐξεῖναι παρ' αὐτοῖς θύεσθαι. 57.1 Τοιαῦτα μὲν οὖν οἱ δυσσεβεῖς Ἀρειανοὶ νομίζοντες εἰς ἡμῶν ὕβριν ταῦτα φθάνειν μετὰ 57.1 τῶν Ἑλλήνων ἔπραττον. θεία δὲ δίκη τὴν πονηρίαν τούτων ἤλεγξε καὶ σημεῖόν τι μέγα καὶ ἐξαίρετον εἰργάσατο δεικνύουσα καὶ διὰ τούτου πᾶσι φανερῶς, ὅτι ὥσπερ ἀσεβοῦντες οὐκ εἰς ἄλλον ἀλλ' εἰς τὸν κύριον τολμῶσιν, οὕτω ταῦτα ποιοῦντες εἰς αὐτοῦ πάλιν ὕβριν ἐπεχείρησαν πρᾶξαι· καὶ τοῦτο μᾶλλον ἐκ τοῦ γενομένου

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