Newman Reader - Historical Tracts of St. Athanasius

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Chapter 2. First Arian persecution under Constantius

§. 9.

1. THE Eusebians however, seeing the declension of their heresy, wrote to Rome, as well as to the Emperors Constantine and Constans, to accuse Athanasius: but when the persons who were sent by Athanasius disproved the statements which they had written, they were repulsed with disgrace by the Emperors; and Julius, Bishop of Rome, wrote to say that a Council ought to be held, wherever we should desire, in order that they might exhibit the charges which they had to make, and might also freely defend themselves concerning those things of which they themselves were accused. The Presbyters also who were sent by them, when they saw themselves making an exposure, requested that this might be done. Whereupon these men, whose conduct is suspicious in all that they do, when they see that they are not likely to get the better in an Ecclesiastical trial, betake themselves to Constantius alone, and there bewail themselves, as to the patron [Note 1] of their heresy. "Spare," they say, "the heresy; you see that all men have withdrawn from us; and very few of us are now left. Begin to persecute, for we are being deserted even of those few, and are left destitute. Those persons whom we forced over to our side, when these men were banished, they now by their return have persuaded again to take part against us. Write letters therefore against them all, and send out Philagrius a second time [Note 2] as Prefect of Egypt, for he is able to carry on a persecution favourably for us, as he has already shewn upon trial, and the more so, as he is an apostate [Note 3]. Send also Gregory as Bishop to Alexandria, for he too is able to strengthen our heresy."

§. 10.

2. Accordingly Constantius at once writes letters, and commences a persecution against all, and sends Philagrius as Prefect with one Arsacius an eunuch; he sends also Gregory with a military force. And the same consequences {227} followed as before [Note 4]. For gathering together [Note 5] a multitude of herdsmen and shepherds, and other dissolute youths belonging to the town, armed with swords and clubs, they attacked in a body the Church which is called the Church of Cyrinus [Note 6]; and some they slew, some they trampled under foot, others they beat with stripes and cast into prison or banished. They haled away many women also, and dragged them openly into the court, and insulted them, dragging them by the hair. Some they proscribed; from some they took away their bread [Note 7] for no other reason, but that they might be induced to join the Arians, and receive Gregory who had been sent by the Emperor.

§. 11.

3. Athanasius however, before these things happened, at the first report of their proceedings, sailed to Rome, knowing the rage of the heretics, and for the purpose of having the Council held as had been determined. And Julius wrote letters to them, and sent the Presbyters Elpidius and Philoxenus [Note 8], appointing a day [Note 9], and saying, that either they must come, or consider themselves as altogether suspected persons. But as soon as the Eusebians heard that the trial was to be an Ecclesiastical one, at which no Count would be present [Note 10], nor soldiers stationed before the doors, and that the proceedings would not be regulated by royal order, (for they have always depended upon these things to support them against the Bishops, and without them they have no boldness even to speak;) they were so alarmed that they detained the Presbyters till after the appointed time, and pretended this indecent excuse, that they were not able to come now on account of the war which was begun by the Persians [Note 11]. But this was not the true cause of their delay, but the fears of their own consciences. For what have Bishops to do with war? Or if they were unable on account of the Persians to come to Rome, although it is at a distance and beyond sea, why did they like lions [Note 12] traverse [Note 13] the parts of the East and those which are near the Persians, seeking who was opposed to them, that they might falsely accuse and banish them?

§. 12.

4. However when they had dismissed the Presbyters with this improbable excuse, they said to one another, "Since we are unable to get the advantage in an Ecclesiastical trial, {228} let us exhibit our usual audacity." Accordingly they write to Philagrius, and cause him after a while to go out with Gregory into Egypt. Whereupon the Bishops are severely scourged and cast into chains [Note 14]; Sarapammon, for instance, Bishop and Confessor, they drive into banishment; Potammon, Bishop and Confessor, who had also lost an eye in the persecution, they beat with stripes on the back so cruelly, that he appeared to be dead before they came to an end. In which condition he was cast aside, and hardly after some hours, being carefully attended and fanned, he revived, God granting him his life; but a short time after he died of the sufferings caused by the stripes, and attained in Christ to the glory of a second martyrdom. And besides these, how many monks were scourged, while Gregory sat by with Balacius the Duke! how many Bishops were wounded! how many virgins were beaten!

§. 13.

5. After this the wretched Gregory called upon all men to have communion with him [Note 15]; but if thou didst demand of them communion, they were not worthy of stripes: and if thou did scourge them as if evil persons, why didst thou ask it of them as if holy? But he had no other end in view, except to fulfil the designs of them that sent him, and to establish the heresy. Wherefore he became in his folly a murderer and an executioner [Note 16], injurious, crafty, and profane; in one word, an enemy of Christ. He so cruelly persecuted the Bishop's aunt, that even when she died he would not suffer her to be buried [Note 17]. And this would have been her lot; she would have been cast away without burial, had not they who attended on the corpse carried her out as one of their own kindred. Thus even in such things he shewed his profane temper. And again when the widows and other mendicants [Note A] had received alms, he commanded what had been given them to be seized, and the vessels in which they carried their oil and wine to be broken, that he might not only show impiety by robbery, but in his deeds dishonour the Lord; from whom very shortly [Note B] he will hear those words, Inasmuch as thou hast dishonoured these, thou hast dishonoured Me [vid. Mat. xxv. 45.]. {229}

6. And many other things he did, which exceed the power of language to describe, and which whoever should hear would think to be incredible. And the reason why he acted thus was, because he had not received his ordination according to ecclesiastical rule, nor had been called to be a Bishop by apostolical tradition [Note C]; but had been sent out from court with military power and pomp, as one entrusted with a secular government. Wherefore he boasted rather to be the friend of Governors, than of Bishops and Monks. Whenever therefore Father Antony wrote to him from the mountains, as godliness is an abomination to a sinner, so he abhorred the letters of the Saint. But whenever the Emperor, or a General, or other magistrate, sent him a letter, he was as much overjoyed as those in the Proverbs, of whom the Word has said indignantly, Woe unto them who leave the paths of uprightness; who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked [Prov. ii. 13, 14. Sept.]. And so he honoured with presents the bearers of these letters; but once when Antony wrote to him he caused Duke Balacius to spit upon the letter, and to cast it from him. But Divine Justice did not overlook this; for no long time after, when the Duke was on horseback, and on his way to the first halt [Note D], the horse turned his head, and biting him on the thigh, threw him off; and after three days he died.

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Notes

A. [anexodon], vid. infr. §. 60. Tillemont translates it, prisoners. Montfaucon has been here followed; vid. Collect. Nov. t. 2. p. xliii.
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B. [hoson oudepo], vid. p. 245, r. 4. George was pulled to pieces by the populace, A.D. 362. This was written A.D. 358, or later.
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C. He had neither apostolical calling, nor canonical ordination, for he was a layman, nominated to his see by the Emperor, and that, when there was a lawful occupant, and consecrated by heretics. "Tradition" and "Canon" seem used nearly as synonymous. p. 249, r. 6.
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D. [monen]. vid. supr. p. 50, note H. This halt or station which lay up the Nile was called Cereu, (Athan. V. Ant. §. 86.) or Chæreus, or the land or property of Chæreus, vid. Naz. Orat. 21, 29. who says it was the place where the people met Athanasius on his return from exile on Constantius's death.
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