Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 2
Socrates and Sozomen — Ecclesiastical Histories
SECTION 81
Chapter I.--After the Death of Valens the Goths again attack Constantinople, and are repulsed by the Citizens, aided by Some Saracen Auxiliaries.
Chapter I.--After the Death of Valens the Goths again attack Constantinople, and are repulsed by the Citizens, aided by Some Saracen Auxiliaries. After the Emperor Valens had thus lost his life, in a manner which has never been satisfactorily ascertained, [680] the barbarians again approached the very walls of Constantinople, a…
740 wordsSECTION 82Chapter V.--Events at Antioch in Connection with Paulinus and Meletius.
Chapter V.--Events at Antioch in Connection with Paulinus and Meletius. About this time a serious contest was excited at Antioch in Syria, on account of Melitius. We have already observed [688] that Paulinus, bishop of that city, because of his eminent piety was not sent into exile: and that Melitius after being restored by Jul…
1,571 wordsSECTION 83Chapter VIII.--A Synod consisting of One Hundred and Fifty Bishops meets at Constantinople. The Decrees passed. Ordination of Nectarius.
Chapter VIII.--A Synod consisting of One Hundred and Fifty Bishops meets at Constantinople. The Decrees passed. Ordination of Nectarius. The emperor making no delay summoned a Synod [703] of the prelates of his own faith, in order that he might establish the Nicene Creed, and appoint a bishop of Constantinople: and inasmuch as …
1,069 wordsSECTION 84Chapter IX.--The Body of Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, is honorably transferred from his Place of Exile. Death of Meletius.
Chapter IX.--The Body of Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, is honorably transferred from his Place of Exile. Death of Meletius. The emperor at that time caused to be removed from the city of Ancyra, the body of the bishop Paul, whom Philip the prefect of the Prætorium [712] had banished at the instigation of Macedonius, and order…
1,726 wordsSECTION 85Chapter XI.--The Emperor Gratian is slain by the Treachery of the Usurper Maximus. From Fear of him Justina ceases persecuting Ambrose.
Chapter XI.--The Emperor Gratian is slain by the Treachery of the Usurper Maximus. From Fear of him Justina ceases persecuting Ambrose. Nearly at the same time with the holding of these Synods at Constantinople, the following events occurred in the Western parts. Maximus, from the island of Britain, rebelled against the Roman e…
839 wordsSECTION 86Chapter XIII.--The Arians excite a Tumult at Constantinople.
Chapter XIII.--The Arians excite a Tumult at Constantinople. At the time when the emperor was thus occupied on his military expedition, the Arians excited a great tumult at Constantinople by such devices as these. Men are fond of fabricating statements respecting matters about which they are in ignorance; and if at any time the…
1,024 wordsSECTION 87Chapter XVI.--Demolition of the Idolatrous Temples at Alexandria, and the Consequent Conflict between the Pagans and Christians.
Chapter XVI.--Demolition of the Idolatrous Temples at Alexandria, and the Consequent Conflict between the Pagans and Christians. At the solicitation of Theophilus bishop of Alexandria the emperor issued an order at this time for the demolition of the heathen temples in that city; commanding also that it should be put in executi…
1,108 wordsSECTION 88Chapter XVIII.--Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor Theodosius.
Chapter XVIII.--Reformation of Abuses at Rome by the Emperor Theodosius. The emperor Theodosius during his short stay in Italy, conferred the greatest benefit on the city of Rome, by grants on the one hand, and abrogations on the other. His largesses were indeed very munificent; and he removed two most infamous abuses which exi…
722 wordsSECTION 89Chapter XIX.--Of the Office of Penitentiary Presbyters and its Abolition.
Chapter XIX.--Of the Office of Penitentiary Presbyters and its Abolition. At this time it was deemed requisite to abolish the office of those presbyters in the churches who had charge of the penitences: [751] this was done on the following account. When the Novatians separated themselves from the Church because they would not c…
717 wordsSECTION 90Chapter XX.--Divisions among the Arians and Other Heretics.
Chapter XX.--Divisions among the Arians and Other Heretics. I conceive it right moreover not to leave unnoticed the proceedings of the other religious bodies, viz. the Arians, [759] Novatians, and those who received their denominations from Macedonius and Eunomius. For the Church once being divided, rested not in that schism, b…
1,225 wordsSECTION 91Chapter XXII.--The Author's Views respecting the Celebration of Easter, Baptism, Fasting, Marriage, the Eucharist, and Other Ecclesiastical Rites.
Chapter XXII.--The Author's Views respecting the Celebration of Easter, Baptism, Fasting, Marriage, the Eucharist, and Other Ecclesiastical Rites. As we have touched the subject I deem it not unreasonable to say a few words concerning Easter. It appears to me that neither the ancients nor moderns who have affected to follow the…
2,365 wordsSECTION 92The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch a
The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law; to whom we gave no such commandmen…
2,009 wordsSECTION 93Chapter XXIII.--Further Dissensions among the Arians at Constantinople. The Psathyrians.
Chapter XXIII.--Further Dissensions among the Arians at Constantinople. The Psathyrians. But dissensions arose among the Arians [802] also on this account. The contentious questions which were daily agitated among them, led them to start the most absurd propositions. For whereas it has been always believed in the church that Go…
1,088 wordsSECTION 94Chapter XXV.--The Usurper Eugenius compasses the Death of Valentinian the Younger. Theodosius obtains a Victory over him.
Chapter XXV.--The Usurper Eugenius compasses the Death of Valentinian the Younger. Theodosius obtains a Victory over him. There was in the Western regions a grammarian named Eugenius, [810] who after having for some time taught the Latin language, left his school, and was appointed to service at the palace, being constituted ch…
897 wordsSECTION 95Book VI.
Book VI. Introduction. The commission with which you charged us, O holy man of God, Theodore, we have executed in the five foregoing books; in which to the best of our ability, we have comprised the history of the Church from the time of Constantine. Notice, however, that we have been by no means studious of style; for we cons…
878 wordsSECTION 96Chapter II.--Death of Nectarius and Ordination of John.
Chapter II.--Death of Nectarius and Ordination of John. A short time after Nectarius [824] also, bishop of Constantinople died, during the consulate of Cæsarius and Atticus, [825] on the 27th of September. A contest thereupon immediately arose respecting the appointment of a successor, some proposing one person, and some anothe…
1,683 wordsSECTION 97Chapter IV.--Of Serapion the Deacon on whose Account John becomes Odious to his Clergy.
Chapter IV.--Of Serapion the Deacon on whose Account John becomes Odious to his Clergy. Being such in disposition and manners, and promoted to the episcopacy, John was led to conduct himself toward his clergy with more than proper superciliousness, designing to correct the morals of the clergy under him. Having thus chafed the …
1,175 wordsSECTION 98Chapter VI.--Gaïnas the Goth attempts to usurp the Sovereign Power; after filling Constantinople with Disorder, he is slain.
Chapter VI.--Gaïnas the Goth attempts to usurp the Sovereign Power; after filling Constantinople with Disorder, he is slain. I shall now narrate some memorable circumstances that occurred at that period, in which it will be seen how Divine Providence interposed by extraordinary agencies for the preservation of the city and Roma…
1,582 wordsSECTION 99Chapter VII.--Dissension between Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria and the Monks of the Desert. Condemnation of Origen's Books.
Chapter VII.--Dissension between Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria and the Monks of the Desert. Condemnation of Origen's Books. The question had been started a little before, [851] whether God is a corporeal existence, and has the form of man; or whether he is incorporeal, and without human or, generally speaking, any other bodil…
1,912 wordsSECTION 100Chapter IX.--Dispute between Theophilus and Peter leading to an Attempt on the Part of the Former to depose John Bishop of Constantinople.
Chapter IX.--Dispute between Theophilus and Peter leading to an Attempt on the Part of the Former to depose John Bishop of Constantinople. Not long after this, the monks of the desert, together with Dioscorus and his brothers, came to Constantinople. There was also with them Isidore, [858] formerly the most intimate friend of t…
1,086 wordsSECTION 101Chapter XI.--Of Severian and Antiochus: their Disagreement from John.
Chapter XI.--Of Severian and Antiochus: their Disagreement from John. The odium against John Chrysostom was considerably increased by another additional event as follows: two bishops flourished at that time, Syrians by birth, named Severian and Antiochus; Severian presided over the church at Gabala, a city of Syria, and Antioch…
1,496 wordsSECTION 102Chapter XII.--Epiphanius, in order to gratify Theophilus, performs Ordinations at Constantinople without John's Permission.
Chapter XII.--Epiphanius, in order to gratify Theophilus, performs Ordinations at Constantinople without John's Permission. Not long after this, at the suggestion of Theophilus, the bishop Epiphanius again came from Cyprus to Constantinople; he brought also with him a copy of the synodical decree in which they did not excommuni…
926 wordsSECTION 103Chapter XIV.--Epiphanius is asked to meet John; on refusing he is admonished concerning his Anticanonical Proceedings; alarmed at this he leaves Constantinople.
Chapter XIV.--Epiphanius is asked to meet John; on refusing he is admonished concerning his Anticanonical Proceedings; alarmed at this he leaves Constantinople. John was not offended because Epiphanius, contrary to the ecclesiastical canon, had made an ordination in his church; [873] but invited him to remain with him at the ep…
1,058 wordsSECTION 104Chapter XVI.--Sedition on Account of John Chrysostom's Banishment. He is recalled.
Chapter XVI.--Sedition on Account of John Chrysostom's Banishment. He is recalled. The people then became intolerably tumultuous; and as it frequently happens in such cases, many who before were adversely disposed against him, now changed their hostility into compassion, and said of him whom they had so recently desired to see …
854 wordsSECTION 105Chapter XVIII.--Of Eudoxia's Silver Statue. On account of it John is exiled a Second Time.
Chapter XVIII.--Of Eudoxia's Silver Statue. On account of it John is exiled a Second Time. At this time a silver statue of the Empress Eudoxia covered with a long robe was erected [881] upon a column of porphyry supported by a lofty base. And this stood neither near nor far from the church named Sophia, but one-half the breadth…
797 wordsSECTION 106Chapter XIX.--Ordination of Arsacius as John's Successor. Indisposition of Cyrinus Bishop of Chalcedon.
Chapter XIX.--Ordination of Arsacius as John's Successor. Indisposition of Cyrinus Bishop of Chalcedon. After the lapse of a few days, Arsacius was ordained bishop of Constantinople; he was a brother of Nectarius who so ably administered the see before John, although he was then very aged, being upwards of eighty years old. Whi…
831 wordsSECTION 107Chapter XXII.--Of Sisinnius Bishop of the Novatians. His Readiness at Repartee.
Chapter XXII.--Of Sisinnius Bishop of the Novatians. His Readiness at Repartee. It will not be out of place here, I conceive, to give some account of Sisinnius. He was, as I have often said, [897] a remarkably eloquent man, and well-instructed in philosophy. But he had particularly cultivated logic, and was profoundly skilled i…
835 wordsSECTION 108Chapter XXIII.--Death of the Emperor Arcadius.
Chapter XXIII.--Death of the Emperor Arcadius. Not long after the death of John, the Emperor Arcadius died also. This prince was of a mild and gentle disposition, and toward the close of his life was esteemed to be greatly beloved of God, from the following circumstance. There was at Constantinople an immense mansion called Car…
920 wordsSECTION 109Chapter III.--Of Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synada.
Chapter III.--Of Theodosius and Agapetus Bishops of Synada. A certain Theodosius was bishop of Synada in Phrygia Pacata; he violently persecuted the heretics in that province--and there was a great number of them--and especially those of the Macedonian sect; he drove them out not only from the city, but also out of the country.…
724 wordsSECTION 110Chapter V.--The Presbyter Sabbatius, formerly a Jew, separates from the Novatians.
Chapter V.--The Presbyter Sabbatius, formerly a Jew, separates from the Novatians. Many, however, making no account of these events yielded to their own depravity; for not only did the Jews continue in unbelief after this miracle, but others also who love to follow them were shown to hold views similar to theirs. Among these wa…
802 wordsSECTION 111Chapter VII.--Cyril succeeds Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria.
Chapter VII.--Cyril succeeds Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria. Shortly afterwards Theophilus bishop of Alexandria having fallen into a lethargic state, died on the 15th of October, [921] in the ninth consulate of Honorius, and the fifth of Theodosius. A great contest immediately arose about the appointment of a successor, some s…
933 wordsSECTION 112Chapter IX.--The Bishops of Antioch and Rome.
Chapter IX.--The Bishops of Antioch and Rome. During this period upon the death of Flavian [928] Porphyry received the episcopate of Antioch, and after him Alexander [929] was set over that church. But at Rome, Damasus having held that bishopric eighteen years Siricius succeeded him; [930] and Siricius having presided there fif…
714 wordsSECTION 113Chapter XII.--Of Chrysanthus Bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople.
Chapter XII.--Of Chrysanthus Bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople. After the death of Sisinnius, Chrysanthus was constrained to take upon him the episcopal office. He was the son of Marcian the predecessor of Sisinnius, and having had a military appointment in the palace at an early age, he was subsequently under Theodosiu…
1,378 wordsSECTION 114Chapter XIV.--The Monks of Nitria come down and raise a Sedition against the Prefect of Alexandria.
Chapter XIV.--The Monks of Nitria come down and raise a Sedition against the Prefect of Alexandria. Some of the monks inhabiting the mountains of Nitria, of a very fiery disposition, whom Theophilus some time before had unjustly armed against Dioscorus and his brethren, being again transported with an ardent zeal, resolved to f…
987 wordsSECTION 115Chapter XVI.--The Jews commit Another Outrage upon the Christians and are punished.
Chapter XVI.--The Jews commit Another Outrage upon the Christians and are punished. Soon afterwards the Jews renewed their malevolent and impious practices against the Christians, and drew down upon themselves deserved punishment. At a place named Inmestar, situated between Chalcis and Antioch in Syria, the Jews were amusing th…
840 wordsSECTION 116Chapter XVIII.--Renewal of Hostilities between the Romans and Persians after the Death of Isdigerdes King of the Persians.
Chapter XVIII.--Renewal of Hostilities between the Romans and Persians after the Death of Isdigerdes King of the Persians. Isdigerdes king of the Persians, who had in no way molested the Christians in his dominions, having died, [953] his son Vararanes by name succeeded him in the kingdom. This prince yielding to the influence …
995 wordsSECTION 117Chapter XIX.--Of Palladius the Courier.
Chapter XIX.--Of Palladius the Courier. How the Emperor Theodosius received intelligence of what was done in an incredibly short space of time, and how he was quickly informed of events taking place far away, I shall attempt to explain. For he had the good fortune to possess among his subjects a man endowed with extraordinary e…
836 wordsSECTION 118Chapter XXI.--Kind Treatment of the Persian Captives by Acacius Bishop of Amida.
Chapter XXI.--Kind Treatment of the Persian Captives by Acacius Bishop of Amida. A noble action of Acacius bishop of Amida, at that time greatly enhanced his reputation among all men. As the Roman soldiery would on no consideration restore to the Persian king the captives whom they had taken, these captives, about seven thousan…
1,778 wordsSECTION 119Chapter XXIII.--After the Death of the Emperor Honorius John usurps the Sovereignty at Rome. He is destroyed through the Prayers of Theodosius the Younger.
Chapter XXIII.--After the Death of the Emperor Honorius John usurps the Sovereignty at Rome. He is destroyed through the Prayers of Theodosius the Younger. When the Emperor Honorius died Theodosius--now sole ruler--having received the news concealed the truth as long as possible, misleading the people sometimes with one report,…
776 wordsSECTION 120Chapter XXV.--Christian Benevolence of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople. He registers John's Name in the Diptychs. His Fore-knowledge of his Own Death.
Chapter XXV.--Christian Benevolence of Atticus Bishop of Constantinople. He registers John's Name in the Diptychs. His Fore-knowledge of his Own Death. Meanwhile Atticus the bishop caused the affairs of the church to flourish in an extraordinary manner; administering all things with prudence, and inciting the people to virtue b…
1,292 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.