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| Of the Outrages committed by the Pagans against the Christians.
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Chapter XIII.—Of the
Outrages committed by the Pagans against the Christians.
He moreover interdicted such as
would not abjure Christianity, and offer sacrifice to idols, from
holding any office at court: nor would he allow Christians to be
governors of provinces; ‘for,’ said he, ‘their law
forbids them to use the sword against offenders worthy of capital
punishment.’519
He also induced many to sacrifice, partly by flatteries, and partly by
gifts. Immediately, as if tried in a furnace, it at once became evident
to all, who were the real Christians, and who were merely nominal ones.
Such as were Christians in integrity of heart, very readily resigned
their commission,520
| 520ζώνην
ἀπετίθεντο ;
literally, ‘put off their girdle,’ as the badge of
office.
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choosing to endure anything rather than deny Christ. Of this number
were Jovian, Valentinian, and Valens, each of whom afterwards became
emperor. But others of unsound principles, who preferred the riches and
honor of this world to the true felicity, sacrificed without
hesitation. Of these was Ecebolius, a sophist521
| 521The term was used first by traveling teachers of
rhetoric at the time of the philosopher Socrates as descriptive of
their profession; and although it later acquired an unfavorable
significance, it continued to be used also as a professional name given
to teachers of rhetoric, as here.
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of Constantinople who, accommodating himself to the dispositions of the
emperors, pretended in the reign of Constantius to be an ardent
Christian; while in Julian’s time he appeared an equally vigorous
pagan: and after Julian’s death, he again made a profession of
Christianity. For he prostrated himself before the church doors, and
called out, ‘Trample on me, for I am as salt that has lost its
savor.’ Of so fickle and inconstant a character was this person,
throughout the whole period of his history. About this time the emperor
wishing to make reprisals on the Persians, for the frequent incursions
they had made on the Roman territories in the reign of Constantius,
marched with great expedition through Asia into the East. But as he
well knew what a train of calamities attend a war, and what immense
resources are needful to carry it on successfully and that without it
cannot be carried on, he craftily devised a plan for collecting money
by extorting it from the Christians. On all those who refused to
sacrifice he imposed a heavy fine,
which was exacted with great rigor from such as were true Christians,
every one being compelled to pay in proportion to what he possessed. By
these unjust means the emperor soon amassed immense wealth; for this
law was put in execution, both where Julian was personally present, and
where he was not. The pagans at the same time assailed the Christians;
and there was a great concourse of those who styled themselves
‘philosophers.’ They then proceeded to institute certain
abominable mysteries;522
| 522Cf. Tertull. Apol. IX. ‘In the bosom of
Africa infants were publicly sacrificed to Saturn, even to the days of
a proconsul under Tiberius,’ &c.
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and sacrificing pure children both male and female, they inspected
their entrails, and even tasted their flesh. These infamous rites were
practiced in other cities, but more particularly at Athens and
Alexandria; in which latter place, a calumnious accusation was made
against Athanasius the bishop, the emperor being assured that he was
intent on desolating not that city only, but all Egypt, and that
nothing but his expulsion out of the country could save it. The
governor of Alexandria was therefore instructed by an imperial edict to
apprehend him.
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