▾
Socrates Scholasticus, The Ecclesiastical History. — Prefatory Note
⎗←→⎘
▾
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 XXXIII.— The Goths, under the Reign of Valens, embrace Christianity.
The barbarians, dwelling beyond the Danube, called the Goths,
101
The fullest and best ancient authors on the origin and history of the Goths are
Procopius of Cæsarea (Historia, IV.–VIII., de Bello Italico adversus Gothos gesto),
Jornandes (de Getarum [Gothorum] origine et rebus gestis), and Isidore Hispalensis
(Historia Gothorum). On the conversion of the Goths to Christianity, see Neander,
Hist. of the Christ. Ch. Vol. II. p. 125–129, and Schaff, Hist. of the Christ. Ch.
Vol. III. p. 640, 641.
having engaged in a civil war among themselves, were divided into two parties, one of which was headed by Fritigernes, the
other by Athanaric. When the latter had obtained an evident advantage over his rival, Fritigernes had recourse to the Romans,
and implored their assistance against his adversary. This was reported to the Emperor Valens, and he ordered the troops which
were garrisoned in Thrace to assist those barbarians who had appealed to him against their more powerful countrymen; and by
means of this subsidy they won a complete victory over Athanaric beyond the Danube, totally routing the enemy. This became
the occasion for the conversion of many of the barbarians to the Christian religion:
102
For a slightly differing account of the conversion of the Goths and the labors
of Ulfilas, see Philostorgius, II. 5.
for Fritigernes, to express his sense of the obligation the emperor had conferred upon him, embraced the religion of his benefactor,
and urged those who were under his authority to do the same. Therefore it is that so many of the Goths are even to the present
time infected with the errors of Arianism, they having on the occasion preferred to become adherents to that heresy on the
emperor’s account. Ulfilas, their bishop at that time, invented the Gothic letters,
103
By selecting from the Greek and Latin alphabets such characters as appeared to
him to best suit the sounds of his native language. For a similar invention of an
alphabet as a consequence of the introduction of Christianity, compare the Slavonic
invented by Cyril and Methodius and a great number of instances in the history of
modern missions.
and translating the Sacred Scriptures into their own language, undertook to instruct these barbarians in the Divine oracles.
And as Ulfilas did not restrict his labors to the subjects of Fritigernes, but extended them to those who acknowledged the
sway of Athanaric also, Athanaric regarding this as a violation of the privileges of the religion of his ancestors, subjected
those who professed Christianity to severe punishments; so that many of the Arian Goths of that period became martyrs. Arius
indeed, failing in his attempt to refute the opinion of Sabellius the Libyan, fell from the true faith, and asserted the Son
of God to be ‘a new God’:
104
Cf. Deut. xxxii. 7.
but the barbarians embracing Christianity with greater simplicity of mind despised the present life for the faith of Christ.
With these remarks we shall close our notice of the Christianized Goths.