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| On the Arrival of Gregory at Alexandria, tended by a Military Escort, Athanasius flees.
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Chapter XI.—On the
Arrival of Gregory at Alexandria, tended by a Military Escort,
Athanasius flees.
After these things, Syrian, the
military commander, and the corps of heavy armed soldiers, five
thousand in number, conducted Gregory to Alexandria; and such of the
citizens as were of Arian sentiments combined with them. But it will be
proper here to relate by what means Athanasius escaped the hands of
those who wished to apprehend him, after his expulsion from the church.
It was evening, and the people were attending the vigil there, a
service276
| 276συνάξεως:
literally ‘congregation,’ from συνάγω; but later applied to
any service held in the church. In mod. Συναξάριον
, ‘Prayer-book.’
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being expected. The commander arrived, and posted his forces in order
of battle on every side of the church. Athanasius having observed what
was done, considered within himself how he might prevent the
people’s suffering in any degree on his account: accordingly
having directed the deacon to give notice of prayer, after that he
ordered the recitation of a psalm; and when the melodious chant of the
psalm arose, all went out through one of the church doors. While this
was doing, the troops remained inactive spectators, and Athanasius thus
escaped unhurt in the midst of those who were chanting the psalm, and
immediately hastened to Rome. Gregory then prevailed in the church: but
the people of Alexandria, being indignant at this procedure, set the
church called that of Dionysius on fire. Let this be sufficient on this
subject. Now Eusebius, having thus far obtained his object, sent a
deputation to Julius, bishop of Rome,277
| 277So also Sozom. III. 7. But according to Valesius,
both Socrates and Sozomen are here mistaken, and Eusebius sent the
deputation before the council at Antioch, as is shown by the words of
Athanasius in his Apol. contra Arian., 21.
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begging that he would himself take cognizance of the charges against Athanasius, and
order a judicial investigation to be made in his presence.278
| 278See Hammond, Canons of the Church (notes on
the Canons of Nicæa), for the prerogatives of the see of Rome
recognized at this time.
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