Contra Julianum Of the blessed Cyril, archbishop of Alexandria, an address to

 a fine thing for those who will encounter it, and for those who have a heart easily led astray and most readily carried away to things that are not fi

 1.1 Book One The wise and discerning, and those knowledgeable in the sacred doctrines, marvel at the beauty of the truth, and in every discourse have

 those after them would know the things of the first, and not rather those before them the things of the later Therefore, since the sons of the Hellen

 it was necessary to hide in the city of the Sun in Sippar. And Xisuthros, having accomplished these things, immediately sailed to Armenia, and straigh

 he made human affairs a preliminary exercise for more divine ones. Having brought the times down from Abraham to Moses, let us therefore begin here ag

 Azariah, also called Uzziah, governing the affairs of the Hebrews, and Arbaces of the Medes, and Proca Silvius of the Latins. 1.14 Therefore, from the

 coming together into a harmony of sound, Osirapis, so that in the same name Osiris and Apis might be understood. For both of these a death and a buria

 brought to them from Phoenicia, except that the things of Moses had been written And Solon, the discoverer of the laws in Athens, and indeed Plato hi

 stars and the elements of the world, fire and water, air and earth, from which all individual things are said to be composed but others again, having

 a time for the increase of what he had rightly learned sharpened his mind, then indeed, then he was taught the doctrines concerning the divinity more

 but the divine Abraham running up did not speak as to three: Lords, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant, but named the

 Upon the Sodomites who had sinned unbearably he sent the fire he rained, it says, upon Sodom fire and brimstone, the Lord from the Lord. 1.29 But to

 of nature and preeminence and worth would be reckoned both creator and creation, generated and ungenerated nature, incorruptible and under corruption,

 we are accustomed to grant the proper place, far from it but we also reckon ourselves among the children of Abraham. For we are the sons according to

 full of various counsels, and likewise that Leto suggests forgetfulness, and Hermes both memory and reason. Then he takes up natural philosophy and ex

 to them, and are some torn apart so as to think and say different things? But I would say, O excellent one, that those who were the first and earliest

 is, being a mixture of all the ages, and light of his own powers and works, the beginning of all things, a luminary in heaven, and father of all, mind

 Indeed, the sun which seems all-shining does not even seem to allow one to see himself, but if anyone gazes upon him shamelessly, he takes away his si

 what has been said by them concerning the Holy Spirit. For Porphyry says, setting forth the opinion of Plato, that the divine substance proceeded as f

 that not a few of the wise men among the Greeks, being self-willed, have gone astray, and have held opinions that rise up against each other, but ther

 found saying, setting this forth both in the middle and at the end, he would show that the arguments of his refutation were not, I suppose, produced i

 they set up their plot for the souls of the more simple. For they deceived those throughout all the earth, saying that the heaven and the other elemen

 having contrasted them with the Greeks' as being superior, how does he demand that we be silent, and make no mention at all of the things among them,

 Then do you think you have deliberated well, and not rather that you will suffer the very worst of all evil reputation? But if he should wish to under

 they reject certain foods, but they fear none of the strange things. And in addition to this they delight the supreme Zeus, having chosen to honor his

 belching forth according to what seems right to each, how could they not be thought to be guessers rather than men of knowledge of the truth? For some

 Of Plato. Consider, then, what he says about the creator and what words he puts in his mouth in the cosmogony, so that we may compare the cosmogony of

 distributed to all upon the earth, Moses was a helper and was shown to be an introducer of the most beautiful teachings to all, first by having cried

 it is not easy even for those who have known him to say he is capable in all things. And again, elsewhere: To this common conception of all men there

 the earth, and Apollo the sun and the golden-spindled, resounding one, that is Artemis, the moon? And simply applying to each of the things made by Go

 The supreme nature is understood and exists beyond all, beyond mind, reason, and wonder, having willed to make the living being like itself, as far as

 I will place upon you who are under me this commandment given to you through my Word for this law you have. For as I said just now, the Creator estab

 proclaimed, and thinks it a small thing to have been given by God to human nature to be made by Him in His image and likeness. And yet how would not a

 Did the Creator of all things entrust to other gods the necessity of laboring over the creation of the three kinds? From indolence, then, they might s

 it will campaign against His glory to think that others are also able to create and to call into existence the things that once were not for it is no

 of all nature. If, then, two things are acknowledged as existing, that which comes into being and that which makes, they are one by union, the one pre

 weave mortal to it? It is clear, then, that the demiurgic gods, having received creative power from their own father, generated the mortal animals upo

 of the ruling substances, and so he says: For Empedocles, Strife divides, and Friendship unites and this is also incorporeal for him, but the element

 of others, whatever things may have been made, and reaching even to the most insignificant of them. Is this not then a joke, tell me, and babbling hen

 if each one should need it, and showing that such a great and immeasurable creation is not without a superintendent, through which things it is well-o

 of God, and the earth his footstool. Rightly so, o noble one for I will recall God himself saying through one of the holy prophets. Heaven is my thro

belching forth according to what seems right to each, how could they not be thought to be guessers rather than men of knowledge of the truth? For some say the world is one, others many, others that it is created, while there are those who, opposing these altogether and differing in their opinions, say it is indestructible and uncreated; and some say it is governed by the providence of God, while others, even without providence, have assigned the well-ordered motion of the elements to chance and accidents; and some say it is ensouled, while others say it is neither ensouled nor intelligent; and in general, one might see their argument on each point as if drunk, thrown here and there. But since, having selected Plato from the others, he especially delights in his opinions, I would say that Plato and Pythagoras hold somewhat more fitting opinions concerning both God and the world; but they acquired this training, or rather knowledge, by having encountered the Egyptians, among whom there was much talk about the all-wise Moses and the wonder of his doctrines was held in honor. Nevertheless, they say that Plato himself held opinions contrary to his own, and that Aristotle, who studied with him, chose not to think his thoughts, but to oppose and argue against him. For Porphyry says that Plato held an opinion about heaven, and said that its corporeal aspect was composed of the four elements, brought into harmony with each other by a soul; Therefore, he says, it remains composite even now and has been named according to what is predominant. 2.17 He etymologizes the name, I think, and says it is called heaven (ouranos) as being a certain visible thing (horaton), so that from being seen it might be understood as heaven. To Aristotle, however, it did not seem that these things were so. Why so? For he says that heaven is not composite, nor is it from the four elements, but he conceives of a fifth body, which does not partake of the four and is altogether deprived of them. And Plato says the world is ensouled and an intelligent living being, and he sets a providence over it; but his student again has not thought so; for it is neither wholly ensouled throughout, nor intelligent, nor governed by providence. And again, the one defines it as created and perishable, at least as regards its own nature, while the other does not grant it to be created, but as indestructible and uncreated. And again, the clever and famous Plato defines the principles of the universe to be three: God and matter and form; and he says God is the maker, matter is the substrate, and form is the paradigm of each of the things that come into being; but again Aristotle rises up against him and does not agree at all; for he does not deem it worthy to think or speak of form as a principle, but says the principles are two, God and matter. And Plato again, saying that the principles of all things are three, God and matter and form, also brings in a fourth, which he calls the universal soul. And in addition to this, having said that matter is uncreated, he also says that it is created; then, having granted that form, whatever it is, subsists by itself, he fights against his own discoveries; for he said that it exists in the thoughts of God and does not have its own existence, that is, subsistence. 2.18 To whom, then, should the investigators of the truth incline, that they may travel the blameless and most unerring path? Which of those named shall we acquit of speaking falsely? To whom is it worthy to assign the vote for having in no way erred? Rather, how could they be credible for persuading anyone, who have erred so much from the truth that they not only oppose each other but even contradict their own opinions? And the all-wise Julian praises these things and is astounded, and while he mocks the writings of Moses, he dares to set against them in comparison the words of Plato, confusing all things, up and down, and says: {JULIAN} Here let us compare, if you wish, the things of the

κατὰ τὸ ἑκάστῳ δοκοῦν ἐρευγόμενοι, πῶς οὐκ ἂν εἶναι νοοῖντο στοχασταὶ μᾶλλον, καὶ οὐ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐπιστήμονες; Οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἕνα τὸν κόσμον, οἱ δὲ πολλούς, ἕτεροι δὲ γενητόν, εἰσὶ δὲ οἳ τούτοις εἰσάπαν ἀνθεστηκότες καὶ διάφοροι τὰς γνώμας ἄφθαρτόν τε καὶ ἀγένητον εἶναι λέγουσιν αὐτόν· καὶ οἱ μὲν προνοίᾳ Θεοῦ διοικούμενον, οἱ δὲ καὶ προνοίας δίχα καὶ τὴν τῶν στοιχείων εὔτακτον κίνησιν αὐτοματισμοῖς καὶ συμβεβηκόσιν ἐκνενεμήκασι· καὶ οἱ μὲν ἐψυχῶσθαί φασιν αὐτόν, οἱ δὲ οὔτε ἔμψυχον οὔτε νοερόν· καὶ ἁπαξαπλῶς κατίδοι τις ἂν οἰονεὶ μεθύοντα τῇδε κἀκεῖσε διαρριπτούμενον τὸν ἐφ' ἑκάστῳ λόγον αὐτοῖς. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ τὸν Πλάτωνα τῶν ἄλλων ἐκκεκρικὼς ταῖς αὐτοῦ μάλιστα δόξαις ἐμφιλοχωρεῖ, φαίην ἂν ὅτι Πλάτων τε καὶ Πυθαγόρας δοξάζουσι μέν πως ἐπιεικέστερον περί τε Θεοῦ καὶ κόσμου· συνειλόχασι δὲ τὴν εἰς τοῦτο παίδευσιν εἴτουν ἐπιστήμην Αἰγυπτίοις ἐμβεβληκότες, παρ' οἷς δὴ πολὺς ὁ περὶ τοῦ πανσόφου Μωσέως λόγος ἦν καὶ τῶν παρ' αὐτῷ δογμάτων τὸ θαῦμα τετίμητο. Πλὴν αὐτόν τέ φασιν ἑαυτῷ τὸν Πλάτωνα τἀναντία δοξάσαι, καὶ αὐτῷ φοιτήσαντα τὸν Ἀριστοτέλη μὴ τὰ αὐτοῦ μᾶλλον ἑλέσθαι φρονεῖν, ἀντιφέρεσθαι δὲ καὶ ἀντεξάγειν αὐτῷ. Φησὶ γὰρ ὁ Πορφύριος δοξάσαι τὸν Πλάτωνα περὶ οὐρανοῦ, φάναι τε ὅτι τὸ σωματοειδὲς αὐτοῦ συνέστη ἀπὸ τῶν τεσσάρων στοιχείων, ἀλλήλοις ὑπὸ ψυχῆς συμπεφωνηκότων· ∆ιό, φησί, καὶ νῦν συμμιγὴς μένει καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλεονάζον ὠνόμασται. 2.17 Ἐτυμολογεῖ δέ, οἶμαι, τοὔνομα καὶ κεκλῆσθαί φησιν οὐρανὸν οἷον ὁρατὸν ὄντα τινά, ἵν' ἐκ τοῦ ὁρᾶσθαι νοοῖτό τις οὐρανός. Ἀριστοτέλει γε μὴν οὐχ ὧδε ταῦτ' ἔχειν ἐδόκει. Πόθεν; Οὐ γάρ τοί φησι συντεθεῖσθαι τὸν οὐρανόν, οὔτε μὴν ἐκ τεσσάρων εἶναι στοιχείων, ἐπινοεῖ δὲ πέμπτον τι σῶμα τῶν τεσσάρων ἀμέτοχον καὶ ὁλοτρόπως ἠμοιρηκός. Καὶ ὁ μὲν Πλάτων ἔμψυχόν τε τὸν κόσμον φησὶ καὶ ζῷον νοερόν, ἐφίστησι δὲ καὶ πρόνοιαν αὐτῷ· ὁ δ' αὐτοῦ πάλιν φοιτητὴς οὐχ ὧδε πεφρόνηκεν· οὔτε γὰρ ἔμψυχον ὅλον δι' ὅλων οὔτε νοερὸν οὔτε προνοίᾳ διοικούμενον. Καὶ αὖθις ὁ μὲν γενητόν τε καὶ φθαρτὸν τό γε ἧκον εἰς τὴν αὐτοῦ φύσιν διορίζεται, ὁ δὲ οὐδὲ γενητὸν δίδωσιν αὐτὸν ἀλλ' ὡς ἄφθαρτον καὶ ἀγένητον. Καὶ πάλιν ὁ μὲν δὴ δεινὸς καὶ διαβόητος Πλάτων τρεῖς ἀρχὰς εἶναι τοῦ παντὸς διορίζεται, Θεὸν καὶ ὕλην καὶ εἶδος· καὶ Θεὸν μὲν εἶναί φησι τὸν ποιητήν, ὕλην δὲ τὸ ὑποκείμενον, εἶδος δὲ τὸ ἑκάστου τῶν γινομένων παράδειγμα· ἀντανίσταται δὲ πάλιν Ἀριστοτέλης αὐτῷ καὶ οὐ συμβαίνει καθάπαξ· τὸ γὰρ εἶδος ἀρχὴν ἢ φρονεῖν ἢ λέγειν οὐκ ἀξιοῖ, δύο δὲ εἶναί φησι τὰς ἀρχάς, Θεὸν καὶ ὕλην. Τρεῖς δὲ δὴ πάλιν ὁ Πλάτων τὰς τῶν ὅλων ἀρχὰς εἶναι λέγων, Θεόν τε καὶ ὕλην καὶ εἶδος, προσεπάγει καὶ τετάρτην, ἣν δὴ καθόλου ψυχὴν ὀνομάζει. Καὶ πρός γε δὴ τούτῳ τὴν ὕλην ἀγένητον εἰπών, καὶ γενητὴν αὐτὴν εἶναί φησι· εἶτα τὸ εἶδος, ὅ τί ποτέ ἐστιν, ὑφεστάναι δοὺς αὐτὸ καθ' ἑαυτό, μάχεται τοῖς ἰδίοις αὐτοῦ εὑρήμασιν· ἔφη γὰρ ἐν τοῖς τοῦ Θεοῦ νοήμασιν ὑπάρχειν αὐτὸ καὶ οὐκ ἰδίαν ὕπαρξιν ἔχειν, ἤγουν οὐσίωσιν. 2.18 Τίσιν οὖν ἄρα προσνενευκότες οἱ τῆς ἀληθείας ἐρευνηταὶ τὴν ἀμώμητον καὶ ἀπλανεστάτην διᾴττοιεν τρίβον; Τίνα τῶν ὠνομασμένων τοῦ ψευδοεπεῖν ἀπαλλάξομεν; Τίνι τὴν ψῆφον τοῦ κατὰ μηδένα διαπταῖσαι τρόπον ἀπονέμειν ἄξιον; Μᾶλλον δὲ πῶς ἂν εἶεν ἀξιόχρεῳ πρός γε τὸ δεῖν ἀναπεῖσαί τινας οἵ γε τοσοῦτον διημαρτήκασι τἀληθοῦς ὡς μὴ μόνον ἀλλήλοις ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτοὺς ταῖς σφῶν ἀντιφέρεσθαι δόξαις; Ἐπαινεῖ δὲ ταῦτα καὶ κατατέθηπεν ὁ πάνσοφος Ἰουλιανός, καὶ κατασκώπτει μὲν τὰ Μωσέως, ἄνω δὲ καὶ κάτω τὰ πάντα κυκῶν τοὺς Πλάτωνος λόγους ἀντιπαρεξάγειν αὐτοῖς ἀποτολμᾷ, καί φησι· {ΙΟΥΛΙΑΝΟΣ} Ἐνταῦθα παραβάλωμεν, εἰ βούλεσθε, τὰ τοῦ