History of the Arians (Historia Arianorum) · Part 2

§39, 40. Liberius rebukes the Emperor and is cruelly exiled.

§41. After two years of exile, Liberius gives way under force.

Part VI. Hosius (355-358).

§42. Intrigues against Hosius.

§43. Vain attempts of Constantius to gain him over.

§44. Letter of Hosius remonstrating with the Emperor.

§§45, 46. Lapse of Hosius, his fidelity to Athanasius, recantation, and death.

§47. Monstrosity of the above proceedings.

Part VII. The attacks upon Athanasius (351-356).

§47. Athanasius isolated by the exile of other bishops.

§48. Attacks upon Athanasius himself (353-356).

§§49, (50), 51. Hypocrisy of the Emperor's pretended regard for his Father and Brother.

§§52, 53. Impropriety of Imperial intervention in Church affairs.

§54. The Churches at Alexandria given to the Arians.

§55. Violence of Cataphronius, Prefect of Egypt.

§§56, 57. Sack of the great church: divine judgments.

§58. Scenes of persecution.

§§59, 60. Savagery of Duke Sebastian. Martyrdom of Eutychius (356).

§§61-63. Cruel treatment of the poor, and of the clergy.

Part VIII. Further details of the Persecution in Egypt (357).

§64. The Arian persecution more cruel than that of Maximian.

§65. Martyrdom of Secundus of Barka.

§§66, 67. Persecution the disgrace of the new heresy.

§68, 69. Constantius worse than Ahab, &c., and inhuman toward his own family.

§70. His fickleness, lack of character, and tyranny.

§71. Novelty of this persecution on the part of pretended Christians.

§72. Cruel exile of bishops and torture of monks and lay people.

§73. Venal appointments to fill the vacancies thus created.

§74. The predicted signs of Antichrist applied to Constantius.

§75. Arrival of George at Alexandria.

§76, 77. Further marks of Antichrist in the tyranny of Constantius over the Church.

§78, 79. The Meletians the allies of Arianism in Egypt.

§80. Duty of separating from heretics.

§81. Appendix to §48. Second protest of the Church of Alexandria against the proceedings of Syrianus (356).

History of the Arians.

Part I.

Arian Persecution Under Constantine.

And not long after they put in execution the designs for the sake of which they had had recourse to these artifices; for they no sooner had formed their plans, but they immediately admitted Arius and his fellows to communion. They set aside the repeated condemnations which had been passed upon them, and again pretended the imperial authority in their behalf. And they were not ashamed to say in their letters, since Athanasius suffered, all jealousy has ceased, and let us henceforward receive Arius and his fellows;' adding, in order to frighten their hearers, because the Emperor has commanded it.' Moreover, they were not ashamed to add, for these men profess orthodox opinions;' not fearing that which is written, Woe unto them that call bitter sweet, that put darkness for light;' for they are ready to undertake anything in support of their heresy. Now is it not hereby plainly proved to all men, that we both suffered heretofore, and that you now persecute us, not under the authority of an Ecclesiastical sentence, but on the ground of the Emperor's threats, and on account of our piety towards Christ? As also they conspired in like manner against other Bishops, fabricating charges against them also; some of whom fell asleep in the place of their exile, having attained the glory of Christian confession; and others are still banished from their country, and contend still more and more manfully against their heresy, saying, Nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ?'

2. Arians sacrifice morality and integrity to party.

And hence also you may discern its character, and be able to condemn it more confidently. The man who is their friend and their associate in impiety, although he is open to ten thousand charges for other enormities which he has committed; although the evidence and proof against him are most clear; he is approved of by them, and straightway becomes the friend of the Emperor, obtaining an introduction by his impiety; and making very many pretences, he acquires confidence before the magistrates to do whatever he desires. But he who exposes their impiety, and honestly advocates the cause of Christ, though he is pure in all things, though he is conscious of no delinquencies, though he meets with no accuser; yet on the false pretences which they have framed against him, is immediately seized and sent into banishment under a sentence of the Emperor, as if he were guilty of the crimes which they wish to charge upon him, or as if, like Naboth, he had insulted the King; while he who advocates the cause of their heresy is sought for and immediately sent to take possession of the other's Church; and henceforth confiscations and insults, and all kinds of cruelty are exercised against those who do not receive him. And what is the strangest of all, the man whom the people desire, and know to be blameless, the Emperor takes away and banishes; but him whom they neither desire, nor know, he sends to them from a distant place with soldiers and letters from himself. And henceforward a strong necessity is laid upon them, either to hate him whom they love; who has been their teacher, and their father in godliness; and to love him whom they do not desire, and to trust their children to one of whose life and conversation and character they are ignorant; or else certainly to suffer punishment, if they disobey the Emperor.