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Historia
Acephala.
I. 1. The Emperor Constantius also wrote
concerning the return of Athanasius, and among the Emperor’s
letters this one too is to be found.
2. And it came to pass after the death of Gregory
that Athanasius returned from the city of Rome and the parts of Italy,
and entered Alexandria Paophi xxiv, Coss. Constantius IV, Constans III
(October 21, 346); that is after [vii] years vi [months and iii days,]
and remained quiet at Alexandria
ix3770
3770 Corrected from §§5, 17, infr.; text
‘xvi.’ | years iii3771
3771 Corrected from §5; text ‘6 months.’ | months [and
xix days].
II. Now after his return, Coss. Limenius3772 and Catulinus (349), Theodore3773 , Narcissus3774
3774 Cf.
Apol. Fug. 1, &c., &c. | ,
and George, with others, came to Constantinople, wishing to persuade
Paul to communicate with them, who received them not even with a word,
and answered their greeting with an anathema. So they took to
themselves Eusebius of Nicomedia3775
3775 Bishop of CP. 338–341. On his death Paul was restored, but
Maccdonius appointed by the Arians. This was in 341–2. The final
expulsion and death of Paul was about the date given in the text; but
the events of several years are lumped together without clear
distinction. | , and laid
snares for the most blessed Paul, and lodging a calumny against him
concerning Constans and Magnentius, expelled him from CP. that they
might have room there, and sow the Arian heresy. Now the people of CP.,
desiring the most blessed Paul, raised continual riots to prevent his
being taken from the city, for they loved his sound doctrine. The
Emperor, however, was angry, and sent Count Hermogenes to cast him out;
but the people, hearing this, dragged forth Hermogenes through the
midst of the town. From which matter they obtained a pretext against
the Bishop, and exiled him to Armenia. Theodore and the rest wishing to
place in the See of that Town Eudoxius, an ally and partisan of the
Arian heresy, ordained [Bishop] of Germanicia, while the people were
stirred to riot, and would not allow any one to sit in the See of
blessed Paul,—they took Macedonius, a presbyter of Paul, and
ordained him bishop of the town of CP., whom the whole assembly of
bishops condemned, since against his own father he had disloyally
received laying on of hands from heretics.
However, after Macedonius had communicated with
them and signed, they brought in pretexts of no importance, and
removing him from the Church, they instal the aforesaid Eudoxius of
Antioch3776 , whence [the partakers] in this
secession are called Macedonians, making shipwreck concerning the Holy
Spirit.
III. 3. After this time Athanasius, hearing that
there was to be disturbance against him, the Emperor Constantius3777
3777 Text
‘Constans.’ This passage (3–5), is used by Soz. iv.
9. | being in residence at Milan (353), sent to
court a vessel with v Bishops, Serapion of Thmuis, Triadelphus of
Nicotas, Apollo of Upper Cynopolis, Ammonius of Pachemmon,…and
iii Presbyters of Alexandria, Peter the Physician, Astericus, and
Phileas. After their setting sail from Alexandria, Coss. Constantius VI
Augustus, and Constantius3778
3778 Text
‘Constans.’ This passage (3–5), is used by Soz. iv.
9. | Cæsar II,
Pachom xxiv (May 19, 353), presently four days after Montanus of the
Palace entered Alexandria Pachom xxviii, and gave a letter of the same
Constantius3779
3779 Text
‘Constans.’ This passage (3–5), is used by Soz. iv.
9. | Augustus to the bishop Athanasius,
forbidding him to come to court, on which account the bishop was
exceedingly desolate, and the whole people much troubled3780
3780 Fatigatus,’ Soz. ἐταράχθησαν | . So Montanus, accomplishing nothing, set
forth, leaving the bishop at Alexandria.
4. Now after a while Diogenes, Imperial Notary,
came to Alexandria in the month of Mensor (August, 355) Coss. Arbetion
and Lollianus: that is ii years and v months3781
3781 Cf.
Apol. Const. 22; read ii years ii months. |
from when Montanus left Alexandria. And Diogenes pressed every one
urgently to compel the bishop to leave the town, and afflicted all not
a little. Now on the vi day of the month Thoth, he made a sharp attempt
to besiege the church, and he spent iv months in his efforts, that is
from the month Mensor, or from the [first] day of those intercalated
until the xxvi day of Choiac (Dec. 23). But as the people and the
judges strongly resisted Diogenes, Diogenes returned without success on
the xxvi day of the said month Choiac, Coss. Arbetion and Lollianus,
after iv months as aforesaid.
IV. 5. Now Duke Syrianus, and Hilary the Notary,
came from Egypt to Alexandria on the tenth day of Tybi (Jan. 6, 356)
after Coss. Arbetion and Lollianus. And sending in front all the
legions of soldiers throughout Egypt and Libya, the Duke and the Notary
entered the Church of Theonas with their whole force of soldiers by
night, on the xiii day of Mechir, during the night preceding the xiv.
And breaking the doors of the Church of Theonas, they entered with an
infinite force of soldiers. But bishop Athanasius escaped their hands,
and was saved, on the aforesaid xiv of Mechir3782
3782 Text
throughout ‘Methir.’ | .
Now this happened ix years iii months and xix days from the
Bishop’s return from Italy. But when the Bishop was delivered,
his presbyters and people remained in possession of the Churches, and
holding communion iv months, until there entered Alexandria the prefect
Cataphronius and Count Heraclius in the month Pahyni xvi day, Coss.
Constantius3783
3783 Text
‘Constans.’ This passage (3–5), is used by Soz. iv.
9. | VIII and Julianus Cæsar I (June
10, 356).
V. 6. And four days after they entered3784 the Athanasians were ejected from the
Churches, and they were handed over to those who belonged to George3785
3785 Text
‘Gregory;’ §§6, 7 are used by Soz. iv. 10,
§8 by Soz. v. 7. | , and were expecting him as Bishop. So they
received the Churches on the xxi day of Pahyni. Moreover George3786
3786 Text
‘Gregory;’ §§6, 7 are used by Soz. iv. 10,
§8 by Soz. v. 7. | arrived at Alexandria, Coss. Constantius3787
3787 Text
‘Constans.’ This passage (3–5), is used by Soz. iv.
9. | IX, and Julianus Cæsar II, Mechir xxx
(Feb. 24, 357), that is, eight months and xi days from when his party
received the Churches. So George3788
3788 Text
‘Gregory;’ §§6, 7 are used by Soz. iv. 10,
§8 by Soz. v. 7. | entered
Alexandria, and kept the Churches xviii whole months: and then the
common people attacked him in the Church of Dionysius, and he was
hardly delivered with danger and a great struggle on the i day of the
month Thoth, Coss. Tatianus and Cerealis (Aug. 29, 358). Now George3789
3789 Text
‘Gregory;’ §§6, 7 are used by Soz. iv. 10,
§8 by Soz. v. 7. | was ejected from Alexandria on the x3790 day after the riot, namely v of Paophi (Oct.
2). But they who belonged to Bishop Athanasius, ix days after the
departure of George, that is on the xiv of Pa[ophi], cast out the men
of George3791
3791 Text
‘Gregory;’ §§6, 7 are used by Soz. iv. 10,
§8 by Soz. v. 7. | , and held the Churches two months and
xiv days; until there came Duke Sebastian from Egypt and cast them out,
and again assigned the Churches to the party of George on the xxviii
day of the month Choiac (Dec. 24).
7. Now ix whole months after the departure of
George from Alexandria, Paulus the Notary arrived Pahyni xxix, Coss.
Eusebius, Hypatius (June 23, 359), and published an Imperial Order on
behalf of George, and coerced many in vengeance for him. And [ii years
and] v months after, George came to Alexandria Athyr xxx (Coss. Taurus,
and Florentius) from court (Nov. 26, 361), that is iii years and two
months after he had fled. And at Antioch they of the Arian heresy,
casting out the Paulinians from the Church, appointed Meletius. When he
would not consent to their evil mind, they ordained Euzoius a presbyter
of George3792
3792 Text
‘Gregory;’ §§6, 7 are used by Soz. iv. 10,
§8 by Soz. v. 7. | of Alexandria in his stead.
VI. 8. Now George, having entered Alexandria as
aforesaid on the xxx Athyr, remained safely in the town iii days, that
is [till] iii Choiac. For, on the iv day of that same month, the
prefect Gerontius announced the death of the Emperor Constantius, and
that Julianus alone held the whole Empire. Upon which news, the
citizens of Alexandria and all shouted against George, and with one
accord placed him under custody. And he was in prison bound with iron
from the aforesaid iv day of Choiac, up to the xxvii of the same month,
xxiv days. For on the xxviii day of the same month early in the
morning, nearly all the people of that town led forth George from
prison, and also the Count who was with him, the Superintendent of the
building of the Church which is
called Cæsareum, and killed them both, and carried their bodies
round through the midst of the town, that of George on a camel, but
that of Dracontius, men dragging it by ropes; and so having insulted
them, at about the vii hour of the day, they burnt the bodies of
each.
VII. 9. Now in the next.…day of Mechir the
x day of the month, after Coss. Taurus and Florentius (Feb. 4, 362), an
order of the Emperor Julian was published commanding those things to be
restored to the idols and temple attendants and the public account,
which in former times had been taken away from them.
10. But after iii days, Mechir xiv, an order was
given of the same Emperor Julian, also of the Vicar Modestus, to
Gerontius prefect, ordering all Bishops hitherto defeated by factions
and exiled to return to their towns and provinces. Now this letter was
published on the following day Mechir xv, while subsequently an edict
also of the prefect Gerontius was published, by which the Bishop
Athanasius was ordered to return to his Church. And xii days after the
publication of this Edict Athanasius was seen at Alexandria, and
entered the Church in the same month Mechir, xxvii day, so that there
is from his flight which took place in the times of Syrianus and Hilary
till his return, when Julianus.…Mechir xxvii. He remained in the
Church until Paophi xxvi, Coss. Mamertinus and Nevitta (Oct. 23, 362),
viii whole months.
11. Now on the aforesaid day, Paophi xxvii, he
[the prefect] published an Edict of the Emperor Julianus, that
Athanasius, Bishop, should retire from Alexandria, and no sooner was
the Edict published, than the Bishop left the town and abode round
about Thereu3793
3793 Compare ‘Chereu’ in Vit. Ant. 86. | . Soon after his departure Olympus the
prefect, in obedience to the same3794
3794 The
previous reference to him has dropped out; see Fest. Ind.
xxxv. | Pythiodorus,
and those who were with him, most difficult persons, sent into exile
Paulus and Astericius, presbyters of Alexandria, and directed them to
live at the town of Andropolis.
VIII. 12. Now Olympus the same prefect, in the
month Mensor, xxvi day, Coss. Julianus Augustus IV. and Sallustius
(Aug. 20, 363), announced that Julian the Emperor was dead, and that
Jovianus a Christian was Emperor. And in the following month, Thoth
xviii, a letter of the Emperor Jovianus came to Olympus the prefect
that only the most high God should be worshipped, and Christ, and that
the peoples, holding communion in the Churches, should practise
religion. Moreover Paulus and Astericius, the aforesaid presbyters,
returned from exile at the town of Andropolis, and entered Alexandria,
on the x day of Thoth, after x months.
13. Now Bishop Athanasius, having tarried as
aforesaid at Thereon, went up to the higher parts of Egypt as far as
Upper Hermopolis in the Thebaid, and as far as Antinoopolis. And while
he was staying in these places, it was learned that the Emperor Julian
was dead, and that Jovian a Christian was Emperor. So the Bishop
entered Alexandria secretly, his arrival not being known to many, and
went by sea to meet the Emperor Jovian, and afterwards, Church affairs
being settled3795 , received a letter,
and came to Alexandria and entered into the Church on the xix day of
Athyr3796
3796 Read
Mechir, i.e. Feb. 14, 364. | Coss. Jovianus and Varronianus. From his
leaving Alexandria according to the order of Julian until he arrived on
the aforesaid xix day of Athyr3797
3797 Read
Mechir, i.e. Feb. 14, 364. | after one year and
iii months, and xxii days.
IX. Now at CP. Eudoxius of Germanicia held the
Church, and there was a division between him and Macedonius; but by
means of Eudoxius there went forth another worse heresy from the
spurious [teaching] of the Arians, Aetius and Patricius3798
3798 Can
this be the Hypatius of Philst. ix. 19? For Heliodorus and Stephen, see
Hist. Ar. p. 294; de Syn. 12; Theod. H. E. ii. 28
and Gwatkin, Studies, pp. 226, 180 note. | of Nicæa, who communicated with
Eunomius, Heliodorus, and Stephen. And Eudoxius adopting this,
communicated with Euzoius, Bishop at Antioch, of the Arian sect, and
they deposed on a pretext Seleucius3799 and
Macedonius, and Hypatian3800 , and other xv
Bishops belonging to them, since they would not receive
‘Unlike’ nor ‘Creature of the Uncreated.’ Now
their Exposition is as follows:—
Exposition of Patricius3801
3801 Can
this be the Hypatius of Philst. ix. 19? For Heliodorus and Stephen see
Hist. Ar. p. 294; de Syn. 12; Theod. H. E. ii. 28
and Gwatkin, Studies, pp. 226, 180 note. |
and Aetius, who communicated with Eunomius, Heliodorus, and
Stephen.
These are the attributes of God, Unbegotten,
without origin, Eternal, not to be commanded, Immutable, All-seeing,
Infinite, Incomparable, Almighty, knowing the future without foresight;
without beginning3802
3802 Lat.
‘dominio’ for ἄρχῃ. | . These do not
belong to the Son, for He is commanded, is under command, is made from
nothing, has an end, is not compared [with the Father], the Father
surpasses Him…of Christ is found: as pertaining to the Father, He
is ignorant of the future. He was not God, but Son of God; God of those
who are after Him: and in this He possesses invariable likeness with
the Father, namely He sees all things because all things…because
He is not changed in goodness; [but] not like in the quality of
Godhead, nor in nature. But if we said that He was born of the quality
of Godhead, we say that He resembles the offspring of serpents3803 , and that is an impious saying: and like as
a statue produces rust from itself, and will be consumed by the rust
itself, so also the Son, if He is produced from the nature of the
Father, will consume the Father. But from the work, and the newness of
work, the Son is naturally God, and not from the Nature, but from
another nature like as the Father, but not from Him. For He was made
the image of God, and we are out of God, and from God. Inasmuch as all
things are from God, and the Son also, as if from something [else].
Like as iron if it has rust will be diminished, like as a body if it
produces worms is eaten up, like as a wound if it produce discharges
will be consumed by them, so [thinks] he who says that the Son is from
the Nature of the Father; now let him who does not say that the Son is
like the Father be put outside the Church and be anathema. If we shall
say that the Son of God is God, we bring in Two without beginning: we
call Him Image of God; he who calls Him ‘out from God’
Sabellianises. And he who says that he is ignorant of the nativity of
God Manicheanizes: if any one shall say that the Essence of the Son is
like the Essence of the Father unbegotten, he blasphemes. For just as
snow and white lead are similar in whiteness but dissimilar in kind, so
also the Essence of the Son is other than the Essence of the Father.
But snow has a different whiteness3804
3804 Text
imperfect, ‘Externo autem conniventes oculos
egressi.’ | …
Be pleased to hear that the Son is like the
Father in His operations; like as Angels cannot comprehend the Nature
of Archangels, let them please to understand, nor Archangels the Nature
of a Cherubin, nor Cherubins the Nature of the Holy Spirit, nor the
Holy Spirit the Nature of the Only-begotten, nor the Only-begotten the
nature of the Unbegotten God.
14. Now when the Bishop Athanasius was about
coming from Antioch to Alexandria, the Arians Eudoxius, Theodore,
Sophronius, Euzoius and Hilary took counsel and appointed Lucius, a
presbyter of George, to seek audience of the Emperor Jovian at the
Palace, and to say what is contained in the copies3805
3805 i.e.
the memoranda printed as Appendix to Letter 56. §14 is
used, but badly, by Soz. vi. 5. | . Now here we have omitted some less
necessary matter.
X. 15. Now
after Jovian, Valentinian and Valens having been somewhat rapidly
summoned to the throne, a decree of theirs, circulated everywhere,
which also was delivered at Alexandria on Pachon x, Coss. Valentinian
and Valens (May 5, 365), to the effect that the Bishops deposed and
expelled from their Churches under Constantius, who had in the time of
Julian’s reign reclaimed for themselves and taken back their
Bishopric, should now be cast out anew from the Churches, a penalty
being laid on the courts of a fine of ccc pounds of gold, unless that
is they should have [ba]nished the Bishops from the Churches and towns.
On which account at Alexandria great confusion and riot arose, insomuch
that the whole Church was troubled, since also the officials were few
in number with the prefect Flavian and his staff: and on account of the
imperial order and the fine of gold they were urgent that the Bishops
should leave the town; the Christian multitude resisting and gainsaying
the officials and the judge, and maintaining that the Bishop Athanasius
did not come under this definition nor under the Imperial order,
because neither did Constantius banish him, but even restored him.
Likewise also Julian persecuted him; he recalled all, and him for the
sake of idolatry he cast out anew, but Jovian brought him back. This
opposition and riot went on until the next month Payni, on the xiv day;
for on this day the prefect Flavian made a report, declaring that he
had consulted the Emperors on this very point which was stirred at
Alexandria, and so they all became quiet in a short time3806
3806 §§15, 16 are used by Soz. vi. 12. | .
XI. 16. iv months and xxiv days after, that is on
Paophi viii, the Bishop Athanasius left the Church secretly by night,
and retired to a villa near the New River3807
3807 i.e.
in the western suburb. | .
But the prefect Flavian and Duke Victorinus not knowing that he had
retired, on the same night arrived at the Church of Dionysius with a
force of soldiers: and having broken the back door, and entered the
upper parts of the house in search of the Bishop’s apartment,
they did not find him, for, not long before he had retired, and he
remained, staying at the aforesaid property from the above day, Paophi
viii, till Mechir vi, that is iv whole months (Oct. 5–Jan. 31).
After this, the Imperial notary Bresidas, in the same month Mechir came
to Alexandria with an Imperial letter, ordering the said Bishop
Athanasius to return to Town, and hold the Churches as usual; and on
the vii day of the month Mechir, after Coss. Valentinian and Valens,
that is Coss. Gratian and Degalaifus, the said notary Bresidas with
Duke Victorinus and Flavian the Prefect assembled at the palace and
announced to the officers of the courts who were present, and the
people, that the Emperors had ordered the Bishop to return to town, and
straightway the said Bresidas the notary went forth with the officers
of the courts, and a multitude of the people of the Christians to the
aforesaid villa, and taking the Bishop Athanasius with the Imperial
order, led him in to the Church which is called that of Dionysius on
the vii day of the mouth Mechir.
XII. 17. From Coss. Gratian and Dagalaifus (366)
to the next consulships of Lupicinus and Jovinus (367) and that of
[Valentinian II. and] Valens II. on Payni xiv (June 8, 368) in [this]
Consulship xl [years of the Bishopric] of Athanasius are finished. Out
of which [years] he abode at Treveri in Gaul [ii years iv months xi
days3808
3808 i.e.
July 11, 335, to Nov. 23, 337, see above, p. 496. | , and in Italy and the West] xc months and
iii days. At Alexandria [and] in uncertain places in hiding, when he
was being harassed by Hilary the notary and the Duke, lxxii months and
xiv days. In Egypt and Antioch upon journeys xv months and xxii days:
upon the property near the new river iv months. The result will be
exactly vi3809
3809 Migne
xi. (misprint). | months and xvii years and3810
3810 The
following 14 words are left out by an error in Sievers. | xx days. Moreover, he remained in quiet at
Alexandria xxii years and v months x days. But also, he twice stayed a
little time outside Alexandria in his last journey and at Tyre and at
CP. Accordingly, the result will be as I have stated above, xl years of
the episcopate of Athanasius until Payni [x]iv, Coss. Valentinian and
Valens. And in the following consulate of Valentinian and Victor, Payni
xiv, i year, and in the following consulships of Valentinian [III] and
Valens III Payni xiv, and in the following Consulships of Gratian and
Probus, [and the next of Modestus and Arintheus], and another
consulship of Valentinian [IV] and Valens IV, on Pachon viii he falls
asleep (May 3, 373).
XIII. 18. Now in the aforesaid consulship of
Lupicinus and Jovinus, Lucius being specially desirous to claim for
himself the episcopate of the Arians a long time after he had left
Alexandria, arrived in the aforesaid consulship, and entered the town
secretly by night on the xxvi day of the month Thoth (Sept. 24, 367):
and as it is said, abode in a certain small house keeping in hiding for
that day. But next day he went to a house where his mother was staying;
and his arrival being known at once all over the town, the whole people
assembled and blamed his entry. And Duke Trajanus and the Prefect were
extremely displeased at his irrational and bold arrival, and sent
officials to cast him out of the town. So the officials came to Lucius,
and considering all of them that the people were angry and very riotous
against him they feared to bring him out of the house by themselves,
lest he should be killed by the multitude. And they reported this to
the judges. And presently the judges themselves, Duke Trajan, and the
Prefect Tatianus [came] to the place with many soldiers, entered the
house and brought out Lucius themselves at the vii hour of the day, on
the xxvii day of Thoth. Now while Lucius was following the judges, and
the whole people of the town after them, Christians and Pagans, and of
divers religions, all alike with one breath, and with one mind, and of
one accord, did not cease, from the house whence he was led, through
the middle of the town, as far as the house of the Duke, from shouting,
and hurling at him withal insults and criminal charges, and from
crying, ‘Let him be taken out of the town.’ However, the
Duke took him into his house, and he stayed with him for the remaining
hours of the day, and the whole night, and on the following the xxviii
of the same month, the Duke early in the morning, and taking him in
charge as far as Nicopolis3811
3811 A
short distance east of Alexandria, see Dict. Gr. and Rom. Geog.
s.v. | , handed him over to
soldiers to be escorted from Egypt.
19. Now whereas Athanasius died on the viii of
the month Pachon, the v day before he fell asleep, he ordained Peter,
one of the ancient presbyters, Bishop, who carried on the Episcopate,
following him in all things. After whom Timothy his B[rother] succeeded
to the Episcopate for iv years. After him Theophilus from [being]
deacon was ordained Bishop (385). The End. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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