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 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, but you believe these men, it appears rather that these men are saying these things on account of you 76.5 and are accusing Athanasius for your favor. Having heard these things and having considered what was said to be an outrage, he rightly exiled those men, but having been moved more savagely against Athanasius, he wrote that he should suffer what had happened and that the churches should be handed over to the Arians, and that these should be permitted to do what they wish. 77.1 Therefore, such things are dreadful and beyond dreadful, but nevertheless a fitting action for one who puts on the appearance of the antichrist. For who, seeing him ruling over the so-called bishops and presiding over ecclesiastical judgments, would not consistently say that this is what was spoken through Daniel, "the abomination of desolation"? For having clothed himself in Christianity and entering into the holy places and standing in them, he desolates the churches, subverting their canons and forcing his own to prevail. 77.2 Does anyone still dare to say that this time is a peaceful one for Christians and not rather a persecution? And a persecution such as has never before occurred, nor perhaps will anyone ever cause such a one, unless it be "the son of lawlessness," whom the Christ-fighters are now showing, portraying him in themselves. For this reason especially it is necessary to be vigilant, lest this heresy, having much shamelessness and spreading like the "venom of a horned serpent," as it is written in the Proverbs, and teaching to think against the Savior, might be the apostasy, after which that one will be 77.3 revealed, certainly having his own forerunner, Constantius. For why does he rage so against the pious? Why does he contend as if for his own heresy, and call his own enemy the one who is not persuaded by the madness of Arius, but gladly accepts the things said by the Christ-fighters and dishonors such and so many synods? Why did he command that the churches be handed over to the Arians? Is it not so that when that one comes, he may find how to enter into 77.4 them and may receive this one who has prepared the places for him? For the elder bishops from the time of Alexander and Achillas before him and again Peter before him were being cast out, but those were being brought in, whom the followers of the soldiers would name; and they named those who professed to think as they did. 78.1 But this problem was easy for the Meletians. For the most of them, or rather all of them, are not from a pious upbringing nor do they know the sound faith in Christ, nor at all what Christianity is, or what scriptures we Christians have. For some of them, having come from idols, and others from the curial class and the first rank of civil service on account of the wretched exemption from public duty and patronage, having persuaded the Meletians before them with money, came into this position, even before they were catechized. And even if they seemed to be, what kind of catechism is there among the Meletians? Nevertheless, not even seeming to have been catechized, 78.2 they came at the same time, and immediately, like children receiving a name, they were called bishops. And for this reason, being such men, they considered the matter as nothing, nor did they think that piety differs from impiety. At any rate, they eagerly and quickly became Arians from being Meletians. And if the emperor should command something else, they are again ready to change to that too. For ignorance of piety quickly brings them down to the accustomed folly 78.3 which they have learned from the beginning. For it is nothing to them "to be carried about by every wind and wave," as long as they are exempt from public duties and have human patronage, and perhaps not even to change, being such as they were before this, and such as they were when they were again Pagans. 78.4 Of course, being such in character, they were easy-going, and considering the church to be a city council, and thinking the things of idols like the gentiles, having entered into "the good name of the Savior," they defiled all of Egypt,

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τυγχάνοντι. εἰ δὲ παρὰ τούτων ἀκούσας λέγεις, δίκαιόν ἐστί σε καὶ τὰ παρ' ἐκείνου λεγόμενα πιστεύειν, εἰ δὲ μὴ πιστεύεις ἐκείνῳ, πιστεύεις δὲ τούτοις, φαίνονται μᾶλλον οὗτοι διὰ σὲ λέγοντες ταῦτα 76.5 καὶ εἰς σὴν χάριν κατηγοροῦντες Ἀθανασίου. ταῦτα ἀκούσας καὶ νομίσας ὕβριν εἶναι τὸ λεχθὲν ὀρθῶς ἐκείνους μὲν ἐξώρισε, κινηθεὶς δὲ κατὰ Ἀθανασίου ἀγριώτερον ἔγραψεν αὐτόν τε παθεῖν τὰ γενόμενα καὶ τοῖς Ἀρειανοῖς παραδοθῆναι τὰς ἐκκλησίας καὶ τούτοις ἐξεῖναι πράττειν ἃ βούλονται. 77.1 ∆εινὰ μὲν οὖν καὶ πέρα δεινῶν τὰ τοιαῦτα, πρέπουσα δὲ πρᾶξις ὅμως τῷ σχη ματιζομένῳ τὰ τοῦ ἀντιχρίστου. τίς γὰρ βλέπων αὐτὸν ἐξάρχοντα τῶν νομιζομένων ἐπισκόπων καὶ προκαθήμενον τῶν ἐκκλησιαστικῶν κρίσεων οὐκ ἀκολούθως ἂν εἴποι τοῦτ' εἶναι τὸ διὰ τοῦ ∆ανιὴλ εἰρημένον «βδέλυγμα τῆς ἐρημώσεως»; τὸν γὰρ Χριστια νισμὸν περιβεβλημένος καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους τόπους εἰσερχόμενος ἑστηκώς τε ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐρημοῖ τὰς ἐκκλησίας, παραλύων τοὺς τούτων κανόνας καὶ τὰ ἴδια κρατεῖν βιαζόμενος. 77.2 ἆρα τίς ἔτι τολμᾷ λέγειν τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον εἰρηνικὸν εἶναι Χριστιανῶν καὶ οὐ μᾶλλον διωγμόν; καὶ διωγμόν, οἷος οὔτε πώποτε γέγονεν οὔτε τάχα τις ποιήσει ποτὲ τοιοῦτον εἰ μὴ ἄρα «ὁ υἱὸς τῆς ἀνομίας», ὃν οἱ χριστομάχοι δεικνύουσιν ἀναζωγραφοῦντες ἐν αὐτοῖς ἤδη. διὸ καὶ μάλιστα προσήκει νήφειν, μήπως ἡ αἵρεσις αὕτη πολλὴν ἀναισχυντίαν ἔχουσα καὶ διαχυνομένη ὡς «ἰὸς κεράστου», καθὼς ἐν ταῖς Παροιμίαις γέγραπται, δι δάσκουσά τε κατὰ τοῦ σωτῆρος φρονεῖν, αὕτη ἂν εἴη ἡ ἀποστασία, μεθ' ἣν ἐκεῖνος ἀπο 77.3 καλυφθήσεται πάντως ἔχων τὸν πρόδρομον ἑαυτοῦ Κωνστάντιον. ἐπεὶ διὰ τί οὕτως μαίνεται κατὰ τῶν εὐσεβῶν; διὰ τί ὡς ὑπὲρ ἰδίας αἱρέσεως ἀγωνίζεται καὶ ἐχθρὸν μὲν ἴδιον λέγει τὸν μὴ πειθόμενον τῇ Ἀρείου μανίᾳ, τὰ δὲ παρὰ τῶν χριστομάχων λεγό μενα καταθυμίως δέχεται καὶ τοιαύτας καὶ τοσαύτας συνόδους ἀτιμάζει; διὰ τί τοῖς Ἀρειανοῖς ἐκέλευσε τὰς ἐκκλησίας παραδίδοσθαι; οὐχ ἵνα ἐκεῖνος ἐλθὼν εὕρῃ, πῶς εἰς 77.4 αὐτὰς εἰσέλθῃ καὶ ἀποδέξηται τοῦτον ἑτοιμάσαντα τοὺς τόπους αὐτῷ; οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἀπὸ Ἀλεξάνδρου καὶ τοῦ πρὸ αὐτοῦ Ἀχιλλᾶ καὶ πάλιν τοῦ πρὸ τούτου Πέτρου γέροντες ἐπίσκοποι ἐξεβάλλοντο, ἐκεῖνοι δὲ εἰσήγοντο, οὓς ἂν ἔλεγον οἱ ἀκολουθοῦντες τοῖς στρα τιώταις· ἔλεγον δὲ τοὺς τὰ αὐτῶν φρονεῖν ἐπαγγελλομένους. 78.1 Εὔκολον δὲ τοῦτο Μελιτιανοῖς ἦν τὸ πρόβλημα. οἱ γὰρ πλεῖστοι, μᾶλλον δὲ οἱ πάντες οὐκ ἀπὸ θεοσεβοῦς ἀγωγῆς εἰσιν οὐδὲ γινώσκουσι τὴν εἰς Χριστὸν ὑγιαίνουσαν πίστιν, οὐδ' ὅλως τίς ἐστι Χριστιανισμὸς, ἢ ποίας ἔχομεν ἡμεῖς οἱ Χριστιανοὶ γραφάς. οἱ μὲν γὰρ αὐτῶν ἐξ εἰδώλων ἐλθόντες, οἱ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ βουλευτηρίου καὶ τῆς πρώτης πο λιτείας διὰ τὴν ταλαίπωρον ἀλειτουργησίαν καὶ προστασίαν πείσαντές τε χρήμασι τοὺς πρὸ αὐτῶν Μελιτιανοὺς εἰς τοῦτο παρῆλθον, καὶ πρὶν κατηχηθῶσιν. εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔδοξαν, ποία κατήχησις παρὰ Μελιτιανοῖς ἐστιν; ὅμως οὐδὲ δόξαντες κατηχεῖσθαι 78.2 ἦλθον ἅμα, καὶ εὐθὺς ὥσπερ παῖδες ὄνομα λαβόντες ἐκλήθησαν ἐπίσκοποι. καὶ διὰ τοῦτο τοιοῦτοι ὄντες οὐδὲν ἡγήσαντο τὸ πρᾶγμα οὐδὲ διαφέρειν εὐσέβειαν ἀσεβείας ἐνόμισαν. προθύμως γοῦν καὶ ταχέως ἐκ Μελιτιανῶν Ἀρειανοὶ γεγόνασιν. ἂν δὲ καὶ ἕτερόν τι προστάξῃ βασιλεύς, καὶ εἰς τοῦτο πάλιν εἰσὶν ἕτοιμοι μεταβάλλεσθαι. ἡ γὰρ τῆς εὐσεβείας ἄγνοια ταχέως ἐπὶ τὴν συνήθη καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἣν μεμαθήκασιν ἀφρο 78.3 σύνην καταφέρει τούτους. καὶ γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστιν αὐτοῖς «ἀνέμῳ παντὶ καὶ κλύδωνι περιφέρεσθαι», ἕως μόνον εἰσὶν ἀλειτούργητοι καὶ προστασίαν ἀνθρωπίνην ἔχουσι, τάχα δὲ οὐδὲ μεταβάλλεσθαι, οἷοι καὶ πρὸ τούτου ἦσαν, καὶ οἷοι ἦσαν, ὅτε πάλιν Ἕλληνες 78.4 ἐτύγχανον. ἀμέλει τοιοῦτοι τὸν τρόπον ὄντες εὔκολοι καὶ νομίζοντες πολιτείαν βουλῆς εἶναι τὴν ἐκκλησίαν καὶ τὰ τῶν εἰδώλων φρονοῦντες ὥσπερ ἔθνη εἰσελθόντες εἰς «τὸ καλὸν ὄνομα τοῦ σωτῆρος ἐμίαναν τὴν Αἴγυπτον πᾶσαν,

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