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| Intrigues of Licinius against the Bishops, and his Prohibition of Synods.
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Chapter LI.—Intrigues of
Licinius against the Bishops, and his Prohibition of
Synods.
And at
first he made secret enquiry respecting the ministers of God subject to
his dominion, who had never, indeed, in any respect offended against
his government, in order to bring false accusations against them. And
when he found no ground of accusation, and had no real ground of
objection against them, he next enacted a law, to the effect that the
bishops should never on any account hold communication with each other,
nor should any one of them absent himself on a visit to a neighboring
church; nor, lastly, should the holding of synods, or councils for the
consideration of affairs of common interest,3152
| 3152 Perhaps “synods or councils and conferences on economic
matters.” |
be permitted. Now this was clearly a pretext for displaying his malice
against us. For we were compelled either to violate the law, and thus
be amenable to punishment, or else, by compliance with its injunctions,
to nullify the statutes of the Church; inasmuch as it is impossible to
bring important questions to a satisfactory adjustment, except by means
of synods. In other cases also this God-hater, being determined to act
contrary to the God-loving prince, enacted such things. For whereas the
one assembled the priests of God in order to honor them, and to promote
peace and unity of judgment; the other, whose object it was to destroy
everything that was good, used all his endeavors to destroy the general
harmony.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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