Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 2
Socrates and Sozomen — Ecclesiastical Histories
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Chapter VI.--The Reason why under Constantine, the Name of Christ was spread throughout the Whole World.
Chapter VI.--The Reason why under Constantine, the Name of Christ was spread throughout the Whole World. The church having been in this manner spread throughout the whole Roman world, religion was introduced even among the barbarians themselves. [1151] The tribes on both sides of the Rhine were Christianized, as likewise the Ce…
1,524 wordsSECTION 162Chapter VIII.--How the Armenians and Persians embraced Christianity.
Chapter VIII.--How the Armenians and Persians embraced Christianity. Subsequently the Christian religion became known to the neighboring tribes and was very greatly disseminated. [1155] The Armenians, I have understood, were the first to embrace Christianity. [1156] It is said that Tiridates, then the sovereign of that nation, …
1,424 wordsSECTION 163Chapter X.--Christians slain by Sapor in Persia.
Chapter X.--Christians slain by Sapor in Persia. In this manner the honorable life of Usthazanes was terminated, and when the intelligence was brought to Symeon in the prison, he offered thanksgiving to God on his account. The following day, which happened to be the sixth day of the week, and likewise the day on which, as immed…
816 wordsSECTION 164Chapter XII.--Tarbula, the Sister of Symeon, and her Martyrdom.
Chapter XII.--Tarbula, the Sister of Symeon, and her Martyrdom. About the same period, the queen was attacked with a disease, and Tarbula, the sister of Symeon the bishop, a holy virgin, was arrested with her servant, who shared in the same mode of life, as likewise a sister of Tarbula, who, after the death of her husband, abju…
798 wordsSECTION 165Chapter XIV.--The Martyrdom of Bishop Milles and his Conduct. Sixteen Thousand Distinguished Men in Persia suffer Martyrdom under Sapor, besides Obscure Individuals.
Chapter XIV.--The Martyrdom of Bishop Milles and his Conduct. Sixteen Thousand Distinguished Men in Persia suffer Martyrdom under Sapor, besides Obscure Individuals. About this period Milles suffered martyrdom. He originally served the Persians in a military capacity, but afterwards abandoned that vocation, in order to embrace …
790 wordsSECTION 166Chapter XVI.--Eusebius and Theognis who at the Council of Nice had assented to the Writings of Arius restored to their own Sees.
Chapter XVI.--Eusebius and Theognis who at the Council of Nice had assented to the Writings of Arius restored to their own Sees. Not long after the council of Nice, Arius was recalled from exile; but the prohibition to enter Alexandria was unrevoked. It shall be related in the proper place how he strove to obtain permission to …
2,238 wordsSECTION 167Chapter XX.--Concerning Maximus, who succeeded Macarius in the See of Jerusalem.
Those who had deposed Eustathius, and who on this account were assembled in Antioch, imagining that their sentiments would be universally received, if they could succeed in placing over the Church of Antioch one of their own opinion, who was known to the emperor, and held in repute for learning and eloquence, and that they could…
724 wordsSECTION 168Chapter XXI.--The Melitians and the Arians agree in Sentiment; Eusebius and Theognis endeavor to inflame anew the Disease of Arius.
Chapter XXI.--The Melitians and the Arians agree in Sentiment; Eusebius and Theognis endeavor to inflame anew the Disease of Arius. In the meantime the contention which had been stirred in the beginning among the Egyptians, could not be quelled. [1177] The Arian heresy had been positively condemned by the council of Nice, while…
1,435 wordsSECTION 169Chapter XXIII.--Calumny respecting St. Athanasius and the Hand of Arsenius.
Chapter XXIII.--Calumny respecting St. Athanasius and the Hand of Arsenius. The Melitians, on the failure of their first attempt, secretly concocted other indictments against Athanasius. [1182] On the one hand they charged him with breaking a sacred chalice, and on the other with having slain one Arsenius, and with having cut o…
726 wordsSECTION 170Chapter XXIV.--Some Indian Nations received Christianity at that Time through the Instrumentality of Two Captives, Frumentius and Edesius.
Chapter XXIV.--Some Indian Nations received Christianity at that Time through the Instrumentality of Two Captives, Frumentius and Edesius. We have heard that about this period some of the most distant of the nations that we call Indians, to whom the preaching of Bartholomew was unknown, shared in our doctrine, through Frumentiu…
981 wordsSECTION 171Chapter XXV.--Council of Tyre; Illegal Deposition of St. Athanasius.
Chapter XXV.--Council of Tyre; Illegal Deposition of St. Athanasius. The plots of the enemies of Athanasius involved him in fresh troubles, excited the hatred of the emperor against him, and stirred up a multitude of accusers. Wearied by their importunity, the emperor convened a council at Cæsarea in Palestine. Athanasius was s…
1,546 wordsSECTION 172Chapter XXVI.--Erection of a Temple by Constantine the Great at Golgotha, in Jerusalem; its Dedication.
Chapter XXVI.--Erection of a Temple by Constantine the Great at Golgotha, in Jerusalem; its Dedication. The temple, [1192] called the "Great Martyrium," which was built in the place of the skull at Jerusalem, was completed about the thirtieth year [1193] of the reign of Constantine; and Marianus, an official, who was a short-ha…
1,473 wordsSECTION 173Chapter XXVIII.--Letter from the Emperor Constantine to the Synod of Tyre, and Exile of St. Athanasius through the Machination of the Arian Faction.
Chapter XXVIII.--Letter from the Emperor Constantine to the Synod of Tyre, and Exile of St. Athanasius through the Machination of the Arian Faction. Athanasius, after having fled from Tyre, repaired [1199] to Constantinople, and on coming to the emperor Constantine, complained of what he had suffered, in presence of the bishops…
819 wordsSECTION 174Chapter XXIX.--Alexander, Bishop of Constantinople; his Refusal to receive Arius into Communion; Arius is burst asunder while seeking Natural Relief.
Chapter XXIX.--Alexander, Bishop of Constantinople; his Refusal to receive Arius into Communion; Arius is burst asunder while seeking Natural Relief. After the Synod of Jerusalem, Arius went to Egypt, [1200] but as he could not obtain permission to hold communion with the Church of Alexandria, he returned to Constantinople. As …
1,091 wordsSECTION 175Chapter XXXI.--Events which occurred in Alexandria after the Death of Arius. Letter of Constantine the Great to the Church there.
Chapter XXXI.--Events which occurred in Alexandria after the Death of Arius. Letter of Constantine the Great to the Church there. The death of Arius did not terminate the doctrinal dispute which he had originated. [1202] Those who adhered to his sentiments did not cease from plotting against those who maintained opposite opinio…
1,096 wordsSECTION 176Chapter XXXIII.--Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra; his Heresy and Deposition.
Chapter XXXIII.--Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra; his Heresy and Deposition. At the same period, Marcellus, bishop of Ancyra, [1205] in Galatia, was deposed and cast out of the Church by the bishops assembled at Constantinople, because he had introduced some new doctrines, whereby he taught that the existence of the Son of God comme…
981 wordsSECTION 177Book III.
Book III. Chapter I.--After the Death of Constantine the Great, the Adherents of Eusebius and Theognis attack the Nicene Faith. We have now seen what events transpired in the churches during the reign of Constantine. [1208] On his death the doctrine which had been set forth at Nicæa, was subjected to renewed examination. Altho…
1,001 wordsSECTION 178Chapter III.--Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, and Macedonius, the Pneumatomachian.
Chapter III.--Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, and Macedonius, the Pneumatomachian. Alexander died [1215] about this time, and Paul succeeded to the high priesthood of Constantinople. The followers of Arius and Macedonius assert that he took possession at his own motion, and against the advice of Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, o…
713 wordsSECTION 179Chapter V.--The Partial Council of Antioch; it deposed Athanasius; it substituted Gregory; its Two Statements of the Faith; those who agreed with them.
Chapter V.--The Partial Council of Antioch; it deposed Athanasius; it substituted Gregory; its Two Statements of the Faith; those who agreed with them. Soon after these occurrences, the emperor went to Antioch, a city of Syria. [1221] Here a church had already been completed, which excelled in size and beauty. Constantine began…
937 wordsSECTION 180Chapter VI.--Eusebius surnamed Emesenus; Gregory accepted Alexandria; Athanasius seeks Refuge in Rome.
Chapter VI.--Eusebius surnamed Emesenus; Gregory accepted Alexandria; Athanasius seeks Refuge in Rome. Eusebius, surnamed Emesenus, likewise attended the council. [1230] He sprang from a noble family of Edessa, a city of Osroënæ. According to the custom of his country, he had from his youth upwards, learned the Holy Word, and w…
2,043 wordsSECTION 181Chapter IX.--Ejection of Paul and Athanasius; Macedonius is invested with the Government of the Church of Constantinople.
Chapter IX.--Ejection of Paul and Athanasius; Macedonius is invested with the Government of the Church of Constantinople. After having written in this strain to Julius, the bishops of the East brought accusations against those whom they had deposed before the emperor Constantius. [1241] Accordingly, the emperor, who was then at…
1,820 wordsSECTION 182Chapter XII.--The Bishops of the Party of Julius and Hosius held another Session and deposed the Eastern High Priests, and also made a Formulary of Faith.
Chapter XII.--The Bishops of the Party of Julius and Hosius held another Session and deposed the Eastern High Priests, and also made a Formulary of Faith. The adherents of Hosius, [1250] in the meantime, assembled together, and declared them innocent: Athanasius, because unjust machinations had been carried on against him by th…
2,318 wordsSECTION 183About the same period, Apollonius became celebrated by his profession of monastic philosophy. It is said that from the age of fifteen he dev
About the same period, Apollonius became celebrated by his profession of monastic philosophy. It is said that from the age of fifteen he devoted himself to philosophy in the deserts, and that when he attained the age of forty, he went according to a Divine command he then received, to dwell in regions inhabited by men. He had li…
1,854 wordsSECTION 184Chapter XV.--Didymus the Blind, and Aëtius the Heretic.
Chapter XV.--Didymus the Blind, and Aëtius the Heretic. Didymus, [1262] an ecclesiastical writer and president of the school of sacred learning in Alexandria, flourished about the same period. He was acquainted with every branch of science, and was conversant with poetry and rhetoric, with astronomy and geometry, with arithmeti…
804 wordsSECTION 185Chapter XVI.--Concerning St. Ephraim.
Chapter XVI.--Concerning St. Ephraim. Ephraim the Syrian [1266] was entitled to the highest honors, and was the greatest ornament of the Catholic Church. He was a native of Nisibis, or his family was of the neighboring territory. He devoted his life to monastic philosophy; and although he received no instruction, he became, con…
1,511 wordsSECTION 186Chapter XVII.--Transactions of that Period, and Progress of Christian Doctrine through the Joint Efforts of Emperors and Arch-Priests.
Chapter XVII.--Transactions of that Period, and Progress of Christian Doctrine through the Joint Efforts of Emperors and Arch-Priests. Those who presided over the churches at this period were noted for personal conduct, and, as might be expected, the people whom they governed were earnestly attached to the worship of Christ. [1…
757 wordsSECTION 187Chapter XIX.--Further Particulars concerning the Term "Consubstantial." Council of Ariminum, the Manner, Source, and Reason of its Convention.
Chapter XIX.--Further Particulars concerning the Term "Consubstantial." Council of Ariminum, the Manner, Source, and Reason of its Convention. It is not surprising that the Emperor Constantius was induced to adopt the use of the term "homoiousios," for it was admitted by many priests who conformed to the doctrines of the Nicæan…
1,363 wordsSECTION 188Chapter XXI.--Letter of Constantius to the Egyptians in behalf of Athanasius. Synod of Jerusalem.
Chapter XXI.--Letter of Constantius to the Egyptians in behalf of Athanasius. Synod of Jerusalem. The emperor, on sending back [1277] Athanasius to Egypt, wrote in his favor to the bishops and presbyters of that country, and to the people of the church of Alexandria; he testified to the integrity of his conduct and the virtue o…
721 wordsSECTION 189Chapter XXIII.--Valens and Ursacius, who belonged to the Arian Faction, confess to the Bishop of Rome that they had made False Charges against Athanasius.
Chapter XXIII.--Valens and Ursacius, who belonged to the Arian Faction, confess to the Bishop of Rome that they had made False Charges against Athanasius. Such was the letter written by the Synod convened in Palestine. Some time after Athanasius had the satisfaction of seeing the injustice of the sentence enacted against him by…
1,110 wordsSECTION 190Chapter III.--Martyrdom of the Holy Notaries.
Chapter III.--Martyrdom of the Holy Notaries. The persecution increased in violence, [1287] and led to deeds of blood. Martyrius and Marcian were among those who were slain. They had lived in Paul's house, [1288] and were delivered up by Macedonius to the governor, as having been guilty of the murder of Hermogenes, and of excit…
1,976 wordsSECTION 191Chapter VII.--Death of the Tyrants Magnentius and Silvanus the Apostate. Sedition of the Jews in Palestine. Gallus Cæsar is slain, on Suspicion of Revolution.
Chapter VII.--Death of the Tyrants Magnentius and Silvanus the Apostate. Sedition of the Jews in Palestine. Gallus Cæsar is slain, on Suspicion of Revolution. In the meantime, [1295] Magnentius made himself master of ancient Rome, and put numbers of the senators, and of the people, to death. Hearing that the troops of Constanti…
1,000 wordsSECTION 192Chapter IX.--Council of Milan. Flight of Athanasius.
Chapter IX.--Council of Milan. Flight of Athanasius. The emperor [1303] was extremely urgent to convene a council in Milan, yet few of the Eastern bishops repaired thither; some, it appears, excused themselves from attendance under the plea of illness; others, on account of the length and difficulties of the journey. There were…
1,691 wordsSECTION 193Chapter XI.--Liberius, Bishop of Rome, and the cause of his being exiled by Constantius. Felix his Successor.
Chapter XI.--Liberius, Bishop of Rome, and the cause of his being exiled by Constantius. Felix his Successor. Although what I have recorded did not occur to Athanasius and the church of Alexandria, at the same period of time after the death of Constans, yet I deemed it right, for the sake of greater clearness, to relate all the…
924 wordsSECTION 194Chapter XII.--Aëtius, the Syrian, and Eudoxius, the Successor of Leontius in Antioch. Concerning the Term "Consubstantial."
Chapter XII.--Aëtius, the Syrian, and Eudoxius, the Successor of Leontius in Antioch. Concerning the Term "Consubstantial." About this time, [1312] Aëtius broached his peculiar opinions concerning the Godhead. He was then deacon of the church of Antioch, and had been ordained by Leontius. [1313] He maintained, like Arius, that …
1,035 wordsSECTION 195Chapter XIV.--Letter of the Emperor Constantius against Eudoxius and his Partisans.
Chapter XIV.--Letter of the Emperor Constantius against Eudoxius and his Partisans. "Constantius Augustus the Conqueror, to the holy church in Antioch. "Eudoxius came without our authority; let no one suppose that he had it, for we are far from regarding such persons with favor. If they have recourse to deceit with others in t…
2,928 wordsSECTION 196Chapter XVII.--Proceedings of the Council of Ariminum.
[1322] Philost. iv. 10, 11; Athan. de Synodis, 2-7; Soc. ii. 37, 39; cf. Theodoret, H. E. ii. 18, 26. Soz.'s facts are more voluminous, and the grouping independent. [1323] Cf. Am. Marcell. xvii. 7; Idatius under 358 in Descriptio Consulum. [1324] A story from tradition by Soz. Chapter XVII.--Proceedings of the Council of Ari…
1,007 wordsSECTION 197Chapter XVIII.--Letter from the Council at Ariminum to the Emperor Constantius.
Chapter XVIII.--Letter from the Council at Ariminum to the Emperor Constantius. The Synod selected twenty bishops, [1329] and sent them on an embassy to the emperor, with the following letter, which has been translated from Latin into Greek:-- [1330] "We believe that it is by the command of God, as well as by the arrangement o…
2,206 wordsSECTION 198Chapter XXI.--Proceedings of Macedonius in Mantinium. His Removal from his See when he attempted to remove the Coffin of Constantine the Great. Julian was pronounced Cæsar.
While the events I have above related were taking place in Italy, the East, even before the council of Seleucia had been constituted, was the theatre of great disturbances. [1333] The adherents of Acacius and Patrophilus, having ejected Maximus, turned over the church of Jerusalem to Cyril. Macedonius harassed Constantinople and…
1,034 wordsSECTION 199Chapter XXII.--Council of Seleucia.
Chapter XXII.--Council of Seleucia. About the same period the Eastern bishops assembled, [1335] to the number of about one hundred and sixty, in Seleucia, a city of Isauria. This was during the consulate of Eusebius and Hypatius. Leonas, who held a brilliant military office at the palace, repaired to this council at the command…
1,964 wordsSECTION 200Chapter XXIII.--Acacius and Aëtius; and how the Deputies of the Two Councils of Ariminum and of Seleucia were led by the Emperor to accept the Same Doctrines.
Chapter XXIII.--Acacius and Aëtius; and how the Deputies of the Two Councils of Ariminum and of Seleucia were led by the Emperor to accept the Same Doctrines. Immediately after the above transactions, the adherents of Acacius repaired to the emperor; [1341] but the other bishops returned to their respective homes. The ten bisho…
811 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.