Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 3
Theodoret, Jerome, Gennadius & Rufinus — Historical Writings
SECTION 41
Chapter V.--The Heresy of Macedonius.
Chapter V.--The Heresy of Macedonius. The Arians, having effected the death of Paulus, or rather having despatched him to the kingdom of heaven, promoted Macedonius [465] in his place, who, they imagined, held the same sentiments, and belonged to the same faction as themselves, because he, like them, blasphemed the Holy Ghost. …
2,220 wordsSECTION 42"Next to Eusebius, the following are their principal leaders; Theodorus, bishop of Heraclea, Narcissus, bishop of Neronias in Cilicia, Steph
"Next to Eusebius, the following are their principal leaders; Theodorus, bishop of Heraclea, Narcissus, bishop of Neronias in Cilicia, Stephanus, bishop of Antioch, Georgius [472] , bishop of Laodicea, Acacius [473] , bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine, Menophantus, bishop of Ephesus in Asia, Ursacius, bishop of Singidunum [474] in …
2,253 wordsSECTION 43[469] Probably Lucius, Bishop of Hadrianople, who had been deposed by the Arians, and appealed to Julius, who wished to right him. Still kep
[469] Probably Lucius, Bishop of Hadrianople, who had been deposed by the Arians, and appealed to Julius, who wished to right him. Still kept out by the Arians, he appealed to the Council of Sardica, and, in accordance with its decree, Constantius ordered his restoration (Soc. ii. 26). Cf. Chap. XII. [470] Bishop of Trajanopoli…
834 wordsSECTION 44Chapter VII.--Account of the Bishops Euphratas and Vincentius, and of the plot formed in Antioch against them.
Chapter VII.--Account of the Bishops Euphratas and Vincentius, and of the plot formed in Antioch against them. The wonted opponents of the truth were so much displeased at these proceedings, that they planned a notoriously execrable and impious crime. The two bishops resided near the foot of the mountain, while the military co…
787 wordsSECTION 45Chapter VIII.--Stephanus Deposed.
Chapter VIII.--Stephanus Deposed. After the judges had heard these replies, they ordered the youngest of those who had been arrested to be brought before them. Before he was subjected to the examination by scourging, he confessed the whole plot, and stated that it was planned and carried into execution by Onager. On this latter…
821 wordsSECTION 46Chapter X.--Third exile and flight of Athanasius.
Chapter X.--Third exile and flight of Athanasius. Those who had obtained entire ascendency over the mind of Constantius, and influenced him as they pleased, reminded him that Athanasius had been the cause of the differences between his brother and himself, which had nearly led to the rupture of the bonds of nature, and the kind…
1,794 wordsSECTION 47Chapter XII.--Council of Milan.
Chapter XII.--Council of Milan. After the death of Constans, Magnentius assumed the chief authority over the Western empire; and, to repress his usurpation, Constantius repaired to Europe. But this war, severe as it was, did not put an end to the war against the Church. Constantius, who had embraced Arian tenets and readily yie…
1,357 wordsSECTION 48Chapter XIII.--Conference between Liberius, Pope of Rome, and the Emperor Constantius [537] .
Chapter XIII.--Conference between Liberius, Pope of Rome, and the Emperor Constantius [537] . Constantius.--"We have judged it right, as you are a Christian and the bishop of our city, to send for you in order to admonish you to abjure all connexion with the folly of the impious Athanasius. For when he was separated from the co…
1,573 wordsSECTION 49Chapter XIV.--Concerning the Banishment and Return of the Holy Liberius.
Chapter XIV.--Concerning the Banishment and Return of the Holy Liberius. This victorious champion of the truth was sent into Thrace, according to the imperial order. Two years after this event Constantius went to Rome. The ladies of rank urged their husbands to petition the emperor for the restoration of the shepherd to his flo…
836 wordsSECTION 50Letter [549] written to the Emperor Constantius by the Synod assembled at Ariminum.
Letter [549] written to the Emperor Constantius by the Synod assembled at Ariminum. "Summoned, we believe, at the bidding of God, and in obedience to your piety, we bishops of the Western Church assembled in synod at Ariminum in order that the faith of the Church Catholic might be set forth, and its opponents exposed. After lon…
1,706 wordsSECTION 51Chapter XVI.--Concerning the Synod held at Nica [554] in Thrace, and the Confession of Faith drawn up there.
Chapter XVI.--Concerning the Synod held at Nica [554] in Thrace, and the Confession of Faith drawn up there. After this letter they [555] irritated the emperor, and got the majority of the bishops, against their will, to a certain town of Thrace, of the name of Nica. Some simple men they deluded, and others they terrified, into…
822 wordsSECTION 52Chapter XVII.--Synodical Act of Damasus, Bishop of Rome, and of the Western Bishops, about the Council at Ariminum.
Chapter XVII.--Synodical Act of Damasus, Bishop of Rome, and of the Western Bishops, about the Council at Ariminum. The condemnation of this formula by all the champions of the truth, and specially those of the West, is shewn by the letter which they wrote to the Illyrians [559] . First of the signatories was Damasus, who obtai…
1,106 wordsSECTION 53Chapter XVIII.--The Letter of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, concerning the same Council.
Chapter XVIII.--The Letter of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, concerning the same Council. The great Athanasius also, in his letter to the Africans, writes thus about the council at Ariminum. "Under these circumstances who will tolerate any mention of the council of Ariminum or any other beside the Nicene? Who would not expre…
2,176 wordsSECTION 54Chapter XX.--Concerning the innovations of Eudoxius, [572] of Germanicia, and the zeal of Basilius [573] of Ancyra, and of Eustathius [574] of Sebasteia against him.
Chapter XX.--Concerning the innovations of Eudoxius, [572] of Germanicia, and the zeal of Basilius [573] of Ancyra, and of Eustathius [574] of Sebasteia against him. Germanicia is a city on the coasts of Cilicia, Syria, and Cappadocia, and belongs to the province called Euphratisia. Eudoxius, the head of its church, directly he…
716 wordsSECTION 55Chapter XXII.--Of the Council held at Seleucia in Isauria.
Chapter XXII.--Of the Council held at Seleucia in Isauria. After a time, at the suggestion of the accusers of Eudoxius, Constantius ordered the synod to be held at Seleucia. This town of Isauria lies on the seashore and is the chief town of the district. Hither the bishops of the East, and with them those of Pontus in Asia, wer…
879 wordsSECTION 56Chapter XXIII.--Of what befell the orthodox bishops at Constantinople.
Chapter XXIII.--Of what befell the orthodox bishops at Constantinople. Constantius, on his return from the West, passed some time at Constantinople. There Acacius urged many accusations against the assembled bishops in presence of the emperor, called them a set of vile characters convoked for the ruin and destruction of the chu…
1,381 wordsSECTION 57Chapter XXIV.--Synodical Epistle written against Aetius.
Chapter XXIV.--Synodical Epistle written against Aetius. After these transactions the emperor ordered Aetius to be condemned by a formal Letter, and, in obedience to the command, his companions in iniquity condemned their own associate. Accordingly they wrote to Georgius, bishop of Alexandria, the letter about him to which I sh…
820 wordsSECTION 58Chapter XXV.--Of the causes which separated the Eunomians from the Arians.
Chapter XXV.--Of the causes which separated the Eunomians from the Arians. Eunomius in his writings praises Aetius, styles him a man of God, and honours him with many compliments. Yet he was at that time closely associated with the party by whom Aetius had been repudiated, and to them he owed his election to his bishopric. Now…
821 wordsSECTION 59Chapter XXVI.--Of the siege of the city of Nisibis, [582] and the apostolic conversation of Bishop Jacobus.
Chapter XXVI.--Of the siege of the city of Nisibis, [582] and the apostolic conversation of Bishop Jacobus. On war being waged against the Romans by Sapor King of Persia, Constantius mustered his forces and marched to Antioch. But the enemy were driven forth, not by the Roman army, but by Him whom the pious in the Roman host wo…
1,444 wordsSECTION 60Chapter XXVII.--Of the Council of Antioch and what was done there against the holy Meletius.
Chapter XXVII.--Of the Council of Antioch and what was done there against the holy Meletius. At this time, [586] Constantius was residing at Antioch. The Persian war was over; there had been a time of peace, and he once again gathered bishops together with the object of making them all deny both the formula "of one substance" a…
1,080 wordsSECTION 61Chapter XXVIII.--About Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata.
Chapter XXVIII.--About Eusebius, Bishop of Samosata. The admirable Eusebius mentioned above, who was entrusted with the common resolution, when he beheld the violation of the covenant, returned to his own see. Then certain men who were uneasy about the written document, persuaded Constantius to dispatch a messenger to recover i…
1,859 wordsSECTION 62Chapter II.--Of the return of the bishops and the consecration of Paulinus.
Chapter II.--Of the return of the bishops and the consecration of Paulinus. Julian had clear information on these points, and did not make known the impiety of his soul. With the object of attracting all the bishops to acquiescence in his rule he ordered even those who had been expelled from their churches by Constantius, and w…
1,008 wordsSECTION 63Chapter III.--Of the number and character of the deeds done by Pagans against the Christians when they got the power from Julian.
Chapter III.--Of the number and character of the deeds done by Pagans against the Christians when they got the power from Julian. When Julian had made his impiety openly known the cities were filled with dissensions. Men enthralled by the deceits of idolatry took heart, opened the idols' shrines, and began to perform those foul…
1,370 wordsSECTION 64Chapter IV.--Of the laws made by Julian against the Christians.
Chapter IV.--Of the laws made by Julian against the Christians. Countless other deeds were dared at that time by land and by sea, all over the world, by the wicked against the just, for now without disguise the enemy of God began to lay down laws against true religion. First of all he prohibited the sons of the Galileans, for s…
968 wordsSECTION 65Chapter VII.--Of Theodorus the Confessor.
Chapter VII.--Of Theodorus the Confessor. Julian could not endure the shame brought upon him by these doings, and on the following day ordered the leaders of the choral procession to be arrested. Sallustius was prefect at this time and a servant of iniquity, but he nevertheless was anxious to persuade the sovereign not to allow…
722 wordsSECTION 66Chapter VIII.--Of the confiscation of the sacred treasures and taking away of the allowances. [627]
Chapter VIII.--Of the confiscation of the sacred treasures and taking away of the allowances. [627] Even when the wicked had become acquainted with these events they set themselves in array against the God of all; and the prince ordered the holy vessels to be handed over to the imperial treasury. Of the great church which Const…
1,384 wordsSECTION 67Chapter XI.--Of the Holy Martyrs Juventinus and Maximinus.
Chapter XI.--Of the Holy Martyrs Juventinus and Maximinus. Now Julian, with less restraint, or shall I say, less shame, began to arm himself against true religion, wearing indeed a mask of moderation, but all the while preparing gins and traps which caught all who were deceived by them in the destruction of iniquity. He began b…
975 wordsSECTION 68Chapter XIII.--Of other confessors.
Chapter XIII.--Of other confessors. After this fatal distribution of money some of the recipients were feasting together at an entertainment. One of them who had taken the cup in his hand did not drink before making on it the sign of salvation. [638] One of the guests found fault with him for this, and said that it was quite i…
974 wordsSECTION 69Chapter XV.--Of the Jews; of their attempt at building, and of the heaven-sent plagues that befel them.
Chapter XV.--Of the Jews; of their attempt at building, and of the heaven-sent plagues that befel them. Julian, who had made his soul a home of destroying demons, went his corybantic way, ever raging against true religion. He accordingly now armed the Jews too against the believers in Christ. He began by enquiring of some whom …
1,069 wordsSECTION 70Chapter XVI.--Of the expedition against the Persians.
Chapter XVI.--Of the expedition against the Persians. No sooner had the Persians heard of the death of Constantius, than they took heart, proclaimed war, and marched over the frontier of the Roman empire. Julian therefore determined to muster his forces, though they were a host without a God to guard them. First he sent to Delp…
744 wordsSECTION 71Chapter XVII.--Of the boldness of speech of the decurion of Beroea.
Chapter XVII.--Of the boldness of speech of the decurion of Beroea. After starting with these threats he was put down by one single Beroean. Illustrious as this man was from the fact of his holding the chief place among the magistrates, he was made yet more illustrious by his zeal. On seeing his son falling into the prevailing …
1,072 wordsSECTION 72Chapter XIX.--Of the Prophecy of St. Julianus the monk.
Chapter XIX.--Of the Prophecy of St. Julianus the monk. A man who in the body imitated the lives of the bodiless, namely Julianus, surnamed in Syrian Sabbas, whose life I have written in my "Religious History," continued all the more zealously to offer his prayers to the God of all, when he heard of the impious tyrant's threats…
1,239 wordsSECTION 73Chapter XXII.--Of the heads discovered in the palace at Antioch and the public rejoicings there.
Chapter XXII.--Of the heads discovered in the palace at Antioch and the public rejoicings there. It is said that at Antioch a number of chests were discovered at the palace filled with human heads, and also many wells full of corpses. Such is the teaching of the evil deities. When Antioch heard of Julian's death she gave herse…
748 wordsSECTION 74Book IV.
Book IV. Chapter I.--Of the reign and piety of Jovianus After Julian was slain the generals and prefects met in council and deliberated who ought to succeed to the imperial power and effect both the salvation of the army in the campaign, and the recovery of the fortunes of Rome, now, by the rashness of the deceased Emperor, pl…
917 wordsSECTION 75Chapter III.--Synodical letter to the Emperor Jovian concerning the Faith.
Chapter III.--Synodical letter to the Emperor Jovian concerning the Faith. To Jovianus Augustus most devout, most humane, victorious, Athanasius, and the rest of the bishops assembled, in the name of all the bishops from Egypt to Thebaid, and Libya. The intelligent preference and pursuit of holy things is becoming to a prince b…
1,357 wordsSECTION 76Chapter IV.--Of the restoration of allowances to the churches; and of the Emperor's death.
Chapter IV.--Of the restoration of allowances to the churches; and of the Emperor's death. When the emperor had received this letter, his former knowledge of and disposition to divine things was confirmed, and he issued a second edict wherein he ordered the amount of corn which the great Constantine had appropriated to the chur…
842 wordsSECTION 77Chapter VI.--Of the election of Ambrosius, the Bishop of Milan.
Chapter VI.--Of the election of Ambrosius, the Bishop of Milan. Thus spoke the emperor, and then the council begged him, being a wise and devout prince, to make the choice. He then replied, "The responsibility is too great for us. You who have been dignified with divine grace, and have received illumination from above, will mak…
2,403 wordsSECTION 78Chapter VIII.--Synodical Epistle of the Synod in Illyricum concerning the Faith.
[694] Compare note on page 72. Chapter VIII.--Synodical Epistle of the Synod in Illyricum concerning the Faith. "The bishops of Illyricum to the churches of God, and bishops of the dioceses of Asia, of Phrygia, and Carophrygia Pacatiana, greeting in the Lord. "After meeting together and making long enquiry concerning the Word…
841 wordsSECTION 79Chapter IX.--Of the heresy of the Audiani.
Chapter IX.--Of the heresy of the Audiani. The illustrious emperor thus took heed of the apostolic decrees, but Audæus, a Syrian alike in race and in speech, appeared at that time as an inventor of new decrees. He had long ago begun to incubate iniquities and now appeared in his true character. At first he understood in an absu…
1,326 wordsSECTION 80Chapter XI.--In what manner Valens fell into heresy.
Chapter XI.--In what manner Valens fell into heresy. I will now pursue the course of my narrative, and will describe the beginning of the tempest which stirred up many and great billows to buffet the Church. Valens, when he first received the imperial dignity, was distinguished by his fidelity to apostolic doctrine. But when th…
1,832 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.