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| Synodical Epistle written against Aetius.
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Chapter
XXIV.—Synodical Epistle written
against Aetius.
After these transactions the emperor ordered Aetius to be condemned by a
formal Letter, and, in obedience to the command, his companions in
iniquity condemned their own associate. Accordingly they wrote to
Georgius, bishop of Alexandria, the letter about him to which I shall
give a place in my history, in order to expose their wickedness, for
they treated their friends and their foes precisely in the same
way.
Copy of the Letter written by
the whole council to Georgius against Aetius his deacon, on account of
his iniquitous blasphemy.
To the right honourable Lord
Georgius, Bishop of Alexandria, the holy Synod in Constantinople
assembled, Greeting.
In consequence of the
condemnation of Aetius by the Synod, on account of his unlawful and
most offensive writings, he has been dealt with by the bishops in
accordance with the canons of the church. He has been degraded from the
diaconate and expelled from the Church, and our admonitions have gone
forth that none are to read his unlawful epistles, but that on account
of their unprofitable and worthless character they are to be cast
aside. We have further appended an anathema on him, if he abides in his
opinion, and on his supporters.
It would naturally have followed
that all the bishops met together in the Synod should have felt
detestation of, and approved the sentence delivered against, a man who
is the author of offences, disturbances and schisms, of agitation over
all the world, and of rising of church against church. But in spite of
our prayers, and against all our expectation, Seras, Stephanus,
Heliodorus and Theophilus and their party579
| 579 Seras, or Serras, had been an Arian leader in Libya. In 356
Serras, together with Secundus, deposed bishop of Ptolemais, proposed
to consecrate Aetius; he refused on the ground that they were tainted
with Orthodoxy. Phil. iii. 19. In 359 he subscribed
the decrees of Seleucia as bishop of Parætonium (Al Bareton W. of
Alexandria) (Epiph. Hær. lxxiii. 20). Now he is deposed (360) by
the Constantinopolitan Synod. Vide Dict. Christ. Biog.
s.v.
Stephanus, a Libyan bishop
ordained by Secundus of Ptolemais, and concerned with him in the murder
of the Presbyter Secundus, as described by Athan. in Hist. Ar.
§65 cf. Ath. de Syn. §12.
Heliodorus was Arian bishop of
Apollonia or Sozysa (Shahfah) in Libya Prima. cf. LeQuien Or. Ch. ii.
617.
Theophilus, previously
bishop of Eleutheropolis in Palestine, was translated, against his vow
of fidelity to that see, (Soz. iv. 24) to Castabala in Cilicia. On the
place Vide Bp. Lightfoot. Ap. Fathers Pt. ii. Vol. III.
136. |
have not voted with us, and have not even consented to subscribe the
sentence delivered against him, although Seras charged the aforenamed
Aetius with another instance of insane arrogance, alleging that he,
with still bolder impudence, had sprung forward to declare that what
God had concealed from the Apostles had been now revealed to him. Even
after these wild and boastful words, reported by Seras about Aetius,
the aforenamed bishops were not put out of countenance, nor could they
be induced to vote with us on his condemnation. We however with much
long suffering bore with them580
| 580 συμπεριηνέχθημεν
is the suggestion of Valesius for συμπεριεψηθίσθημεν, a word of no authority. | for a great length
of time, now indignant, now beseeching, now importuning them to join
with us and make the decision of the Synod unanimous; and we persevered
long in the hope that they might hear and agree and give in. But when
in spite of all this patience we could not shame them into acceptance
of our declarations against the aforesaid offender, we counted the rule
of the church more precious than the friendship of men, and pronounced
against them a decree of excommunication, allowing them a period of six
mouths for conversion, repentance, and the expression of a desire for
union and harmony with the synod. If within the given time they should
turn and accept agreement with their brethren and assent to the decrees
about Aetius, we decided that they should be received into the church,
to the recovery of their own authority in synods, and our affection. If
however they obstinately persisted, and preferred human friendship to
the canons
of the church and our affection, then we judged them deposed from the
rank of the bishops. If they suffer degradation it is necessary to
appoint other bishops in their place, that the lawful church may be
duly ordered and at unity with herself, while all the bishops of every
nation by uttering the same doctrine with one mind and one counsel
preserve the bond of love.
To acquaint you with the decree
of the Synod we have sent these present to your reverence, and pray
that you may abide by them, and by the grace of Christ rule the
churches under you aright and in peace. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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