§ 162. THE CHUKCH HISTORIAJSTS AFTEK EUSEBIUS. 881
from sources, and its calm, impartial representation. It haa been charged with a leaning towards Novatianism. He had upon the whole a higher view of the duty of the historian than his contemporaries and successors ; he judged more liberally of heretics and schismatics, and is less extravagant in the praise of emperors and bishops.'
Heemias Sozomen, a native of Palestine, a junior contemporary of "Socrates, and likewise a scholasticus in Constantinople, wrote the history oj" the church, in nine books, from 323 to the death of llonorids in 423,'' and hence in its subjects keeps pace foinJhe most part with Socrates, though, as it would appear, without the knowledge of his work, and with many additions on the history of the hermits and monks, for whom he had a great predilection.^
Theodobet, bisliop of Cyrus, was born at Antioch about 390, of an honorable and pious mother ; educated in the cl(»ister of St. Euprepius (perhaps witli JN estorius) ; formed upon the writings of Diodorus of Tarsus and Theodore of Mopsuestia ; made bisliop of Cyros, or Cyrrhos, in Syria, after 420 ; and died in 457. He is known to us from the Christological controversies as the most scholarly advocate of the Antiochian dyophysitism orTrioderate l^estoriaiiism ; condemned at Eplie- 3us in^~3i, deposed by the council of Robbers in 449, acquitted in 451 by the fourth ecumenical council on condition of his condemning Nestorius and all deniers of the theotokos^ but again partially condemned at the fifth long after his death. He was, therefore, like Eusebius, an actor as well as an author of cliurch history. As bishop, he led an exemplary life, his enemies themselves being judges, and was especially benevolent to the poor. He owned nothing valuable but books, and applied the revenues of his bishopric to the public good. He shared the superstitions and weaknesses of his age.
Mis Ecclesiastical History, in five books, composed about 450, reaches from 325 to 429. It is the most valuable con
' Separate edition by Hussey: Socratis scholastici Historia Eccl. Oxon. 1853, 3 7ols. 8vo.
■* According to the usual, but incorrect statement, to the year 439.
' He informs us (Book v. c. 15) fhat his grandfather, with his whole family, waa converted to Christianity by a miracle of the monk Hilarion.
882 THIRD PERIOD. A.D. 311-590.
tinuation of Eusebius, and, though shorter, it furnishes an essential supplement to the works of Socrates and Sozoraen.
His " Ilistoria religiosa" consists of biographies of hermitfl and monks, written with great enthusiasm for ascetic holiness, and Avith many fabulous accessories, according to the taste of the day. His "Heretical Fables,"' tliougli superficial and marred by many errors, is of some importance for the history of Christian doctrine. It contains a severe condemnation of Nestorius, which we should hardly expect from Theodoret.''^
Theodoret was a very fruitful author. Besides these histories, he wrote valuable commentaries on most of the books of the Old Testament and on all the Epistles of Paul ; dogmatic and polemic works against Cyril and the Alexandrian Christology, and against the heretics; an apology of Christianity against the Greek philosophy ; and sermons and letters.'
EvAGKiL'S (born about 536 in Syria, died after 594) was a lawyefTn Antioch, and rendered the patriarch Gregory great service, particularly in an action for incest in 588. He was twice married, and the Antiochians celebrated his second wedding (592) with public plays. He is the last continuator of Eusebius and Theodoret, 23roperly so called. He begins his Ecclesiastical History of six books with the council of Ephesus, 431, and closes it with the twelfth 3^ear of the reign of the emperor Maurice, 594. He is of special importance on the Nestorian and Eutychian controversies ; gives accounts of
' AlpeTiKTJs (cttKo/iu^fat (TnTofi-fi, in five books ; in Scliulze's edition of the Opera, torn. iv. p. 280 sqq. Ti'e fifth book presents a summary of the chief articles of the orthodox faitli, a sort of dogmatical compend,
" Book iv. ch. 12. Gamier, Cave, and Oudin regard tliis anti-Ncstorian chapter as a later intcrpola'ion, though without good reason ; Schulze (note in loco, tom, iv. p. 3()8) defends it as genuine. It should be remembered that Theodoret at tlie council of Chalcedon could only save himself from expulsion by anathematizing Ncetorius.
* TnEonoRETi Opera omnia cura et studio Jac. Sirmondi, Par. 1042, 4 vols, fol., with an additional vol. v. by Gamier, 1684. Another edition by J. L. Schulse, Halle, 1768-"74, 5 tom. in 10 vols., which has been republished by J. P. Migne, Par. 1860, in 5 vols. (Patrologia Gra;ca, tom. Ixxx.-lxxxiv.). The last volume in Bchulze's and Migne's editions containd Gamicr's Auctariuin ad opera Theod. and his Dispertatioiis on the life and on the faith of Theodoret, and on the fifth ecumcir ical Synod. Comp. also Schrockh, Church Ilistory, vol. xviiL