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of a voice sent forth to every nation in writing. 2.23.2 You might learn the virtue of this decree by consulting the letters themselves; and there were two of these, the one sent to the churches of God, the other to the peoples of each city who are without, and it seems fitting to me to insert here the one which pertains to the present subject, so that through this history the text of this document might remain and be preserved for those after us, both for the sake of truth and for the confirmation of our 2.23.3 own accounts. It has been taken from the authentic imperial law which is preserved by us, on which the autograph subscription of his own right hand, as with a seal, signifies its testimony to the trustworthiness of its contents. 2.24.1 Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to the provincials of Palestine. From of old and for a long time the difference has been clear to those who think rightly and soberly concerning the higher power, a difference precluding from afar all doubt, by how great a measure the scrupulous observance concerning the most venerable worship of Christianity has differed from those who were hostile toward it and wished to hold it in contempt. 2.24.2 But now, even more by more manifest deeds and more splendid successes, both the absurdity of doubt has been demonstrated and how great is the power of the great God, since for those who faithfully revere the most august law and dare to transgress none of its commandments, abundant good things and the best strength for their undertakings and good hopes meet them, while for those who have adopted an impious opinion, the outcomes have been in accordance with their choices. 2.24.3 For who could obtain any good thing, neither recognizing the God who is the cause of good things nor wishing to worship him as is fitting? And the facts give credence to what has been said. 2.25.1 If, then, one should run back in one’s mind to the times extending from of old until now, and survey with reason the deeds ever yet done, one would find that all those who laid a just and good foundation for their affairs have brought their undertakings to a good end, and have gathered, as it were, sweet fruit from a pleasant root; but those who have attempted unjust ventures, and have either raged foolishly against the higher power or have held no pious regard for the human race, but have dared many such things as exiles, dishonors, confiscations, and slaughters, and have never repented nor turned their mind to better things, have met with equal and corresponding requitals. And these things would happen not improbably nor without reason. For all those who undertake any actions with a just mind and continually hold the fear of the higher power in mind, preserving a steadfast faith in him, and do not consider present fears and dangers more precious than those future hopes, even if for a time they should be tried by certain difficulties, they have not borne their afflictions heavily, believing that greater honors are laid up for them, but have obtained so much the more splendid glory, in proportion as they were tried by more grievous 2.26.2 hardships. But as many as either dishonorably overlooked justice or did not know the higher power, and dared to subject those who faithfully pursued this to insults and incurable punishments, and did not judge themselves miserable for punishing on such pretexts, but judged blessed and happy those who preserved their piety toward the higher power even to the point of such sufferings—of these men many armies have fallen, many have been turned to flight, and their every battle array has ended in most shameful defeat. 2.27.1 From such things spring up grievous wars, from such things utter destructions; hence come shortages of necessary provisions, and a multitude of impending calamities; hence the leaders of such great impiety, having endured the worst, have met with an utterly destructive death, or leading a most shameful life have acknowledged it to be heavier than death, and have received punishments, as it were, of equal measure to their injustices. 2.27.2 For each one has found for himself as great a measure of calamities as he thought to war against the divine law

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φωνῆς εἰς ἕκαστον ἔθνος ἐν γραφῇ δια2.23.2 πεμφθείσῃ. μάθοις δ' ἂν τοῦ λόγου τὴν ἀρετὴν αὐτοῖς προσβαλὼν τοῖς γράμμασι· δύο δ' ἦν ταῦτα, τὸ μὲν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τοῦ θεοῦ, τὸ δὲ τοῖς ἐκτὸς κατὰ πόλιν δήμοις διαπεμφθέν, ὃ τῇ παρούσῃ προσῆκον ὑποθέσει ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ παρενθεῖναι, ὡς ἂν διὰ τῆς ἱστορίας μένοι καὶ φυλάττοιτο τοῖς μεθ' ἡμᾶς καὶ ἡ τοῦδε τοῦ γράμματος ἔκθεσις πρός τ' ἀληθείας καὶ τῶν 2.23.3 ἡμετέρων διηγημάτων πίστωσιν. εἴληπται δ' ἐξ αὐθεντικοῦ τοῦ παρ' ἡμῖν φυλαττομένου βασιλικοῦ νόμου, ᾧ καὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ δεξιᾶς ἔγγραφος ὑποσημείωσις τῆς τῶν λόγων πιστώσεως οἷά τινι σφραγῖδι κατασημαίνει τὴν μαρτυρίαν. 2.24.1 Νικητὴς Κωνσταντῖνος Μέγιστος Σεβαστὸς ἐπαρχιώταις Παλαιστίνης. Ἦν μὲν ἄνωθέν τε καὶ πάλαι παρὰ τοῖς ὀρθῶς καὶ σωφρόνως περὶ τοῦ κρείττονος δοξάζουσιν ἔκδηλος ἡ διαφορὰ καὶ πᾶσαν ἀνείργουσα πόρρωθεν ἀμφιβολίαν, ὅσῳ τῷ μέσῳ διήλλαττεν ἡ περὶ τὴν σεβασμιωτάτην τοῦ χριστιανισμοῦ θεραπείαν ἀκριβὴς παρατήρησις παρὰ τοὺς πρὸς αὐτὴν ἐκπεπολεμωμένους τε καὶ καταφρονητικῶς ἔχειν ἐθέλοντας. 2.24.2 νυνὶ δὲ καὶ μᾶλλον ἐπιφανεστέραις πράξεσι καὶ κατορθώμασι λαμπροτέροις τό τε τῆς ἀμφιβολίας ἄλογον ἀποδέδεικται καὶ ὁπόση τις ἡ τοῦ μεγάλου θεοῦ δύναμις, ἡνίκα τοῖς μὲν πιστῶς τὸν σεμνότατον σέβουσι νόμον καὶ μηδὲν τῶν παραγγελμάτων παραλύειν τολμῶσιν ἄφθονα τὰ ἀγαθὰ καὶ πρὸς τὰς ἐγχειρήσεις ἰσχὺς ἀρίστη καὶ μετ' ἐλπίδων ἀγαθῶν ἀπαντῶσα, τοῖς δὲ τὴν ἀσεβῆ λαβοῦσι γνώμην πρὸς τὰς προαιρέσεις 2.24.3 ἀκόλουθα καὶ τὰ ἀποβαίνοντα ἦν. τίς γὰρ ἂν ἀγαθοῦ τύχοι τινός, τὸν τῶν ἀγαθῶν αἴτιον θεὸν οὔτε γνωρίζων οὔτε τὰ προσήκοντα σέβειν ἐθέλων; πίστιν δὲ τῷ ῥηθέντι καὶ τὰ ἔργα δίδωσιν. 2.25.1 Εἰ γ' οὖν τις εἰς τοὺς ἄνωθεν εἰς δεῦρο παρατείνοντας χρόνους ἀναδράμοι τῷ νῷ καὶ τὰς πώποτε γενομένας πράξεις κατίδοι τῷ λογισμῷ, πάντας ἂν εὕροι τοὺς μὲν ὅσοι δικαίαν καὶ ἀγαθὴν προκατεβάλοντο τῶν πραγμάτων κρηπῖδα εἰς ἀγαθὸν καὶ προαγαγόντας τὰς ἐγχειρήσεις πέρας, καὶ οἷον ἀπὸ ῥίζης τινὸς ἡδείας κομισαμένους καὶ τὸν καρπὸν γλυκύν, τοὺς δὲ ἀδίκοις ἐπιχειρήσαντας τόλμαις καὶ ἢ πρὸς τὸ κρεῖττον ἀνοήτως ἐκμανέντας ἢ πρὸς τὸ ἀνθρώπινον γένος λογισμὸν ὅσιον μηδένα λαβόντας, ἀλλὰ φυγὰς ἀτιμίας δημεύσεις σφαγὰς τοιαῦτα πολλὰ τολμήσαντας, καὶ οὐδὲ μεταμεληθέντας ποτὲ οὐδὲ τὸν νοῦν ἐπιστρέψαντας πρὸς τὰ καλλίω, ἴσων καὶ τῶν ἀμοιβαίων τυχόντας. καὶ ταῦτά γε οὐκ ἂν ἀπεικότως οὐδ' ἂν ἀπὸ λόγου συμβαίνοι. Ὅσοι μὲν γὰρ μετὰ δικαίας γνώμης ἐπί τινας ἔρχονται πράξεις καὶ τὸν τοῦ κρείττονος φόβον διηνεκῶς ἔχουσιν ἐν νῷ, βεβαίαν τὴν περὶ αὐτὸν φυλάττοντες πίστιν, καὶ τοὺς παρόντας φόβους τε καὶ κινδύνους οὐκ ἄγουσιν τῶν μελλουσῶν ἐκείνων ἐλπίδων προτιμοτέρους, κἂν εἰ πρὸς καιρὸν δυσχερῶν τινων πειραθεῖεν, τῷ μείζονας ἑαυτοῖς ἀποκεῖσθαι πιστεύειν τιμὰς ἤνεγκαν οὐδὲ τὰ προσπεσόντα βαρέως, ἀλλὰ τοσούτῳ λαμπροτέρας ἔτυχον εὐκλείας, ὅσῳ καὶ βαρυτέρων τῶν χαλεπῶν ἐπειρά2.26.2 θησαν. ὅσοι δὲ ἢ τὸ δίκαιον ἀτίμως παρεῖδον ἢ τὸ κρεῖττον οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, καὶ τοὺς τοῦτο πιστῶς μετιόντας ὕβρεσι καὶ κολάσεσιν ἀνηκέστοις ὑποβαλεῖν ἐτόλμησαν, καὶ οὐχ ἑαυτοὺς μὲν ἀθλίους ἐφ' οἷς διὰ τὰς τοιαύτας ἐκόλαζον προφάσεις ἔκριναν, εὐδαίμονας δὲ καὶ μακαριστοὺς τοὺς καὶ μέχρι τῶν τοιούτων τὴν πρὸς τὸ κρεῖττον διασῳζομένους εὐσέβειαν, τούτων πολλαὶ μὲν ἔπεσον στρατιαί, πολλαὶ δὲ πρὸς φυγὴν ἐτράπησαν, πᾶσα δὲ τούτων πολέμων παράταξις εἰς αἰσχίστην ἔληξεν ἧτταν. 2.27.1 Ἐκ τῶν τοιούτων ἀναφύονται πόλεμοι βαρεῖς, ἐκ τῶν τοιούτων πορθήσεις πανώλεθροι, ἐντεῦθεν ἐλαττώσεις μὲν τῶν πρὸς τὰς χρείας ἀναγκαίων, πλῆθος δὲ τῶν ἐπηρτημένων δεινῶν, ἐντεῦθεν οἱ τῆς τοσαύτης ἀρχηγοὶ δυσσεβείας ἢ ἀνατλάντες τὰ ἔσχατα θάνατον πανώλεθρον ἐδυστύχησαν, ἢ ζωὴν αἰσχίστην διάγοντες θανάτου ταύτην βαρυτέραν ἐπέγνωσαν, καὶ οἷον ἰσομέτρους ταῖς ἀδικίαις τὰς τιμωρίας ἐκομίσαντο. 2.27.2 τοσοῦτον γὰρ ἕκαστος εὕρατο συμφορῶν, ὅσον τις καὶ καταπολεμῆσαι τὸν θεῖον ὡς ᾤετο νόμον