CONTENTS ΟF BOOK VII

The Seventh Book of the Ecclesiastical History contains the follorving:

Ι. Οn the evil disposition of Deeius and Gallus.

ΙΙ. The bishops of Rome in their day.

III. How Cyprian, along with the bishops on hls side, Was the rirst to hold the opinion that those who were turning from heretical error ought to be cleansed by baptism.

ΙV. How many letterS DionySius composed on this subject.

V. Οn the peace after the persecution.

VI. Οn the heresy of Sabellius.

VII. Οn the abominable error of the heretics and the God-sent vision of Dionysius, and the rule of the Church which he had reeeiVed.

VIII. Οn the heterodoxy of Novatus.

IX. Οn the ungodly baptism of the hereties.

X. On Valerian and the persecution in his day.

XI. On the things that then happened to DiOnySiuS and those in Egypt.

XII. On those who were martyred at Caesarea in Palestine.

XIII. On the peaee under Gallienus.

XIV. The bishops who flourished at that time.

XV. Ηow Marinus was martyred at Caesarea.

XVI. The story of Astyrius.

XVII. On the signs at Paneas of the mighty working of our saviour.

XVIII. Οn the throne of James.

XIX. On the festal letterS of DionySiuS, where also he draws up a eanon conerning the Pascha.

XX. On the happeningS at Alexandria.

XXI. Οn the disease that visited it.

XXII. Οn the reign of Gallienus.

XXIII. Οn Nepos and his schism.

XXIV. On the Apocalypse of John.

XXV. Οn the letters of Dionysius.

XXVI. On Paul of samoSata and the heresy put together by him at Antioch. XXVII. On the illustrious bishops who were well known at that time. Ηow Ρaul was refuted and excommunh cated. on the perverse heterodoxy of the Manicheans, which began precisely at time.

XXX. On the distinguished churchmen of our own day, and which of them remained until the attaek upon the churches. 1

BOOK VII

In the composition of the seventh book of Ecclesiastical History Dionysius, the great bishop of the Alexandrians, 1 will again assist us in our task by his own words, indicating in turn eaeh of the things that were done in his day, by means of the letters he has lert behind. From that point of time my record will take its beginning.

Ι. when Deeius had reigned for an entire period of less than two years, he was forthwith murdered along with his sons, and Gallus sueeeeded him. 2 Αt this time 3 Origen died, having completed the year save one of his life. Νow when writing to Hermammon, Dionysius speaks as follows, with reference to Gallus: “But not even did Gallus recognize the fault [in the policy] of Decius, nor yet ffid he look to that which caused his fall, but he stumbled against the same stone that was before his eyes. For when his reign was prospering, and matters were moing accorffing to his mind, he drove away the holy men who were supplicating God for his peaee and health. Therefore along with them he banished -ho their prayers on his behalf.”

ΙΙ. so much, then, concerning him. But in the city of the Romans, when Cornelius brought his ² episeopate to an end after about three years, Lucius was appointed his suecessor ; but he exercised his ministry for less than eight entire months, and dying transmitted ffihls offiee to stephen. To him Dionysius inffited the Rrst of his letters On Baptism, no small question harivlng then arisen as to whether it Were neeessary to eleanse by means of baptism those who were turning from any heresy whatsoever. Α euStom, which was at any rate old, having prevailed in such cases to use only prayer with the laying οn of hands,

III. Cyprian, pastor of the community at Carthage, was the Rrst of thoSe of his day to consider that they οught not to be admitted otherwise than by having been first eleansed from their error by baptism. But stephen, thinking that they ought not to make any innovation contrary to the traffition that had prevailed from the beginning, was full of indignation thereat.

Iv. Dionysius, therefore, haring communi- cated with him on this point at very great length in a letter, at its close shows that with the abatement οf the persecution the churches everywhere, having now rejected the innovation of Novatus, had resumed peace among themselves. Ηe writes thus:

V. “ But know now, brother, that all the ehurches in the East and still further away, which were fonnerly divided, have been united, and all their presidents eveqwhere are of like mind, rejoicing above measure at the unexpeeted arrival of peaee: Demetrian at Αntiοch, Theoctistus at Caesarea, Mazabanes at Aelia, marinus at Tyre (Alexander having fallen asleep), Heliodorus at Laodicea (for Thelymidres has entered into his rest), Helenus at TarSus and all the churches of Cilicia, Firmilian and all Cappadocia. For I name only the more eminent dishops, to avoid making my letter long and my discourse teffious. Νevertheless, the syrias as a whole and Αrabia, which ye constantly help and to which ye have now written, and Mesopotamia and Ρontus and and, in a everywhere all everywhere rejoice exceedingly their concord and brotherly love, giving glory to God.”

such is the aceount of Dionysius. But when stephen had fulRlled his ministry for two years, he was succeeded by Xystus. To him Dionysius penned a second letter on Baptism, showing the opinion and decision both of stephen and of the οther bishops. About stephen he speaks thus: ‘‘Νow he had written fonnerly with reference both to Ηelenus and Firmilian and all those from Cilicia and Cappadocia and, in fact, Galatia and all the prorinees that border on these, to the eKect that he would not hold communion in future with them either, for this same reason; since, says he, they rebaptize heretics. Αnd look thou at the importance of the matter. For deerees on this question have been actually passed in the largest synods of bishops, as 1 learn, so that those who come over from heresies are nrst placed under instruction, then washed and purged again from the ffith of the old and impure leaven. Αnd I wote beseeching him οn all these matters.”

Αnd, after other remarks, he says: “Αnd to οur beloved fellow-presbyters aho, Dionysius and Philemon, who had formerly been of the same opinion as stephen and mote [some letters] to me about the same matters, at Rrst I wrote briefly, but now at greater length.”

so much with regard to the question of which
am speaking.

vI. But when inffidlcating in the same letter, with reference to the followers of the Sabellian heresy,1 that they were prevalent in his day, he speaks thus: “For as to the doetrine now set on foot at Ρtοlemais in the Pentapolis, an impious doctrine which contains great blasphemy concerning the Almighty ood, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and great unbelief as to Ηis only-begotten Son, the firstborn of all creation, the word who was made man, and whieh is without pereeption of the Ηοly Spirit, — when there eame to me nom both both both documents and also the brethren who were ready to discuss the question, I wrote some letters, as 1 was able by the help of God, giving an exposition of the marter in a somewhat didactic manner; οf which
scnd thee the copies.”

VII. Αnd in the third οf those on Baptism, which the same Dionysius wrote to Philemon the Roman presbyter, he relates the following: “But as for me, 1 read both the compositions and the traditions ofthe heretics, polluting my soul for a little with their abominable thoughts, yet all the while deriving this advantage from them, that I could refute them for myself and loathed them far more. Αnd indeed a certain brother, one of the presbyters, attempted to dissuade and frighten me from becoming involved in the mire of their wickedness, for he said that I should injure my own soul; and said truly, as Ι perceived. nut a vision sent by ood came and strengthened me, and a word of command was given me, saying expressly: ‘Read all things that may come to thy ³ hand. For thou art able to sift and prove matter; Which thing Was originally the cause of thy ’ I accepted the vision, as agreeing with the apostolic saying addressed to the stronger: ‘Show yourselves approved money-changers.’ ’’

Then, making certain renlarks about all the heresies, he goe On tO say: “This rule and pattern I reeeiVed from our blessed pope 2 Ηeraclas. For those Who came over frOm the hereries, although they had departed from the Church (Or rather, had not eVen done that, but, while srill reputed members Of the congregation, were charged with frequenting some false teacher), he drOve rrom the Church, and refused to listen to their entreaties until they pubhely declared all that they had heard frOm them that oppose themselves.’ and then he admitted them to the congregation, without requiring of them a second baptism. For they had fOrmerly receiVed the holy [baptism] from him.’’

Αnd again, after a protracted discussiOn of the question, he adds as follows: “I have learnt this also, that the Africans did nOt intrOduee this practice noW for the rlrst time, but that long befOre, in the days of the bishops that were before us, in the most populous churches and the synods of the brethren, in Iconium and Synnada and in many places, this eOurse was adOpted. Αnd Ι do not dare to overturn their deeirions and involve them in strife and comtention. ‘ For ‘For thou shalt not remove,’ he says, neighbour’s landmarks, which thy fathers placed.’

The fourth of hls letters on baptism was written to ⁴ Dionysius of Rome, who at that time had been deemed worthy of the presbyterate, but not long afterwards received also the episcopate there. from it one may learn how that he too had witness paid him by Dionysius Alexandria for his learning and admirable qualities. In the course of his letter to him he mentions the affair of Novatus in the following terms:

VIII. “For it is with good reason indeed that we feel enmity towards Novatian, who caused a in the church and drew away some of the brethren to impieues and blasphemies, and introduced as well most profane teaching about God, and falsely accouses our most compassionate Lord Jesus Christ of being without mercy; and above all this, he sets at naught the holy washing, and overturns the faith and confession that precede it, and entirely banishes the Ηoly sprit from them, even though there was some hope οf Ηis remaining with or even returning to them.”

IX. Αnd his fifth letter was written to Xystus, bishop of the Romans. In it, speaking much against the heretics, he sets forth the following thing that happened in his day, saying: “of a truth, brother, I have need of counsel, and ask an opinion of thee. The following matter has come before me, and 1 am fearful lest after all I be mistaken. of the brethren who meet together for worship there is one, reckoned faithful, of long stanffing, a member of the congregation before my ordination, and, I think, before the appointment of the blessed Heraclas. Having been present with those who were recently being baptized, and having heard the questions and answers, he came to me in tears, bewailing himself and falling before my feet; confessing and swearing that the baptism with which he had been baptized by the heretics, was not such as this and had nothing in common with it inasmuch as it had been full οf impieties and blasphemies. Ηe said that he was now altogether pricked in heart and had not courage so much as to lift up his eyes to God, after beginning with those unholy words and deeds; and therefore he begged that he night receive this most pure cleansing and reception and grace. This I for my part did not dare to do, saying that his long-standing communion with us had been sufficient for this purpose. For since he had heard the Thanksgiving and joined in saying the Αmen, and stood beside the Table and stretched forth his hands to receive the holy food, and had reeeived it and partaken of the Body and Blood of οur Lord ror a long time, I should not dare to build him up again from the beginning. But I kept exhorting him to be ofgood courage, and to approach for the participation οf the holy things with firm faith and good hope. nut he never ceases his lament, and shudders to approach the Table, and searcely, though invited, does he dare to take his stand with the consistentes at the prayers.1”

In addition to the above-mentioned letters, there is extant also another of his On Baptism, addressed by him and the community over which he ruled to Xystus and the church at Rome, in which with a long proof he gives a protracted discussion of the the subject in question. Αnd, after these, there is yet another letter of his extant, to Dionysius at Rome, that with reference to Lucian. so much for these matters.

X. But to resume. Gallus and his associates held ⁵ the principate for less than two entire years, and then were removed out of the way; and Valerian along with his son Gallienus succeeded to the government. Once more we may learn from his letter to Hermammon the description that Dionysius gives of him also; in Which he gives an account of the following kind: “Αnd to John also it is likewise revealed: ‘Αnd there was given to him,᾿ says he, ‘a speaking great things and blasphemy, and there was given to him authority and forty and two months.᾿ Οne may wonder at both of these things 2 under Valerian, and of them note espeeially the nature of his previous conduct, 3 how mild and friendly he was to the men of God. For not a single one of the emperors before him was so kindly and favourably disposed towards them, not even those who said to have been openly Christians, as he manifestly was, when he received them at the beginning in the most intimate and friendly manner; indeed all his house had been ffiled with godly persons, and was a church of God. But the master and ruler of the synagogue of the Egyptian magicians 4 persuaded him to get rid of them, bidding him slay and pursue the pure and holy men, as being rivals and dinderers of his abominable and disgusting incantations (for indeed they are and were capable by their presence and sight, and by merely breathing on them and uttering words, of the derigns of the baneful demons). Αnd he advised him to perform unhallowed rites, and abominable juggleries and illwhich ^{6 7} οmened sacrifices, such as cutting the throats of wretched boys and sacrificing children of hapless parents and opening up the entrails of new-born babes, and cutting up and mincing the handywork as if all this would bring them divine favour.”

And in addition he goes on to say: “Goodly at all events were the thank-offerings that Macrianus made to them for the Empire of his hopes. 1 Formerly when he was regarded as minister over the imperial accounts as a whole, he displayed neither a reasenable nor a catholic mind. But he has fallen under the prophetic curse which says: ‘Woe unto them that prophesy from their heart, and see not the whole.᾿ For he did not understand the universal nor did he suspeet the judgement of Him who is before all and through all and over all. Therefore he has come to be at enmity with His Catholic Church, and so alienated and estranged himself from God's mercy and banished himself as far as possible from his own salvations, in this proving true his name.”

Αnd again, after Other remarks, he says: “For Valerian, being induced by him to this course of aetion, Was given over to insults and reproaches, according to that which was said to Isaiah: “Αnd these have Chosen their own ways and abominations, in which their soul delighteth, and I will their mockings, and their sins I will recompense them.᾿ now this man,3 in his mad desire for ⁸ imperial rule of Which he was not worthy, and unable to deck his maimed body With the imperial robes, put forward his two sons, who thus received their father's sins. For in them was clearly fulfilled the prophecy that God spake: ῾Visiting the rins of fathers upon children, until the third and fourth generation in them that hate me.᾿ For his own evil desires, in vhieh he failed, he heaped upon the heads of his sons, and so wiped off on them his own wickedness and his hatred toward God."

This is the account given by dionysius concerning valerian.

XI. But With regard to the storm of persecution that raged fiercely in his day, What the same Dionysius, and others with him, underwent for their piety toward the God of the universe will be made plain by his own words which he wrote at length against Germanus, one of the bishops of his day who was attempting to defame him. Ηe makes his statement in the following manner: “But Ι am in danger of falling, in truth, into great foolishness and stupidity, being foreed to the point of compulsion to recount the wonderful dispensation of God concerning us. But since ῾it is good,᾿ he says, ῾to keep close the secret of a king, but glorious to reveal the works of God,᾿ God,῾ I will join issue with the Germanus. I came before Aemilianus,1 not alone, but there followed me my fellow-presbyter maximus, and Faurtus, Εusebius, Chaeremon, deacons; and one of the brethren who had come from Rome entered in along with us. And Aemilianus did not lead off with the words ῾Do not hold essemblies.' For that would have been superfluous for him to say, and the last thing [to be mentioned] by one who was going back to the very beginning. For his discourse was not about not assembling others, but about not being Christians ourselves, and from that he ordered me to desist, thinking that if I were to change, the οthers also would follow me. But I gave a reply that was not inappropriate, nor far from ῾We must obey God rather than men’; yea, I testffied outright that I worship the only God and none other, nor would
change or ever cease to be a Christian. Thereupon he bade us depart to a village near the desert, Cephro.

“But hear the things themselves that were spoken ὢ both sides, as they were placed on record: When Dionysius and Faustus and Maximus and Marcellus and chaeremon were brought into eourt, Aemilianus, the deputy-prefect, said, ‘ . . . Αnd verbally I discoursed with you concerning the kindness that our lords 1 have displayed on your behalf. For they gave you the opportunity of safety if ye were willing to turn to that which is according to nature and worship the gods which preserve their Εmpire, and forget those gods which are contrary to nature. What, therefore, say ye to these things? For I do not expect that ye will be ungrateful for their kindess, forasmuch as they urge you on to the better urse.'

“Dionysius replied : ‘Νot all men Worship all ods, but each one certain whom he regards as such. therefore both worship and adore the οne God and aker of all things, who also committed the Εmpire the Augusti, most highly favoured of God, Valerian d Gallienus; and to Ηim we unceasingly pray for their Empire, that it may remain unshaken.

“Aemilianus, the deputy-prefect, said to them: ῾ Αnd who prevents you from worshipping this also, if he be a god, along with the natural gods? For ye were bidden to worship gods, and gods whom all know.'

“Dionysius replied: ‘We worship no other God.'

“Aemilianus, the deputy-prefect, said to them: ‘ I see that ye are at onee ungrateful and insensible of the clemency οf οur Αugusti. Wherefore ye shall not be in this city, but ye shall betake yourselves to the parts of Libya and [remain] in a place ealled Cephro. For this is the place 1 chose in accordance with the command οf our Augusti. Αnd it shall in no wise be permitted either to you or to any others either to hold assemblies or to enter the cemeteries, 1 as they are called. If anyone be proved not to have gone to the place that I commanded, or be found at any assembly, he will bring the peril upon himself, for there shall be no laek οf the necessary observation. Be gone therefore whither ye were bidden.'

“Αnd even though I was sick, he hurried me away without granting me a single ’s respite. What spare time had I then remaining either for holding οr not holding an assembly?’’

Then after other remarks he says:“ But we did not abstain from even the visible assembling of ourselves with the Lord; nay, 1 strove the more earnestly to gather together those in the city, as if Ι were with them, ‘being abSent in body,' as he 2 said, ‘but present in spirit,᾿ and at Cephro a large churck also sojourned with us, some brethren following us from the city, οthers joining us from Egypt. And ¹⁰ ere God οpened unto us a door for the word. Αnd t first we were pursued, we were stoned, but afterards not a few of the heathen left their idols and urned to God. nen for the nrst time was the word wn through our ageney among those who had not formerly received it. It was, as it were, for this that God took us away to them, and, when we had fulffiled this ministratio, took us away again.

‘‘For Aemilianus wished to remove us to rougher, as he thought, and more Libyan-like places, and he ade those [who were seattered] in every direction to stream together to the Mareotian [nome], assigning mparate rillages in the district for each party; but us he posted more on the road, so that we should be he first to be arrested. For he eridently was managing and arranging it, that, whenever he wished to eize us, he might find us all easy of capture. Αs οr me, when I had been bidden to depart to Cephro, did not even know in what direction the place lay, carcely haring heard so much as the name before; evertheless I departed with a good grace and made o disturbance. But when it was told me that I was remove to the parts of Colluthion, those who were resent know how I was affected (for here I shall be own aecuser): at nffirs 1 was vexed and exceedly angry; for although the places happened to better known and more familiar to us, yet it was rmed that the district was without brethren or ersons of good character, and exposed besides to oyances of travellers and incursions of robbers. ut I found encouragement when the brethren reinded me that it was nearer the city,1 and that, hile Cephro used to bring us much intercourse with ¹¹ brethren from Εgypt, so that there was a wider arca from which to gather a congregation, yet there, from the nearer position of the city, we should enjoy seeing more constantly those really beloved and most intimate and dear. They would come, they said, and stay the night, and, as in the more remote suburban districts, there would be sectional assemblies. And so it proved.”

Αnd, after other remarks with referenee to hat happened to him, he writes again as follows: “Μany, to be sure, are the confessions on which Germanus prides himself, many the happenings to his hurt of which he has to tell—even all the things that he make a list of as regards us: sentenees, confiscations, proscriptions, spoiling of possessions, losses of dignities, despisings of worldly glory, disdainings of commendations and the reverse from prefect and council, endurance of threats, outcries, perils, persecutions, wanderings, anguish and divers tribulations, such as happened to me under Deeius and sabinus, up to the present time under Aemilianus. But Where did Germanus appear? What talk was there about him? But Ι must cease from the great folly into which Ι am falling on account of Germanus; wherefore also I forbear to give in detail to the brethren who know them an account of the events."

The same Dionysius, in the letter also to Domitius and Didymus, mentions again the happenings of the persecution, aS follows: : “ But it is superfluous to recount by name our people, since they are numerous and unknown to you. Οnly understand that men and women, both οld men and lads, both girls and aged women, both soldiers and civilians, both every race and every age, some enduring scourgings and fire, οthers the sword, conquered in the fight and have received their crowns. But in the case οf some, a very long time was not sufficient to show them acceptable to the Lord, as indeed it is still seemingly not sufficient in my case; wherefore I have been put off, until that suitable time that Ηe knows, by Him that saith: ῾At an acceptable time I unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succour thee.' For since ye make inquiries as to our affairs and desire to be told how we pass our time, ye have heard οf course how that when we were being led away prisoners by a centurion and duumvirs with their soldiers and servants—I and Gaius and Faustus and Ρeter and Paul—certain of the nome of Marea up, dragged us by force and carried us away, will and in the face of our refusal to follow them. And now I and Gaius and Ρeter only, bereft οf the other brethren, have been shut up in a lonely, parehed spot in Libya, a three-days journey from Paraetonium."

Αnd a little further down he says: “But in the city there have concealed themselves, secretly visiting e brethren, of the presbyters Maximus, Dioscorus, emetrius, Lucius. For those who are better known the world, Faustinus and Aquila, are wandering bout in Εgypt. Αs to the deacons, they who surived those that died in the island are Faustus, usebius, chaeremon: that Εusebius, whom from beginning God strengthened and prepared to nder with all energy the services to the confessors at were in prison, and at no small risk to perform e task of laying out the corpses οf the blessed and erfect martyrs. For even to this day the prefect not cease from putting to a cruel death, as I have id before of those who are brought before him, while others he mutilates with tortures, or allows to pine away in imprisonment and chains, giving his οrders that no one is to go near them, and investigating whether any has been found so doing; nevertheless God gives some respite to those who are sorely pressed, through the zeal and steadfastness of the brethren.”

Such is the aceount given by Dionysius. It should be observed, however, that Εusebius, whom he calls a deacon, shortly afterwards was appointed bishop of Laodicea in syria; and Maximus, of whom he speaks 38 a presbyter then, succeeded Dionysius himself in his ministry to the brethren in Alexandria; but that Faustus, who along with him was distinguished at that time for his confession, was preserved until the perseeution in our day, and, when quite an old man and full οf days, was perfeeted by martyrdom in our οwn time, being beheaded.

XII. so it happened to Dionysius at that time. But during the perseeution of Valerian, of whieh we are speaking, three persons at Caesarea in Palestine, conspicuous for their confession of Christ, were adorned with a divine martyrdom, becoming food for wild beasts. of these οne was called Priscus, the second Malchus, and the name of the third was Alexander. It is said that these men, who were living in the country, at first reproached themselves for their carelessness and sloth, because instead of hastening to secure the crown of martyrdom, they were proving contemptuous of prizes, though the present opportunity was bestowing them upon sueh as yearned with a heavenly desire. But that when they had taken counsel thereon, they started for caesarea, appeared before the judge and met the above-mentioned end. Moreover they relate besides these, a certain woman during the same persecution and in the same city endured to the end a like conflict. But it is recorded that She belonged to the seet of Μarcion.

XIII. But not long afterwards Valerian underwent slavery at the hands of the barbarians,1 and his succeeding to the sole power,2 conducted the government with more prudence, and immediately by means of edicts put an end to the persecution against us. Ηe granted free power to those who preSided over the word to perform their accustomed duties, by a rescript which runs as follows: “The Emperor Caesar Publius Licinius Gallienus Ρius Felix Augustus to Dionysius and Ρinnas and Demetrius and the other bishops. I have given my order that the benent of my bounty should be published throughout all the world, to the intent that they should depart from the places οf worship,3 and therefore ye also may use ordinance contained in my rescript, so that none may molest you. Αnd this thing which it is within your power to accomplish has long since been conceded by me; and therefore Aurelius Quirinius, who is in charge of the Εxchequer, will observe the ordinance given by me.”

Let this, which for the sake of greater clearness was translated from the Latin, be inserted. Αnd there is also extant another of the same emperor’s ordinances, which he addressed to other bishops, ^{12 13} giving them permission to recover the sites οf the cemeteries, as they are called.

XIV. Αt that time Xystus was still ruling the church of the Romans, Demetrian, who came after Fabius, the chureh at Αntioch, and Firmilian at caesarea in Cappadocia; and moreover Gregory and his brother Athenodore were ruling the churches of Ρontus, pupils of origen. Αs to Caesarea in Palestine, on the death of Theoctistus, Domnus succeeded to the episcopate, but after he had continued in office a short time Theotecnus, our contemporary, was appointed to succeed him. Ηe also was of the school of Origen. But at Jerusalem, when Mazabanes had entered into his rest, Ηymenaeus succeeded to the throne, the same who was distinguished for very many years in our day.

XV. In the time of those persons, when the churches everywhere were at peace, a man at caesarea in Ρalestine called Μarinus, honoured by high rank in the army and distinguished besides by birth and wealth, was beheaded for his testimony to christ, on the following account. There is a certain mark of honour among the Romans, the vine-switch, and those that obtain it become, it is said, centurions. Α post was vacant, and according to the order of promotion Marinus was being called to this advancement. Indeed he was on the point of receiving the honour, when another stepped forward before the tribunal, and stated that in accordance with the ancient laws Marinus could not share in the rank that belonged to Romans, since he was a Christian and did not sacrifice to the emperors; but that the οffice fell to himself. Αnd [it is said] that the (his name was Αchaeus) was moved thereat, and first of all asked what views Marinus held; and then, When he saw that he was stedfast in confessing himeself a Christian, gave him a space of three hours for consideration.

When he came outside the court Theotecnus, the bishop there, approaehed and drew him aside in conversation, and taking him by the hand led him forward to the church. Οnce inside, he placed him close to the altar 1 itself, and rairing his cloak a little, pointed to the sword with which he was girded; at the same time he brought and placed before him the book of the divine Gospels, and bade him choose which of the two he wished.

Without hesitation he stretched forth his right hand and took the divine book. “Ηold fast then,” said Theotecnus to him, “hold fast to God; and, strengthened by Him, mayest thou obtain that thou hast chosen. Go in peace.” As he was thence immediately a herald cried aloud, summoning him before the court of justice. For the appointed time was now over Standing before the judge he displayed still greater zeal for the faith; and straightway, even as he was, was led away to death, and so was perfected.

XVI. In that place Astyrius also is commemorated for the boldness whieh is dear to God. Ηe was a member of the Roman Senate, a favourite of emperors, and well known to all both for birth and wealth. Ηe was present with the martyr when he was being perfected, and raising the corpse2 upon his shoulder he placed it upon a splendid and costly robe, and laying it out with great magnificence gave it a fitting burial.

Α great many other facts are mentioned about this man by his friends, who have survived to οur day, and also the following wonderful event.

XVII. Αt caesarea Philippit, which Phoenicians call Paneas, is said that on a certain festival a victim is thrown down among the springs that are shown there, on the slopes of the mountain called Paneion, from which the Jordan takes its source; and that it becomes invisible in some miraculous way through the power, a circumstance, they say, that is looked upon by those present as a far-famed marvel. Νow story goes] that once Astyrius was there when this was being done, and when he saw the multitude stuck with amazement at the affair, in pity for their error he looked up toward heaven and besought God who is over all, through Christ, to confound the demon who was causing the people to err, and put an end to the deception of these men. Αnd it is said that, when he had thus prayed, of a sudden the sacrifice floated on the surface οf the springs; and thus their miracle came to an end, and no further marvel ever took place in connexion with that spot.

XVIII. But since I have come to mention this city. I do not think it right to omit a story that is worthy to be recorded also for those that come after us. For they say that she who had an issue of blood, and who, as we leam from the sacred Gospels, found at the hands of our Sariour relief from her affliction, came from this place, and that her house was pointed out in the city, and that marvellous memorials of the good deed, which the Saviour wrought upon her, still remained. For [they said] that there stood on a lofty stone at the gates of her house a brazen figure in relief a woman, bending on her knee and stretching forth her hands like a suppliant, while opposite to this there was another of the same material, an upright figure of a man, clothed in comely fashion in a double cloak and stretching out his hand to the woman; at his feet on the monument itself a strange species of herb was growing, which climbed up to the border of the double cloak of brass, and acted as an antidote to all kinds of diseases. This statue, they said, bore the likeness οf Jesus. Αnd it was in existence even to our day, so that we saw it with our own eyes when we stayed in the city. Αnd there is nothing wonderful in the fact that those heathen, who long ago had good deeds done to them by our saviour, should have made these objects, since we saw the likenesses of Ηis apostles also, of Ρaul and Ρeter, and indeed of Christ Himself, preserved in pictures painted in colours. Αnd this is what we should expect, for the ancients were wont, according to their pagan habit, to honour them as saviours, without reservation, in this fashion.

XIX. Νow the throne of James, who was the first to receive from the Saviour and the apostles the episcopate of the church at Jerusalem, who also, as the divine books show, was called a brother of Christ, has been preserved to this day; and by the honour that the brethren in suecession there pay to it, they show cleariy to all the reverenee in whieh the holy men were and still are held by the men οf old time and those of our day, because of the love shown them by God. so much for these matters.

XX. But to resume. Dionysius, in addition to the letters of his that were mentioned, composed at that time also the festal letters which are still extant, in which he gives utterance to words specially suited to a solemn occasion with reference to the festival of the Ρascha. Of these he addressed one to Flavius, another to Domitius and Didymus in which also he sets forth a canon based on a cycle of eight years, proving that it is not proper to celebrate the festival of the Ρascha at any other time than after the vernal equinox. In addition to these he penned also another letter to his fellow-presbyters at Αlexandria, and others at the same time in different places. Αnd these [he wrote] while the persecution was still proceeding.

XXI. Ρeace had all but arrived, when he returned to Αlexandria. But when faction and war broke out there once more, since it was not possible for him to discharge his oversight over all the brethren in the city, separated as they were into one or other part οf the faction, he again at the festival of the Ρaseha communicated with them by letter, as if he were someone in a foreign country, from Alexandria itself. Αnd to Ηierax, after this, a bishop of those in Εgypt he writes another festal letter, mentioning in the following terms the faction prevailing among the Αlexandrians in his day:

“But as for me, what wonder is it if I find it difficult to communicate even by letter with those who at some distance, seeing that it has become impossible even for myself to coverse with myself, or to take counsel with my own soul? Certainly, I have need to write by letter to my very heart, that is, the brethren that are of the same household and mind with me, and citizens of the same church; and there seems no possible way of getting this correspondence through. For it were easier for a man to pass, I do not say to a foreign country, but even from East to West, than to traverse Alexandria from Αlexandria itself. For the street that runs through the very centre οf the city is harder to traverse and more impassable than that great and trackless desert through whieh Israel journeyed for two generations. Αnd our calm and waveless harbours have become an image of the sea, which, split up and made into a wall on either side, they had for a carriage road, and in the highway1 the Egyptians were drowned; and from the murders that take place in them they oftentimes appeared like a Red Sea. Αnd the river that flows on past the city at one time appeared drier than the waterless desert, and more arid than that in whose crossing Israel so thirsted that Moses cried out, and there flowed to them, from Ηim who alone doeth wonders, drink out of the rock of flint. Αt another time it overflowed to such an extent that it submerged the whole neighbourhood, both the roads and the fields, threatening to bring upon us the rush of waters that took place in the days of Νoah. Αnd always its course is defiled with blood and murders and drownings, such as it beeame for Pharaoh by the hand οf Moses, when it was turned to blood and stank. Αnd What οther water could there be to cleanse the water that cleanses all things? Ηow could the great ocean that men cannot pass, if it were poured upon it, purge this horrid sea? Or how could the great river that goeth out of Εden, if it were to divert the four heads, into which it is parted, into one, the Gihon, wash away the gore? Or when might the air, made foul by the vile exhalations on all sides, become pure? For such are the vapours that are given off from the land, winds from the sea, breezes ¹⁵ from the rivers and mists from the harbours, that the dews are discharges from corpses rotting in all their constituent elements. Yet men marvel and are at a loss as to wheuce come the constant plagues,1 whence the grievous diseases, whence the various forms of death, whence the manifold and great human mortality, why this greatest of cities no longer contains within it so great a multitude of inhabitants, from infant children up to those extremely advanced in years, as it used formerly to support of those known as men οf green old age! Νay, those of forty years old and up to seventy were then so numerous, that the full total of their number is not to be reached now, when those from fourteen to eighty years have been registered and reckoned together for the public foodration2 ; and the youngest in appearance have become of equal age, so to speak, with those who long ago were the oldest.3 Αnd though the human race upon earth is thus ever diminishing and consuming away before their eyes, they do not tremble, as its total disappearance draws nearer and nearer.”

XXII. After this, when the war was followed by a pestilential disease, and the feast was at hand, he communicated once more by letter with the brethren, indicating the sufferings of the calamity, as follows:

‟To other men the present would not seem to be a time for festival, nor for them is this or any οther time of such a nature; I speak not of times of mourning, but even of any time that might be thought especially joyful. Νow indeed all is lamentation, and all men mourn, and wailings resound ^{16 17} throughout the city because of the number of dead and of those that are dying day by day. For as as it is written of the firstborn of the Egyptians, so also it is now: ‘There was a great cry; for there is not a house where there is not one dead’: and would indeed that it were but one !

“For of a truth many and terrible were the things also that happened to us before this. Αt first they drove us out, and alone we kept our festival at that time also, persecuted and put to death by all, and every single sport where we were afflicted became for us a place of festive assembly, field, desert, ship, inn, prison; but the brightest of all festivals was kept by the perfect martyrs, when they feasted in heaven. Αnd, after that, war and famine came upon us, which we bore along with the heathen. Alone we endured all the injuries they inflicted upon us, while we had the benefit besides of what they wrought upon each other and what they suffered: and we found our joy once more in the peace of Christ, which Ηe has given to us alone. But when the briefest breathing-space had been granted us and them, there descended upon us this disease, a thing that is to them more fearful than any other object of fear, more cruel than any calamity whatsoever, and, as one of their own writers declared, ‘the only thing of all that proved worse than what was expected.’ Yet to us it was not so, but, less than the other misfortunes, a source of discipline and testing. For indeed it did not leave us untouched, although it attacked the heathen with great strength.”

Following these remarks he adds as follows: “The most, at all events, of our brethren in their exceeding love and affection for the brotherhood were unsparing οf themselves and clave to one another, visiting the sick without a thought as to the danger, assiduously ministering to them, tending them in Christ, and so most gladly departed this life along with them; being infected with the disease from others, drawing upon themselves the sickness from their neighbours, and willingly taking over their pains. Αnd many, when they had cared for and restored to health οthers, died themselves, thus transferring their death to themselves, and then in very deed making good the popular saying, that always seems to be merely an οf courtesy: for ῾ in departing’ they became ῾their devoted’ 1 In this manner the best at any rate οf our brethren departed this life, certain presbyters and deacons and some of the laity, receiving great commendation, so that this form of death seems in no respect to come behind martyrdom, being the outcome of much piety and strong faith. So, too, the bodies of the saints they would take up in their οpen hands to their bosom, closing their eyes and shutting their mouths, carrying them on their shoulders and laying them οut ; they would cling to them, embrace them, bathe and adorn them with their burial clothes, and after a little receive the same services themselves, for those that were left behind were ever following those that went before. But the conduct of the heathen was the exact opposite. Εven those who were in the first stages of the disease they thrust away, and fled from their dearest. They would even cast them in the roads half-dead, and treat the unburied corpses as vile refuse, in their attempts to avoid the spreading and contagion of the death- ¹⁸ plague; a thing which, for all their devices, it was not easy for them to escape.”

Αnd also after this letter, when peace reigned in the city, he once more sent a festal letter to the brethren in Egypt, and following this he again indited οthers. Αnd there is extant, also, a certain letter of his on the Sabbath, and another on Exercise.

Communicating by a letter again with Ηermammon and the brethren in Εgypt, he recounts in full many other things about the wickedness of Deeius and his successors, and mentions the peace under Gallienus.

XXIII. But there is nothing like hearing the nature of these happenings also.

“He1 then, after inciting one of his emperors and attacking the other, of a sudden disappeared altogether, root and branch with all his family, and Gallienus was proclaimed and acknowledged by all, being at once an old and a new emperor, for he was before and came after them; for in accordance with that which was spoken to the prophet Isaiah: ῾ Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things which shall now spring forth.’ 2 For as a cloud speeds underneath the rays of the sun, and for a short time screens and darkens it, and appears instead of it, but when the cloud passes by or is melted away, the sun that shone before again shines forth and once more appears; so Macrianus, after coming forward and getting for himself access to the imperial power that belonged to Gallienus, is no more, since indeed he never was, while Gallienus is like as he was before; and the monarchy has, as it attempted to dethrone Gallienus (10. 8). Ηe and his son were subsequently defeated in battle and ¹⁹ were, put aside its old age and cleansed itselffrom its former wickedness, and now blossoms forth in fuller bloom, is seen and heard more widely and spreads abroad everywhere.”

Then, following on this, he indicates also the time at which he wrote this, in these words: “Αnd it occurs to me once more to observe the days of the imperial years. For I perceive that those wicked persons, though they were named with honour, after a short time have become nameless; while he, who is holier and filled with more love to God, has Ρassed the period of seven years, and is now completing a ninth year,1 in which let us keep the feast.”

XXIV. Besides all these, the two treatises On Promises were also composed by him. The occasion was supplied him by the teaching of Νepos, a bishop of those in Εgypt, that the promises whieh had been made to the saints in the divine scriptures should be interpreted after a more Jewish fashion, and his assdumption that there will be a kind of millennium on this earth devoted to bodily indulgenee. Thinking for example, to establish his own peculiar opinion from the Apocalypse of John, he composed a certain book on the subject and entitled it Refutation of the Allegorists.2 Dionysius attaeked him in the books On Promises, in the first of which he sets out the view that he himself held with regard to the doctrine, and in the seeond treats of the Apocalypse of John. There, at the beginning, he mentions Νepos, writing as follows about him: “But since they bring forward in his ninth year he was, to use Dionysius's metaphor, “under a cloud.” ²⁰ a certain composition of Νepοs, on which they rely greatly as proving indisputably that the kingdom Christ will be on earth, let me say that in many other respects I approve and love Νepos, for his faith and devotion to work, his diligent study of the Scriptures and his abundant psalmody, by which many of the brethren have till this day been cheered; and I am full οf respeetful regard for the man, all the more for that he has gone to his rest already. But truth is dear and to be honoured above all things,1 and one must give ungrudging praise and assent to whatever is stated rightly, but examine and correct whatever appears to be unsoundly written. Αnd if he were present and putting forward his opinions merely in words, conversation, without writing, would be sufficient, persuading and instructing by question and answer ‘them that oppose themselves.’ But when a book is published, which some think most convicing, and when certain teachers, who consider the law and the prophets of no value and disregard the following of the Gospels and depreciate the epistles of the apostles, yet make promises concerning the teaching οf this treatise as if it were some great and hidden mystery, and do not suffer the simpler of our brethren to have high and noble thoughts, either about the glorious and truly divine appearing οf οur Lord, or οf our resurrection from the dead and our gathering together and being made like unto Ηim, but persuade them to hope for what is petty and mortal and like the present in the kingdom of God — then we also are compelled to argue with Nepos our brother as if he were present.”

Αfter other remarks he adds as follows: ‘‘Νοw ²¹ when I came to the nome of Arsinoë, where, as owest, this doctrine had long been prevalent, so hat schisms and defections of whole churches had place, I called together the presbyters and cachers οf the brethren in the villages (there were resent also such οf the brethren as wished), and I urged them to hold the examinartion of the question publicly. Αnd when they brought me this book as some invincible weapon and rampart, I sat with them and for three successive days from morn till night ttempted to correct what had been written. On at occasion I conceived the greatest admiration for e brethren, their firmness, love of truth, facility in llowing an argument, and intelligence, as we prounded in order and with forbearance the questions, the difficulties raised and the points of agreement; οn the one hand refusing to cling obstinately and at all costs (even though they were manifestly wrong) to opinions once held; and on the other hand not shirking the counter-arguments, but as far as possible attempting to grapple with the question in nd and master them. Νor, if convinced by reason, ere we ashamed to change our opinions and give ur assent; but conscientiously and unfeignedly and ith hearts laid open to God we accepted whatever as established by the proofs and teachings of the οly Scriptures. Αnd in the end the leader and troducer of this teaching, Coracion, as he was lled, in the hearing of all the brethren present, assented, and testified to us that he would no longer ere to it, nor discourse upon it, nor mention nor ach it, since he had been sufficiently convinced by e contrary arguments. Αnd as to the rest of the brethren, some rejoiced at the joint conrerence, and e mutual deference and unanimity which all isplayed. . . .’’

XXV. Then, in due course, lower down he speaks thus, with reference to the Apocalypse of John: “Some indeed of those before our time rejected altogether impugned the book, examining it chapter by chapter and declaring it to be unintelligible and by chapter and declaring it to be unintelligible and illogical, and its title false. For they say that it is not John's, no, nor yet an apocalypse (unveiling), since it is veiled by its heavy, thick curtain of unintelligibility; and that the author of this book was not only not one of the apostles, nor even one of ints or those belonging to the chureh, but Cerinthus, e same who created the seet called “Cerinthian’’ after him, since he desired to affix to his own forgery a name worthy of credit. For that this was the doctrine which he taught, that the kingdom of christ would be οn earth; and he dreamed that it would consist in those things which formed the object of his own desires (for he was a lover of the body and altogether camal), in the full satisfaction of the belly and lower lusts, that is, in feasts and carousals and marriages, and (as a means, he thought, οf procuring d lowerd not lower lusts, that is, in feasts and under a better name) in festivals and sacrinces and slayings of victims.1 But for my part I should not dare to reject the book, since many my brethren hold it in estimatin ; but, reckoning that my perception οt dare to reject the book, since many brethren hold is inadequate to form an opinion concerning it, I hold what the interpretation of each several passage is in some way hidden and more wonderful.2 For even although I do not understand it, yet I suspect that some deeper meaning underlies the words. For I ²² do not measure and judge these things by my own reasoning, but, assigning to faith the greater value, I have come to the conclusion that they are too high for my comprehension, and I do not reject what I have not understood, but I rather wonder that I did not indeed see them.”

Moreover, after closely examining the whole book οf the Apocalypse and demonstrating that it cannot be understood in the literal sense, he adds as follows: “After completing the whole, one might say, of his prophecy, the prophet ealls those blessed who observe it, and indeed himself also; for he says: ῾ Blessed is he that keepeth the words οf the prophecy of this book, and I John, he that saw and heard these things.’ That then, he was certainly named John and that this book is by one John, I will not gainsay; for I fully allow that it is the work of some holy and inspired person. But I should not readily agree that he was the apostle, the son Zebedee, the brother of James, whose are the Gospel entitled According to John and the Catholic Epistle. For I fonn my judgement from the character of each and from the nature of the language and from What is known as the general construction of the book, that the John therein mentioned] is not the same. For the evangelist nowhere adds his name, nor yet proclaims himself, throughout either the Gospel or the Epistle.”

Then lower down he again speaks thus: “ . . . But John nowhere, either in the first or the third person. But he who wrote the Apocalypse at the very beginning puts himself forward: ῾ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he gave him to show unto his servants quickly, and he sent and signified it by his angel his servant John; who bare wrtness of the word of God and his testimony, even of all things that he saw.’ Then he also writes an epistle: ‘John to seven churches which are in Asia; Grace to you and peace.’ But the evagelist did not write his even at the beginning of the Catholic Epistle, but without anything superfluous began with the mystery itself of the divine revelation: ‘That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes.’ It was in respect of this revelation that the Lord called Peter saying: ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my heavenly Father.’ Nay, not even in the second οr third extant epistles of John, although they are short, is John set forth by name; but he has written ‘the elder,’ without giving his name. But this writer did not even eonsider it sufficient, harivlng once mentioned his name, to nanate what follows, but he takes up his name again: ‘I John, your brother and partaker with you in the tribulation and kingdom and in the patience of Jesus, was in the isle that is called Patomos for the word of ood and the testimony οf Jesus.’ Moreover at the close he speaks thus: ‘Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the prophecy οf this book, and I John, he that saw and heard these things.’

“That the writer of these words, therefore, was John, one must beieve, since he says it. But What John, is not clear. For he ffid not say that he was, as is frequently said in the Gospel, the disciple loved by the Lord, nor he whieh leaned back οn Ηis breast, nor the brother οf James, nor the eye-witness and hearer οf the Lord. For he would have mentioned some one of these aforesaid epithets, had he wished to make himself clearly known. Yet he makes use of none of them, but speaks of himself as our brother and partaker with us, and a witness of Jesus, and blessed in seeing and hearing the revelations. I hold that there have been many persons of the same name as John the apostle, who for the love they bore him, and beeause they admired and esteemed him and wished to be loved, as he was, of the Lord, were glad to take also the same name after him; just as Ρaul, and for that matter Peter too, is a common name among boys of believing parents. So then, there is also another John in the Αcts of the Αpostles, whose surname was Mark, whom Bamabas and Ρaul took with themselves, concerning whom also the scripture says again: ‘Αnd they had also John as their attendant.’ But as to whether it were he was the writer, I should say Νο. For it is written that he did not arrive in Αsia along with them, but having set sail, the Scripture says, from Ρaphos Ρaul and his company came to Ρerga in Pamphylia; and John departed from them and retumed to Jerusalem.’ But I think that there was a certain other [John] among those that were in Αsia, sinee it is said both that there were two tombs at Εphesus, and that each of ulc two is said to be ’s.

“Αnd from the conceptions too, and from the tenns and their arrangement, one might naturally assume that this writer was a different person from the other. For there is indeed a mutual agreement between the Gospel and the Εpistle, and they begin alike. The one says: ‘In the beginning was word’; the other: ‘That which was from the begining.' The one says: ‘Αnd the Word became nesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father)’; the other, the same words slightly changed: That which we have heard, that wffihlch we have seen with our eyes, that which we beheld, and our hands handled, concerning the Word of life; and the life was manifested.’ For these words he employs as a prelude, since he is aiming, as he shows in what follom, at those who were asserting that the Lord had not come in the flesh. Therefore he was careful also to add: ‘Αnd that which we have seen, we bear witness, and declare unto you the life, the eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us; that which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you also.’ 1 Ηe is consistent with himself 2 and does depart from what he has proposed, but proceeds throughout under the same heads and expressions, certain of whieh we shall mention eoncisely. But the attentive reader will Rnd frequently in one and the other ‘the’ 3 ‘the light,’ 4 ‘turning darkness’; continually ‘the truth,’ 5 ‘the ‘the foy,’ 7 ‘the 8 and blood 9 of the ‘the judgement,’ 10 ‘the forgiveness of sins,’ 11 ‘the love of God toward us,’ 12 the ‘commandment’ that we should ‘love one anothee,’ 13 that we should ‘keep ah the commanmnents’ 14; the ‘conviction’ of the ²³ world,’ 1 of ‘the devil,’ 2 of ‘the antichriswt’
promise of the Ηoly spirit 4; the adoption of the sons of God 5; the the ‘faith’ 6 that is demanded of us throughout; ‘the Father’ and ‘the Son’7: these are to be found everywhere. In a word, it is obrivlous that those who observe their character throughout will see at a glance that the Gospel and Εpistle have one and the same complexion. But the Apocalypse is utterly different from, and foreign to, these writings; it has no connexion, no affinity, in any way with them; it searcely, so to speak, has even a syllable in common with them. Νay more, neither does the Εpistle (not to speak of the Gospel) contain any mention or thought of the Apocalypse, nor the Apocalypse of the Εpistle, whereas Ρaul in his epistles gave us a little light also on his revelations, which he ffidJd not record separately.

“Αnd further, by means of the style one can estimate the difference between the Gospel and Εpistle and the Αpocalypse. For the former are not only written in faultless Greek, but also show the greatest literary skill in their ffiction, their reasonings, and the constructions in which they are expressed. There is a complete absence of any barbarous word, or soleeism, or any vulgarism whatever. For their author had, as it seemS, both kind of word, by the free gift of the Lord, the word of knowledge and the word of speech. But I will not deny that the other writer had seen revelations and received knowledge and prophecy; nevertheless I observe his style and that his use of the Oreek language is not accurate, but that he employs barbarous idioms, in some places ²⁴ committing downright solecisms. These there is no necessity to single out now. For I have not said these things in mockery (let no one think it), but merely to establish the dissimilarity οf these ”

XXVI. In addition to these letters οf Dionysius there are extant aho many others, as for example those against Sabellius to Αmmon bishop of the church at Bernice, and that to Telesphorus, and that to Euphranor and Αmmon again and Εupοrus. Αnd he composed on the same subject aho four οther treatises, which he addressed to his namesake at Rome, Dionvsius. Αnd we have many letters of his hesides these, and moreover lengthy books written in epistolary form, such as those on Νature, addressed to Timothy his boy, and that on Temptations, which also he defficated to Euphranor. In adffition to these, in writing also to Basilides, bishop of the communities in the Pentapolis, he says that he himself had written an exposition of the beginning of Ecclesiastes; and he has left behind for our beneRt various other letters addressed to this person.

so much for Dionysius. But come now, after recording these things, let us hand down for the infonnation of posterity the character οf our own generation.

XXVII. when Xystus had presided οver the church of the Romans for eleven years,1 he was succeeded by Dionysius, namesake of him of Αlexandria. Αt this time also when Demetrian had departed this life at Αntioch, Ρaul of samosata received the Ρiscopate. Αs this person espoused low and mean riews as to Christ, contraq to the ’s teaching, namely, that Ηe was in His nature ²⁵ an ordinary man, Dionysius of Alexandria was inrited to attend the synod, but, pleaffing as his excuse both old age and boffily weakness, he postponed his coming, and furnished by letter the opinion that he held on the subject in question. But the rest of the pastors of the churches, from various quarters, all hasted to Αntioch, and assembled as against a spoiler of the nock οf christ.

XXVIII. Αmong those who were the mort distinguished were Firmilian, bishop of Caesarea Cappadocia; the brothers Gregory and Athenodore, pastors of the communities in Pontus; and in addition to these, Helenus, [bishop] of community at Tarsus, and Nicomas, of the community at Iconium nor must we omit Hymenaeus, of the church at Jemsalem, and neotecnus, of this neighbouring church of Caesarea; and moreover there was aho, who was ruling with distinction the brethren at Bostra; and one would not be at a loss to reckon up countless others, together with presbyters and deacons, who were gathered together in the abovementioned city for the same cause. But these were the most famous among them. when all, then, were coming together frequently οn different oecasions, argmnents and questions were mooted at each meeting, the samosatene and his party attempting to keep still concealed and to cloak what was heterodox, while the οthers were eamestly engaged in laying bare and bringing into the open his heresy and blasphemy against Christ.

Αt that time Dionysius died in the tweKth year οf the reign οf Gallienus, 1 haring presided in the epis- ²⁶ copate at Alexandria for seventeen years. years. He was succeeded by Maximus.

Gallienus having held the prineipate for fifteen entire years, Claudius was established as his successor. 1

When he had completed his second year, he gac over the gOVernment to Aurelian.

XXIX. Ιn Aurelian's day a final synod of an ofexceedingly large number ofbishops Was assembled, and the leader ofthe heresy at Antioch, being unmasked and now cleariy condemned of heterodoxy by all, was excommunicated from the Catholich Church under heaven. The person foremost in calling him to account and in utterly refuting his attempts at concealment was Malchion, a learned man, who aho was head of a sehool of rhetoric, one of the Greek educational establihments at Antioch; and, moreoVer, for the surpassing sincerity of his faith in Christ he had been deemed worthy of the presbyterate of that community. Ιn faet, this man had stenographers to take notes as he held a disputatiOn with Ρaul, wllich we know to be eXtant even to tbis day; and he, alOne of them all, was able to unmask that erafty and deceitful person.

XXX. The pastors, then, WhO had been assembled together, indited unanimously a ringle letter personally to DiOnysius, bishop of ROme, and Maximus, of Alexandria, and sent it throughOut all the provinces. In it they make manifest to au their zeal, and also the perverse heterodoxy of Ρaul, as well as the arguments and questions that they addressed to him; and moreover they deseribe the man’s whole life and eonduct. From Which, by way οf memOrial, it may ²⁷ be well on the Ρresent oecasion to give an account of these their utteranees.

“To Dionysius and Maximus and to all Our fellowministers throughout the worid, bishops, presbyters and deacons, and to the whole Catholic Chureh under heaven, Helenus and Ηymenaeus and Theophilus Theotecnus and Maximus, Ρroclus, Νicomas and Aelianus and Ρaul and Bolanus and Protogenes and Hierax and Eutychius and Theodore and Μalchion and Lueius and all the otherS who, with us, sojourn in the adjacent cities and provinces, bishops and preSbyters and deaeOns and the ehurcheS of God, aS to brethren beloved in the Lord send greeting.”

Α little further on they proeeed thus: “Αnd we wrote 1 inviting many even of the bishops at a distance to eome and heal this deadly doctrine, as for example, both DionySius at Alexandria and Firmihan of Cappadoeia, those blessed men. The former of these wrote to Antioch, [not to the bishop,] neither deeming the leader of the heresy worthy of being addressed nor writing to him personally, but to the whole community; of which letter also We subjoin a copy. Firmilian, on the other hand, even came twice, and eondemned Paul's new-fangled ideas, as we who were Ρresent know and bear Witness, and many others knoW aS well; but, on his promising to ehange, he adjourned the [proceedings], hoping and believing that the matter would be Bttingly eoncluded ithout any reproach to the Word; for he WaS deeeived by him who both denied his God and Lord, and also did not ²⁸ preserVe the faith that he himself formeriy held. Αnd Firmilian was now again on his way to eross over to Αntioch, and had got as far as Tarsus, for he had had eVerience of the Villainy of this denier of God. But while we had come together and were actually calling him and awaiting his arrival, in the midst of it all he leaehed life's end.”

Αgain, after other remarks they describe the manner of his life, in the fOllowing terms: “But he departed from the canOn [of truth], and has turned aside to spurious and bastard doetrines, we are under no obligation to judge the actions of him that without, not even because, though he vas fOrmerly poor and penniless, neither haVing reeeived a livelihoos from hiS fathers nor having got it from a trade or any oeeupation, he has has come to possess abundant wealth, as a result of lawless deeds and sacrilegious plunderings and extortions exacted from the brethren by threats; for he deprives the injured of their rights, and promises to help them for money, yet breaks his word with these also, and with a light heart makes his harvest out of the readiness of persons engaged in lawsuits to make an offer, for the sake of being rid of those that trouble them; seeing that he considers that godliness is a way of gain. Νeither [do we judge him] beeause he sets his mind on high things and is lifted up, clothing himself with wordly honours and wishing to be ealled ducenarius 1 rather than bishop, and struts in the market-places, 2 reading and dictating letters as he walks in public, and attended by a bodyguard, some preceding, some following, and that too in numbers: with the result ²⁹ that the faith is ill thought of and hated because of his conceit and the overweening pride of his heart. Nor [do we judge] the quackery in church assemblies that he derises, courting popularity and posing for appearance’ sake, and thus astonishing the minds the simpler folk, with the tribunal and lofty throne that he prepared for himself, not beRtting a disciple οf Christ, and the secretum 1 which, in imitation οf the rulers οf the world, he has and so styles. Αlsο, he smites his hand on his thigh and stamps the tribunal with his feet; and those who do not applaud οr wave their handkerchiefs, as in a theatre, or shout οut and jump up in the same way as do the men and mtched women who are his partixans and hearken in this disorderly fashion, but who listen, as in God's house, with orderly and becoming reverence,—these he rebukes and insults. Αnd towards the interpreters οf the word who have departed this life he behaves in an insolent and ill-bred fashion in the common assembly, and brags about himself as though he werc not a bishop but a sophist and charlatan. Αnd as to psalms, he put a stop to those addressed to our Lord Jesus christ, on the ground that they are modem and the compositions of modem men, but he trains women to sing hymns to himseK in the middle of the church οn the great day of the Ρascha, which would make οne shudder to hear. such aho is the kind of discourse that he permits the bishops of the neighbouring country and towns, who fawn upon him, and the presbyters as well, to deliver in their sennons to the people. For he is not willing to ackowledge with us that the son of ood has come down from heaven ³⁰ (to anticipate something οf what we are about to write; and this will not be merely asSerted, but is proved from many passages of the notes that we send, and not least where he says that Jesus Christ is from below 1); while they who sing psalms to him and utter his praises in the congregation say that their impious teacher has come down an angel from heaven. Αnd he does not prevent this, but is even present when sueh things are said, arrogant fellow that he is. Αnd as to the subintroductae, 2 as the Antiochenes call them, his own and those of the presbyters and deacoss in his company, with whom he joins in concealing both this and the other incurable sins (though he knows of, and has convicted, them), that he may have them under obligation to him, and that they may not dare, through fear for themselves, to aecuse him οf his misdemeanours in word and deed; yea, he has even made them rich, for which cause he is the beloved and amnired of those who affect such conduct — why should we write of these things? But we knoW, beloved, that the bishop and the priesthood as a whole Should be a pattem to the people of all good works; and we are not ignorant οf this: how many have fallen through procuring subintroductae for themselVes, while οthers are under suspieion; so that even if it be granted that he does nothing licentious, yet he ought at least to guard against the suspicion that arises from such a practice, lest he cause someone to stumble, and induce οthers also to imitate him. For how could he rebuke another, οr counsel him not to consort any further with a woman and so guard against a slip, as it is written, seeing that he has ³¹ sent οne away already, and has two in his company in the Rower of youth and beauty, and even if he go away anywhere, he brings them around with him, living all the while in luXury and surfeiting? Wherefore, though all groan and lament in private, so fearful have they become of his tyranny and poWer, that they dare not aeeuse him. Vet, as We have said before, 1 οne might call to aecount for these matters a man who has at any rate a catholic mind and is numbered along with us; but as for one Who burlesqued the myStery, and strutted about in the abominable heresy of Artemas 2 (for why should we not bring ourselves to declare his father?)—from such a one we think that we are under no obligation to demand a reckoning for these things.”

Then at the close οf the letter they add as follows:

“We were compelled therefore, aS he opposed himself to God and refused to yield, to excommunicate him, and appoint another bishop in his stead for the Catholic Chureh [choosing] by the providence of God, as we are persuaded, Domnus the son of the blessed Demetrian, who formerly presided with distinction over the same community; he is adorned with all the noble qualities suitable for a bishop, and we notify [this his appointment] unto you that ye may write to him, and from him receive letters of communion. But let this fellow write to Artemas, and let those who side with Αrtemas hold communion with him.”

When Ρaul, then, had fallen from the episcopate as well as from his orthodoxy in the faith, Domnus, as has been said, sueceeded to the ministry of the chureh at Αntioch. But as Ρaul refused on an any account to give up possession οf the church-building, the emperor Aurelian, on being petitioned, gave an extremely just decision regarding the matter, order the assignment οf the building to those with hom the bishops of the doctrine 1 in Italy and Rome should communicate in writting. Thus, then, was the aforesaid man driven with the utmost indignity from the church by the ruler of this world.

such indeed was the disposition οf Aurelian towards us at that time. But as his reign advanced, he changed his mind with regard to us, and was now being moved by certain counsels to stir up persecution against us; and there was great talk about this on all sides. But as he was just οn the point οf so doing and was putting, one might almost say, his signature to the decrees against us, the divine Justice visited him, and pinioned his arms, so to speak, to prevent his undertaking. Thus it was clearly shown for all to see that the rulers of this world would never find it easy to proeeed against the churches of Christ, unless the hand which champions us were to permit this to be done, as a divine and heavenly judgement to chasten and turn us, at whatsoever times it should approve. At all events, when Aurelian had reigned r six years, 2 he was suceeeded by Ρrobus. Ηe held e government for something like the same number οf years, 3 and Carus with his sons Carinus and Numerianus succeeded him; and when they in their turn had remained in office for not three entire years, the government devolved on Diocletian 4 and οn those who were brought in after him; and under them was ³² accomplished the persecution of our day and the estruction οf the churches therein. But a short time before this, Felix succeeded in the ministry Dionysius, bishop of Rome, who had completed nine years.

XXXI. Αt that time also the madman,1 named his devil-possessed heresy, was taking as his armour mental delusion; for the devil, that is Satan himself, the adversary of God, had put the man forward for the destruction of many. Ηis very speech and manners proclaimed him a barbarian in mode of life, and, being by nature devilish and insane, he suited his endeavours thereto and attempted to pose as Christ: at one time giving out that he was the Paraclete and the Ηoly spirit Himself, conceited fool that he was, as well as mad; at another time choosing, as Christ did, twelve disciples as associates in his new-fangled system. In short, he stitched together false and godless doctrines that he had collected from the countless, long-extinct, godless heresies, and infected οur empire with, as it were, a deadly poison that came from the land of the Ρersians; d from him the profane name of Manichaean is still commonly on men's lips to this day. Such, then, was the foundation on which rested this knowledge which is falsely so called, which sprang up at the e we have mentioned.

XXXII. At that time Felix, who had presided over the church οf the Romans for five years, was suceded by Eutychianus. This person did not r even ten entire months; he left the office to aius our contemporary. Αnd when he had presided ³³ abοut fifteen years, Marcellinus was appointed his successor, the same whοm the persecutiοn has overtaken.

In the time of these persons, in suecession to Domnus, Timaeus was in charge of the episeopate of Antioch, whom our contemporary Cyril succeeded. During Cyril's episcopate we came to know Dorotheus, a leamed man, who had been deemed worthy of the presbyterate at Αntioeh. In his zeal for all that is beautiful in divine things, he made so careful a study of the Ηebrew tongue that he read with understanding the original Ηebrew Scriptures. Αnd he was by nο means unacquainted with the most liberal studies and Greek primary education; but withal he was by bature a eunuch, having been so frοm his very birth, so that even the emperοr, accounting this as a sort miracle, tοok him into his friendship and honoured him with the charge of the purple dye-wοrks at Tyre. we heard him giving a measured exposition of the Scriptures in the church.

After Cyril, Tyrannus succeeded to the episcopate the community of the Antiochenes, in whose day the attack upon the churches was at its height.

Αfter socrates as head of the cοmmumunity at Laodicea came Εusebius, being a native of the city οf Alexandria. The reason of his migration was the air of Ρaul. For when he had cοme to Syria οn busniess connected with Ρaul, he was prevented frοm returning home by those whο had divine things at heart. Ηe was a goοdly example of piety amοng our cοntemporaries, as it will be easy to discover from the expressions of Dionysius quoted above.1 Αnatolius was appointed his successor, one good man, as they say, folloning another. Ηe alsο was by race an Alexandrian, who for his learning, secular education d philosophy had attained the first place among our οst illustrious contemporaries; inasmuch as in ithmetic and geometry, in astronomy and other iences, whether οf logic οr of physics, and in the s of rhetoric as well, he had reached the pinnacle. t is recorded that because of these attainments the citizens there deemed him worthy to establish the school of the Aristotelian tradition1 at Now countless other οf his deeds of prowess are reted during the siege of the Pirucheum2 at seeing that he was deemed worthy by all of extraordinary privilege omong the officials; but as an example I shall make mention of the following one only. It is said that When the wheat failed the besieged, so that hunger was now a more intolerable thing than their enemies without, the person of whom we are speaking, being present, adopted the following device. The other part of the city was fighting in alliance with the Roman army, and thus was not besieged. Αmοng these latter was Eusebius (for it said that he was still there at that time before his igration to Syria), who had won so great fame and widespread a reputation that it reached the ears en οf the Roman general. To him Anatolius sent, d informed him as to those that were perishing of nger in the siege. When he learnt it, he asked the man commander as a very great favour to grant ety to deserters from the enemy; and having obtained his requert acquainted Anatolius of the fact. The moment Anatolius received the promise, he ³⁴ assembled a council οf the Alexandrians, and at first equested all to extend the right hand οf fellowship to the Romans. But when he pereeived that they were getting angry at the proposal, “At any rate,” said he, “I do not think you would contradict me if I were to counsel that those who were superfluous and in no wise useful to us ourselves, old women and young children and old men, should be permitted to o outside the gates whithersoever they wish. Why keep we these persons with us to no purpose, seeing ey are all but on the point of death ? why destroy we with hunger the mained and crippled in body, when we should support οnly men and youths, and husband the necessary wheat for such as are required to guard the city ? ” With some such arguments he persuaded the assembly, and was the first to rise and give his vote that the whole body of those who were not required for the army, whether men οr women, should depart from the city, because were they to remain and uselessly stay therein, there would be no hope οf safety for them, since they would perish with unger. Αnd when all the rest of those in the embly assented to this proposal, he went within a le of saving the whole of them that were besieged; took care that first of all those belonging to the urch, and then the rest remaining in the city, of ages, should escape, not only those who came der the terms οf the vote, but also great numbers of others, passing themselves off off as such, who secretly donned women's attire, and by his management left e gates by night and hastened to the Roman army. ebius was there to receive them all, and, like a ther and physician, restore them, in evil plight after eir long siege, with every kind of forethought and attention. such were the two pastors that the church of Laodicea was deemed worthy to have successively, who by dinine providence, after the above-mentioned war, had left the city of the Alexandrians to come there. Νot a very great many works, indeed, were composed by Anatolius, but enough have reached us to enable us to perceive both his eloquence and his great erudition. In these works he especially presents his opinions with reference to the Pascha; from which it may be necessary οn the present occasion to give the following passage.

From the Canons of Anatolius οn the Pascha.1

“It has therefore in the first year the new moon of first the first month, which is the beginning of the nineteen-year cycle, on the 26th of Phamnoth according to the Egyptians, but according to the months of the Macedonians the 22nd of Dystrus, or, as the Romans would say, the 11th before the Kalends of April. The Sun is found on the aforesaid 26th of Phamenoth not only to have arrived at the first sign of the zodiac, but already to be passing through the fourth day within it. This sign is commonly called the first of the twelve divisions and the equinoctial [sign] and the beginning of months and head of the cycle and the starting-point of the planetary course. But the preceding sign is the last of the months and the twelfth sign and the last of the twelve divisions and the end of the planetary circuit. Therefore we say that they who place the first month in it, and determine the fourteenth day of the Pascha accordingly,2 are guilty of no small or ordinary mistake.

Αnd this is not our οwn statement, but the fact was known to the Jews, those of οld time even before Christ, and it was carefully observed by them. One may learn it from what is said by Philo, Josephus and Musaeus, and not only by them but also by those of still more ancient date, the two Agathobuli, surnamed the Masters οf Aristobulus the Great. Ηe was reckoned among the Seventy who translated sacred and divine Hebrew Scriptures for Philadelphus and his father; and he dedicated books exegetical of the Law of Moses to the same kings. These writers, when they resolve the questions relative to the Exodus, say that all equally ought to sacrifice the passover after the vernal equinox, at the middle of the first month; and that this is found to occur when the sun is passing through the first sign of the solar, or, as some have named it, the zodiacal cycle. Αnd Aristobulus adds that at the feast of the passover it is necessary that not only the sun should be passing through an equinoctial sign, but the moon also For as the equinoctial signs are two, the οne vernal, the other autumnal, diametrically opposite each to other, and as the fourteenth of the month, at evening, is assigned as the day οf the passover, the moon will have its place in the station that is diametrically opposed to the sun, as may be seen in full moon ; and the one, the sun, will be in the sign οf the vernal equinox, while the other, the moon, will οf necessity be in that of the autumnal. I know many other statements of theirs, some of them probable, others advanced as absolute proofs,1 by which they attempt to establish that the Feast of ³⁶ the Passover and of unleavened bread ought without exception to be held after the equinox. But I refrain from demanding proofs thus composed from those for whom the veil upon the law of Moses has been taken away, and for whom it now remains with unveiled face ever to behold as in a mirror Christ and the things of Christ, both what Ηe learned and what Ηe suffered.1 But that the hrst month with the Ηebrews lies around the equinox is shown also by the teachings in the Book of Enoch.” 2

And the same person has left behind an Introduction to Arithmetic also in ten complete treatises, and, as well, evidences of his Study and deep knowledge οf divine things. Theotecnus, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, first had ordained him to the episcopate, seeking to procure him as his successor in his own community after his death, and indeed for Some Short time both presided over the same church. But, the synod with reference to Ρaul summoning him to Antioch, as he was passing by the city οf the Laodiceans he was retained there by the brethren, Eusebius having fallen asleep.

Αnd when Anatolius also departed this life, Stephen was appointed over the community there, the last bishop before the persecution. Ηe won widespread admiration for his knowledge of philosophy and other secular learning, but he was not similarly disposed towards the divine faith, as the progress of the persecution cleariy proved, demonstrating that the man was more οf a dissembler, more of a craven and coward, than a true philosopher. But indeed the church and her affairs were not destined to perish ³⁷ beeause of him; they were set to rights by one who was immediately proclaimed bishop of that community by God Himself, the the Saviour of all, even Theodotus, a man whose deeds themselnes proned true his ritle to his own name and that of a bishop. Ηe had reached, indeed, the first rank in the science of healing bodies, but in that of curing souls he was second to none among men, because of his benevolence, sincerity, fellow-feeling and zeal towards those that sought his aid; and he was also greatly denoted to the study of divinity. Such a one was he.

But at Caesarea in Palestine Theotecnus, after exercising his episcopal office in the most zealous fashion, was sueeeeded by Agapius, whom also we know to have laboured much, displaying a most genuine regard for the gonernment of his people, and with a liberal hand caring especially for all the poor. In his day we came to known Pamphilus, a most eloquent man and a true philosopher in his mode of life, who had been deemed worthy of the presbyterate of that community. It would be no small undertaking to show the kind of man he was and whence he eame. But of each particular of his life and of the school that he established, as well as his contest in various confessions during the persecution, and the crown of martyrdom with which he was wreathed at the end of all, we have treated separately in a special work concerning him. Truly he was the most admirable of those of that city; but as men possessed of especially rare qualities in our day we know Pierius, one of the presbyters at Alexandria, and Μeletius, bishop of the churches in Pontus. The former of these had been noted for his life of extreme poverty and for his learning in philosophy. Ηe was exceedingly well practised in the deeper study of divine things and in expositions thereof, as well in his public discourses in church. Meletius1 (educated persons used to call him the honey of Attica) was such as one would describe as a most accomphished scholar in all respects. It is impossible to admire sufficiently his skill in oratory, yet this might be said to be his by a natural gift. But who could surpass the excellence of his great experience and erudition as well, because you would say, even on a siIgle trial, that he was the most skilful and learned man in all branches literature? Equally, too, was his life distinguished for its virtues. We took note οf him during the period of the persecution, as for seven whole years he was fleeing in the regions οf Palestine.

In the church at Jerusalem, after the bishop Hymnaeus mentioned shortly before, Zabdas received the ministry. Αfter no great time he fell asleep, and Hermo, the last of the bishops up to the persecution in our day, succeeded to the apostolic throne that has still been preserved there to the present day.2

Αnd at Alexandria too, Maximus, who had held the episcopate for eighteen years after the death of Dionysius, was succeeded by Theonas. In his day at Alexandra Achillas, deemed worthy of the presbyterate along with Pierius, was well known; he had been entrusted with the school of the sacred faith, having displayed a wealth of philosophy most rare and inferior to none, and a manner of life that was ³⁸ truly in accordance with the Gospel. Αfter Theonas had given his utmost service for nineteen years, Ρeter succeeded to the episcopate οf the Alexandrians, and he too was especially prominent for twelve entire years; he ruled the church for less than three entire years before the persecution, and for the remainder οf his days practised a life of severer discipline, and cared in no hidden manner for the general good of the churches. For this reason, therefore, in the ninth year of the persecution he was beheaded, and so adomed with the crown οf martyrdom.

In these books having concluded the subject of he successions, from the birth of οur Saviour to the destruction of the places of —a subject that extends οver three hundred and five —come, let us next leave in writing, for the information of those also that come after us, what the extent and nature have been of the conflicts in our own day οf those who manfully contended for piety.

cycle that upon which “the new moon οf the first month” (i.e. the Jewish Νisan οr Αbib, to our March-April) falls upon March 22: he is, however, in error about the vernal equinox, which he places on Μarch 19 (§ 15, where Μarch 22 is fourth day”) instead of March 21. Ηe insists (as did also Dionysius) that the paschal full moon must fall after the equinox, as opposed to those, whom he mentions at the close οf § 15, who regarded the full moon (“the fourteenth day”) if it fell the day before the equinox, as the paschal moon.