49. Since then it became us not to hold our peace, nor to pass over unnoticed their calum- nies, imprisonments, murders, wounds, con- spiracies by means of false letters, outrages, stripping of the virgins, banishments, destruc- tion of the Churches, burnings, translations from small cities to larger dioceses, and above all, the rising of the illnamed Arian heresy by their means against the orthodox faith; we have therefore pronounced our dearly beloved brethren and fellow-ministers Athanasius, Mar- cellus, and Asclepas, and those who minister to the Lord with them, to be innocent and clear of offence, and have written to the diocese of each, that the people of each Church may know the innocence of their own Bishop, and may esteem him as their Bishop and expect his coming.
And as for those who like wolves? have invaded their Churches, Gregory at Alexandria, Basil at Ancyra, and Quintianus at Gaza, let them neither give them the title of Bishop, nor hold any communion at all with them, nor receive letters ' from them, nor write to them. And for Theodorus, Narcissus, Acacius, Ste- phanus, Ursacius, Valens, Menophantus, and George, although the last from fear did not come from the East, yet because he was de- posed by the blessed Alexander, and because both he and the others were connected with the Arian madness, as well as on account of the charges which lie against them, the holy Council has unanimously deposed them from 8 [For Macarius, read JArius.] These two Bishops were soon after the Council banished by Eusebian influence into upper Libya, where they suffered extreme ill usage. vid. Hist. Arian. § 18.
9 Vid. Acts xx. 29. TO p. 95, note 4.
the Episcopate, and we have decided that they not only are not Bishops, but that they are: unworthy of holding communion with the faithful.
For they who separate the Son and alienate the Word from the Father, ought themselves to be separated from the Catholic Church and to be alien from the Christian name. Let them therefore be anathema to you, because they have ‘corrupted the word of truth*.’ It is an Apostolic injunction 2, ‘If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.’ Charge your peo-: ple that no one hold communion with them, for there is no communion of light with dark- ness; put away from you all these, for there is no concord of Christ in Belial3. And take heed, dearly beloved, that ye neither write to them, nor receive letters from them; but desire rather, brethren and fellow-ministers, as being present in spirit 3* with our Council, to assent to our judgments by your subscriptions 4, to the end that concord may be preserved by all our fellow-ministers everywhere. May Di- vine Providence protect and keep you, dearly beloved brethren, in sanctification and joy.
I, Hosius, Bishop, have subscribed this, and all the rest likewise.
This is the letter which the Council of Sardica sent to those who were unable to attend, and they on the other hand gave their judgment in accordance; and the following are the names both of those Bishops who subscribed in the Council, and of the others also.
50. Hosius of Spain 5, Julius of Rome by his Presbyters Archidamus and Philoxenus, Protogenes of Sardica, Gaudentius, Mace- donius, Severus, Preetextatus, Ursicius, Lu- cillus, Eugenius, Vitalius, Calepodius, Floren- tius, Bassus, Vincentius, Stercorius, Palla- dius, Domitianus, Chalbis, Gerontius, Pro- tasius, Eulogus, Porphyrius, Dioscorus, Zo- simus, Januarius, Zosimus, Alexander, Eu- tychius, Socrates, Diodorus, Martyrius, Eu- therius, Eucarpus, Athenodorus, Irenzus, 4 In like manner the Council of Chalcedon was confirmed by as many as 470 subscriptions, according to Ephrem (Phot. B7b2. p. 801) by 1600 according to Eulogius (ibid. p. 877), i.e. of Bishops, Archimandrites, &c.
5 Hosius is called by Athan. the father and the president of the Council. Hist. Avian. 15.16. Roman controversialists here explain why Hosius does not sign himself as the Pope’s legate, De Marc. Concord. v. 4. Alber. Dissert-ix. and Protestants why his legates rank before all the other Bishops, even before Protogenes, Bishop of the place. Basnage, Az. 347. 5. Febronius considers that Hosius signed here and at Nicwza, as a sort of representative of the civil, and the Legates of ecclesiastical supremacy. de Stat. Eccl. vi. 4. And so Thomassin, ‘ Imperator velut exterior Episcopus: preefuit autem summus Pontifex, ut Episcopus interior,” Dissert. in Conc. x. 14. The popes never attended in person the Eastern Councils. St. Leo excuses himself on the plea of its being against usage. Epp. 37- and 93. [Silvester’s absence from Niczea was due solely to extreme old age. But Sardica was a Weste7n council.]
DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.
Julianus, Alypius, © Jonas, Aetius, Resti- tutus, Marcellinus, Aprianus, Vitalius, Va- lens, Hermogenes, Castus, Domitianus, For- tunatius, Marcus, Annianus, Heliodorus, Muszeus, Asterius, Paregorius, Plutarchus, Hymeneus, Athanasius, Lucius, Amantius, Arius, Asclepius, Dionysius, Maximus, Try- phon, Alexander, Antigonus, A¢lianus, Petrus, Symphorus, Musonius, Eutychus, Philologius, Spudasius, Zosimus, Patricius, Adolius, Sa- pricius®, From Gaul the following; Maximianus “, Verissimus®, Victurus, Valentinus', Desiderius, Eulogius, Sarbatius, Dyscolius2, Superior, Mer-) curius, Declopetus, Eusebius, Severinus 3, Saty- rus, Martinus, Paulus, Optatianus, Nicasius, Victor ¢, Sempronius, Valerinus, Pacatus, Jes- ses, Ariston, Simplicius, Metianus, Amantus 5, Amillianus, Justinianus, Victorinus®, Sator- nilus, Abundantius, Donatianus, Maximus.
From Africa; Nessus, Gratus7, Megasius, Coldzus, Rogatianus, Consortius, Rufinus, Manninus, Cessilianus, Herennianus, Marianus, Valerius, Dynamius, Mizonius, Justus, Celes- tinus, Cyprianus, Victor, Honoratus, Marinus, Pantagathus, Felix, Baudius, Liber, Capito, Minervalis, Cosmus, Victor, Hesperio, Felix, Severianus, Optantius, Hesperus, Fidentius, Salustius, Paschasius.
From Egypt; Liburnius, Amantius, Felix, Ischyrammon, Romulus, Tiberinus, Consortius, Heraclides, Fortunatius, Dioscorus, Fortuna- tianus, Bastamon, Datyllus, Andreas, Serenus, Arius, Theodorus, Evagoras, Helias, Timo- theus, Orion, Andronicus, Paphnutius, Her- mias, Arabion, Psenosiris, Apollonius, Muis, Sarapampon ®, Philo, Philippus, Apollonius, Paphnutius, Paulus, Dioscorus, Nilammon, Serenus, Aquila, Aotas, Harpocration, Isac, Theodorus, Apollos, Ammonianus, Nilus, Her- aclius, Arion, Athas, Arsenius, Agathammon, Theon, Apollonius, Helias, Paninuthius, An- dragathius, Nemesion, Sarapion, Ammonius, Ammonius, Xenon, Gerontius, Quintus, Leon- ides, Sempronianus, Philo, Heraclides, Hier- acys, Rufus, Pasophius, Macedonius, Apollo- dorus, Flavianus, Psaes, Syrus, Apphus, Sara- pion, Esaias, Paphnutius, Timotheus, Elurion, Gaius, Muszeus, Pistus, Heraclammon, Heron, Helias, Anagamphus, Apollonius, Gaius, Phi- lotas, Paulus, Tithoes, Eudzemon, Julius.
Those on the road9 of Italy are Proba- 6 [The above names, with a Yew exceptions, comprise those present at the Council. See additional Note at the end of this Apology, where a list is given in alphabetical order of all bishops present, with their Sees.] 6a Of Treveri.
6b Cf Lyons. t Of Arles. 2 Of Rheims. 3 Of Sens. 4 Of Worms. 5 Of Strassburg. 6 Of Paris. 7 Of Carthage. 8 $$ 33, note 3a, and 78.
9 of év To KavaAiw THS IraAias. { Canalis est, non via regia aut militaris, verum via tranversa, que in regiam seu basilicam influit, i aq is i »” Gothofred. in Cod. Theod. vi. quasi aque canalis ia alveum. othofred. in: de Curiosis, p. 196. who illustrates the word at length. Du Cange tius, Viator, Facundinus, Joseph, N umedius, Sperantius, Severus, Heraclianus, Faustinus, Antoninus, Heraclius, Vitalius, Felix, Crispi- nus, Paulianus.
From Cyprus; Auxibius, Photius, Gerasius, Aphrodisius, Irenicus, Nunechius, Athanasius, Macedonius, Triphyllius, Spyridon, Norbanus, Sosicrates.
From Palestine; Maximus, Aetius, Arius, Theodosius, Germanus, Silvanus, Paulus, Claud- ius, Patricius, Elpidius, Germanus, Eusebius, Zenobius, Paulus, Petrus.
These are the names of those who subscribed to the acts of the Council; but there are very many beside, out of Asia, Phrygia, and Isauria%, who wrote in my behalf before this Council was held, and whose names, nearly sixty-three in number, may be found in their own letters. They amount altogether to three hundred and forty-four 7°, CHAPTER IV.
Imperial and Ecclesiastical Acts in consequence. of the Decision of the Council of Sardica.
51. WHEN the most religious Emperor Con- stantius heard of these things, he sent for me, having written privately to his brother Con- stans of blessed memory, and to me three several times in the following terms.
Constantius Victor Augustus to Athanasius '.
Our benignant clemency will not suffer you to be any longer tempest-tossed by the wild waves of the sea; for our unwearied piety has not lost sight of you, while you have been bereft of your native home, deprived of your goods, and have been wandering in savage | wildernesses. And although I have for a long time deferred expressing by letter the purpose | of my mind concerning you, principally be- cause I expected that you would appear before us of your own accord, and would seek a relief of your sufferings; yet forasmuch as fear, it may be, has prevented you from fulfilling your intentions, we have therefore addressed to your fortitude letters full of our bounty, to the end that you may use all speed and without fear present yourself in our presence, thereby to obtain the enjoyment of your wishes, and that, having experience of our kindness, you may be on the contrary, 7” voc. explains it of ‘‘the high road.” Tillemont professes hiinself unable to give a satisfactory sense to it. vol. viii. p. 685. [The word occurs in the XIth. Sardican canon, where the Greek version (Can. XX. in Bruns) glosses it kavadio nroe to Athan. says, supr. § 1. that the Letter of the Council was signed in all by more than 300. It will be observed, that Athan.’s numbers in the text do not accurately agree with each other. The subscriptions enumerated are 284, to which 63 being added, made a total of 347, not 344. [The enumeration of Ath, includes many who signed long afterwards. ‘Those ‘from Palestine are simply the signatories of the synodal letter of 346, below § 57. The number, 170, mentioned by Ath. 7st. Ar. 15 gives an orthodox majority of 20. See additional Note at end of this Apology, and Gwatkin, Studies, p. 121, note."
i Written A.D. 345, APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.
restored again to your own. For this pur- pose I have besought my lord and brother Constans Victor Augustus, in your behalf, that he would give you permission to come, in order that you may be restored to your country with the consent of us both, receiving this as a pledge of our favour.
The Second Letter.
The Second Letter.
Although we made it very plain to you ina former letter that you may without hesitation come to our Court, because we greatly wished to send you home, yet, we have further sent this present letter to your fortitude to exhort you without any distrust or apprehension, to place yourself in the public conveyances *, and to hasten to us, that you may enjoy the fulfil- ment of your wishes.
The Third Letter.
Our pleasure was, while we abode at Edessa, and your Presbyters were there, that, on one of them being sent to you, you should make haste to come to our Court, in order that you might see our face, and straightway proceed to Alexandria. But as a very long period has elapsed since you received letters from us, and you have not yet come, we therefore hasten to remind you again, that you may endeavour even now to present yourself before us with speed, and so may be restored to your country, and obtain the accomplishment of your prayers. And for your fuller information we have sent Achitas the Deacon, from whom you will be able to learn the purpose of our soul, that you may now secure the objects of your prayers.
Such was the tenor of the Emperor’s letters; on receiving which I went up to Rome to bid farewell to the Church and the Bishop: for I was at Aquileia3 when the above was written. The Church was filled with all joy, and the Bishop Julius rejoiced with me in my retum and wrote to the Church‘; and as we passed along, the Bishops of every place sent us on our way in peace. The letter of Julius was as follows.
2 Gothof. in Cod. Theod. viii. 5. p. 507. _3 Afpol. Const. 3, 15.
4 “They acquainted Julius the Bishop of Rome with their case; and he, according to the prerogative (mpovdmea) of the Church in Rome, fortified them with letters in which he spoke his mind, and sent them back to the East, restoring each to his own place, and remarking on those who had violently deposed them. ‘They then set out from Rome, and on the strength (@appodrres) of the letters of Bishop Julius, take possession of their Churches.” Socr. ii. ISe It must be observed, that in the foregoing sentences Socrates has spoken of “‘ (z7perial) Rome.” Sozomen says, ‘‘ Whereas the care of all (xnSejovias) pertained to him on account of the dignity of his see, he restored each to his own Church.” iii. 8. ‘I answer,” says Barrow, “the Pope did not restore them judicially, but declara- tively, that is, declaring his approbation of their right and inno- cence, did admit them to communion...Besides, the Pope's proceeding was taxed, and protested against, as inregulareeatas and, lastly, the restitution of Athanasius and the other Bishops had no complete effect, till it was confirmed by the synod of Sardica, backed by the imperial authority.” Sxprem. p. 360. ed. 1836.
52. Julius to the Presbyters, Deacons, and people residing at Alexandria 5.
I congratulate you, beloved brethren, that you now behold the fruit of your faith before your eyes; for any one may see that such indeed is the case with respect to my brother and fellow-Bishop Athanasius, whom for the innocency of his life, and by reason of your prayers, God is restoring to you again. Wherefore it is easy to perceive, that you have continually offered up to God pure prayers and full of love. Being mindful of the heavenly promises, and of the conversa- tion that leads to them, which you have learnt from the teaching of my brother aforesaid, you knew certainly and understood by the right faith that is in you, that he, whom you always had as present in your most pious minds, would not be separated from you for ever. Wherefore there is no need that I should use many words in writing to you; for your faith has already anticipated whatever I could say to you, and has by the grace of God pro- cured the accomplishment of the common prayers of you all. Therefore, I repeat again, I congratulate you, because you have preserved your souls unconquered in the faith; and I also congratulate no less my brother Athana- sius, in that, though he is enduring many afflictions, he has at no time been forgetful of your love and earnest desires towards him. For although for a season he seemed to be withdrawn from you in body, yet he has con- tinued to live as always present with you in spirit ©.
53. Wherefore he returns to you now more illustrious than when he went away from you. Fire tries and purifies the precious materials, gold and silver: but how can one describe the worth of such a man, who, having passed victorious through the perils of so many tribu- lations, is now restored to you, being pro- nounced innocent not by our voice only, but by the voice of the whole Council7? Re- ceive therefore, beloved brethren, with all godly honour and rejoicing, your Bishop Athanasius, together with those who have been partners with him in so many labours. And rejoice that you now obtain the ful- filment of your prayers, after that in your salutary letter you have given meat and drink to your Pastor, who, so to speak, longed and thirsted after your godliness. For while he sojourned in a foreign land, you were his con- solation; and you refreshed him during his persecutions by your most faithful minds and spirits. And it delights me now to conceive 5 Written early in 346 A.D...© Athan, here omits a paragraph in his own praise. vid. Socr. Aioneas, 7 § 35, note 3.
DEFENCE AGAINST THE ARIANS.
and figure to my mind the joy of every one of you at his return, and the pious greetings of the concourse, and the glorious festivity of those that run to meet him. What a day will that be to you, when my brother comes back again, and your former sufferings terminate, and his much-prized and desired return in- spires you all with an exhilaration of perfect joy! The like joy it is ours to feel in a very great degree, since it has been granted us by God, to be able to make the acquaintance of so eminent aman. _ It is fitting therefore that I should conclude my letter with a prayer. May Almighty God, and His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, afford you continual grace, giving you a reward for the admirable faith which you displayed in your noble con- fession in behalf of your Bishop, that He may impart unto you and unto them that are with you, both here and hereafter, those better things, which ‘the eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him %,’ through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom to Almighty God be glory for ever and ever. Amen. I pray, dearly beloved brethren, for your health and strength in the Lord.
54. The Emperor, when I came to him? with these letters, received me kindly, and sent me forth to my country and Church, addressing the following to the Bishops, Pres- byters, and People.
Constantius, Victor, Maximus, Augustus, to the Bishops and Presbyters of the Catholic Church.
The most reverend Athanasius has not been deserted by the grace of God, but although for a brief season he was subjected to trial to which human nature is liable, he has obtained from the all-surveying Providence such an answer to his prayers as was meet, and is restored by the will of the Most High, and by our sentence, at once to his country and to the Church, over which by divine permission he presided. Wherefore, in accordance with this, it is fitting that it should be provided by our clemency, that all the decrees which have heretofore been passed against those who held communion with him, be now consigned to oblivion, and that all suspicions respecting them be henceforward set at rest, and that immunity, such as the Clergy who are asso- ciated with him formerly enjoyed, be duly confirmed to them. Moreover to our other acts of favour towards him we have thought good to add the following, that all persons of 9 [At Antioch September (?) 346.
VOL. IV.
See Prolegg. ch. ii. 4 6 (3).] K the sacred catalogue should understand, that an assurance of safety is given to all who adhere to him, whether Bishops, or other Clergy. And union with him will be a suff- cient guarantee, in the case of any person, of an upright intention. For whoever, acting ac- cording to a better judgment and part, shall choose to hold communion with him, we order, in imitation of that Providence which has already gone before, that all such should have the advantage of the grace which by the will of the Most High is now offered to them from us. May God preserve you.
The Second Letter.
Constantius, Victor, Maximus, Augustus, to the people of the Catholic Church at Alex- andria.
55. Having in view your welfare in all respects, and knowing that you have for a long time been deprived of episcopal super- intendence, we have thought good to send back to you your Bishop Athanasius, a man known to all men for the uprightness that is in him, and for the good disposition of his personal character. Receive him, as you are wont to receive every one, in a suitable manner, and, using his advocacy as your succour in your prayers to God, endeavour to preserve continually that unanimity and peace according to the order of the Church which is at the same time becoming in you, and most advantageous for us. For it is not becoming that any dissension or faction should be raised among you, contrary to the pros- perity of our times. We desire that this offence may be altogether removed from you, and we exhort you to continue stedfastly in your accustomed prayers, and to make hin, as we said before, your advocate and_ helper towards God. So that, when this your de- termination, beloved, has influenced the prayers of all men, even those heathen who are still addicted to the false worship of idols may eagerly desire to come to the knowledge of our sacred religion. Again therefore we exhort you to continue in these things, and gladly to receive your Bishop, who is sent back to you by the decree of the Most High, and by our decision, and determine to greet him cordially with all your soul and with all your mind. For this is what is both becoming in you, and agreeable to our clemency. In order that all occasions of disturbance and sedition may be taken away from those who are maliciously disposed, we have by letter commanded the magistrates who are among you to subject to the vengeance of 1 Vid. Bingh. Anzzqu. I. v. to.
the law all whom they find to be factious. Wherefore taking into consideration both these things, our decision in accordance with the will of the Most High, and our regard for you and for concord among you, and the punishment that awaits the disorderly, observe such things as are proper and suitable to the order of our sacred religion, and receiving the afore-men- tioned Bishop with all reverence and honour, take care to offer up with him your prayers to God, the Father of all, in behalf of yourselves, and for the well-being of your whole lives.
56. Having written these letters, he also commanded that the decrees, which he had formerly sent out against me in consequence of the calumnies of Eusebius and his fellows, should be cancelled and struck out from the Orders of the Duke and the Prefect of Egypt; and Eusebius the Decurion? was sent to with- draw them from the Order-books. His letter on this occasion was as follows.
Constantius, Victor, Augustus, to Nestorius 3. (And in the same terms, to the Governors of Augustamnica, the Thebats, and Libya.)
Whatever Orders are found to have been passed heretofore, tending to the injury and dishonour of those who hold communion with the Bishop Athanasius, we wish them to be now erased. For we desire that whatever immunities his Clergy possessed before, they should again possess the same. And we wish this our Order to be observed, that when the Bishop Athanasius is restored to his Church, those who hold communion with him may enjoy the immunities which they have always enjoyed, and which the rest of the Clergy enjoy; so that they may have the satisfaction of being on an equal footing with others.
57. Being thus set forward on my journey, as I passed through Syria, I met with the Bishops of Palestine, who when they had called a Council4# at Jerusalem, received me cordially, and themselves also sent me on my way in peace, and addressed the following letter to the Church and the Bishops.
The Holy Council, assembled at Jerusalem, to the fellow-ministers in Egypt and Libya, and to the Presbyters, Deacons, and People at Alexandria, brethren beloved and greatly longed for, sends health in the Lord.
We cannot give worthy thanks to the God of all, dearly beloved, for the wonderful things which He has done at all times, and es- pecially at this time for your Church, in re- storing to you your pastor and lord, and our fellow-minister Athanasius. For who ever 2 Member of the Curia or Council.
7 L ui: 3 Prefect of Egypt, vid. Vita Ant. 86, Fest. Ind. xvii.—xxiv.
4 Hist. Avian. 25, APOLOGIA CONTRA ARIANOS.
hoped that his eyes would see what you are now actually obtaining? Of a truth, your prayers have been heard by the God of all, Who cares for His Church, and has looked upon your tears and groans, and has therefore heard your petitions. For ye were as sheep scattered and fainting, not having a shepherd 5. Wherefore the true Shepherd, Who careth for His own sheep, has visited you from heaven, and has restored to you him whom you desire. Behold, we also, being ready to do all things for the peace of the Church, and being prompt- ed by the same affection as yourselves, have saluted him before you; and communicating with you through him, we send you these greetings, and our offering of thanksgiving, that you may know that we also are united in the bond of love that joins you to him. You are bound to pray also for the piety of our most God-beloved Emperors, who, when they knew your earnest longings after him, and his innocency, determined to restore him to you with all honour. Wherefore receive him with uplifted hands, and take good heed that you offer up due thanksgiving on his behalf to God Who has bestowed these blessings upon you; so that you may continually rejoice with God and glorify our Lord, in Christ Jesus our Lord, through Whom to the Father be glory for ever. Amen.
I have set down here the names of those who subscribed this letter, although I have mentioned them before®. They are these; Maximus, Aetius, Arius, Theodorus7, Ger- manus, Silvanus, Paulus, Patricius, Elpidius, Germanus, Eusebius, Zenobius, Paulus, Macri- nus ®, Petrus, Claudius.
58. When Ursacits and Valens saw all this, they forthwith condemned themselves for what they had done, and going up to Rome, confessed their crime, declared them- selves penitent, and sought forgiveness 9, ad- dressing the following letters to Julius, Bishop of ancient Rome, and to ourselves. Copies of them were sent to me from Paulinus, Bishop of Treveri 7°.
A Translation from the Latin of a Letter® to Julius, concerning the recantation of Ursactus and Valens?.
Ursacius and Valens to the most blessed lord, pope Julius.
2 [Gibbon, ch. xxi. note 108, doubts the fact of this recantation on the ground of the dissimilar tone of the two letters that follow. Newman explains that they treat Julius as ‘a superior,’ Atha- nasius as ‘an equal;’ but surely he was something more than an equal. Fear of Constans, and the desire to secure themselves from attack, would make it important for them at any price to obtain the favour of the first bishop of the West. In order to do this they had to make their peace with Athanasius; but in doing so, they went no further than they could help.]
7 Theodosius, supr. 8 Not supr. to TpiBepwv, Paul inf. Hist. Ar. 26.
DEFENCE AGAINST. THE ARIANS. 131 Whereas it is well known that we have heretofore in letters laid many grievous charges against the Bishop Athanasius, and whereas, when we were corrected by the letters of your Goodness, we were unable to render an ac- count of the statement we had made; we do now confess before your Goodness, and in the presence of all the Presbyters our brethren, that all the reports which have heretofore come to your hearing respecting the case of the aforesaid Athanasius, are falsehoods and fabrications, and are utterly inconsistent with his character. Wherefore we earnestly desire communion with the aforesaid Athanasius, especially since your Piety, with your charac- teristic generosity, has vouchsafed to pardon our error. But we also declare, that if at any time the Eastern Bishops, or even Athanasius himself, ungenerously should wish to bring us to judgment for this matter, we will not depart contrary to your judgment. And as for the heretic Arius and his supporters, who say that once the Son was not, and that the Son was made of that which was not, and who deny that Christ is God and the Son of God before the worlds, we anathematize them both now and for evermore, as also we have set forth in our former declaration at Milan 3. We have written this with our own hands, and we profess again, that we have renounced for ever, as we said before, the Arian heresy and its authors.
I Ursacius subscribed this my confession in person; and likewise I Valens.
Ursacius and Valens, Bishops, to their lord and brother, the Bishop Athanasius.
Having an opportunity of sending by our brother and fellow Presbyter Muszeus, who is coming to your Charity, we salute you affec- tionately, beloved brother, through him, from Aquileia, and pray you, being as we trust in health, to read our letter. You will also give us confidence, if you will return to us an answer in writing. For know that we are at peace with you, and in communion with the Church, of which the salutation prefixed to this letter is a proof. May Divine Providence preserve you, my Lord, our beloved brother!
Such were their letters, and such the sentence and the judgment of the Bishops in my be- half. But in order to prove that they did not act thus to ingratiate themselves, or under compulsion in any quarter, I desire, with your permission, to recount the whole matter from the beginning, so that you may perceive that the bishops wrote as they did with upright and just intentions, and that Ursacius and Valens, though they were slow to do so, at last confessed the truth.
PART II, CHAPTER V.
Documents connected with the charges of the Meletians against S. Athanasius.
59. Prrer was Bishop among us before the persecution, and during the course of it he suffered martyrdom. When Meletius, who held the title of bishop in Egypt, was con- victed of many crimes, and among the rest of offering sacrifice to idols, Peter deposed him in a general council of the bishops. Whereupon Meletius did not appeal to an- other council, or attempt to justify himself before those who should come after, but made a schism, so that they who espoused his cause are even yet called Meletians instead of Christians. He began immediately to revile the bishops, and made false accusations, first against Peter himself, and against his successor Achillas, and after Achillas, against Alex- ander?. And he thus practised craftily, fol- lowing the example of Absalom, to the end that, as he was disgraced by his deposition, he might by his calumnies mislead the simple. While Meletius was thus employed, the Arian heresy also had arisen. But in the Council of Niczea, while the heresy was anathematized, and the Arians were cast out, the Meletians on whatever grounds 3 (for it is not necessary now to mention the reason) were received. Five months however had not yet passed 4 when, the blessed Alexander having died, the Meletians, who ought to have remained quiet, and to have been grateful that they were received on any terms, like dogs unable to forget their vomit, were again troubling the Churches.
Upon learning this, Eusebius, who had the lead in the Arian heresy, sends and buys the Meletians with large promises, becomes their secret friend, and arranges with them for their assistance on any occasion when he might wish for it. At first he sent to me, urging me to admit Arius and his fellows to communion 5, and threatened me in his verbal communica- tions, while in his letters he [merely] made a request. And when I refused, declaring that it was not right that those who had invented 1 Cf. Orat. i. 2 and notes. 2 Ad, Ep. Avg. § 22. supr. § 11.
3 [Prolegg. ch. ii. § 3 (1) ad fen.) Athan. speaks more openly against this arrangement. infr. § 71.: 4 [According to the tenses in the original the five months mark the date not of Alexander’s death (April 17, 328), but of the re- newed Meletian troubles. The settlement did not keep them quiet for five months. The ¢erminus a quo of the five months is somewhat doubtful; but it certainly is not the Council of Nicza, S. Athanasii, also Prolegs.
&c. Montf. Monit. in Vit.
Ne APOLOGIA? CON TRA ‘ARTANOS.
heresy contrary to the truth, and had been anathematized by the Ecumenical® Council, should be admitted to communion, he caused the Emperor also, Constantine, of blessed memory, to write to me, threatening me, in case I should not receive Arius and his fellows, with those afflictions, which I have before un- dergone, and which I am still suffering. The following is a part of his letter. Syncletius and Gaudentius, officers of the palace7, were the bearers of it.
Part of a Letter from the Emperor Constantine.
Having therefore knowledge of my will, grant free admission to all who wish to enter into the Church. For if I learn that you have hindered or excluded any who claim to be admitted into communion with the Church, I will immediately send some one who shall depose you by my command, and shall re- move you from your place.
60. When upon this I wrote and endea- voured to convince the Emperor, that that anti-Christian heresy had no communion with the Catholic Church, Eusebius forthwith, availing himself of the occasion which he had agreed upon with the Meletians, writes and persuades them to invent some pretext, so that, as they had practised against Peter and Achillas and Alexander, they might devise and spread reports against us also. Accordingly, after seeking for a long time, and finding no- thing, they at last agree together, with the ad- vice of Eusebius and his fellows, and fabricate their first accusation by means of Ision, Eu- dzemon, and Callinicus °, respecting the linen vestments 9, to the effect that I had imposed a law upon the Egyptians, and had required its observance of them first. But when certain Presbyters of mine were found to be present, and the Emperor took cognizance of the matter, they were condemned (the Presbyters were Apis and Macarius), and the Emperor wrote, condemning Ision, and ordering me to appear before him. His letters were as follows?
Eusebius, having intelligence of this, per- suades them to wait; and when I arrive, they next accuse Macarius of breaking the cup, and bring against me the most heinous accu- sation possible, viz. that, being an enemy of the Emperor, I had sent a purse of gold to one Philumenus. The Emperor therefore heard us on this charge also in Psammathia 2, when they, as usual, were condemned, and 6 Supr. § 7, and de Decr. 27