Chapter II.— By what Means the Emperor Constantine became a Christian.
Chapter III.— While Constantine favors the Christians, Licinius, his Colleague, persecutes them.
Chapter IV.— War arises between Constantine and Licinius on Account of the Christians.
Chapter V.— The Dispute of Arius with Alexander, his Bishop.
Chapter VIII.— Of the Synod which was held at Nicæa in Bithynia, and the Creed there put forth.
Chapter X.— The Emperor also summons to the Synod Acesius, Bishop of the Novatians.
Chapter XI.— Of the Bishop Paphnutius.
Chapter XII.— Of Spyridon, Bishop of the Cypriots.
Chapter XIII.— Of Eutychian the Monk.
Chapter XX.— In what Manner the Iberians were converted to Christianity.
Chapter XXI.— Of Anthony the Monk.
Chapter XXII.— Manes, the Founder of the Manichæan Heresy, and on his Origin.
Chapter XXV.— Of the Presbyter who exerted himself for the Recall of Arius.
Chapter XXIX.— Of Arsenius, and his Hand which was said to have been cut off.
Chapter XXX.— Athanasius is found Innocent of what he was accused his Accusers take to Flight.
Chapter XXXII.— On the Departure of Athanasius, those who composed the Synod vote his Deposition.
Chapter XXXVI.— Of Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra, and Asterius the Sophist.
Chapter XXXVIII.— The Death of Arius.
Chapter XXXIX.— The Emperor falls sick and dies.
Chapter XL.— The Funeral of the Emperor Constantine.
Chapter IV.— On the Death of Eusebius Pamphilus, Acacius succeeds to the Bishopric of Cæsarea.
Chapter V.— The Death of Constantine the Younger.
Chapter IX.— Of Eusebius of Emisa.
Chapter XI.— On the Arrival of Gregory at Alexandria, tended by a Military Escort, Athanasius flees.
Chapter XIV.— The Arians remove Gregory from the See of Alexandria, and appoint George in his Place.
Chapter XVII.— Athanasius, intimidated by the Emperor’s Threats, returns to Rome again.
Chapter XIX.— Of the Creed sent by the Eastern Bishops to those in Italy, called the Lengthy Creed.
Chapter XX.— Of the Council at Sardica.
Chapter XXI.— Defense of Eusebius Pamphilus.
Chapter XXV.— Of the Usurpers Magnentius and Vetranio.
Chapter XXIX.— Of the Heresiarch Photinus.
Chapter XXX.— Creeds published at Sirmium in Presence of the Emperor Constantius.
Chapter XXXI.— Of Hosius, Bishop of Cordova.
Chapter XXXII.— Overthrow of the Usurper Magnentius.
Chapter XXXIII.— Of the Jews inhabiting Dio-Cæsarea in Palestine.
Chapter XXXIV.— Of Gallus Cæsar.
Chapter XXXV.— Of Aëtius the Syrian, Teacher of Eunomius.
Chapter XXXVI.— Of the Synod at Milan.
Chapter XXXVII.— Of the Synod at Ariminum, and the Creed there published.
Chapter XXXVIII.— Cruelty of Macedonius, and Tumults raised by him.
Chapter XXXIX.— Of the Synod at Seleucia, in Isauria.
Chapter XL.— Acacius, Bishop of Cæsarea, dictates a new Form of Creed in the Synod at Seleucia.
Chapter XLII.— On the Deposition of Macedonius, Eudoxius obtains the Bishopric of Constantinople.
Chapter XLIII.— Of Eustathius Bishop of Sebastia.
Chapter XLIV.— Of Meletius Bishop of Antioch.
Chapter XLV.— The Heresy of Macedonius.
Chapter XLVI.— Of the Apollinarians, and their Heresy .
Chapter XLVII.— Successes of Julian Death of the Emperor Constantius.
Chapter II.— Of the Sedition excited at Alexandria, and how George was slain.
Chapter III.— The Emperor Indignant at the Murder of George, rebukes the Alexandrians by Letter.
Chapter V.— Of Lucifer and Eusebius.
Chapter VI.— Lucifer goes to Antioch and consecrates Paulinus.
Chapter VIII.— Quotations from Athanasius’ ‘Defense of his Flight.’
Chapter X.— Of Hilary Bishop of Poictiers.
Chapter XI.— The Emperor Julian extracts Money from the Christians.
Chapter XIII.— Of the Outrages committed by the Pagans against the Christians.
Chapter XIV.— Flight of Athanasius.
Chapter XV.— Martyrs at Merum in Phrygia, under Julian.
Chapter XIX.— Wrath of the Emperor, and Firmness of Theodore the Confessor.
Chapter XXI.— The Emperor’s Invasion of Persia, and Death.
Chapter XXII.— Jovian is proclaimed Emperor.
Chapter XXIII.— Refutation of what Libanius the Sophist said concerning Julian.
Chapter XXIV.— The Bishops flock around Jovian, each attempting to draw him to his own Creed.
Chapter XXVI.— Death of the Emperor Jovian.
Chapter IX.— Valens persecutes the Novatians, because they accepted the Orthodox Faith.
Chapter X.— Birth of Valentinian the Younger.
Chapter XI.— Hail of Extraordinary Size and Earthquakes in Bithynia and the Hellespont.
Chapter XV.— The Emperor banishes Evagrius and Eustathius. The Arians persecute the Orthodox.
Chapter XVI.— Certain Presbyters burnt in a Ship by Order of Valens. Famine in Phrygia.
Chapter XVIII.— Events at Edessa: Constancy of the Devout Citizens, and Courage of a Pious Woman.
Chapter XX.— Death of Athanasius, and Elevation of Peter to His See.
Chapter XXIII.— The Deeds of Some Holy Persons who devoted themselves to a Solitary Life .
Chapter XXV.— Of Didymus the Blind Man.
Chapter XXVI.— Of Basil of Cæsarea, and Gregory of Nazianzus.
Chapter XXVII.— Of Gregory Thaumaturgus (the Wonder-Worker).
Chapter XXXI.— Death of Valentinian.
Chapter XXXIII.— The Goths, under the Reign of Valens, embrace Christianity.
Chapter XXXV.— Abatement of Persecution against the Christians because of the War with the Goths.
Chapter III.— The Principal Bishops who flourished at that Time.
Chapter V.— Events at Antioch in Connection with Paulinus and Meletius.
Chapter XIII.— The Arians excite a Tumult at Constantinople.
Chapter XIV.— Overthrow and Death of the Usurper Maximus.
Chapter XV.— Of Flavian Bishop of Antioch.
Chapter XVII.— Of the Hieroglyphics found in the Temple of Serapis.
Chapter XVIII.— Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor Theodosius.
Chapter XIX.— Of the Office of Penitentiary Presbyters and its Abolition.
Chapter XX.— Divisions among the Arians and Other Heretics.
Chapter XXI.— Peculiar Schism among the Novatians.
Chapter XXIII.— Further Dissensions among the Arians at Constantinople. The Psathyrians.
Chapter XXIV.— The Eunomians divide into Several Factions.
Chapter XXVI.— Illness and Death of Theodosius the Elder.
Chapter II.— Death of Nectarius and Ordination of John.
Chapter III.— Birth and Education of John Bishop of Constantinople.
Chapter IV.— Of Serapion the Deacon on whose Account John becomes Odious to his Clergy.
Chapter X.— Epiphanius Bishop of Cyprus convenes a Synod to condemn the Books of Origen.
Chapter XI.— Of Severian and Antiochus: their Disagreement from John.
Chapter XIII.— The Author’s Defence of Origen.
Chapter XVI.— Sedition on Account of John Chrysostom’s Banishment. He is recalled.
Chapter XVIII.— Of Eudoxia’s Silver Statue. On account of it John is exiled a Second Time.
Chapter XX.— Death of Arsacius, and Ordination of Atticus.
Chapter XXI.— John dies in Exile.
Chapter XXII.— Of Sisinnius Bishop of the Novatians. His Readiness at Repartee.
Chapter XXIII.— Death of the Emperor Arcadius.
Chapter II.— Character and Conduct of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople.
Chapter III.— Of Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synada.
Chapter IV.— A Paralytic Jew healed by Atticus in Baptism.
Chapter V.— The Presbyter Sabbatius, formerly a Jew, separates from the Novatians.
Chapter VI.— The Leaders of Arianism at this Time.
Chapter VII.— Cyril succeeds Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria.
Chapter VIII.— Propagation of Christianity among the Persians by Maruthas Bishop of Mesopotamia.
Chapter IX.— The Bishops of Antioch and Rome.
Chapter X.— Rome taken and sacked by Alaric.
Chapter XI.— The Bishops of Rome.
Chapter XII.— Of Chrysanthus Bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople.
Chapter XIV.— The Monks of Nitria come down and raise a Sedition against the Prefect of Alexandria.
Chapter XV.— Of Hypatia the Female Philosopher.
Chapter XVI.— The Jews commit Another Outrage upon the Christians and are punished.
Chapter XIX.— Of Palladius the Courier.
Chapter XX.— A Second Overthrow of the Persians by the Romans.
Chapter XXI.— Kind Treatment of the Persian Captives by Acacius Bishop of Amida.
Chapter XXII.— Virtues of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger.
Chapter XXVI.— Sisinnius is chosen to succeed Atticus.
Chapter XXVII.— Voluminous Productions of Philip, a Presbyter of Side.
Chapter XXVIII.— Proclus ordained Bishop of Cyzicus by Sisinnius, but rejected by the People.
Chapter XXX.— The Burgundians embrace Christianity under Theodosius the Younger.
Chapter XXXI.— Nestorius harasses the Macedonians.
Chapter XXXII.— Of the Presbyter Anastasius, by whom the Faith of Nestorius was perverted.
Chapter XXXIII.— Desecration of the Altar of the Great Church by Runaway Slaves.
Chapter XXXIV.— Synod at Ephesus against Nestorius. His Deposition.
Chapter XXXVI.— The Author’s Opinion of the Validity of Translations from One See to Another.
Chapter XXXVII.— Miracle performed by Silvanus Bishop of Troas formerly of Philippopolis.
Chapter XXXVIII.— Many of the Jews in Crete embrace the Christian Faith.
Chapter XXXIX.— Preservation of the Church of the Novatians from Fire.
Chapter XL.— Proclus succeeds Maximian Bishop of Constantinople.
Chapter XLI.— Excellent Qualities of Proclus.
Chapter XLII.— Panegyric of the Emperor Theodosius Younger.
Chapter XLIII.— Calamities of the Barbarians who had been the Usurper John’s Allies.
Chapter XLIV.— Marriage of the Emperor Valentinian with Eudoxia the Daughter of Theodosius.
Chapter XLVI.— Death of Paul Bishop of the Novatians, and Election of Marcian as his Successor.
Chapter XLVII.— The Empress Eudocia goes to Jerusalem sent there by the Emperor Theodosius.
Chapter XLVIII.— Thalassius is ordained Bishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia.
Chapter XXVIII.— Athanasius’ Account of the Deeds of Violence committed at Alexandria by George the Arian.
What cruelties George perpetrated at Alexandria at the same time may be learned from the narration of Athanasius, who both
suffered in and witnessed the occurrences. In his ‘Apology for his flight,’
86
Athan. Apol. de Fuga, 6.
speaking of these transactions, he thus expresses himself:
‘Moreover, they came to Alexandria, again seeking to destroy me: and on this occasion their proceedings were worse than before;
for the soldiery having suddenly surrounded the church, there arose the din of war, instead of the voice of prayer. Afterwards,
on his arrival during Lent,
87
Τεσσαρακοστή , lit. = ‘forty days’ fast,’ formed by mistaken analogy to πεντηκοστή
George, sent from Cappadocia, added to the evil which he was instructed to work. When Easter-week
88
Suspending, i.e., all violence during the period of festivity attending the observance
of Easter.
was passed, the virgins were cast into prison, the bishops were led in chains by the military, and the dwellings even of orphans
and widows were forcibly entered and their provisions pillaged. Christians were assassinated by night; houses were sealed;
89
Houses are often sealed by state and municipal officials in the East, even at the
present time, when their contents are to be confiscated, or for any other reason an
inventory is to be made by the authorities. The sealing consists in fastening and
securing the locks and bolts and attaching the impression of the official seal to
some sealing-wax which is put over them. In this case the object of the sealing was
apparently the confiscation of the contents.
and the relatives of the clergy were endangered on their account. Even these outrages were dreadful; but those that followed
were still more so. For in the week after the holy Pentecost, the people, having fasted, went forth to the cemetery to pray,
because all were averse to communion with George: that wickedest of men being informed of this, instigated against them Sebastian,
an officer who was a Manichæan. He, accordingly, at the head of a body of troops armed with drawn swords, bows, and darts,
marched out to attack the people, although it was the Lord’s day: finding but few at prayers,—as the most part had retired
because of the lateness of the hour,—he performed such exploits as might be expected from them. Having kindled a fire, he
set the virgins near it, in order to compel them to say that they were of the Arian faith: but seeing they stood their ground
and despised the fire, he then stripped them, and so beat them on the face, that for a long time afterwards they could scarcely
be recognized. Seizing also about forty men, he flogged them in an extraordinary manner: for he so lacerated their backs with
rods fresh cut from the palm-tree, which still had their thorns on, that some were obliged to resort repeatedly to surgical
aid in order to have the thorns extracted from their flesh, and others, unable to bear the agony, died under its infliction.
All the survivors with one virgin they banished to the Great Oasis.
90
The modern El-Onah or El-Kharjeh, situated west of the Nile, seven days’ journey
from Thebes, contains several small streams, and abounds in vegetation, including
palm-trees, orange and citron groves, olive orchards, &c. See Smith, Dict. of Geogr.
The bodies of the dead they did not so much as give up to their relatives, but denying them the rites of sepulture they concealed
them as they thought fit, that the evidences of their cruelty might not appear. They did this acting as madmen. For while
the friends of the deceased rejoiced on account of their confession, but mourned because their bodies were uninterred, the
impious inhumanity of these acts was sounded abroad the more conspicuously. For soon after this they sent into exile out of
Egypt and the two Libyas the following bishops: Ammonius, Thmuïs, Caïus, Philo, Hermes, Pliny, Psenosiris, Nilammon, Agatho,
Anagamphus, Mark, Ammonius, another Mark, Dracontius, Adelphius, and Athenodorus; and the presbyters Hierax and Discorus.
And so harshly did they treat them in conducting them, that some expired while on their journey, and others in the place of
banishment. In this way they got rid of more than thirty bishops, for the anxious desire of the Arians, like Ahab’s, was to
exterminate the truth if possible.’
Such are the words of Athanasius in regard to the atrocities perpetrated by George at Alexandria. The emperor meanwhile led
his army into Illyricum. For there the urgency of public affairs demanded his presence; and especially the proclamation of
Vetranio
91
Sozomen (IV. 4) calls him Οὐετερανίων ; cf. also Zosimus, II. 44, on the way in
which he was elevated and soon afterwards reduced.
as emperor by the military. On arriving at Sirmium, he came to a conference with Vetranio during a truce; and so managed,
that the soldiers who had previously declared for him changed sides, and saluted Constantius alone as Augustus and sovereign
autocrat. In the acclamations, therefore, no notice was taken of Vetranio. Vetranio, perceiving himself to be abandoned, immediately
threw himself at the feet of the emperor; Constantius, taking from him his imperial crown and purple, treated him with great
clemency, and recommended him to pass the rest of his days tranquilly in the condition of a private citizen: observing that
a life of repose at his advanced age was far more suitable than a dignity which entailed anxieties and care. Vetranio’s affairs
came to this issue; and the emperor ordered that a liberal provision out of the public revenue should be given him. Often
afterwards writing to the emperor during his residence at Prusa in Bithynia, Vetranio assured him that he had conferred the
greatest blessing on him, by liberating him from the disquietudes which are the inseparable concomitants of sovereign power.
Adding that he himself did not act wisely in depriving himself of that happiness in retirement, which he had bestowed upon
him. Let this suffice on this point. After these things, the Emperor Constantius having created Gallus his kinsman Cæsar,
and given him his own name,
92
See I. 1, and note on the name of Eusebius Pamphilus; cf. Smith and Cheetham, Dict.
of Christ. Ant. Names.
sent him to Antioch in Syria, providing thus for the guarding of the eastern parts. When Gallus was entering this city, the
Savior’s sign appeared in the East:
93
Similar to the appearance mentioned in I. 2. See note on that passage.
for a pillar in the form of a cross seen in the heavens gave occasion of great amazement to the spectators. His other generals
the emperor despatched against Magnentius with considerable forces, and he himself remained at Sirmium, awaiting the course
of events.