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| Eusebius surnamed Emesenus; Gregory accepted Alexandria; Athanasius seeks Refuge in Rome.
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Chapter VI.—Eusebius surnamed Emesenus; Gregory
accepted Alexandria; Athanasius seeks Refuge in Rome.
Eusebius, surnamed Emesenus,
likewise attended the council.1230
He sprang from a noble family of Edessa, a city of Osroënæ.
According to the custom of his country, he had from his youth upwards,
learned the Holy Word, and was afterwards made acquainted with the
learning of the Greeks, by the teachers who then frequented his native
city. He subsequently acquired a more intimate knowledge of sacred
literature under the guidance of Eusebius Pamphilus and Patrophilus,
the president of Scythopolis. He went to Antioch at the time that
Eustathius was deposed on the accusation of Cyrus, and lived with
Euphronius, his successor, on terms of intimacy. He fled to escape
being invested with the priestly dignity, went to Alexandria and
frequented the schools of the philosophers. After acquainting himself
with their mode of discipline, he returned to Antioch and dwelt with
Placetus, the successor of Euphronius. During the time that the council
was held in that city, Eusebius, bishop of Constantinople, entreated
him to accept the see of Alexandria for it was thought that, by his
great reputation for sanctity and consummate eloquence, he would easily
supplant Athanasius in the esteem of the Egyptians. He, however,
refused the ordination, on the plea that he could otherwise only incur
the ready hatred of the Alexandrians, who would have no other bishop
but Athanasius. Gregory was, therefore, appointed to the church of
Alexandria, and Eusebius to that of Emesa.
There he suffered from a sedition; for the people
accused him of practicing that variety of astronomy which is called
astrological, and being obliged to seek safety by flight, he repaired
to Laodicea, and dwelt with George, bishop of that city, who was his
particular friend. He afterwards accompanied this bishop to Antioch,
and obtained permission from the bishops Placetus and Narcissus to
return to Emesa. He was much esteemed by the emperor Constantius, and
attended him in his military expedition against the Persians. It is
said that God wrought miracles through his instrumentality, as is
testified by George of Laodicea,1231
| 1231Soc. also quotes him (ii. 9), and says he wrote an
Encomium of Eusebius Emesenus, ii. 24.
|
who has related these and other incidents about him.
But although he was endowed with so many exalted
qualities, he could not escape the jealousy of those who are irritated
by witnessing the virtues of others. He endured the censure of having
embraced the doctrines of Sabellius. At the present time, however, he
voted with the bishops who had been convened at Antioch. It is said
that Maximus, bishop of Jerusalem, purposely, kept aloof from this
council, because he repented having unawares consented to the
deposition of Athanasius.1232
The manager of the Roman see, nor any representative from the east of
Italy, nor from the parts beyond Rome were present at Antioch.1233
At the same period of time, the Franks devastated Western Gaul; and the
provinces of the East, and more particularly Antioch after the Synod,
were visited by tremendous earthquakes.1234
After the Synod, Gregory repaired to Alexandria with a large body of
soldiers, who were enjoined to provide an undisturbed and safe entrance
into the city; the Arians also, who were anxious for the expulsion of
Athanasius, sided with him. Athanasius, fearful lest the people should
be exposed to sufferings on his account,1235
| 1235Athan. Ep. Encyc. 2–7; Apol. cont.
Arian. 30; Hist. Arian. 10–14, 57, 74: Soc. ii.
11.
|
assembled them by night in the church, and when the soldiers came to
take possession of the church, prayers having been concluded, he first
ordered a psalm to be sung. During the chanting of this psalm the
soldiers remained without and quietly awaited its conclusion, and in
the meantime Athanasius passed under the singers and secretly made his
escape, and fled to Rome. In this manner Gregory possessed himself of
the see of Alexandria. The indignation of the people was aroused, and
they burnt the church which bore the name of Dionysius, one of their
former bishops.
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