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

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 them, but the others, like maenads and furies, wandering about, considered it a misfortune not to find someone to wrong, and they passed that day in sorrow on which they were unable to do evil. And in general they were so savage and bitter to everyone that they were called by all executioners, murderers, lawless meddlers, evildoers, and anything rather than Christians. 60.1 For, imitating the Scythians, they seized Eutychius, a subdeacon, a man who served the church well, and after having him cut to pieces on his back with ox-hides, almost to the point of death, they demanded that he be sent to the mines, and not just any mine, but to 60.2 that of Phaeno, where even a condemned murderer is scarcely able to live for a few days. And the astonishing thing is that they did not even allow him a few hours to be treated for his wounds, but immediately had him sent away, saying: “If this happens, all will be afraid and will henceforth be with us.” Not much time passed, and being unable to reach the 60.3 mine because of the pain of his wounds, he died on the way. And so he died rejoicing, having the boast of martyrdom, but the impious were not even then ashamed, but according to what is written, “having unmerciful bowels,” and having planned this, they did something satanic once again. For when the people made demands on account of Eutychius and pleaded for him, they had four good and free men seized, Hermias who washed the latrines; and after cutting these men severely with scourges, the duke threw them into prison. 60.4 But the Arians, being more savage even than Scythians, when they saw that those men had not died from their wounds, complained and threatened, saying: “We are writing to the eunuchs that you are not flogging as we wish.” And he, hearing this and becoming afraid, was compelled 60.5 to flog the men a second time. And those being flogged, knowing why they were being flogged and by whom they had been slandered, said nothing other than: “We are being flogged for the sake of the truth, but we do not have communion with the heretics; flog on, then, as you wish, and God will judge you for this.” So the impious wanted them to be in danger and die in prison, but the people of God, knowing the time, demanded, and after about seven days or even more they were released. 61.1 But they, as if grieved, attempted to do something else again, more savage and unholy, savage towards all, but fitting for their Christ-fighting heresy. For the Lord commanded to be mindful of the poor, saying, "and sell your possessions and give alms" and "I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. For inasmuch as 61.2 you did it to one of these little ones, you did it to me." But these men, truly thinking against Christ, have dared even in these things to act contrary to his will. For the needy and the widows, since the duke had handed over the churches to the Arians, and they could not stay in them, were sitting in places which the clergy entrusted with the widows had appointed for them; and when they saw the brethren eagerly giving to them and feeding the widows, they beat them on the feet and persecuted them, and slandered those who provided for them 61.3 to the duke. And this was done through a certain soldier, Dynamius, but this was dear to Sebastianus; for among the Manichaeans there is no mercy, but to have pity on a poor man is even an enemy to them. Therefore, there was a new complaint and a tribunal now first devised by them: someone was judged for a good deed, and the one showing mercy was accused, while the one receiving the good deed was beaten; 61.4 and they preferred the poor man to be hungry than for the one who wished to show mercy to provide. And this, being new Jews themselves, they learned in turn from the ancient Jews; for indeed

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καὶ γυναιξὶ δὲ ταῖς παρ' αὐτῶν δεδώκασιν ἐξουσίαν ὑβρίζειν ἣν θέλουσι. καὶ αἱ μὲν σεμναὶ καὶ πισταὶ γυναῖκες ἐξέκλινον καὶ παρεχώρουν ἐκείναις τὴν ὁδόν, αἱ δὲ ὥσπερ μαινάδες καὶ ἐρινύες περιερχόμεναι συμφορὰν ἡγοῦντο τὸ μὴ εὑρίσκειν ἀδικεῖν καὶ τὴν ἡμέραν ἐκείνην μετὰ λύπης διῆγον, ἐν ᾗ μὴ ἠδύναντο κακοποιεῖν. καὶ ὅλως οὕτως ἦσαν πᾶσιν ἄγριοι καὶ πικροὶ ὥστε δημίους φονευτὰς ἀθεμίτους φιλοπράγμονας κακούργους καὶ πάντα μᾶλλον αὐτοὺς ἢ Χριστιανοὺς παρὰ πάντων καλεῖσθαι. 60.1 Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τοὺς Σκύθας μιμούμενοι ἥρπασαν Εὐτύχιον ὑποδιάκονον, ἄνδρα καλῶς ὑπηρετοῦντα τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ, καὶ ποιήσαντες εἰς τὰ νῶτα ταυρείαις ἴσα θανάτῳ κατακοπῆναι ἠξίωσαν εἰς μέταλλον ἀποσταλῆναι, καὶ μέταλλον οὐχ ἁπλῶς, ἀλλ' εἰς 60.2 τὸ τῆς Φαινώ, ἔνθα καὶ φονεὺς καταδικαζόμενος ὀλίγας ἡμέρας μόγις δύναται ζῆσαι. καὶ τὸ παράδοξον οὐδὲ κἂν ὀλίγας ὥρας ἐπέτρεψαν αὐτὸν θεραπευθῆναι διὰ τὰς πληγάς, ἀλλ' εὐθὺς ἐποίησαν ἀποσταλῆναι φάσκοντες· «εἰ τοῦτο γένηται, πάντες φοβηθήσονται καὶ μεθ' ἡμῶν ἔσονται λοιπόν». οὐ πολὺ δὲ διέστη καὶ μὴ δυνηθεὶς εἰς τὸ 60.3 μέταλλον φθάσαι διὰ τὸν πόνον τῶν πληγῶν ἀπέθανεν ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ. καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐτελεύτα χαίρων ἔχων τὸ καύχημα τοῦ μαρτυρίου, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς οὐδὲ οὕτως ᾐσχύνοντο, κατὰ δὲ τὸ γεγραμμένον «ἀνελεήμονα σπλάγχνα ἔχοντες» καὶ τοῦτο μελετήσαντες σατανικόν τι πάλιν πεποιήκασιν. ἀξιούντων γὰρ τῶν λαῶν διὰ τὸν Εὐτύχιον καὶ δεομένων περὶ αὐτοῦ πε ποιήκασιν ἁρπασθῆναι καλοὺς καὶ ἐλευθέρους ἄνδρας τέσσαρας, Ἑρμείαν λούοντα τοὺς ἀνεξόδους καὶ πάνυ γε τούτους πληγαῖς κατακόψας ἐνέβαλεν εἰς τὸ δεσμωτήριον ὁ δούξ. 60.4 ἀλλ' οἱ Ἀρειανοὶ καὶ Σκυθῶν ὠμότεροι τυγχάνοντες, ἐπεὶ ἑωράκασι μὴ τελευτήσαντας ἐκείνους ἀπὸ τῶν πληγῶν, ἐμέμφοντο καὶ ἠπείλουν· «γράφομεν» λέγοντες «τοῖς εὐνούχοις, ὅτι μὴ μαστίζεις ὡς θέλομεν ἡμεῖς». ἐκεῖνός τε ἀκούσας καὶ φοβηθεὶς ἠναγκάσθη 60.5 καὶ δεύτερον τύψαι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. καὶ οἱ μὲν τυπτόμενοι εἰδότες, διὰ τί τύπτονται καὶ παρὰ τίνων διεβλήθησαν, οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἔλεγον ἤ· «διὰ μὲν τὴν ἀλήθειαν τυπτόμεθα, οὐ κοινωνοῦμεν δὲ τοῖς αἱρετικοῖς· τύπτε λοιπόν, ὡς θέλεις, καί σε μέλλει διὰ τοῦτο κρίνειν ὁ θεός». οἱ μὲν οὖν ἀσεβεῖς ἤθελον αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ κινδυνεῦσαι καὶ ἀποθανεῖν, ὁ δὲ τοῦ θεοῦ λαὸς εἰδὼς τὸν καιρὸν ἠξίωσαν καὶ μεθ' ἡμέρας ἑπτά που ἢ καὶ πλέον ἀπ ελύθησαν. 61.1 Οἱ δὲ ὥσπερ λυπηθέντες ἕτερόν τι πάλιν ὠμότερον καὶ ἀνόσιον ποιεῖν ἐπεχείρησαν, ὠμὸν μὲν πρὸς πάντας, ἁρμόζον δὲ τῇ χριστομάχῳ αὐτῶν αἱρέσει. ὁ μὲν γὰρ κύριος ἐνετεί λατο τῶν πτωχῶν μνημονεύειν «καὶ πωλήσατε», λέγων, «τὰ ὑπάρχοντα καὶ δότε ἐλεημο σύνην» καὶ «ἐπείνων καὶ ἐδώκατέ μοι φαγεῖν, ἐδίψων, καὶ ἐποτίσατέ με. ἐφ' ὅσον γὰρ 61.2 ἐποιήσατε ἑνὶ τῶν μικρῶν τούτων, ἐμοὶ ἐποιήσατε ». οὗτοι δὲ ὡς τῷ ὄντι κατὰ Χριστοῦ φρονοῦντες καὶ ἐν τούτοις ἀντιπρᾶξαι τῷ βουλήματι αὐτοῦ τετολμήκασι. τοὺς γὰρ δεομέ νους καὶ τὰς χήρας, ἐπειδὴ τὰς ἐκκλησίας παραδέδωκεν ὁ δοὺξ τοῖς Ἀρειανοῖς, καὶ ἐν αὐταῖς διατρίβειν οὐκ ἠδύναντο, καθεζομένας, ἐν οἷς ὥρισαν αὐταῖς τόποις οἱ πεπιστευμένοι τὰς χήρας κληρικοί, ἐπειδὴ ἔβλεπον τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς προθύμως ἐπιδιδόντας αὐταῖς καὶ τρέφοντας τὰς χήρας, αὐτάς τε κατὰ τῶν ποδῶν τύπτοντες ἐδίωκον καὶ τοὺς παρέχοντας διέβαλλον 61.3 τῷ δουκί. καὶ τοῦτο ἐγίγνετο μὲν διὰ ∆υναμίου τινὸς στρατιώτου, φίλον δὲ ἦν τοῦτο Σεβαστιανῷ· παρὰ Μανιχαίοις γὰρ ἔλεος οὐκ ἔστιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐχθρόν ἐστι παρ' αὐτοῖς τὸ ἐλεεῖν πένητα. ἦν τοίνυν καινὴ μέμψις καὶ δικαστήριον νῦν πρῶτον ἐπινοηθὲν παρ' αὐτῶν· ἐπὶ εὐεργεσίᾳ τις ἐκρίνετο, καὶ ὁ μὲν ἐλεῶν κατηγορεῖτο, ὁ δὲ εὐεργετούμενος ἐτύπτετο· 61.4 καὶ μᾶλλον ἤθελον πεινᾶν τὸν πένητα ἢ τὸν βουλόμενον ἐλεεῖν παρέχειν. καὶ τοῦτο δὲ παρὰ τῶν παλαιῶν πάλιν Ἰουδαίων ἔμαθον νέοι ὄντες Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ αὐτοί· καὶ γὰρ

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