Greek Ecclesiastical Historians of the First Six Centuries of the Christian Era, Volume 6: Evagrius' Ecclesiastical History, from 431-594 A.D

tihravy of ^he ^heolocj[ical ^tminavy PRINCETON

•

NEW JERSEY

Part of the Addison Alexander Library which was presented by Messrs. R.L. and A. Stuart BR 160

.A2 G73 1643 v.o

Greek ecclesiastical '--s'-o^ianF

of the

f

THE

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF

EVAGRIUS. m SIX BOOKS.

LONDON: PKINIEI) BV JOHN WERTHEIMfcli iSc CO CIKCUS PLACE, KINSBllKV CI: CUS.

I

^G R E E K ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORIANS OF

THE FIRST SIX CENTURIES OF THE CHRISTIAN ERA.

IN SIX VOLUMES.

1.

II.

EUSEBIUS

S

LIFE OF CONSTANTINE, ORATION, ETC.

EUSEBIDS'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY, TO 324 A.D.

III.

SOCRATES SCHOLASTICUS'S HISTORY, FROM ABOUT 305 TO 445

IV.

sozomen's narrative, 324 to about 440 a.d.

V. VI.

XHEODORET'S ecclesiastical history, from 322 to 428

A.D,

A.D.

EVAGRIUS'S ecclesiastical HISTORY, FROM 431 TO 594 A.D.

LONDON

SAMUEL BAGSTER AND SONS; BIBLES, NEW TESTAMENTS, PRAYER-BOOKS, LEXICONS, GRAMMARS, CONCORDANCES, AND PSALTERS, IN ANCIENT AND MODERN LANGUAGES;

WAREHOUSE FOR

PATERNOSTER ROW. M.DCCC.XLVI.

ECCLESIASTICAL

HIstORY^-^^e^^,

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN SIX BOOKS,

FROM

A. D.

4.31

TO

A. D.

r,94.

EVAGRIUS A NEW TRANSLATION FROM THE GREEK

:

WITH AN

ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR AND

HIS WRITINGS.

LONDON:

SAMUEL BAGSTER AXD SONS; WAREHOUSE FOR

BIBLES, NEAV TESTAMENTS, PRAYER-BOOKS, LEXICONS, GRAMMARS, CONCORDANCES, AND PSALTERS, IN ANCIENT AND MODERN LANGUAGES;

P

A T P: R N O S T E R R O W. M.DCCC.XLVI.

vW^Tv^:^

ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR AND HIS WRITINGS.

The

very few particulars which are

author of

tlie

known

respecting the

following History, are gathered from the history

itself

Evagrius was a native of Epiphania on the Orontes, and his birth

may

be fixed about A.D. 536.

a Scholasticus, or advocate,

distinguished

profession

he

commonly

this title

from other persons of the

is

The

same name.

circumstance which the historian mentions respecting

earliest

himself,

is

parents, to

wood of

his

visit

Apamea,

history, in localities

when

many

a

child,

to witness

the cross, amidst

sack of Antioch by

writer

and by

He was by

company with

by the

(Book IV. chap. xxvi).

The

shows a minute familiarity with the

of Antioch: and the prominent interest which the

variously manifests in that city and

only be accounted for by supposing that residence,

his

the solemn display of the

the consternation caused

Chosroes

places,

in

and the principal scene of

it

its

was

fortunes, his

can

ordinary

his professional practice.

In his description of the great pestilence which continued

its

ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR, lie fifty years, h

ravages tlirougliout thcenipire for more than

mentions that

liiinself

lie

chiklhood, and that

subsequently he lost by

and members of

besides several relatives

among them

was attacked by the disease in

his

his first wife,

it

and

his household,

with her child (Book

in particular a daughter

IV. chap. xxix). Evagrius accompanied Gregory, patriarch of Antioch, as his professional adviser,

Constantinople

(Book VI. chap.

when he appeared

vii).

from

himself

clear

to

On

a

his return to

acquittal of the patriarch, he married a

before a synod at

charge

Antioch

young

by the circumstance

(Book VI. chap.

the

and a

incidentally

that his nuptials were

occasion for a public festival

of his

is

incest

after

wife:

proof of the important position which he occupied, afforded

of

made an Some

viii).

memorials, drawn up in the service of the patriarch,

obtained

him from

for

rank of Exquoestor

;

the emperor Tiberius the honorary

and a composition on occasion of the birth

of an heir to the emperor Maurice

was rewarded with the

higher dignity of Exprsefect (Book VI. chap. xxiv).

With

the mention of these last circumstances the history closes.

The only extant work of Evagrius History," tyoyfersyj^

commencing with the

the " Ecclesiastical

of the

Nestoi'i^n con-

and ending with the twelfth year of the reign of

Maurice.

He

including

in

tical;

rise

is

and

professes,

his

this

at

narrative

he has

the

outset,

matters

done

so

far

an

other

intention

than

as to give

of

ecclesias-

a

secular

AND

HIS WRITINGS.

appearance to some parts of

As might be expected from

it.

an author of that period, his style redundant. struck

The modern reader

is

frequently affected and

will,

however, be principally

by the credulity manifested

prodigies and miracles.

IX

But on

in

cordial detail

his

this point it

bered, that the bent of the age was

of

must be remem-

strongly

the marvellous: and this frame of the public

favour of

in

mind was

a soil

which would both spontaneously produce an abundant crop of wonders, in a fond distortion and exaggeration of ordinary occurrences, and also

would not

hand of imposture.

This feature of the historian's character

ought therefore in no way to

was not one of the few whose

It is

only a proof that he

intellectual course

dent of the habits of their age.

There

whom

is

a heated

be a good cause

may

no reason

the

studious

in

work must be

history,

was used by Nicephorus

own

History,

is

indepenfor conat length

believed

be rightfully aided by attestations

knowingly bestowed upon falsehoods. preservation of his

is

mind has

admitted the idea, that the maintenance of what to

by the

affect his reputation for honesty,

or his claim to general credence.

founding him with those in

to be cultivated

fail

whether

the whole, the

ecclesiastical or civil.

Callisti in

and has received

Upon

a matter of satisfaction to

the

It

com.position of his

a favourable

notice in

the

]\Iyriobiblion of the patriarch Photius.

Evagrlus also published a collection of his memorials and miscellaneous compositions, which

may now

be regarded as

X lost

ACCOUNT OF THE AUTHOR, ETC. (Book VI. chap. xxiv).

He

(Book V. chap. XX.) of composing

also intimates

an intention

a distinct work,

embracing

an account of the operations of Maurice against the Persians: but there executed.

is

no reason

for

supposing that this design was ever

THE TABLE OF CONTENTS. Thk History.— book

Prepack.

Chapter

— Design I.

of the

Artifice

--------

work

----— -.-..—

of the faith

.

II.

Chap.

III.

Letter from Cyril to Nestorius.

Chap.

IV.

Deposition of Nestorius

Chap.

V.

Chap.

VI. VII.

Chap.

VIII.

Chap.

IX.

Chap.

X.

Chap.

XI.

Chap.

XII.

Chap.

XIII.

Chap.

XIV.

Chap.

XV.

Chap.

XVI.

Chap.

XVII.

Chap.

XVIII.

Chap.

XIX.

Chap.

XX.

Chap.

XXI. XXII.

Chap.

Heresy of Nestorius discovered and condemned

Chapter

1.

II.

i

.

2

-

-

4

-

6

Their reconciliation

from John of Antioch

Cyril's eulogy of a letter

-

Council of Ephesus

Deposition of Cyril and of John.

7

-

9

-

-

10

Death of Nestorius

11

Succession of bishops at Constantinople

-

-

18

-

-

18

-

-

19

-

20

Condemnation of the Nestorian doctrine by Theodosius Simeon the Stylite Description of the appearance of a star near the column of Simeon

23

-

Heresy of Eutyches Proceedings of the second council of Ephesus

An

apology for

difiFerences of

among

opinion

Christians

24

--------28

Isidore of Pelusium and Synesius of

Attila king of the

Huns.— Earthquakes

Antioch embellished by

Wars during the reign The empress Eudocia

diflFerent

-

-

-

30

-

-

-

-

31

-

-

-

-

33

-

-

-

34

-

-

-

35

-

-

36

-

37

-

42

Cyrene

Translation of the remains of Ignatius

governors

of Theodosius

-

—Ascetics Buildings erected by Eudocia. — Accession of Marcian

Visits of

Eudocia to Jerusalem.

The History.— BOOK

Chap.

PAGE

by which the devil attempts to subvert the purity

Chap.

Chap.

1—42.

Pas^es

I.

11.

Pa^P5

Fortunes and character of Marcian Council of Chalcedon

-

-

43— 118. -

summoned by Marcian

-

-

-

43

-

-

-

46

Chapter

CONTENTS.

Xlll

PAGE Chapter XIX. Chap.

XX.

Chap.

XXI.

Chap.

XXII.

Chap.

XXIII.

Interference of Cyril the

Monk

-

145

Correspondence between Felix and Zeno Accusation of the legates by Simeon the monk, and their consequent deprivation

145

Commotion

at

-

-

-

-

Chalcedon

Chap,

XXV.

XXVI. Chap. XXVII.

149

Succession of bishops at Constantinople, Alexandria, and

Antioch

Chap. XXIV.

-

-

-

-

-

-

Death of Armatus

150 -

Insurrection and death of Theodoric

.

-

-

-

-

-

.

.

Chap.

Insurrection of Mercian

Chap.XXVIII.

Insurrection of Illus and Leontius Account of Mammianus and his structures Death of Zeno.— Succession of Anastasius

Chap. XXIX. Chap.

XXX.

.

.

154

-

-

-

155

.---..

Divisions in the church

-

-

Letter to Alcison from the

Ejection of Macedonius and Flavian from their sees

Chap.XXXIlI.

Severus, bishop of Antioch

Chap.XXXIV.

Act of deposition against Severus

XXXV.

monks

of Palestine

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

.

-

.

.

Refutation of Zosimus

--.--.

Chap.

XLII. XLIII.

Insurrection of Vitalian

Chap.

XLIV.

Sedition at Constantinople

.

Accession of Justin

-

-

The History.— book

-------

Designs and death of Amantius and Theocritus

Chap.

III.

Assassination of Vitalian

Chap.

IV.

Deposition of Severus, bishop of Atttioch.

Paul and Euphrasius-

and earthquakes

-

-

-

at Antioch.

-

-

-

189

-

-

190

— Succession of -

-

-

—Death of Euphrasius

Elevation of Ephraemius, count of the East, to the patri-

VIII.

-

General calamities

-

.

.

191

192

Chap.

Miracles of Zosimus and John

189

-

Fires

-

184 igs

-

Chap.

archate of Antioch

17(5

177

Pages 189—244.

IV.

II.

Chap.

171

186

Chap.

VII.

170

173

Falsehoods of the historian Zosimus

Chap.

Chap.

163

172

Abolition of the Chrysargyrum

The Gold- Rate

159

171

Capture of Amida.— Founding of Daras

1.

-

Invasion of the Arabs

The Long Wall

Chapter

-

156 157

168

Suppression of the Isaurian insurrection

Ch.XXXVIlI. Chap.XXXIX. XL. Chap. XLI.

-

-

165

Ch. XXXVII.

Chap.

152

.

Chap. XXXI.

Chap. XXXVI.

151

153

Chap. XXXII.

Chap.

147

Alexandria on account of the council of

-

-

-

.

-

.

193

194 197

CONTENTS.

XIV

Chapter

Chap.

IX.

CONTENTS.

Chapter

VII.

XV

CONTENTS.

Xvi

PAGE Chapter XIX. Chap.

XX.

Chap.

XXI.

Chap.

XXII.

Chap. XXIII.

Chap.

XXIV.

------------.------

Restoration of Chosroes

305

Golanduch the martyr Oflferings of Chosroes

306

Naaraanes the Arab

Simeon the Stylite the younger Death of the patriarch Gregory

BOG

310

.

-

-

-

-

311

-

-

-

-

-

313

THE

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF

EVAGRIUS.

THE FIRST BOOK. PREFACE. DESIGN OF THE WORK. EuSEBius Pamphili

—an

especially able writer, to the

extent, in particular, of inducing his readers to em-

brace our religion, though failing to perfect them in the faith

— and Sozomen, Theodoret, and Socrates* have

produced a most excellent record of the advent of our compassionate God, and His ascension into heaven,

and of

that has been achieved in the endurance

all

of the divine Apostles, as well as of the other martyrs; and, further, of whatever events have occurred

among down *

us,

whether more or

less

to a certain period of the reign of Theodosius.

The " Greek

newly translated

Ecclesiastical Historians of the First Six Centuries," :

viz. I.

Eusebius's History, to a.d. 324

sebius's Life of Constantine, Orations, etc. A.D.

worthy of mention,

305— 445;

doret's History,

;

IV. Sozomen's Narrative, a.d. 324

322— 428;

— 440;

VI. Evagrius's History, a.d.

in six uniform volumes, each 7s. in cloth.

and Sons. 1

;

H. Eu-

HI. Socrates's History,

V. Theo-

431— 594;

London: Samuel Bagster

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

2

But

and scarcely

since events subsequent,

these,

[bOOK

I.

inferior to

have not hitherto been made the subject of a

continuous narrative, ill-qualified

for

I

have resolved, though but

such a task,

to undertake

the

la-

bour which the subject demands, and to embody

them

in

a history; surely trusting in

Him who

en-

lightened fishermen, and endued a brute tongue -with articulate utterance, for ability to raise

up transactions

already entombed in oblivion, to reanimate them by

language, and immortalise them by ject being, that

my

readers

may

memory

:

my

ob-

learn the nature of

each of these events, up to our time; the period, place,

and manner of

who were its

objects

its

occurrence, as well as those

and authors; and that no circum-

stance worthy of recollection,

may

be lost under the

veil of listless indifi^erence, or, its neighbour, forget-

fulness.

I

shall

then begin, led onwards by the

di\dne impulse, from the point where the above-men-

tioned 'WTiters closed the history.

CHAPTER

I.

ARTIFICE BY WHICH THE DEVIL ATTEMPTS TO SUBVERT THE PURITY OF THE FAITH.

Scarce had the impiety of Julian been flooded over

by the blood of the martyrs, and the frenzy of Arius been bound

fast in the fetters forged at Nicaea, and,

moreover, Eunomius and Macedonius, by the agency of

CHAP.

NEAV FORIM OF HERESY.

I.]

the Holy

Spii'it,

had

3

swept as by a bkist to the

l)eeii

Bosphorus, and wrecked agamst the sacred city of Constantine

;

had the holy church

scarce

cast oif her

recent delilemeiit, and was being restored to her ancient beauty, robed in a vesture

and

in varied array,

inwrought with gold,

and becoming meet

for the bride-

groom, when the demon enemy of good, unable to endure fare,

it,

commences against us a new mode of war-

disdainhig idolatry,

now

in the dust, nor

laiJ

deigning to employ the servile madness of Arius. fears to assault the faith in

He

open war, embattled by so

man}' holy fathers, and he had been already shorn of nearly

all

his

power

but he

in battling against it:

pursues his purpose with a robber's stealth, by certain questions

and answers

;

his

new

raising-

device being

to turn the course of error towards Judaism, little

foreseeing the overthrow that hence

miserable designer.

For the

faith

alone arrayed against him, this he

no longer exulting

would

befall the

which formerly

now

Avas

aifects: and,

in the thought of forcing us to

abandon the whole, but of succeeding single term, while he

wound

in corrupting a

himself with

many

a

malignant wile, he devised the change of merely a letter,

tending indeed to the same sense,

luit still witli

the intention of severing the thought and the tongue, that both might no longer with one accord offer the

same confession and glorification to God. and

The manner

result of these transactions I will set forth, each

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

4

at its proper juncture

in

my

;

I.

giving at the same time a place

narrative to other matters that

me, which, though not belonging to

may

my

occur to

immediate

worthy of mention, laying up the record

subject, are

of

[bOOK

them wherever

it

our compassionate

shall please

God.

CHAPTER

II.

HERESY OF NESTORIUS DISCOVERED AND CONDEMNED. Since, then, Nestorius, that God-assaulting tongue, that second conclave of Caiaphas, that workshop of

blasphemy, in whose case Christ ject of bargain

and

and torn asunder

sale,

is

again

— He of whom not a

broken even on the

cross,

men

rejected the term.

—

sub-

single

bone was

according to Scripture, and

whose seamless vest suffered no rending of God-slaying

made a

by having His natures divided

since, then,

at the

hands

he thrust aside and

Mother of God, which had been

already wrought by the Holy Spirit through the in-

strumentality of

many chosen fathers, and substituted own coining Mother of Christ;

—

a spurious one of his

and further deluging

it

filled

the Church with

with kindred blood,

I

mnumerable wars,

think that

I shall

not

be at a loss for a well-judged arrangement of my history,

nor miss over

its

all, I

Nestorius. the

end,

if,

preface

with the aid of Christ, it

The war of the churches took

following

who

is

God

with the impious blasphemy of

circumstances.

A

its rise

certain

from

presbyter

CHAP.

HEUESY OF NESTORIUS.

II.]

5

named

Anastasius, a man of corrupt opinions, and a warm admirer of Nestorius and his Jewish sentiments, who also accompanied him when setting out from his

country to take possession of his bishoprick

;

at

which

time Nestorius, having met with Tlieodore at Mop-

was perverted by

suestia, trine,

as

subject

—

his teaching

Theodulus writes

in

an

from godly doc-

epistle

upon

this

this Anastasius, in discoursing to the Christ-

loving people in the church of Constantinople, dared to say,

mthout any

the Mother of impossible for

God

" Let no one style Mary Mary was human, and it is be born of a human being."

reserve, ;

God

for

to

AVhen the Christ-loving people were disgusted, and with reason regarded his discourse as blasphemous, Nestorius, the real teacher of the blasphemy, so far

from restraining him and upholding the true doctrine, on the contrary, imparted to the teaching of Anastasius tile impulse

it

acquired,

by urging on the question

with more than ordinary pugnacity.

forth the

A.nd further, by

it

notions of his o^vn, and thus vomiting

venom

of his soul, he endeavoured to incul-

mingling with

cate opinions

still

as thus to avouch,

induced to

more blasphemous, proceeding his own God which admitted

upon

call that

months old or three months

so far

peril, " I could never be

old."

of being two

These circum-

stances rest on the distinct authority of Socrates, and

the former synod at Ephesus.

ECCLP]SIASTICAL HISTORY.

CHAPTER

[bOOK

I.

HI.

LETTER EUOM CYRIL TO NESTORIUS.

— COUNCIL

OF

EPHESUS.

When

Cyril, the reH0^vlled bishop of the

church of

the Alexandrians, had communicated to Nestorius his

reprobation of these transactions, and he, in rejoinder,

paid no regard to what was addressed to

and by

Celestine, bishop of the elder

irreverently pouring forth his

him by

Cyril,

Rome, but was

own vomit

over the

whole church, there was just occasion for the convening of the

first

the younger

synod of Ephesus, at the injunction of Theodosius, sovereign of the Eastern

empire, by the issuing of imperial letters to Cyril and

the presidents of the holy churches in every quarter,

naming, at the same time, as the day of meetmg, the sacred

on

Pentecost,

descended upon

us.

which the Nestorius,

life-giving

Spirit

on account of the

short distance of Ephesus from Constantinople, arrives early

;

and Cyril

too,

with his compswiy, came before

the appointed day; but John, the president of the

church of Antioch, with his associate bishops, was behind the appointed tune; defence has been thought by

not intentionally, as his

many

to have sufficiently

proved, but because he could not muster his associates Avith sufiicient despatch,

who were

at a distance

of what would be a twelve days' journey to an expe-

CHAP. IV.] DEPOSITION OF NESTORIUS.

A.D. 431.

ditious traveller froin the city formerly

Antiochus, but

more

cases

;

now

named from

the City of God, and in some

and Ephesus was then just thirty days'

He

journey from Antioch.

stoutly defended himself

on the ground that the observance of what the

New

sees,

7

Lord's

Day by

is

called

his bishops in their respective

was an insuperable impediment

to his arriving

before the stated day.

CHAPTER

IV.

DEPOSITION OF NESTORIUS.

When

fifteen

days had elapsed from the 'prescribed

period, the bishops

who had assembled

them

at

all, or,

for this busi-

would not join

ness, considering that the Orientals

at least, after a considerable delay,

hold a conclave, under the presidency of the divine Cyril,

occupying the post of Celestine, who, as has

been before mentioned, was bishop of the elder Rome.

They accordhigly summon ation

that

allegations.

would

Nestorius, with an exhort-

hunself against

the

When, however, notwithstanding a

pro-

he

defend

mise given on the preceding day, that he would present himself

if

there were

occasion, he

did not

appear,

though thrice summoned, the assembly proceeded to the investigation of the matter.

Memnon,

the presi-

dent of the Ephesian church, recounted the days

which had elapsed,

fifteen in

number

:

then were read

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

8

[bOOK

I.

the letters addressed to Xestorius by the divine Cyril,

and

his rejoinders

;

there being also inserted the sacred

epistle of the illustrious Celestine to Nestorius himself.

Thcodotus, bishop of Ancyra, and Acacius, of Melitene,

blasphemous language to which Nes-

also detailed the

torius

With

had unreservedly given utterance

many

these were combined

holy fathers had purely set forth the true

by

side

side with

at Ephesus.

statements in which faith,

frenzy of the impious Nestorius had vented. all

this

having

them various blasphemies which the

When

had been done, the holy synod declared

judgment addition

precisely in the following terms

the

to

other matters,

the

:

its

" Since, in

most reverend

Nestorius has refused to submit to our summons, or

yet to admit the most holy and godly bishops

were sent by

us,

we have

investigation of his impieties

him

who

of necessity proceeded to the :

and having convicted

of entertaining and avowing impious sentiments,

on the evidence both of his

letters

and writings which

have been read, and also of words uttered by him city,

and established by

length,

compelled by the

lately in this metropolitan sufficient

testimony,

at

canons, and in accordance with the epistle of our most

holy father and fellow-minister, Celestine, bishop of the church of

Rome, we have, with many

ceeded to this sad sentence.

who

tears, pro-

The Lord Jesus

Christ,

has been blasphemed by him, has, through the

agency of

this

holy synod, decreed, that the same

CHAP. V.J

DEl'ORrTION OF CYRIL

Nestorius

is

alien

from

AND JOHN.

episcopal dignity, and from

tlie

every sacerdotal assembly."

CHAPTER DEPOSITION OF

V.

CYRIL AND OF JOHN.— THEIR RECONCILIATION.

After

the delivery of this most legitimate and just

sentence, John, the bishop of Antioch, arrives with his associate priests, five days after the act of deposition

and having convened

his

all

company, he deposes

On account, however, of libels and Memnon to the synod which

Cyril and Memnoii.

put forth by Cyril

had been assembled

in

company with themselves

(al-

though Socrates,

in ignorance, has given a diffei^ent

account), John

summoned

is

which he had pronounced after a thrice repeated

;

to justify the deposition

and, on his not appearing

summons, Cyril and Memnon

are released from their sentence, and associate priests are cut off

and

all

John and

his

from the holy communion

sacerdotal authority.

When, however, Theo-

dosius, notwithstanding his refusal at first to sanction

the deposition of Nestorius, had subsequently, on being fully informed of his blasphemy, addressed j)ious letters both to Cyril

and John, they are reconciled to

each other, and ratify the act of deposition.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

10

CHAPTER Cyril's

On

and

his delivery before the church of

after

is

extant on this subject, Cyril

highly commending the epistle of John,

wrote to him in these words

:

broken down, exasperation for

"Let

the heavens rejoice

glad, for the middle

and the earth be

sion

VI.

occasion of th^ arrival of Paul, bishop of Einesa,

that discourse which

is

I.

eulogy of a letter from john of antioch.

at Alexandria,

also,

[bOOK

dissension

utterly

is

waU

of partition

and

stiUed,

removed

all

through

occa-

the

bestowal of peace upon his churches by Christ, the

Saviour of us

all

;

at the call, too, of our

most

and divinely favoured sovereigns, who, imitation of ancestral souls a well-founded

religious

in excellent

piety, preserve in

their

own

and unshaken maintenance of the

true faith, and a singular care for the holy churches, that they

may

acquire an everlasting reno^vn, and

render their reign most glorious.

On them

the

Lord

of Hosts himself bestows blessings with a bountiful hand,

and grants them victory over their adversaries. Victory

He

does bestow

live, saith

On

:

for never can he lie

the arrival, then, of

fellow minister, filled

who

says.

As

I

the Lord, those that glorify me, I glorify.

my

my

most pious brother and

lord Paul, at Alexandria, I

was

with delight, and with great reason, at the

mediation of such a man, and his voluntary engage-

ment

in labours

beyond

his strength,

in

order that

FATK or NESTOKIUS.

CIIAi'. Vir.]

he might suljdue the inalice breaches, and,

ot"

11

the devil,

close

our

by the removal of the stumbling-blocks

that lay between us, might cro^vn botli our churches

And presently

and yours with unanimity and peace." he proceeds thus

:

" That the dissension of the church

has been altogether unnecessary and without sufficient

ground, I

am

fully convinced,

now

that

my

lord the

most pious bishop Paul has brought a paper presenting an unexceptionable confession of the assured

me

that

it

and has

faith,

was draAvn up by your holmess

And

and the most pious bishops of your country." such

is

the ^vriting thus drawn up, and inserted ver-

batun in the

epistle;

Mother of God, speaks

which, with reference to the as

follows:

"When we

read

these your sacred words, and were conscious that our

OAvn sentiments were correspondent

Lord, one

faith,

Preserver of

one baptism

all things,

mth

—we

—

for there

glorified

is

one

God, the

a feeling of mutual joy,

that both your churches and ours maintain a faith in

agreement with the divinely inspired Scriptures and

Of

the tradition of our holy fathers."

any one may be assured, who

is

these matters

disposed to inves-

tigate diligently the transactions of those times.

CHAPTER

VIL

DEATH OF NESTORIUS. Historians have not detailed either the banishment of Nestorius, his subsequent fortunes, or the

manner

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

12 ill

which

his life

was

for

blasphemy matters which

liis

would have been allowed

I.

and the retribution with

closed,

which he was visited

[bOOK

;

and

to slip into oblivion,

have been altogether swallowed up by time, so as not to be current even in hearsay, if I

had not met with a

book written by himself, which supplied an account of them.

Nestorius,

blasphemy,

who

then,

the

father of the

raised his structure not on the found-

already laid,

ation

himself,

but built upon the

sand

one

which, in accordance with the Lord's parable, quickly fell

to ruin, here, in addition to other matters of his

choice, puts forth a defence of his o^\ti blasphemy, in

who had charged him with unnecessary demand for the convening synod at Ephesus. He asserts that he was

reply to those

innovation and an unseemly of the

driven to assume this position by absolute necessity,

on account of the division of the church into two parties,

one maintaining that Mary ought to be styled

Mother of Man; the devised the

says, that error

other.

Mother of

title.

Mother of God; and he Christ, in order, as

he

might not be incurred by adopting

either extreme, either a

term which too closely united

immortal essence with humanity, or one which, while admitting one of the two natures, involved no mention of the other.

He

also intimates that Theodosius,

from

feelings of friendship, withheld his ratification of the

sentence of deposition

;

and, afterwards, that, on occa-

sion of the mission of several bishops of both parties

CHAP.

13

IJANISIBIENT DF NESTORIUS.

Vir.]

from Ephesus to the emperor, und, moreover,

at his

own monastery, situated without the gates of the city now called Theopolis. It is not, indeed, expressly named own

request,

he was

by Nestorius, but

allowed to retire to

which

said to be that

is

styled the monastery of Euprepius; which to be, in fact, not

more than two

stadia

his

is

now

we know

from that

city.

Nestorius, then, himself says, that during a residence

there of four years, he received every spect and distinction

Theodosius, he

But the

is

;

and

that,

of re-

edict of

banished to the place called Oasis.

pith of the matter he has suppressed.

his retirement he did not cease

phemy

mark

by a second

For

from his peculiar

in

blas-

so that John, the president of the church of

;

Antioch, was led to report the circumstance, and Nestorius was,

in consequence,

banishment.

He

condemned

to perpetual

has addressed also a formal dis-

course to a certain Eg}^ptian, on the subject of his

banishment to Oasis, where he treats of these circumstances

more

fully.

But the retribution with which,

unable to escape the all-seeing eye, he was visited for his

blasphemous imaginations,

may

other writings addressed by

him

may

see

Thebaid

:

in

which one

be gathered from

to the governor of the

how that,

since he

had

not yet reached the full measure of his deserts, the

vengeance of God visited him, in pursuance, with the

most still

terrible of all calamities, captivity.

Being, then,

deserving of greater penalties, he was

liliei-ated

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

14

by the Blemmyes,

[bOOK

whose hands he had

into

I.

fallen;

and, after Theodosius had decreed his return to his place of exile, wandering from place to place on the

verge of the Thebaid, and severely injured by a

he closed his

whose tion,

manner worthy of

in a

what are the appointed wages of blasphemy against

;

:

committed similar blasphemy against

for both

him a creature

the one by calling

regarding him

as

the other,

;

human. When Nestorius impugns the

integrity of the acts of the council of Ephesus,

them to

and refers

subtle designs and lawless innovation on the part

of Cyril, I should be most ready thus to reply

came sius,

fall,

his deeds

that of Arius, was a judicial declara-

fate, like

Christ

him

life

it

to pass, that he

:

— How

was banished even by Theodo-

notwithstanding his friendly feelings towards

him, and was condemned by repeated sentences of extermination, and closed this

circumstances ?

If Cyril

under those unhappy

life

and

his associate priests

were

not guided by heaven in their judgment, hoAV came to pass that,

when both

it

were no longer num-

parties

bered with the living, in which case a heathen sage * has observed, "

A

frank and kindly

departed worth," the one

is

meed

and enemy of God, the other

is

a charge of slander,

let

and mighty cham-

In order that

me

I

may

not incur

bring Nestorius himself into

court as an evidence on these points. *

yielded to

lauded and proclaimed

to the world as the sonorous herald

pion of true doctrine?

is

reproliated as a blasphemer

Thiicvdides.

B.

ii.

c.

45.

Read me

then,

CHAP.

word

SUFFERINGS OF NESTORIUS.

VII.]

for word,

some passages of thy

to the governor of the

Thebaid

:

—

addressed

epistle,

On

"

15

account of the

matters which have been lately mooted at Ephesus

concerning our holy religion. Oasis, further called has been appointed as the place of

Ibis,

And

by an imperial decree." thus

my

residence

presently he proceeds

" Inasmuch as the beforementioned place has

:

the hands

into

fallen

of the

reduced to utter desolation by

by a most unexpected liberated

barbarians, fire

and

]3een

and sword, and

I,

act of compassion, have been

by them, with a menacing injunction

in-

stantly to fly from the spot, since the Mazices were

upon the point of succeeding them of

it

;

I have, accordingly,

reached the Thebaid, toge-

ther with the captive survivors Avith

in their occupation

whom

me, by an act of pity for which

account. disperse

dividual

They,

they had joined I

am

unal^le to

accordingly, have been allowed to

themselves to the places whither their inclinations

led

them,

and

I,

in-

proceed-

ing to Panopolis, have shewed myself in public, for fear lest

seizure

any one, making the circumstance of an occasion of criminal proceeding,

raise a charge

my

against me, either

place of exile, or

for malice never

fore I entreat

my

seizure

sacrifice

my

should

of escaping from

some other imagined delinquency

wants occasion for slander.

There-

your highness to take that just \dew of

which the laws would

a prisoner

of

war

to

enjoin,

and not

the malice and evil

16

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

designs of

men:

there should hence arise

lest

melancholy story with

made

to be

captive

to fly for re-

sovereignty."

prefers, with

" I request

my

disposal,

liberation

solemn adjuration, the following

you

my

emperor the

to lay before the

from Oasis arose

arrival hither

by the barbarians

;

so that

according to God's good pleasure,

The second

be determined."

this

better

Roman

He then

from

is

it

I.

by barbarians, than

request

circumstance, that

that

all posterity,

fuge to the protection of the

:

[bOOK

the same, contains as follows

epistle, :

"

my final

may now

from the same to

Whether you

are dis-

posed to regard this present letter as a friendly com-

munication from nition its

me

your highness, or as an admo-

to

from a father to a

son, I beseech

detail, embracing, indeed,

as

briefly

many

you bear with

matters, but as

When

the case would allow.

had

Ibis

been devastated by a numerous body of Nomades," and so forth.

"

Under

tive or pretext

not, I

these circumstances,

was conducted by barbarous

polis to Elephantine, a place

vmce

by what mo-

on the part of your highness soldiers

I

know

from Pano-

on the verge of the pro-

of the Thebaid, being dragged thither by the

aforesaid military force

and when, sorely shattered,

;

had accomplished the greater part of the journey,

I

I

am

encountered by an un^vintten order from your valour to return to Panopolis.

Thus, miserably worn

the casualties of the road, with a disease

and age, and

a

body

mangled hand and

"wdth

afflicted side,

by

I ar-

17

SUFFEIUNG8 OF NESTOKIUS.

CIlAl'. VII.]

rived at Pauopolis in cxtrciuc exliaustioii, and further

tormented with cruel pains

:

whence a second written

injunction from your valour, speedily overtakmg me,

me

transported

While

to its adjacent territory.

supposing that this treatment Avould

now

I

was

cease,

and

was awaiting the determination of our glorious sovereigns respecting me, another merciless order

And

denly issued for a fourth deportation."

he proceeds

"

:

But

I

pray you to rest

what has been done, and with having

satisfied

with

inflicted so

many

And

banishments on one individual.

was sudpresently

call

1

upon you

kindly to leave to our glorious sovereigns the inquisition,

for

which reports

highness, and

by myself

laid

too,

before

by

that information should be given, terials.

If,

your pleasure;

your

will."

it

was proper

would furnish ma-

however, this should excite your indig-

nation, continue to deal with

to

them by your

whom

since,

Thus does

me

as before, according

no words can prevail over

this

man, who had not learned

moderation even by his sufferings, in his writings strike

and trample with

fist

and

heel,

even reviling

both the supreme and provincial governments.

I

learn

from one who wrote an account of his demise,

that,

when

his

tongue had been eaten through with worms,

he departed to the greater and everlasting judgment

which awaited

hiin.

18

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

CHAPTER

[bOOK

I.

VIII.

SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

Next

in succession to that

Maximianus

torius,

is

malignant

Nes-

spirit

invested with the bishopric of

the city of the renowned Constantine, in whose time

God enjoyed

the church of

perfect peace

:

and when

he was departed from among men, Proclus holds the

helm of the

see,

who had some time

When

ordained bishop of Cyzicus. the

way

of

all

mankind, Flavian succeeds to the

CHAPTER

been

before

he too had gone see.

IX.

HERESY OF EUTYCHES. In

his

Eutyches,

time

arose

when

a partial

the

stir

about the impious

synod was assembled at

Constantinople, and a written charge was preferred by Eusebius, bishop of Dorylaeum, who, while still practising as a rhetorician,

blasphemy of

Nestorius.

was the Since

first to

expose the

Eutyches,

when

summoned, did not appear, and afterwards, even on his appearance,

he had

said,

was convicted on

" I allow that our

certain points

;

for

Lord was produced

from two natures before their union, but

I confess

only

one nature after their union ;" and he even maintained

CHAP. X.]

SECOND COUNCIL OF EPIIESUS.

deprivation

—on

tlicse

but on

:

A.l).

449.

19

body was not of the same substance

that our Lord's

with ourselves

—

grounds he

is

presenting

his

sentenced to a petition to

Theodosius, on the plea that the acts, as set forth, had

been concocted in the hands of Flavian, the synod of the neighbouring region nople,

and Flavian

magistrates; and

is

tried

is

when

assembled at Constanti-

by

it

and some of the

the truth of the acts had been

contirmed, the second synod at Ephesus

CHAPTER

is

summoned.

X.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND COUNCIL OF EPHESUS.

Of

this council, Dioscorus, the successor of Cyril in

the see of Alexandria, was appointed president, by an intrigue, in

that time to

enmity to Flavian, of Chrysaphius, who at

swayed the imperial court.

There hasten

Ephesus Juvenalis, bishop of Jerusalem, who was

present at the former council, \vith a great associate priests,

and with him

cessor of John at Antioch

a bishop,

who was

of the elder his

:

also

number of

Domnus, the

and besides them,

suc-

Julius,

the representative of Leo, bishop

Rome.

Flavian also was present with

associate bishops, an edict having been addressed

by Theodosius

to Elpidius,

" Provided that those

in these precise terms.

who had on

the former occasion

passed judgment on the most religious Archimandrite

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

20

and

by abstaining from the functions of judges,

awaiting the

fathers

now

a subject of inquisition."

deposition of Eutyches liis

of

resohition

—

associates

sentence sident

is

as

is

the most holy

])assed

is

revoked by Dioscorus and

— and that

upon Flavian, and Eusebius,

At

of the church of Doryl^eum.

bishop of

is

In this council, the

contained in the acts

time, Ibas, bishop of Edessa,

Daniel,

all

inasmuch as their own previous decision

;

I.

be present, but take no part in the pro-

Eutyclies,

ceedings,

[bOOK

Carrhae,

is

excommunicated

;

Irenaeus of Tyre,

Aquilinus of Byblus, are deposed.

pre-

the same

and and

Some measures

were also taken on account of Sophronius, bishop of Constantina: and they depose Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus, and even

wards cover.

Domnus

of Antioch.

befel the last mentioned, I

am

What

after-

not able to dis-

After these proceedings the second council of

Ephesus was dissolved.

CHAPTER XL AN APOLOGY FOK DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG CHRISTIANS.

And

here

let

not any one of the deluded wor-

shippers of idols presume to sneer, as

if it

were the

business of succeeding councils to depose their predecessors,

and

to be ever devising

some addition

to the

to trace the

For while we are endeavouring

faith.

"21

DIFFERENCES AMONG CHRISTIANS.

CHAP. XI,]

mercy

unutterable and unsearchable scheme of God's to

man, and to revere and exalt

to the utmost,

it

our opinions are SAvayed in this or that direction

and

:

none of those who have been the authors of

vnth.

heresies

among

Christians,

did they

intention; nor

was blasphemy the from the truth

fall

first

a

in

desire to dishonour the Deity, but rather from an

idea which each entertained, that he should improve

upon

his predecessors

doctrines.

by upholding such and such

Besides, all parties agree in a confession

which embraces the

essential points

;

for a Trinity

is

the single object of our worship, and unity the com-

who

plex one of our glorification, and the Word,

God begotten

before the worlds, and became flesh

a second birth in mercy to the creature

and

:

if

is

by

new

opinions have been broached on other points, these also

have arisen from the freedom granted to our will

by our Saviour God, even on these

subjects, in order

that the holy catholic and apostolic church might be

the more exercised in bringing opposing opinions into captivity to truth

and

and

piety,

at one

smooth and straight path.

apostle

says

heresies

most distinctly

among

manifested."

Accordingly the

" There

:

length,

at

arrive,

is

need of

you, that the approved ones

And

here

also,

we have

occasion

admire the unutterable wisdom of God, the divine Paul, "

My

strength

is

may

made

who

be to

said to

perfect in

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

22

I.

For by the very causes by which the

weakness."

members

[bOOK

of the church have been broken

off,

the true

and pure doctrine has been more accurately

esta-

and the catholic and apostolic church of God

blished,

has attained amplification and exaltation to heaven.

But those who have been nurtured

in Grecian error,

having no desire to extol God or his tender care of

men, were opinions

endeavouring to shake the

continually

of their

and of each other,

predecessors,

rather devising gods upon gods, and assigning to

them by express

titles

the tutelage

passions, in order that they

their

own

of their

own

might find an excuse for

debaucheries by associating such

deities

Thus, their supreme Father of Gods and

with them.

men, under the form of a

bird, shamelessly carried off

the Phrygian boy ; and as a reward of his vile service,

bestowed the cup, with leave to pledge him in an

amorous draught, that they might with the nectar

common

drink in their

Besides innumerable

shame.

other villanies, reprobated by the meanest of mankind,

and transformations into every form of brutes,

himself the most brutish of pregnant,

if

all,

he becomes bi-sexual,

not in his belly yet in his thigh, that

even this violation of nature might be person

:

birth outraged surfeit,

fulfilled in his

Avhence springing, the bi-sexual dithyrambic either

sex;

author of drunkenness,

and mad debauch, and

quences.

To

this

all

their fearful conse-

^gis-wearer, this Thunderer, they

NESTORIANISM CONDEMNED.

CHAP. XII.]

in spite of these majestic titles, the crime of

attach,

parricide, guilt;

universally

as the extremity of

refj;ardecl

inasmuch as he dethroned

happily had begotten him. their

23

Why

who

Saturn

need

I also

consecration of fornication, over which

made Venus

un-

mention they

to preside, the shell-born Cyprian,

who

abhorred chastity as

an unhallowed and monstrous

thing, but delighted in fornication and all filthiness,

and willed to

company Mars

be propitiated by them: also suifers

by the contrivance of Vulcan, made a

phalli

their Priapus,

which

in

and

whose

spectacle

and

Justly would one ridi-

laughing-stock to the Gods? cule their

in

unseemly exposure, being,

ithyphalli,

and

phallagogia;

and Pan, and the Eleusinian mysteries,

one respect deserve praise, namely, that the

sun was not allowed to see them, but they were

condemned

to dwell with darkness.

Leaving, then,

the worshippers and the worshipped in their shame, let

us urge our steed to the goal, and set forth, in

compendious survey, the remaining transactions of the reio^n of Theodosius.

CHAPTER

XII.

CONDEMNATION OF THE NESTORIAN DOCTRINE BY THEODOSIUS.

Theodosius, then, issued a most pious constitution,

which

is

included in the

first

book of what

is

termed

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

24

the Code of Justinian, and title; all

which,

in

is

[bOOK

the third under the

I.

first

moved by heaven, he condemned, by

the votes, as the saying

is,

him

whom

to

he had

been long attached, as Nestorius himself writes, and placed him under anathema. as follow

:

" Further

we

The

precise terms are

ordain, that those

who favour

the impious creed of Nestorius, or follow his unlawful

from the holy churches,

doctrine, be ejected

be bishops or clerks

Other

;

and were

enactments

if laics,

also

CHAPTER SIMEON THE In

they

promulgated by liim

shew

relating to our religion, which

if

be anathematised."

his

burning

zeal.

XIII.

STYLITE.

these times flourished and became illustrious

Simeon, of holy and famous memory,

who

originated

the contrivance of stationing himself on the top of a

column, thereby occupying a spot of scarce two cubits in

Domnus was

circumference.

then

bishop

of

Antioch; and he, having visited Simeon, and being struck with the singularity of his position and of

life,

was desirous of more mystic

They met

accordingly, and having consecrated the

immaculate body, giving

mode

intercourse.

imparted to each other the

communion.

This

man, endeavouring

realise in the flesh tlie existence of the

life-

to

heavenly hosts.

CHAP. lifts

— A.D. 440.

SIMEON THE STYLITE.

XIII.]

25

himself above the concerns of earth, and, over-

powering the downward tendency of man's nature, is

intent

and

upon things above: placed between earth

heaven, he

holds

communion with God, and

unites with the angels in praising him; from earth, offering his intercessions on behalf of

heaven, drawing

An

down upon them

men, and from

the divine favour.

account of his miracles has been written by one

of those

who were

eye-witnesses,

and an eloquent

record by Theodoret, bishop of Cyrus

:

though they

have omitted a circumstance in particular, the of which I found to be ants of the holy desert,

them

as

earth,

memory

retained by the inhabit-

and which

I learnt

from

AVhen Simeon, that angel upon

follows.

that

still

citizen

in

the

the

of

flesh

heavenly

Jerusalem, had devised this strange and hitherto un-

known

walk, the inhabitants of the holy desert send

a person to him, charged with an injunction to render a reason of this

singular

namely, why,

habitude,

abandoning the beaten path which the saints had trodden, he to

mankind

and

pursuing another altogether unknown

is ;

and, further, that he should

travel the road of the elect fathers.

the same time, gave orders, that, fest a perfect readiness to

if

come down They,

at

he should mani-

come down,

liberty should

be given him to follow out the course he had chosen,

inasmuch

as his compliance

would be

sufficient proof

that under God's guidance he persevered in this his

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

26

endurance force, in

I.

but that he should be dragged down by

case he should manifest repugnance, or be

swayed by

by the

:

[bOOK

self-will,

and refuse

When

injunction.

to be guided implicitly

the person, thus deputed,

came and announced the command of the

and

fathers,

Simeon, in pursuance of the injunction, immediately

put one foot forward, then he declared him free to fulfil his

man

:

own

course, saying,

which

This circumstance,

have written about him, of record. divine

'

Be

and play the

stout,

the post which thou hast chosen

I

is

from God.'

is

who

omitted by those

have thus thought worthy

In so great a measure had the power of

grace taken

possession

of him,

that,

when

Theodosius had issued a mandate, that the synagogues of which they had been previously deprived by the Christians, should be restored to the

he wrote to the emperor with so

vehement rebuke,

own immediate his

as standing in

Jews of Antioch,

much freedom and

awe of none but

his

sovereign, that Theodosius re-called

commands, and

in

every respect favoured the

Christians, even superseding the prefect

He

gested the measure.

a request to this

.effect,

who had

sug-

further proceeded to prefer

to the holy

and

aerial martyr,

that he would entreat and pray for him, and impart

a share of his

own

peculiar

benediction.

prolonged his endurance of this mode of fifty-six

years, nine of

life

Simeon through

which he spent in the

first

monastery, where he was instructed in divine know-

CHAP.

XIII.]

ledge,

and forty-seven

SIMEOX THE STYLITE. in the

Mandra, as

27 it is

termed

namely, ten in a certain nook; on shorter columns, seven; and thirty upon one of forty cubits. his departure, his holy

body was conveyed

After

to Antioch,

during the episcopate of Martyrius, and the reign of

when Ardabyrius was

the emperor Leo, of the

forces

of the

in

command

on which occasion the

East,

troops, with a concourse of their folloT\^ers

and

others,

proceeded to the Mandra, and escorted the venerable

body of the blessed Simeon,

lest

the inhabitants of

the neighbouring cities should muster and carry

In this manner,

it

attended during

its

;

it off.

conveyed to Antioch, and

progress by extraordinary pro-

The emperor

digies.

body

was

also

demanded

possession of the

and the people of Antioch addressed to him a

petition in deprecation of his purpose, in these terms

"

Forasmuch

as

our city

is

without walls, for we

have been visited in wrath by their

fall,

we brought

hither the sacred body to be our wall and bulwark."

Moved by to their

these considerations, the emperor yielded

prayer,

venerable body. to

my

time:

and It

and,

left

them

in possession of the

has been preserved nearly entire in

company with many

priests,

I enjoyed the sight of his sacred head, in the episco-

pate of the famous Gregory,

when

Philippicus had

requested that precious relics of saints might be sent to

him

for

And, strange

the protection as

is

of the

Eastern

armies.

the circumstance, the hair of his

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

28

head had not perished, but preservation

when he was

as

The

with mankind. wrinkled

alive

skin of his

and indurated, but

I.

the same state of

in

is

[bOOK

is

and sojourning

forehead, too,

was

nevertheless

pre-

served, as well as the greater part of his teeth, except

such as had been violently removed by the hands of

men, affording by their appearance an

faithful

indi-

cation of the personal appearance and years of the

man

of God.

Beside the head

companion of

to which, as the

lies

the iron collar,

its

endurance,

famous body has imparted a share of bestowed honours

;

its

own

for not even in death has

I

fiting

both myself and

Simeon

In this manner

been deserted by the loving iron.

would

the

divinely-

have detailed every particular, thereby bene-

doret,

as

more

fully.

I

my

readers,

said before, already

CHAPTER

had not Theo-

performed the task

XIV.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPEARANCE OF A STAR NEAR THE COLUMN OF SIMEON.

Let me, however, add a record stance which I mtnessed.

I

of another circum-

was desirous of

visiting^

the precinct of this saint, distant nearly thirty stadia

from Theopolis, and situated near the very summit of the mountain. title

The people

of Mandra, a

of the country give

name bequeathed

it

the

to the spot, as I

MIUACULOCS AITEAIIANCIOS.

CJIAP. XIV.]

29

suppose, by the holy Suiieon, in respect of the disci-

which he there had practised.

pline

the mountain ple

is

is

much

as

as

twenty

The ascent of The tem-

stadia.

constructed in the form of a cross, adorned with

colonnades on the four sides. Beside the colonnades are

arranged handsome columns of polished stone, sustaining a roof of considerable elevation; while centre

the

occupied by an unroofed court of the most

is

excellent workmanship, Avhere stands the pillar, forty cubits, on

spent his heavenly

colonnades

is

of

which the incarnate angel upon earth life.

Adjoining the roof of the

a balustrade, termed by some persons win-

dows, forming a fence towards both the before-mentioned court and the colonnades. the

of the pillar, I saw, in

left

people

who were

the balustrade, on

it,

shootmg along the whole balustrade, not

ing, moreover, frequently,

ing

:

and

there

is

the

a very large and

merely once, twice, or thrice, but repeatedly

the saint.

all

there assembled, while the rustics

were performing dances round brilliant star,

At

company with

this occurs only at the

There are

;

vanish-

and again suddenly appear-

commemorations of

also persons

who

affirm

—and

no reason to doubt the prodigy, considering

the credibility of the vouchers, and the other circumstances which I actually ^vitnessed

—that

they have

seen a resemblance of the saint's face flittmg about

here and there, tiara, as

was

mth

a long beard, and wearing a

his habit.

Free ingress

is

allowed to

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

30

men, who repeatedly compass the beasts of burden is

:

I.

with their

but the most scrupulous precaution

what reason

taken, for

pillar

[bOOK

am

I

unable to say, that

no woman should enter the sacred building

:

but they

obtain a view of the prodigy from the threshold without,

since one of the doors

is

opposite to the star's

rays.

CHAPTER ISIDORE OF PELUSIUM

In the same reign

XV.

AND SYNESIUS OF GYRENE.

Isidore

was

also conspicuous

" wide whose reno^vn," according to the language of

poetry

;

having become universally celebrated by deed

To such

and word.

a degree did he waste his flesh

severe discipline, and feed his soul trine, as to

pursue upon earth the

of angels, and

life

be ever a living monument of monastic templation

of

God.

Besides

writings, well stored with

his

life

various profit, there are

some addressed to the renoAvned Cyril

divine bishop.

And

;

from which

mth

it

the

now, while endeavouring to give

my

work,

let

me

the scene Syriesius of Cyrene, whose

an embellishment to

and con-

numerous other

appears that he flourished contemporary

every attraction to

by

by elevating doc-

my

narrative.

also bring

upon

memory wiU add This Sjmesius,

while possessed of every other kind of learning, carried the

study of philosophy, in particular, to

its

REMOVAL

CHAP. XVI.]

31

IGNATIUS.

(»F

highest pitch; so as to gain the admiration even of

those Christians whose fall

decision

under their observation

or adverse prejudice.

is

upon things which

not guided by favouring

They, accordingly, persuade

him

to resolve

tion,

and to take upon himself the yoke of the

on partakmg of the saving regenerapriest-

hood, while as yet he did not admit the doctrine of the resurrection, nor

was inclined

to hold that tenet

;

anti-

cipating, with well-aimed conjecture, that this belief

would be added grace

is

to his other excellencies, since divine

never content to leave

Nor were they disappointed

its

work

unfinished.

in their expectation

:

for

his epistles, written after his accession to the priest-

hood, and composed with elegance and learning, as well as his discourse addressed to Theodosius himself,

and whatever ciently

is

extant of his valuable ^vritings,

suffi-

show how excellent and great a man he was.

CHAPTER XVL TRANSLATION OF THE REMAINS OF IGNATIUS.

At

the same period also took place the translation

of the divine Ignatius, as ters,

is

recorded, ^vith other mat-

by John the rhetorician

:

who, having found a

tomb, as he himself desired, in the bowels of the wild beasts, in the amphitheatre of less,

Rome, had, neverthe-

through the preservation of the more

solid bones,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

32 wliicli is

[UOOK

I.

were conveyed to Antioch, long reposed in what

called the cemetery

:

the good

God having moved

Theodosius to dignify the bearer of the name Theophorus with increased honours, and to dedicate a temple,

long ago devoted to the demons, and called by the inhabitants

Tycha3um,

to

the

victorious

martyr.

Thus, what was formerly the shrine of Fortune, be-

came a sanctuary and holy precinct

for Ignatius,

by

depositing there his sacred remains, which were con-

veyed on a car through the procession.

a public

From

accompanied

festival,

whole population

city,

;

attended by a solemn

this event arose the celebration of

mth

rejoicings of the

which has continued to our times,

and received increased magnificence the

prelate

Gregory.

Such

at the

hands of

were brought

results

about by the conspiring agency of friends and while

God was

ries of

decreeing honour to the holy

the saints.

For

heaven-detested poAver, Avliose

the

when

impious

Julian,

that

the Daphnipan Apollo,

prophetic voice proceeded from the Castalian

fount, could give

no response to the emperor's consult-

ation, since the holy Babylas,

from

his

resting-place, restrained his utterance to be an unwilling instrument in

by a

foes,

memo-

translation

;

on

Avliich

;

neighbouring

was goaded on

honouring that saint

occasion was also erected

to him, outside the city, a spacious temple, Avhich has

remained entire to the present day

:

the object of the

removal being that the demons might no longer be

CHAP. XYir.]

overawed

ATTILA KING OF THE HUNS.

in the pursuit of their

performance of which, as

said,

is

o"\vii

33

practices, the

they had previously

Thus were events disposed by

promised to Julian.

the providence of God, in his design that both the

power of those who were

dignified

by martyrdom

should be clearly manifested, and the sacred the

holy

martyr should

be transferred

relics of

sacred

to

ground, and be honoured with a noble precinct.

CHAPTER

XVII.

ATTILA KING OF THE HUNS.

During those times Attila,

EARTHQUAKES.

arose the celebrated

king of the Scythians

:

war of

the history of which

has been written with great care and distinguished ability

very

by Prisons the

rhetorician,

elegant narrative, his attacks

in a

he reduced, and the series of his achievements

until he It

details,

how many and important

western parts of the empire, cities

who

on the eastern and

was

was removed from the

Avorld.

also in the reign of Theodosius that an extra-

ordinary earthquake occurred, which threw

all

former

ones into the shade, and extended, so to speak, over the

whole world.

Such was

its

violence, that

many

of the

towers in different parts of the imperial city were overthro^vn,

and the long

Avail,

as

it is

termed, of the Cher-

sonese, Avas laid in ruins; the earth opened and SAvalloAved

3

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

34

up many

villages;

I.

and innumerable other calamities

happened both by land and

came

[bOOK

Several foimtains be-

sea.

dry, and, on the other hand, large bodies of water

were formed on the surface, where none existed before entire trees were torn

up by the

roots

and hurled

aloft,

and mountains were suddenly formed by the accumulation of masses throA\m up. fish

;

many

islands

The

sea also cast

up dead

were submerged and, again, ships ;

were seen stranded by the retreat of the waters. At the

same time Bithynia, the Hellespont, and

either Phrygia,

This calamity prevailed for a con-

suffered severely.

siderable time, thougli the violence with

which

it

com-

menced, did not continue, but abated by degrees until it

entirely ceased.

CHAPTER

XVIII.

ANTIOCH EMBELLISHED BT DIFFERENT GOVERNORS. In the course of the same period, Memnonius, Zoilus,

and

Callistus,

were sent out

])y

Theodosius to the

government of Antioch, men who made our object of

marked honour.

from the foundation, the edifice which

in a beautiful

is

religion

an

also rebuilt

and elaborate

we name Psephium,

roofed court in the centre.

which

Memnonius

style,

leaving an un-

Zoilus built the basilica,

situated on the south side of that of Rufinus,

and which has continued

to liear his

name

to our times.

HEVOLTS IN EUROPE.

CHAr. XIX.]

although the structure

from various

and striking

casualties.

itself

35

has undergone changes

Callistus, too, erected a noble

edifice, called

both in former and present

times the Basilica of Callistus, in front of the seats of justice,

and opposite the forum where stand the splen-

did buildings which are the quarters of the military

commanders. sent out as

Subsequently, Anatolius, having been

commander

of the forces of the East, erects

the basilica which bears his name, and embellishes

these matters, though beside

it

The introduction of

with every variety of material.

my more

immediate pur-

pose, will not offend the taste of the curious reader.

CHAPTER

XIX.

WARS DURING THE REIGN OF THEODOSIUS. In the times of Theodosius, repeated revolts took place in Europe, during the reign of Yalentinian at

Rome.

These were crushed by Theodosius, who sent

out for that purpose large land and naval forces. also so far quelled the insolence of the Persians,

He

whose

sovereign at that time was Isdigerdes, the father of

Yararanes,

or, as

as to reduce

and lasted tasius.

them

till

Socrates thinks, Yararanes himself, to solicit peace

;

which was granted,

the twelfth year of the reign of Anas-

These transactions have been recorded by

other ^\Titers, and have also been very elegantly epito-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

36

[bOOKI.

mised by Eustathius of Epipliania, the Syrian, who wrote, besides, an account of the capture of Amida.

In that age, too,

it is

said that the poets Claudian

and

Cyrus flourished; and that Cyrus was elevated to the seat of highest dignity

among

the prefects, styled by

our ancestors the prefect of the palace, and was also

command

invested with the

when

of the forces of the West,

the Vandals under Genseric had

made them-

selves masters of Carthage.

CHAPTER

XX.

THE EMPRESS EUDOCIA. Theodosius

also

espoused Eudocia,

who had

viously participated in the saving baptism

nian by birth, and distinguished by poetic

beauty of person

through

;

princess Pulcheria.

whom, when

pre-

an Athe-

;

skill

and

the offices of his sister, the

By her he had a daughter

Eudoxia,

she had reached a marriageable age, the for

which

Rome

to the

emperor Valentinian afterwards espoused; purpose he made a voyage from the elder city of Constantine.

At a subsequent period,

when Eu-

docia was pursuing a journey to the holy city of Christ

our God, she also

visits this place

;

and concluded an

address to our people with the following verse, 'Tis

from your blood

in allusion to the colonies * Horn.

I

proudly trace

my

line :*

which were sent hither from II. vi.

211.

CHAP. XXI.]

EUDOCIA VISITS JERUSALEM.

Of

Greece.

these, if

any one

is

Strabo, the geographer, Phlegon,

besides,

and Diodorus

by Arrian and Pisander the

by the distinguished

On

and Julian.

the

Siculus,

poet,

and,

sophists, Ulpian, Libanius,

this occasion, the sons of the Anti-

ochenes honoured her

mth

a skilfully executed statue

which has been preserved even to our times.

in brass,

At her

know

curious to

an elaborate account has been given by

particulars,

as well as

37

suggestion, Theodosius considerably enlarges

the bounds of the city,

by extending the

circuit of the

wall as far as the gate Avhich leads to the suburb of

Daphne

:

of which those

who

are disposed,

may

assure

themselves by visible proof; for the whole wall still

may

be traced, since the remains afford a sufficient

guidance to the eye.

Some, however, say that the

elder Theodosius extended the wall.

He gave,

two hundred pounds' weight of gold tion of the baths of Valens,

besides,

for the restora-

which had been

partially

burnt.

CHAPTER VISITS OF

From or Avith

EUDOCIA TO JERUSALEM.

this city

to Jerusalem

;

Av^hat

XXI. ASCETICS.

Eudocia proceeds on two occasions

but on account of what circumstances, object in the first instance,

thered through those writers

who have

must be

ga-

treated the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

38

subject, although they

At

true accounts.

I.

do not appear to nie to give events,

all

city of Christ, she did

[bOOK

many

when visitmg

the holy

things for the honour of

our Saviour God, even so far as to erect holy monasteries,

and what are termed

laura3.

mode

of

but the discipline of each

life

is

diiFerent,

In these places the

For those who

terminates in the same devout object. live

together in com23anies

are

influence of any of those things earth, since they possess

gold ?

when no

which one

is

now

not under the

which weigh down to the

no gold

article of

property of any one

still

:

but

why

should I say

even dress or food

among them, but

is

the sole

the g0A\ai or vest

wearing, another presently puts on,

so that the clothing of all appears to belong to one,

that of one to

all.

A

common

table also

is set

and

before

them, not delicately furnished with meats or any other dainties,

but supplied with fare of herbs and pulse,

and that only

in

sufficient

They maintain common

quantity to sustain

supplications to

life.

God through-

out the day and night, to such a degree distressing themselves, so galling themselves by their severe service, as to seem, in a

also frequently called,

namely,

or three days

;

manner, tombless corpses.

They

practice superadditions, as they are l^y

maintaining their fastings for two

and some on the

fifth day,

or even later,

scarcely allow themselves a portion of necessary food.

On

the other hand, there

is

a class

who pursue

a con-

trary course, and indi\'idually seclude themselves in

CHAP. XXI.]

ASCETIC

cliuinbers of so liiiiited a height

can neither stand upright nor fining their existence to " dens

Some,

as says the apostle.

39

DISCIPLINE.

and width, that they lie

down

at ease, con-

and caves of the

too, take

up

earth,"

their dwelling

with the wild beasts, and in untracked recesses of the

ground; and thus

Another mode has

offer their supplications

idso been devised,

God.

to

one which reaches

utmost extent of resolution and endurance:

to the

for transporting themselves to a scorched wilderness,

and covering only those parts which nature requires to be concealed, both

men and women

their persons exposed both

scorching blasts,

to

leave the rest of

excessive frosts

and

regardless alike of heat and cold.

They, moreover, cast off the ordinary food of mankind,

and feed upon the produce of the ground, whence they are termed Grazers is

allowing themselves no more than

;

barely sufficient to sustain

In consequence,

life.

they at length became assimilated to wild beasts, with their

outward form altogether disfigured, and their

mind

m

a state no longer fitted for intercourse with

their species,

whom

they even shun when they see

them; and, on being pursued, contrive to escape, voured either by their swiftness of difficult of access.

Avhich

I will

had almost escaped

mention

recollection,

away the preeminence from are very small

by

;

but

still

still

places

another

class,

though

all others.

fa-

by

foot, or

Its

it

bears

numbers

there are persons, who,

when

virtue they have attained to a condition cxenq)t

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

40

from passion, return to the world. the

stir,

to those

[bOOK

I.

In the midst of

by plainly intimating that they are

indifferent

who view them with amazement, they thus garment, ac-

trample under foot vain-glory, the

last

cording to the wise Plato, which

the nature of the

soul to cast

By

off.

similar

it is

means they study the

of apathy in eating, practising

it

the petty retailers of victuals.

even,

if

They

art

need be, with

also constantly

frequent the public baths, mostly mingling and bathing

with women, since they have attained to such an

as-

cendancy over their passions, as to possess dominion over nature, and neither by sight, touch, or even

embracing of the female, to relapse into their natural condition

;

it

being their desire to be

and women among women, and sexes.

In short, by a

life

men among men,

to participate in both

thus aU excellent and

di-

vine, virtue exercises a sovereignty in opposition to nature, establishing her o^vn laws, so as not to allow

to partake to satiety in

them

o^vn rule enjoins

any necessary. to

hunger and

thirst,

and to

clothe the body only so far as necessity requires their

mode

of

life is

them

Indeed, their

balanced by opposite

:

and

scales,

so

accurately poised, that they are unconscious of any

tendency to motion, antagonist forces case,

;

though arising from strongly

for opposing principles are, in their

mingled to such a degree, by the j^ower of divine

grace combining and again severing things that are incongruous, that

life

and death dwell together

in

41

ASCETIC DISCIPLINE.'

CHAP. XXI.]

them, things opposed to circumstances

:

for

dead and entombed

eucli

other in nature and in

;

where prayer to God

them

though the flower of are the

two modes of

energy

of

Thus with

be past.

life life

required,

is

they must display vigour of body and spirit,

must be

enters, they

where passion

combined, so as to be

constantly living with a total renunciation of the flesh,

and

at the

same time mingling with the living

;

both

applying remedies to their bodies, and presenting to the cries of suppliants, and in

God

all

other respects

fully maintaining a practice in accordance

former mode of

intercourse and place all,

:

and associate with

and continuous

with their

except as regards restriction in

life,

on the contrary, they

They

all.

listen to

also practise a long

series of kneelings

and

risings, their

earnestness alone serving to reinvigorate their years

and

self-inflicted

athletes,

weakness

;

being, as

bloodless wrestlers,

it

were, fleshless

esteeming fasting as a

varied and luxurious feast, and the utmost abstinence

from food a completely furnished hand, whenever a stranger visits

table.

On

the other

them, even at early

dawn, they welcome him with generous entertainment, devising another form of fasting in eating against their will.

Hence the marvel, how far the pittance on which

they subsist food;

falls

short of a sufficient allowance of

foes of their

own

desires

and of nature, but

devoted to the wills of those around them, in order that fleshly

enjoyment

may be

constantly expelled, and

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

42 tlie soul, is

diligently selecting

:

happy

in their

mode

in their departure hence,

impatient to behold

I.

and maintaining whatever

most seemly and pleasing

sway

[bOOK

may

to God,

alone bear

of existence here, happier

on which they are ever intent,

Him whom

CHAPTER

they desire.

XXII.

BUILDINGS ERECTED BY EUDOCIA.

ACCESSION OF

MARCIAN. After, having conversed with description,

and founded,

as I

many

persons of this

have already

many

said,

such seats of contemplation, and, besides, restored the walls of Jerusalem, the consort of Theodosius also

erected a very large sanctuary, conspicuous for elevation

and beauty, in honour of Stephen, the

deacons and martyrs, distant

from Jerusalem. posited, wheii she

less

Here her own remains were had departed

of

first

than a stadium

to the unfading

AYlien Theodosius had subsequently,

or,

de-

life.

as

some

think, before Eudocia, departed the sovereignty which

he had administered for eight and thirty years, the

most excellent Marcian the Romans.

is

invested with the empire of

The sequel of

my

history shall very

clearly set forth the transactions of his reign over the East,

while the heavenly impulse bestows

kindly aid.

THE END or THE EIRST BOOK.

its

o"wii

THE SECOND BOOK.

CHAPTER

I.

FORTUNES AND CllAliACTER OF MARCIAN.

The

transactions of the time of Theodosius have

been embraced

m

scene

emperor of the Romans, and

who and whence he the

Marcian,

me now

Let

the preceding book.

introduce upon the

the

renowned

in so doing, first

recount

was, and by what means he

imperial poAver:

and having done

this,

let

won

me

record the occurrences of his reign in the order of

Marcian,

time.

other writers,

has been

recorded

by many

was by birth a Thracian, and the son of a

torician,

military man.

mode

as

and in particular by Priscus, the rhe-

of

lite,

In his desire to follow his father's

he had

set

out for Philippopolis, where

he could be enrolled in the legions, and on the road sees the

body of a person recently

upon the ground.

On

going up to

the excellence of his other virtues, he

compassionate

—he

lying exposed

slain, it

—

for,

besides

was singularly

commiserated the occurrence, and

suspended his journey for some time, from a desire to discharge the due offices to the dead.

vSonie persons,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

44

observing the circumstance, reported ties at Philippopolis,

it

[bOOK

II.

to the authori-

and they proceeded to apprehend

Marcian, and interrogated him respecting the murder

and when, through the prevalence of conjecture and

mere probabihty over truth and asseveration of innocence, he

was upon the point of suffering the punish-

ment of

guilt,

a providential interposition suddenly

brings into their hands the real criminal, who, forfeiting his

own head

by

as the penalty of the deed,

procures an acquittance of the head of Marcian. After this unexi>ected escape,

he presents himself to one of

the military bodies stationed in the place, with the intention of enlistment.

Struck with the singularity

of his fortunes, and with reason concluding that he

would arrive

at

power and preeminent

distinction,

they gladly admitted him, and that too without placing him, according to military rule, lowest on the roll;

but they assigned to him the grade of a lately deceased soldier,

named Augustus, by

Marcian, called also Augustus.

inscribing in the

Thus did

anticipate the style of our sovereigns, title if

of

the

refused to abide on him Avithout

priate rank, and,

style

:

the

It

was

its

appro-

as

on the other hand, the rank was not

ambitious of another

titular

list,

name

who assume

Augustus on attaining the purple.

name

his

name

for the augmentation of its

and thus arose an identity of his personal and appellations, since his dignity

and his name

found an expression in the same term. Another circum-

CHAP.

I.]

THE EMPEROK MARCIAN.

— A.D.

45

450.

stance also occurred, which might serve as a prognostic

of the

When

imperial

power being destined

to

Marcian.

serving under Aspar against the Vandals, he

was one of many who

into their hands on the

fell

on the demand of

total defeat of that general; and,

Genseric to see the prisoners, was dragged Avith the

When

rest along the plain. lected, Genseric sat in

the whole body was col-

an upper chamber, surveying

with delight the numbers that had been taken. the time wore on, they pursued each his

guard had,

ation, for the

released

them from

their

at the order

own

As

inclin-

of Genseric,

and while they

bonds;

accordingly disposed of themselves each in his several

way, Marcian laid himself do^vn upon the ground to sleep in the sun,

which was shining with unusual heat

for the season of the year. his flight

An

eagle,

however, poising

above him, and directly intercepting the sun

as with a cloud, thus

produced a

sliade

and

its

con-

sequent refreshment, to the amazement of Genseric,

who, rightly presaging the future, sent for Marcian,

and liberated him, having previously l)ound him by solemn oaths, that on attaining the imperial power he

would maintain

faithfully the rights of treaty

the Vandals, and not

commence

hostilities

towards against

them; and Procopius records, that Marcian observed these conditions.

return to

my

But

subject.

let

us leave this digression, and

Marcian was pious towards

God, and just towards those under his rule regarding ;

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

46

[bOOK

II.

as wealth neither treasured stores nor the revenue of

imposts, but only the

means of providing

the

relief to

needy, and to the wealthy the security of their posses-

He was

sions.

dreaded,

punishment, but only by

not in

the infliction

On

anticipation.

its

of

this

accoimt he received the sovereignty not as an inheritance, but as the prize of virtue, conferred by the

unanimous voice both of the senate and men of ranks, at the suggestion of Pulcheria,

whom

all

he also

espoused as his partner in the imperial dignity, though she

still

remained a virgin to old age.

These trans-

actions took place without a previous ratiflcation of

the choice by Valentinian, the emperor of

Rome, who,

however, accorded his approval to the virtues of the person elected.

It

was further the

desire of Marcian,

that an undivided service should be offered to God,

by uniting

arts of impiety

the

Deity

should

up by

in pious concord the tongues

all

which

had confounded, and that the

be honoured

by one and the same

doxology.

CHAPTER

II.

COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON SUMMONED BY MARCIAN. AYiiiLE entertaining these intentions, the

emperor

is

addressed both by the legates of Leo, bishop of the elder

Rome, who

alleged that Dioscorus had, during

the second council of Ephesus, refused to receive the

CHAP.

COUNCIL OF CIIALCEDON.

II.]

epistle of Leo, containing

trine

and

;

also

formula of the true doc-

ji

by those who had been contumeliously

by Dioscorus, intreating that

treated

their case

who had been

lauim,

was

might

But Euse-

be submitted to the decision of a synod. bius,

47

A.D. 451.

president of the church of Dorj^-

and affirmed that both

especially urgent,

himself and Flavian had been deposed by the intrigues of Chrysaphius, the minister of Theodosius, because,

demand

in reply to his

of an offering in gold, Flavian

had, in acknowledgment of his o^vn appointment, sent

him and also that Chrymade a near approach to Eutyches in errone-

the sacred vessels to shame

saphius

He

ous doctrine.

;

also said, that Flavian

had even

been brought to a miserable end by being thrust and trampled on by Dioscorus himself. These circumstances caused the synod at Chalcedon to be assembled;

for

which purpose the bearers of missives were despatched,

and the prelates

stance, Niccea

Rome, on

in all quarters

The

pious letters. ;

place

^vriting

an

epistle respecting Paschasianus,

Lucentius, and others,

It

in the first in-

and, accordingly, Leo, the president of

sentatives, inscribed

NicaBa.

were summoned by

named was,

whom

it

to

he had sent as his repre-

the

council assembled at

was, however, subsequently convened at

Chalcedon in Bithjmia. influenced l)y

Zacharias, the rhetorician,

partiality, says that Nestorius was also

fetched from his place of exile

:

but this

is

disproved

by the circumstance, that Nestorius was generally

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

48

[bOOK

II.

And

anathematised by the members of the synod.

Eiistathius, bishop of Berytus, clearly establishes the

when writing

point,

bishop,

in the following terms to John, a

and another John, a presbyter, respecting the " Those

matters agitated in the assembly. in quest of the

who were

remains of Nestorius, again presenting

themselves, clamorously

demanded of the synod, why that the emperor

the saints are anathematised: so

indignantly ordered the guards to drive them far from the

place."

How

then

Nestorius

when he had departed from

was summoned,

the world,

I

am

unable

to say.

CHAPTER m. DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH OE

The

place of meeting

ST.

EUPHEMIA.

was the sacred precinct of

Euphemia, the martyr, situated

in the district of Chal-

cedon in Bithynia, and distant not more than two stadia

from the Bosphorus.

spot, of so gentle

their

way

The

site is

a beautiful

an ascent, that those who are on

to the temple, are not aware of their

imme-

diate approach, but suddenly find themselves within

the sanctuary on elevated ground their gaze

vey the

from a commanding

;

so that, extending

position, they can sur-

level surface of the plain spread out beneath

them, green with herbage, waving with

corn,

and

CHAP.

CHURCH of

III.]

49

eupiiemia.

st.

beautified with every kind of tree

;

at the

same time

woody mountains, tower-

including within their range

ing gracefully or boldly swelling, as well as parts of

mnds

the sea under various aspects

:

do not reach them, the

waters, with their dark

blue

still

here, Avhere the

sweetly playing with gentle ripple on the

tint,

beach; there wildly siirging, and sweeping l^ack the sea- weeds its

and the

waves.

lighter shell-fish with the recoil of

Directly opposite

thus the beauty of the so vast a city.

site is

is

Constantinople

The holy

place consists of three im-

One

open to the sky, including a

mense buildings.

is

court of great extent, and embellished on

columns

;

and next to

in its length, breadth, it

and

:

enhanced by the view of

it

another, nearly resembling

and columns, and

is

differing

it

from

(3n the north side of this,

only in being roofed.

facing the East,

mth

all sides

a round building, skilfully termi-

nated in a dome, and surrounded in the interior with

columns of uniform materials and a gallery under those

who

size.

the same roof,

are disposed,

may

These support

so contrived, that

thence both supplicate

the martyr and be present at the mysteries.

the

domed

Within

building, towards the Eastern part,

splendid enclosure, where

is

a

are preserved the sacred

remains of the martyr in a long coffin

(it

is

dis-

by some persons by the term "long") of The wonders which liave skilfully worked.

tinguished silver,

at certain times

been m-ought by the holy martyr, are 4

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

50 manifest to

all

[bOOK

II.

For frequently she has

Christians.

appeared in a dream to the bishops of the city from time to time, and even to certain persons Avhose lives

have been otherwise distinguished, and has bid them visit

her and gather a vintage at her sanctuary.

When

such an occurrence has been ascertained by the sovereigns,

the

patriarch,

temple, both those

who are invested with as the

and the

who sway

city,

they

the

visit

the sceptre, and those

sacred and civil

well

offices, as

whole multitude, desirous to partake in the

mysteries.

Accordingly, the president of the church

of Constantinople, with his attendant priests, enters, in sight of the public, the sanctuary

mentioned sacred body aperture in the

is

where the alreadyThere

deposited.

is

an

side of the coffin, secured with

left

small doors, through which they introduce a sponge

attached to an iron rod, so as to reach the sacred

and

after turning

-with stains

and

it

round, they draw

clots of blood.

On

it

relics,

out, covered

witnessing

this, all

the people bend in worship, giving glory to God.

So

great has been the quantity of blood thus extracted, that both the pious

sovereigns and the

priests, as well as the

congregated people,

assembled all

share in

a liberal distribution, and portions are sent to those of the faithful sun.

The

who

desire them, in every place

clots also are

appearance of the sacred

under the

permanent, neither does the l.ilood

luidergo any change.

These divine manifestations occur not

at the

recurrence

MIRACLES OF

CHAP. IV.J

51

EUPIIEMIA.

S'P.

of any definite period, but according as the prelate or gravity of

cordingly

church

is

tues, the

it

is

said,

manners that

when

lite

a person reverend and remarkable for vir-

is

cumstance which

I will,

suffers

but

however, mention a

is

which are the holy

is

infi-

AMienever any per-

indiscriminately.

son approaches the spot where

vouch-

and

safed Avith a distinction between the faithful all

cir-

no interruption depending on

lapse of time or seasonable occasion, nor yet

but to

;

not his character, such divine operations

are rarely displayed.

coffin in

Ac-

the governor of the

marvel occurs with peculiar frequency

when such

dels,

of the

for them.

calls

deposited the precious

relics,

he

is filled

with an

odour surpassing in sweetness every perfume with

which mankind are acquainted,

for

it

resembles neither

the mingled fragrance of the meadows, nor that which is

as

exhaled from the sweetest substances, nor

any perfumer could prepare

:

but

it

is

is

it

such

of a peculiar

and surpassing kind, of itself sufficiently hidicating the virtue of

its

source.

CHAPTER

IV.

COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON.

This was, then, the place of meeting of the before-

mentioned synod;

at

which the bishops Paschasinus

and Lucentius, and the presljyter Boniface, were the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

52

[bOOK

II.

representatives of Leo, archpriest of the elder Koine;

there

bemg

present Anatolius president of Constanti-

Maxiinus of

nople, Dioscorus, bishop of Alexandria,

Antioch,and Juvenalis of Jerusalem on whom attended :

both their associate

priests,

and those who held the places

To

of highest rank in the most excellent senate. latter the representatives of

Leo

ought not to be seated with themselves said,

;

for such, they

were their instructions from their bishop

that they

:

would withdraw from the church,

should be unable to inaintam

the

alleged, that Dioscorus

tliis

point.

as also if

they

In reply to

the question of the senators, what were the charges against Dioscorus, they stated, that he ought himself to render

an account of his own decision, since he had

unduly assumed the character of a judge.

After this

statement had been made, and Dioscorus, according to a resolution of the senate, had taken his seat in the centre, Eusebius

demanded,

in the

follomng

Avords,

that the petition should be read which he had pre-

sented to the sovereign power

by Dioscorus; the

faith

:

"I have been wronged been

has

wronged:

the

bishop Flavian Avas murdered, and, together Avith myself,

unjustly deposed by him.

petition be read."

Give directions that

AMien the matter had been

cussed, the petition Avas alloAved to be read

:

it

my dis-

Avas

couched in the folloAA^ng terms. " To our Christ-loA^uig

and

most

religious

A^alentinianus,

and

pious

sovereigns.

and Flavins M;ircianus, the

Flavins

petition of

CHAl'. IV,]

OF CIIALCKDON.

v"'OUN(UL

A.

1).

5o

451.

who now pleads on behalf of hunself and the orthodox faith,

Eusebius, the very humble bishop of Dorykeuiii,

and the sainted Flavian, formerly bishop of Constantinople.

It is the

aim of your majesty

to exercise a

providential care of all your su])jects, and stretch forth

a protecthig hand to

all

who

are suffering Avi'ong, and

to those especially who are invested with the priesthood; for

by

this

whom you

means

and power over much, then,

many

service

is

rendered to God, from

have received the bestowal of supremacy regions under the sun.

all

as the Christian faith

Inas-

and we have suffered

outrages at the hands of Dioscorus, the most

reverent bisho}) of the great city of the Alexandrians,

we

address ourselves to your piety in pursuance of our

rights.

At

The circumstances of the

axse are as follow

:

the synod lately held at the metropolitan city of

the Ephesians

—

Vv^ould that it

had never met, nor the

Avorld been thereby filled with mischiefs

and tumult

the excellent Dioscorus, regarding neither the principle of justice

nor the fear of God, sharing also in

the opinions and feelings of the visionary and heretical

Eutyches, though unsuspected by the multitude

of being such as he afterv/ards shewed himself, took occasion of the charge advanced fellow in doctrine, Eutyches,

by me against

his

and the decision given

by the sainted bishop Flavian, and having gathered a disorderly rabble, and procured an overbearing influence

by

bribes,

made

havoc, as far as

la}'

in

his

[bOOK IL

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

54

power, of the pious religion of the orthodox, and established

the erroneous doctrine of Eutyches the

monk, which had from the the holy fathers. the Christian tude,

we

first

been repudiated by

Since, then, his aggressions against

fiiith

and us are of no

trifling

magni-

beseech and supplicate your majesty to issue

your commands

to

the

same most reverent bishop

Dioscorus, to defend himself against our allegations

namely, when the record of the acts which Dioscorus ]:)rocured

synod

against us,

shall

be read before the holy

on the ground of which we are able to shew,

;

that he

is

estranged from the orthodox faith, that he

strengthened a heresy utterly impious, that he wrongfully deposed

we

will

and has cruelly outraged

us.

And

this

do on the issuing of your divine and revered

mandates to the holy and universal synod of the bishops, highly beloved of God, to the effect, that they

should give a formal hearing to the matters whicli

concern both us and the before-mentioned Dioscorus,

and

If

your

refer all the transactions to the decision of

piety, as shall

we

seem

fit

to

your immortal supremacy.

obtain this our request,

your everlasting

rule,

we

shall ever

pray for

most divine sovereigns."

In the next place, at the joint request of Dioscorus

and Eusebius, the

acts of the second council of

Ephesus

were publicly read, the particulars of which, as

being-

by the

detail

lengthy, and at the same time embraced

of the proceedings at Chalcedon, I have subjoined to the

CHAP.

present hook of

end of

tlie

history,

tlie

who

to those

pi'olix

55

(MIAKfiES A(JAINST DIOSCORUS.

IV.]

tliat

nrc eager

I

t(^ l)e

miglit not

seem

l)rouglit to the

transactions; therehy leaving to such as

are desh'oiis of nihuite acquaintance with every particuUir, the

means of

leisurely consultation

and an

By way

of

a

cursory statement of the more important points,

I

accurate conception of the

mention,

that

whole.

was convicted of having

Dioscorus

suppressed the epistle of Leo,

Rome and ;

of Flavian, bishop of single

elder

of the

Ijishop

further, of having enacted the deposition

day, and

new Rome,

space of

in the

procured the subscriptions

assembled prelates to

a

a

of the

blank paper, represented as

containing the form of the deposition.

grounds, the senators decreed as follows relating to the orthodox

and catholic

:

Upon these " Of points

faith,

we

are

agreed that a more exact inquiry should take place before a fuller assembly of the council, at

meeting.

But inasmuch

as

it

its

next

has been shewn, from

examination of the acts and decrees, and from the oral testimonyof the presidents of that synod, who admit that themselves were in error, and the deposition was void, that Flavian, of pious

memory, and the most reverent

bishop Eusebius, were convicted of no error concerning the faith, and were -wi'ongfuUy deposed,

it

seems to us,

according to God's good pleasure, to be a just proceeding, if

approved by our most divine and pious sove-

reign,

that Dioscorus, the

most reverent

l)ishop

of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

56

[bOOK IL

Alexandria; Juvenalis, the most reverent bishop of

Jerusalem; Thalassius, the most reverent bishop of C^sarea, in Cappadocia; Eusebius, the most reverent bishop of Ancyra;

Eustathius,

most

the

reverent

bishop of Beiytus; and Basilios, the most reverent bishop of Seleucia, in Isauria

who

;

exercised

sway and

precedency in that synod; should he svibjected to the selfsame penalty, by suifering at the hands of the holy

synod deprivation of their episcopal dignity, according to the canons

;

whatever

is

consequent hereupon, being-

submitted to the cognizance of the emperor's sacred

supremacy."

On at

presentation

the

the

next

meeting

against

of libels of

the

council,

charges of slander and extortion,

and

Dioscorus containing

his

refusal,

for certain alleged reasons, to appear, after a twice

and

thrice repeated

summons, the representatives of

Leo, bishop of the elder Rome, declaration

:

—

"

made

the following

The aggressions committed by Dios-

corus, lately bishop of the great city Alexandria, in

violation of canonical order

and the constitution of

the church, have been clearly proved by the investigations at the former meeting,

to-day.

and the proceedings of

For, not to mention the mass of his oiFences,

on his own authority, uncanonicaUy admit

he

did,

to

communion

his partisan

Eutyches, after having

been canonically deprived by his

own

bishop, namely,

our sainted father and archbishop Flavian; and this

CHAP.

57

DET'OSITION OF DIOSCORUS.

IV.]

before he sat in council with the other hishops at EphesLis.

don

To them,

indeed, the holy see granted par-

for the trajisactions

dehberate authors, and

of which they were not

tlie

they have hitherto continued

obedient to the most holy archbishop Leo, and the

body of the holy and universal synod

;

on which

ac-

he also admitted them into communion with

coinit

him, as being his fellows in

"Wliereas Dioscorus

faith.

has continued to maintain a haughty carriage, on ac-

count of those very circumstances over which he ought to have bewailed

and humbled himself to the

earth.

Moreover, he did not even allow the epistle to be read

which the blessed pope Leo had addressed to Flavian, of holy memory; and that too, notmthstanding lie

was repeatedly exhorted thereto by the had promised with an oath to that

effect.

of the epistle not being read, has l^een to

bearers, and

The fill

result

the most

holy churches througliout the world with scandals and

Xotmthstanding, however, such presump-

mischief. tion,

it

vras

our purpose to deal mercifully with him

as regards his past impiety, as

we had done

to the

Other bishops, although they had not held an equal judicial authority with him.

by

But inasmuch

as he has,

his subsequent conduct, overshot his former ini-

quity,

and has presumed to pronounce excommunica-

tion against Leo, the

of great

Rome

;

most holy and religious archbishop

since,

moreover, on the presentation

of a })aper full of grievous charges against liim to the

ECCLESIASTICAL IIISTOKY.

58

holy and great synod,

lie

[bOOK

IT.

refused to appear, thongh

once, twice, and thrice canonically

no doubt by

summoned by

the

;

and

since he has unlawfully given reception to those

who

bishops, pricked

had been duly deposed by

different synods;

he has

by variously trampling upon the laws of the

thus,

church, given his fore Leo, the

own verdict

Rome,

and the present synod, blessed

and

against himself. Wliere-

most blessed and holy archbishop of the

great and elder

l^asis

his o^vn conscience

all

has,

by the agency of ourselves

in conjunction with the thrice-

honoured Peter, who

is

the rock and

of the Catholic church, and the foundation of the

orthodox

faith,

deprived him of the episcopal dignity,

and severed him from every cordingly, this holy

priestly function.

Ac-

and great synod decrees the pro-

visions of the canons on the aforesaid Dioscorus."

After the ratification of these measures by the synod,

and the transaction of some other matters, those who

had

been

together with

deposed

reinstated, at the request of the

of the imperial government transactions,

;

:

"

you

;'

'

My

peace I give to you

to the purpose, that

his neighbour in the

was enounced

Our Lord Jesus

confirming the knowledge of the said,

were

and, after some further

a definition of fiiith

these precise words

Dioscorus,

synod and the assent

;

fiiith

my

in

Christ, while

in his disciples

peace I leave to

no one should

differ

from

doctrines of piety, but should

accord in pul)lisliing the declaration of the truth."

CHAT.

Al'ter the

59

DKFIXITION OF FAITH.

IV.]

reading of the holy Nieenc creed, and also

that of the hundred and fifty holy fathers, they sub-

joined as follows: " This wise and salutary synd)ol of

divme grace

is

indeed sufficient for the perfect know-

ledge and confirmation of godliness;

for,

concerning

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

teaching

plain

is

and complete, and

suggests the incarnation of the receive

But

it ftiithfully.

truth are

Lord

endeavouring to subvert

own, and have given

empty

some daring

speeches,

the Virgin

;

'

to those

who

doctrine

its

by

Ijirth to certain

to pervert the

economy which the Lord bore

and rejecting the term

its

sufficiently

since the enemies of the

heresies of their

of the

it

Mother of God,'

mystery

for our sakes, in the case of

others introducing a confusion and com-

mixture of substance, and inconsiderately moulding into one the natures of the flesh

and of the Godhead,

and by such confusion producing the monstrous notion of passibility in the divine nature of the Only-l)egotten for this reason the present great

;

and universal holy

synod, from a desire to preclude every device of theirs against the truth, and to maintain the hitherto un-

shaken declaration of doctrine, has determined marily that the creed

of the

three

pri-

hundred and

eighteen holy fathers shall be indefeasible; and, on

account of those fies

who impugn

the Holy Spirit,

the doctrine delivered subsequently

the substance of the

S])irit

it

rati-

concerning

by the hundred and

fifty

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

60 fathers,

who assembled

them promulgated

[l300K

in the imperial city,

II.

and by

though they

universally, not as

were supplying some defect on the part of their pre-

more

were

decessors, but

clearly

setting

forth,

by

expressly recorded testimony, their notion respecting the Holy Spirit,

in

who

opposition to those

voured to annul His prerogative.

endea-

In respect to those

who have dared to corrupt the mystery

of the economy,

and with shameless wantonness

to represent

was born of the holy Virgin

as

a

Him who

mere man, the

council has adopted the synodic epistles of the blessed Cyril,

of the

pastor

church

of

Alexandrians,

the

addressed to Nestorius and the prelates of the East, in refutation of the

instruction of those

madness of Nestorius, and

who with

for the

pious zeal are desirous

of being impressed with a due conception of the sav-

To

ing symbol.

these the council has not without

reason appended, in order to the confirmation of the true doctrines, the epistle of the president of the great

and elder Rome,

Avliich

the most blessed and holy arch-

bishop Leo addressed to the sainted archbishop Flavian, for the

overthrow of the

evil

design of Eutyches;

as being in agreement with the confession of the

Peter,

and forming with

testimony opinions

;

against for

it

to dissever the

of sons;

it

the

it

a

monument

maintainers

boldly confronts those

mighty

of concurrent

of

pernicious

who endeavour

mystery of the economy into

a duality

expels from the congregation of the holy

CHAP, IV.] those

iTtes

Gl

DEFINITION OF FAITH.

who presume

the Only-begotten

to affirm that the Godliead of

passible

is

;

and opposes those who

imagine a mixture or confusion in respect of the two natures of Christ.

It also ejects

such as fondly fancy

that the form of a servant which

our

own

stance

;

nature,

and

it

He assumed from

was of a heavenly or any other sub-

anathematises those

who

fable a resolu-

tion into one, at their union, of tAVO previous natures

of the

Lord.

fathers,

we

Following,

confess one

Jesus Christ, and

we

all

accordingly,

the

holy

and the same Son, our Lord with one voice declare him to

be at the same time perfect in Godliead, and perfect in

manhood, very God, and

at the

consisting of a reasonable soul

same tune very man,

and a body, being con-

substantial with the Father as respects his Godhead,

and

at the

same time consubstantial with ourselves as

respects his

manhood;

independently of sin

;

resembling us ui

all

things,

begotten, before the ages, of the

Father, according to his Godhead, but born, in the last

of the days, of Mary, the virgin and mother of

God, for our sakes and for our salvation

and the same Jesus

made

knoA\Ti in

conversion,

;

being one

Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten,

two natures without confusion, without

mthout

severance,

without

inasmuch as the difference of the natures

separation, is

in

no way

annulled by their union, but the peculiar essence of each nature

is

rather preserved, and conspires in one

person and one subsistence, not as though he were

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

62

parted or severed into two persons, but

is

[boOK

II.

one and the

same Son, Only-begotten, Divine Word, Lord Jesus

Him, and

Christ, as the prophets declared concerning

Christ himself has fully instructed us, and the symbol

of the fathers has conveyed to us.

Since, then, these

matters have been defined by us with diligence, the holy

all

accuracy and

and universal synod has determined

that no one shall be at liberty to put forth another fiiith,

whether in writing, or by framing, or devising,

And

who

shall

presume to frame, or publish, or teach another

faith,

or teaching

to others.

it

that those

or to communicate another symbol to those

who

are

disposed to turn to the knowledge of the truth from

heathenism or Judaism, or any other sect if

—that

they,

they be bishops or clerks, shall suffer deprivation,

the

of their

bishops

clerical office

;

and

if

episcopal, the

monks

or

clerks

laics, shall

of their

be anathe-

After the reading of the formula, the em-

matised."

peror Marcian visited Chalcedon, and attended the synod, and, having delivered an harangue, again took his departure.

Juvenalis also and

Maximus arranged

on mutual terms the matters relating to their own provinces,

and Theodoret and Ibas were

reinstated.

Other matters were also mooted an account of which, ;

as I have already It

was

also

said, is

subjoined to this history.

determined that the see of

New Rome,

while ranking second to that of C)ld Rome, should take

precedence of

all others.

CHAP.

V]

TUMULT AT ALEXANDRIA.

CriAPTEU TUMULT AT ALEXANDRIA

A.D. 451.

Go

V.

—AND

AT JERUSALEM.

In addition to these transactions, Dioscorus

is

sen-

tenced to reside at Gangra in Paphlagonia, and Proterius

is

appointed to the see of Alexandria by a general

On

vote of the synod. see,

his taking possession of his

among

a very great and intolerable tumult arose

the people, Avho were roused into a storm against conHicthig opinions

;

for some, as

is

likely in such cases,

desired the restoration of Dioscorus, while others resolutely upheld Proterius, so as to give rise to

irremediable mischiefs. recounts, that

Thus

many

Priscus, the rhetorician,

he arrived at Alexandria from the

Thebaid, and that he saw the populace advancing in a

mass agamst the magistrates: that when the troops attempted to repress the tumult, they proceeded to assail

them mth

stones,

and put them

to flight,

and

on their taking refuge in the old temple of Serapis, carried the place

by

alive to the flames

:

assault,

and committed them

that the emperor,

when informed

of these events, despatched two thousand newly levied troops,

who made

so favourable a passage, as to reach

Alexandria on the sixth day still

;

and that thence resulted

more alarming consequences, from the

license of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

64

[uOOK

mves and daughters

the soldiery towards the

II.

of the

Alexandrians: that, subsequently, the people, being

assembled in the hippodrome, entreated Florus,

was the mihtary connnandant,

as well as

who

the eivil

governor, with such urgency as to procure terms for themselves, in the distribution of provisions, of which

he had deprived them, as well as the privileges of the baths and

s^^ectacles,

and

all

others from which, on

account of their turbulence, they had been debarred at his suggestion, Florus presented hmiself to

that,

the j^eople, and pledged himself to that this

means stopped the

and by

effect,

Nor

sedition for a time.

did

of Jerueven the wilderness in the neio'hbourhood o salem preserve its tranquillity, unvisited by this com-

motion.

For there arrived

monks who had

in Palestme

some of the

been present at the council,

but were

disposed to harbour designs in opposition to

by lamenting the

selves to fan into a flame the monastic body.

when

and

it;

betra}'al of the faith, exerted tliem-

And

Juvenalis, after obtaining restitution to his see,

had been compelled

to return to the imperial city,

the violence of the party

who claimed

supersede and anathematise in their those who, as

we have

by

the right to

o^^ai

province,

already mentioned, were op-

posed to the acts of the council of Chalcedon, assembled in the church of the Resurrection, and appointed

Theodosius, Avho had especially caused confusion in the council, and been the

first to

bring a report of

its

CHAP, v.]

05

UKLIGIOIT8 ANIMOSITIES.

whom,

proceedings, and respecting

monks

period, the

subsequent

at a

of Palestine alleged, in letters to

Alcison, that having been convicted of malpractices in relation to his

own

bishop, he

and

monastery:

his

that

had been expelled from Alexandria

at

impugned the conduct of Dioscorus, and,

had

he

after

having

been severely scourged as a seditious person, had been

conveyed round the city on a camel, as malefactors.

made

To him many

application, with a

Among

bishops.

is

usual with

of the cities of Palestine

view to the ordination of

was Peter the Iberian

these

whom

was committed the episcopal helm of the

called

Majumas,

in the

to

;

city

neighbourhood of Gaza.

On

being informed of these proceedings, Marcian, in the first place,

his

own

past,

commands Theodosius

to be

person, and sends Juvenalis

mth

conveyed near to rectify the

an injunction that all who had been ordained

by Theodosius should be

ejected.

Many

sad occur-

rences followed the arrival of Juvenalis, while either

party indulged in whatever proceedings their anger suo-o-ested.

Such was the device of the envious and

God-hating demon in the change of a single that, while in reality the

letter,

one expression was completely

inductive of the notion of the other, generality the discrepancy between

still

with the

them was held

to

be considerable, and the ideas conveyed by them to be clearly in diametric opposition,

other

:

and exclusive of each

whereas he who confesses Christ 5

in

two natures,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

66

clearly affirms

Him

to be

from

confessing Christ at once in asserts

tAvo

;

[bOOK

II.

inasmuch as

l^y

Godhead and manhood, he

His consistence from Godhead and manhood

and, on the other hand,the position of one

His origin from two natures,

is

;

affirms

completely mclusive

of His existence in two, inasmuch as he Christ to be from

who who

Godhead and manhood,

affirms

confesses

His existence in Godhead and manhood, since there

is

no conversion of the flesh into Godhead, nor a transition of the

Godhead

into flesh,

expression,

from which substances

So that in

arises the ineffable union.

"from two natures,"

is

this case

by the

aptly suggested the

thought of the expression, " in two," and conversely

nor can there be a severance of the terms,

this

being

an instance where a representation of the whole afforded, not

merely by

parts, but, as a further

existence in them. so taken

up the

its

and

origin

is

from component

distinct means,

by

its

Yet, nevertheless, persons have

idea of the

marked

distinction of the

terms, either from a habit of thought respecting the

glory of God, or by the inclination forestalling the

judgment, as to be reckless of death in any shape, rather than acknowledge the real state of the case

and hence arose the occurrences which scribed.

Such then was the

T

have de-

state of these matters.

07

VARIOUS CALAMITIES.

CIIAr. VII.]

CHAPTER

VI.

DROUGHT, FAMINE, AND PESTILENCE IN ASIA MINOR.

About

the same time there was also a drouglit in

Phrygia, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Cilicia:

want of ordinary recourse to

unwholesome

to pestilence.

excessive

necessaries,

The

food,

the

and, from

had

inhabitants

which further gave

rise

change of food caused disease;

inflammation produced a swelling of the

body, followed by loss of sight, and attended with a cough, and death took place on the third day.

time no relief could be devised for the pestilence

For a ;

but

all-preserving Providence vouchsafed to the survivors

a remedy for the famine, by raining do^vn food in the

unproductive year,

in

the same

termed manna upon the

way

Israelites;

as

what was

and, during the

succeeding year, by wiUing that the fruits of the earth

should be matured spontaneously. calamities included

also

other districts, making, as

The spread of these

Palestine and it

innumerable

were, a circuit of the earth.

CHAPTER

VII.

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR VALENTINIAN.

ROME TAKEN.

SUCCESSORS OF VALENTINIAN.

During the progress of these events

in the East,

Aetius meets with a miserable end at Old Rome, and

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

68

Yalentinian, the emperor of the West,

[bOOK

is slaiii,

II.

together

with Heraclius, by some of the guards of Aetius, at

who

the instigation of Maximus, the

sovereignty,

because

had violated

Yalentinian

Maximus

afterwards assumed

and who conspired against them This

wife.

his

forces Eudoxia, the wife of Yalentinian, into

and

a marriage with himself;

she, justly

regarding

the transaction as an outrage and altogether monstrous,

determined to

set, as

the saying

is,

all

upon a

cast,

on

account of the ^vrong she had suffered both in the person of her husband and the infringement of her liberty:

a

for

woman,

of her

jealous

unscrupulous and implacable

if

chastity,

is

she has suffered defile-

ment, especially by one through whose means she has

been deprived of her husband. sends to

Genseric,

presents, as Avell as

Africa,

in

and by considerable

Roman

him

to

make

accordingly done, and

even to her

;

Rome

fickle,

captured.

pillage,

This was

But Genseric,

did not maintain his fidelity

but, after firing the city

indiscriminate

a sudden

empire, Avith a promise of

betraying every thing into his hands.

barbarian -like and

she

by holding out confident expecta-

tions of the future, induces

descent upon the

Accordingly,

and making an

he retired, taking with him

Eudoxia and her two daughters, and returned to Africa.

The

his OAvn son,

elder daughter, Eudocia, he espouses to

Huneric; but the younger, Placidia, he

subsequently sends, together

mth

her mother Eudoxia,

CHAP.

VIII.]

DEATH OF MARCIAN.

— A.D.

69

457.

a royal escort to Byzantiuin, with the vii'W of

Avitli

who was Rome and the

pacifying Marcian, buriuiig of ladies.

exasperated both by the

outrage upon the royal

Placidia, in obedience to Marcian, consents to

marry Olybrius, a distinguished member of the

who had come

senate,

to Constantinople on the capture of

Rome.

After Maximus, Avitus Avas emperor of the

Romans

for eight

months; and on

starvation, Majorian for

he had been treacherously

master of the

Roman

his

decease

more than a year: and

by

after

murdered by Ricimer,

armies, Severus for three years.

CHAPTER

VIII.

MURDER OF PRO-

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR MARCIAN. TERIUS, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.

— ELECTION

OF

TIMOTHY, SURNAMED .^LURUS (tHE CAT).

During the reign of Severus

at

changes his earthly sovereignty happier

state,

exto a

having reigned only seven years, but

leaving behind

him a truly royal monument

On

memories of mankind. people

Rome, Marcian by a removal

of Alexandria

in the

learning this event, the

renewed

their

feud

against

Proterius with stiU greater exasperation and excessive

heat

:

for the populace in general are

material,

and allow very

an inflammable

trivial pretexts to

foment the

flame of commotion, and not in the least degree that of Alexandria, which presumes on

its

numbers, chiefly

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

70

[bOOK

II.

an obscure and promiscuous rabble, and vaunts forth its is

impulses with excessive audacity. said that every one

who

Accordingly,

so disposed

is

it

may, by em-

ploying any casual circumstance as a means of excite-

ment, inspire the city with a frenzy of sedition, and

hurry the populace in whatever direction and against

whomsoever however,

is

he chooses.

humour,

Their general

even of a sportive kind, as Herodotus

records to have been the case with Amasis. then,

is

the character of this people

;

who

Such,

were, how-

by no means contemptible.

ever, in all other respects

The people of Alexandria,

accordingly, taking ad-

vantage of the prolonged absence of Dionysius, com-

mander of the

legions,

in

Upper

Egy^Dt, decree the

elevation to the highest priestly grade, of Timotheus,

surnamed ^Elurus, who had formerly followed the monastic

among

life,

but had subsequently been admitted

the presbyters of the church of Alexandria;

and, conducting

of Caesar, elect still

alive

him

him

to the great church, styled that

their bishop,

though Proterius was

and discharged the functions of

There were present

his office.

at the election, Eusebius, president

of the church of Pelusium, and Peter the Iberian,

bishop of the town

of Majumas,

according to the

account given of the transaction by the ^vriter of the life

who

says that Proterius

was not

by the populace, but by one of the

soldiers.

of Peter,

killed

also

AVlien Dionysius, on accoiuit of the urgency of these

CHAP.

MUKDEli OF

Vlll.]

had occupied the

disorders,

dispatch,

and

71

I'llOTEUlUS.

city

with the utmost

prompt measures

Avas taking

to

quench

the towering conflagration of the sedition, some of the

Alexandrians, at the instigation of Timotheus, according to the Proterius

written

report

made

Leo, despatch

to

when he appeared, by thrusting

through his bowels, after he had holy baptistery.

they displayed

it

a sword

fled for reluge to the

Suspending the body by a cord, to the public in the quarter called

Tetrapylum, jeering and vociferating that the victim

was Proterius; whole

and, after dragging

connnitted

city,

it

through the

it

to the flames

not even re-

;

fraining themselves from tastmg his intestmes, like beasts of prey, according to the account of the entire

transaction contained in the petition addressed

by the

Egyptian bishops and the whole clergy of Alexandria to Leo,

who, as has been

imperial power on the

said,

was invested with the

death of

couched in the following terms: Christ-loving,

j\Iarcian.

— " To

the

It

was

pious,

and divinely-appointed, the victorious

and triumphant Augustus Leo, the petition of

all

the

bishops of your Egyptian diocese, and the clergy of

your most dignified and holy church of Alexandria.

Having been granted, by divine kind, as such

daily providence of the

sacred of the

all

petition

grace, a

boon to man-

you cease not to exercise, next to God, a connnon weal, Augustus, most

emperors."

After some other matters,

proceeds:

"And

while

undisturbed

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

72

peace was prevailing

among

[bOOK

II.

the orthodox people of our

country and Alexandria, Timotheus, immediately after the holy synod at Chalcedon, being at that time a presbyter, severed himself from the Catholic church

and

together with only four or five bishops and

faith,

a few monks, of those who, as well as himself, were

and

infected with the heretical errors of ApoUinaris his followers

on account of which opinions they were

;

then deposed by Proterius, of divine memory, and the general synod of Egypt, and duly experienced the

motion of the imperial

And

ment."

will, in

afterwards

it

the sentence of banish-

proceeds

:

"

And

having

watched the opportunity aiForded by the departure

from

this

world to God of the emperor Marcian, of

sacred memory, assuming then in blasphemous terms

a bold tone of independence, and shamelessly anathe-

matising the holy and general synod at Chalcedon, while he drew after

hhn

a mercenary and disorderly

multitude, and assailed the divine canons and ecclesiastical order, the

commonwealth and the

laws, he in-

truded himself upon the holy church of God, which at that time

was possessed of a pastor and teacher

in the

person of our most holy father and archbishop, Proterius,

duly performing the ordinary

ing up to Christ, the Saviour of us in behalf of

rites,

all,

and

offer-

supplications

your pious sovereignty and your Christ-

loving court."

And

presently

after the interval of only

it

proceeds

:

"

And

one day, while Proterius,

PETITION FROM EGYPT.

CIIAr. VIII.]

73

beloved of God, was occupying, as usual, the episcopal residence, Timotheus, taking with

hhn the two

who had been justly deposed, and the clergy we have said, were condemned to banishment

bishops

who, as

with them, as

if

he had received rightful ordination at

the hands of the two, though not one of the orthodox

bishops of the whole Egyptian diocese was present, as is

customary on occasion of the ordinations of the

bishop of the church of Alexandria himself,

—he

possesses

he presumed, of the archiepiscopal

as

though manifestly

giiilty

see,

of an adulterous outrage on

the church, as already having her rightful spouse in

one

who was performing

the divine offices in her, and

canonically occupied his proper throne."

on

:

"

The

blessed

man

give place to wrath, according to what

take refuge

in

assault of those

place

And

further

could do nothing else than is

written,

and

the venerable baptistery from the

who were pursuing him

to death, a

which especially inspires awe even into bar-

barians and savages, though ignorant of

and the grace which flows from

it.

its

dignity,

Notwithstanding,

however, those

who were

tion the design

which Timotheus had from the

conceived, and

who

eager to carry into execu-

could not endure that his

first life

should be protected by those undefiled precincts, neither reverenced the dignity of the place, nor yet the season (for feast),

it

was the solemnity of the saving paschal

nor were awe-struck at the priesth

office

which

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

74

mediates between less

man

God and man

to death, cruelly

They then drew

others.

[liOOK

II.

but put the blame-

;

butchermg him with

six

forth his body, covered with

Avovmds, and having dragged

it

in horrid procession

with unfeeling mockery through almost every part of the city, ruthlessly loaded the senseless corpse with indignity, so far as to tear

it

limb from limb, and not

even abstain from tasting, like beasts of prey, the flesh of

him whom but

were supposed to

just before they

have as a mediator between God and man.

They then

committed what remained of the body to the flames,

and scattered the ashes

to the

mnds, exceeding the

utmost ferocity of wild beasts. tions

Of

all

these transac-

Timotheus was the guilty cause, and the

builder of the scheme of mischief."

skilful

Zacharias, how-

ever, while treating at length of these events, is of

opinion that the greater part of the circumstances

thus detailed actually occurred, but through the fault of Proterius, in the city,

by

his instigation of serious disturbances

and that these outrages were committed,

not by the populace, but by some of the soldiery

grounding his opinion on a theus

to

Leo.

In

proceedings, Stilas tise

them.

is

letter addressed

consequence, sent out

by Timo-

however, of these

by the emperor

to chas-

CHAP. IX.]

LETTER FROM THE EMPEROR LEO.

CHAPTER

75

IX.

LETTER FROM THE EMPEROR LEO.

Leo

also addresses circular letters of inquiry to the

bishops throughout the empire and the most distin-

guished monastics,

relating

to the

synod

cedon and the ordination of Timotheus, iElurus, accompanying tions

them with

copies of the peti-

which had been presented to him on the part

both of Proterius and Timotheus. ters

A

at Chal-

surnamed

The

were couched in the following terms copy of the sacred

epistle of the

circular let-

:

most pious em-

peror Leo to Anatolius, bishop of Constantinople, to the metropolitans throughout the whole world, and the other bishops. "

The emperor

Caasar Leo,

pious, victorious, tri-

umphant, supreme, ever-worshipful Augustus, to the bishop Anatolius. It has ever been a subject of prayer to

my

piety,

that

all

the orthodox and most holy

churches, and, indeed, the cities throughout the Ro-

man

dominion, should enjoy perfect tranquillity, and

that nothing should befall serenity.

happened to

The

events,

them

to disturb their settled

however, which have lately

at Alexandria,

we

are assured, are

known

your holiness: but that you may be more

fully

informed respecting the entire transaction, and the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

76

much tumult and

cause of so

[bOOK

confusion,

we have

II.

for-

Avarded to your sanctity copies of the petitions which the most reverent bishops and clergy of the before-

mentioned

and of the Egyptian

city,

diocese, presented

to our piety against Timotheus, at the imperial city of

Constantine

;

and, in addition, copies of the petitions

presented to our serenity, at our sacred court, by persons from Alexandria on behalf of Tiuiotheus

your

holiness will

;

so that

be able distinctly to learn

what

have been the proceedings of the before-mentioned Timotheus,

whom

the people of Alexandria and their

dignitaries, senators,

bishop,

and what

and ship-masters request

for their

relates to the other transactions, as

intimated by the tenor of the petitions, as well as re-

garding the synod at Chalcedon, to which these parties

by no means

set forth

by the

assent, according as the matters are

Your

petitions appended.

reverence

you

will accordingly forthwith cause to assemble to all

the orthodox holy bishops

who

in the imperial city, as also the

now

are

resident

most reverent clergy

and, after carefully investigating and testing every

cumstance, considering that Alexandria disturbed,

settlement

and that we are most and

tranquillity,

is

solicitous for

declare

cir-

at present

your

its

opinion

respecting the before-mentioned Tmiotheus and the

synod at Chalcedon, without any fear of man, and apart from

all

favour or disHke

;

setting before

your

eyes only the fear of the Almighty, inasmuch as ye

LETTER FROM THE EMPEROR LEO.

CHAP. X.]

know

tlint

ye

sliiill

pure Godhead.

frame the

give account of this matter to His

This

perfectly informed

we

also

in order that, being

enjoin,

by your

fitting issue

emperor wrote

who

those

we may be

letters,

able to

The

on the entire matter." similar terms

in

bishops, and, as I have said, to the

among

77

at that period

to

the other

most distinguished were practising the

endurance of the bare and immaterial mode of

life.

Among

sta-

these was Simeon,

tion on the pillar,

and of

who

first

whom

in the former part of the history

I ;

conceived the

have made mention as well as Baradatus

and Jacob, the Syrians.

CHAPTER REPLIES OF THE BISHOPS.

Accordingly, in the

first

Rome, both wrote

the elder

X.

—AND

OF

SI3IE0N.

instance, Leo, bishop of in defence of the

synod

and declared the ordination of Timo-

at Chalcedon,

theus to be null, as having been irregularly performed.

This epistle the emperor Leo dispatches to Timotheus, president of the church of Alexandria silentiary,

Timotheus wrote at Chalcedon

:

Diomedes, the

in rejoinder, excepting to the

and the

epistle of Leo.

ments copies are preserved Circulars

;

executing the imperial commission

but

I

:

and

synod

Of these docu-

in the collection called the

have omitted them, to avoid encum-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

78

[bOOK

II.

bering the matter on hand with too great a number.

The

bishops, too, of the other cities, expressed their

adherence to the determinations framed at Chalcedon,

and unanimously condemned the ordination of Timowrote an

theus.

Amphilochius alone, bishop of

epistle,

loudly reprobating the ordination of Timo-

theus,

Side,

but also rejecting the synod at Chalcedon.

Zacharias the rhetorician has also treated of these transactions,

and has inserted the

Amphilochius

in his

mory, wrote two

epistles

itself of

epistle

Simeon, too, of holy me-

work.

on the occasion

namely, to

;

the emperor Leo, and to Basilius, bishop of Antioch.

The

latter, as

as follows

:

being

brief, I insert in this

"To my

lord, the

my

history,

and holy

most religious

servant of God, the archbishop Basilius, the sinful

and humble Simeon wishes health

may we now

say,

my

lord

:

in the Lord.

Blessed be God,

Well

who

has

not rejected our prayer, nor withdrawn his mercy

from us

For, on the receipt of the letters of

sinners.

your worthiness,

I

admired the zeal and piety of our

sovereign, beloved of God, which he manifested and still

manifests towards the holy fathers

unshaken

faith.

And

this gift is not

as says the holy apostle, but

your prayers, bestowed mind."

And

on

from God, who, through

him

this

presently he proceeds:

count, I also, though

and their

from ourselves,

mean and

readiness

"On

of

this ac-

worthless, the refuse

of the monks, have conveyed to his majesty

my

judg-

CHAP.

rUNISITMENT OF TIMOTHY.

XI.

79

incnt respecting the creed of the six hundred and

holy

thirty

fiithers

Holy

Spirit

:

for

assembled at Chalcedon, firmly

by the

resolving to abide

faith then revealed

in the

if,

are gathered in His name, the Saviour

could

be otherwise,

it

by the

midst of two or three is

"svlio

how

present,

than that the Holy Spirit

should be throughout in the midst of so distinguished holy ftithers?"

And

many and

so

afterwards he pro-

ceeds: " Wherefore be stout and courageous in the

cause of true piety, as was also Joshua the son of

Nun, the servant of the Lord, dren of

Israel.

I

reverent clergy

in behalf of the chil-

beg you to salute from

who

me

all

the

are under your holiness, and the

blessed and most faithful laity."

CHAPTER XL PUNISHMENT OF TIMOTHY.

On

these grounds Timotheus

nishment, and Gangra place of exile.

is

is

sentenced to ba-

in his case also

The Alexandrians then

named elect

as the

another

Timotheus, variously surnamed Basilicus and Salofacialus.

Anatolius dies, and Gennadius succeeds him

in the see of the imperial city. cius,

who had been master

that city.

of the

His successor

is

Aca-

Orphan Hospital

in

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

80

CHAPTER

[uOOK

II.

XII

EARTHQUAKE AT ANTIOCH. During the second year of the reign of Leo, an extraordinary shock and concussion of the earth took

by

place at Aiitioch, preceded

certain excesses of the

populace, which reached the extreme of frenzy, and

surpassed the ferocity of beasts, forming, as

prelude to such a calamity.

it

were, a

This grievous visitation

occurred in the five hundred and sixth year of the free prerogatives of the city,

about the fourth hour of

the night, on the fourteenth day of the piaeus,

which the Romans

call

month Gor-

September, on the eve

of the Lord's day, in the eleventh cycle of the indiction;

and was the sixth on record

after a lapse of

three hundred and forty -seven years, since the earth-

quake under Trajan; for that occurred when the city

was

in the

hundred and

pendence; but

this,

fifty-ninth year of its inde-

which happened in the time of

Leo, in the five hundred and sixth, according to the

most

diligent

authorities.

do-^Ti nearly all the

This earthquake threw

houses of the

New

City,

which was

very populous, and contained not a smgle vacant or altogether unoccupied spot, but had been highly embellished

by the

rival liberality of the emperors.

the structures composing the palace,

the

first

Of and

CHAP.

FIRE AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

Xlir.]

second were thrown

down

:

—

81

A.D. 46'2.

the rest, however, remained

standing, together with the adjoining baths, which,

now rendered

having been previously useless, were

serviceable to the necessities of the city, arising

the

damage of the

ticoes in front of the [)alace

pylum, as

and the adjacent Tetra-

towers of the

as the

Avell

from

It also levelled the por-

others.

Hippodrome,

which flanked the entrances, and some of the porticoes In the Old City, the ]3orticoes and

adjoining them.

dwellings entirely escaped the overthrow; but

it

shat-

tered a small portion of the baths of Trajan, Severn s,

and Hadrian, and

also laid in ruins

quarter of houses

named

and

porticoes,

um.

levelled

some parts of the

Ostracine, together

what was

called the

All these circumstances have

by John the

detailed

rhetorician.

-svith

the

Xymph^e-

been minutely

He

says, that a

thousand talents of gold were remitted to the city

from the tributes by the emperor; and, besides, to individual

stroyed

:

citizens,

and that he

ation both of

the imposts also took

of the

them and of the public

CHAPTER

houses

de-

measures for the restorbuildings.

XIII.

CONFLAGRATION AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

A

SIMILAR, or even

more

Constantinople, which took

terrible calamity, befell

its rise

6

from the quarter of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

82

the city bordering

rium.

The

demon of reality a is

a

destruction in the form of a

woman, or

in

set the

it

for the story

ways, carried a light into the market

buying pickled

down

set

that

is,

woman incited by a demon,

])otli

some tow,

and named Bospo-

sea,

dusk-hour,

for the purpose of

having

II.

about

acconnt

poor

told in

on the

[bOOK

and then,

victuals,

Catching

the light, stole away.

raised a great flame,

apartment on

The

fire.

and

in a

moment

conflagration, thus

begun, soon consumed every thing within

its

reach,

and

afterwards continuing to spread for four days, not

only over the more combustible materials, but buildings of stone, notAvithstanding every effort to check at

last

it,

destroyed the whole heart of the city from

north to south, a space of fourteen in length

;

five stadia

throughout which

in width, it left

and

no build-

ing standing, either public or private, nor pillars nor arches of stone; but the hardest substances were as

completely consumed as

The ruin,

if

they had been combustible.

at its northern extremity,

which

is

where the

docks are situated, extended from the Bosporium to the old temple of Apollo

;

at the southern,

from the

harbour of Julian as far as the houses near the oratory of

tlie

church of Unanimity; and

in the centre

of the city, from the forum of Constantine to the

Forum

Tauri, as

spectacle

;

it is

for all the

called

:

a pitiable and loathsome

most conspicuous ornaments of

the city, and whatever had been embellished with un-

OTHER PUBLIC CALAMITIES.

CHAP. XIV.]

83

rivalled inagniiicence, or adapted to public or private utility,

had been swept together into huge heaps and

impassable mounds, formed of various

whose former features were now

substances,

so blended in one

confused mass, that not even those

who

lived on the

spot could recognise the different portions, and the place to which each had belonged.

CHAPTER

XIY.

OTHER PUBLIC CALAMITIES.

About

the same time,

when

the Scythian

war was

gathering against the Eastern Romans, an earthquake visited Thrace, the Hellespont, Ionia,

called

Cyclades;

so severe

as to

overthrow in Cnidus and Cos.

and the islands

cause a universal

Priscus also records

the occurrence of excessive rains about Constantinople

and Bithynia, which descended or four days; plains,

and

when

villages

islands also were

were swept down to the

hills

carried

formed

like torrents for three

in

away by the deluge: the lake Boane, not far

from Nicomedia, by the masses of rubbish brought do^vn by the waters.

quent to the former.

This

evil,

liowever,

was

snl>se-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

8t

CHAPTER

[bOOK

II.

XV.

MARRIAGE OF ZENO AND ARIADNE.

Leo bestows

daughter Ariadne on Zeno, who

his

from his infancy had been called Aricmesius, but on his

marriage assumed the former name, derived from

an individual

who had

the Isaurians.

The

Zeno, and the reason before

attained great distinction

origin of the

why he was

others, have been set

all

among

advancement of preferred

forth

this

by Leo

by Eustathius

the Syrian.

REIGN OF

CHAPTER XVL ANTHEMIUS — OF OLYBRIUS — AND OTHER WESTERN PRINCES.

In compliance with an embassy from the Western

Romans, Anthemius to

whom

own

daughter.

wife Verina,

command tions

sent out as emperor of

is

is

Basiliscus, brother to the emperor's

also

sent

it

out against Genseric, in

of a body of chosen troops

:

which transac-

have been treated of with great exactness by

and how Leo, in repayment, own advancement, treacherously of Aspar, who had been the means

Priscus the rhetorician as

Rome;

the late emperor Marcian had betrothed his

were, for his

procures the death

;

DKATII

ClIAr. XVII.]

of investing

LEO.

— A.D. 474.

whom

Anthemius, in the

made

of Glycerins.

of the supreme power

of Glycerius,

whom

of

of Caesar,

After the slaughter of

and

;

after

is

him appoint-

Nej^os possesses himself

by the expulsion

for five years,

he appoints to the bishopric of

He

a city of Dalmatia.

Salona,

title

latter

year of his reign, Olybrius

fifth

declared emperor by Ricimer is

also of his

on the

he had previonsly bestowed the

order to conciliate Aspar.

ment

85

him with the sovereignty, and

Ardaburius and Patricius;

sons,

in

(»F

from power by Orestes,

as

is

himself driven

was subsequently Komulus,

surnamed Augustulus, the son of the

Rome,

was the last emperor of

at

latter,

Avho

an interval of thir-

teen hundred and three years from the reign of Ro-

Odoacer next sways the

mulus.

mans, declining the imperial

title,

affairs

of the Ro-

but assuming that

of king.

CHAPTER

XVII.

DEATH OF THE EMPEROR

About

LEO.

the same time the emperor Leo, at Byzan-

tium, departs his sovereignty, after having swayed it

for seventeen yearSj

Leo,

Zeno.

the infant

and appointed

son of his

to the empire

daughter Ariadne and

Zeno then assumes the purple, being aided by

the favour of Verina, the wife of Leo, towards her son-in-law.

On

the death of the child, which shortly

ECCLESIAS.TICAL HISTORY.

86 followed,

Zeiio

contiiiuecl

The

sovereignty.

.

[bOOK

II.

possession of the

in sole

transactions which originated with

him, or were directed against him, and whatever else befell

him, the sequel shall

detail,

with the aid of the

Superior Power.

The proceedings of the synod

at

Chalcedon are

here given in a compendious form.

CHAPTER

XVIII.

EPITOME OP THE ACTS OF THE COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON.

Paschasinus and Lucentius, bishops, and Boniface, a presbyter, elder

Rome

filled ;

the church of

Alexandria,

the place of Leo, archpriest of the

there being present Anatolius president of

Constantinople,

Maximus

Dioscorus bishop of

of Antioch,

and Juvenalis of

Jerusalem, and with them their associate bishops

whom attended also the most excellent tatives of

Leo

;

on

who held the highest rank in senate. To the latter the representhose

alleged, that Dioscorus

ought not to be

seated with themselves, for such were their instructions

from Leo;

and that

if this

should be jdlowed, they

would retire from the church.

In reply to the question

of the senators, Avhat were the charges against Dioscorus, they stated, that he ought himself to render an

CHAP. XVI II.]

account of his

I'ETITION OF EUSEBIUS.

own

had unduly

he

since

decision,

87

assumed the character of a judge, without being autliorised

by the bishop of Rome.

After this state-

ment had been made, and Dioscorus stood

in the midst,

according to a decision of the senate, Eusebius, bishop of Doryla3um, demanded, in the following words, that the petition should be read which he had presented to

the

sovereign

po^ver

:

"I have been wronged by

Dioscorus; the faith has been wronged; Flavian the bishop was murdered, and together with myself unjustly deposed by him. tition be read."

On its

my

Give directions that

pe-

being so ruled, the petition was

read, couched in the following terms

"

:

The

petition

of Eusebius, the very humble bishop of Dorylaeum, in

behalf of himself and the sainted Flavian, formerly

bishop of Constantinople.

It

is

aim of your

the

majesty to exercise a providential care of

who

all

are suffering wrong, and to those especially

by

are invested with the priesthood; for service

is

rendered to God, from

under

the

Christian faith and at the

sun.

we have

many

suffered

have re

power over

Inasmuch, then,

all

who

means

this

whom you

ceived the bestowal of supremacy and

regions

your

and stretch forth a protecting hand to

subjects,

as

all

the

outrages

hands of Dioscorus, the most reverent bishop

of the great city of the Alexandrians, selves to

your piety

in

we

address our-

pursuance of our rights.

circumstances of the case are as follow

:

The

— At the synod

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

88

[eOOK

II.

lately held at the metropolitan city of the Ephesians

^vould

that

thereby

it

filled

had never met, nor the world been with mischiefs and tumult

cellent Dioscorus,

justice

— the

ex-

regarding neither the principle of

nor the fear of God,

sharing

also

in

the

opinions and feelings of the visionary and heretical

Eutyches, though unsuspected by the multitude of being such as he afterwards shewed himself, took occasion of the charge

advanced by

fellow in doctrine, Eutyches,

me

against

his

and the decision given

by the sainted bishop Flavian, and having gathered a disorderly rabble, and procured an overbearing intiuence by bribes,

made havoc

as far as lay in

his

power, of the pious religion of the orthodox, and established

the erroneous doctrine of Eutyches the

monk, which had from the the holy fathers.

first

been repudiated by

Since, then, his aggressions against

the Christian faith and us are of no trifling magni-

we beseech and your commands to

tude,

supplicate your majesty to issue

the

same most reverent bishop

Dioscorus, to defend himself against our allegations

namely, when the record of the acts which Dioscorus

procured against

synod

;

that he

us,

shall

be read before the holy

on the ground of which we are able to shew, is

estranged from the orthodox faith, that he

strengthened a heresy utterly impious, that he wrongfully

we

deposed and has cruelly outraged us.

will

i^nd this

do on the issuing of your divine and revered

DEBATES

CUA1\ XVIII.] iriaudates

THE COUNCIL.

89

holy and universal synod of the

the

to

IN

bishops, highly beloved of God, to the eifeet, that they

should give a formal hearing to the matters which

concern both us and the before-mentioned Dioscorus,

and

If

your

refer all the transactions to the decision of

piety, as shall

we obtam

seem

this

your everlasting

At the joint

fit

to

your immortal supremacy.

our request, we shall ever pray for rule,

most divine sovereigns."

request of Dioscorus and Eusebius, the

transactions of the second synod of Ephesus were publicly read

of

;

from which

it

appeared that the epistle

Leo had not obtained a reading, and

that, too,

mention of the subject had been twice started. corus, being called

upon

said expressly that he

should be done

;

when Dios-

to state the reason of this,

had twice proposed that

it

and he then required that Juvenalis,

bishop of Jerusalem, and Thalassius, bishop of Ca3sarea, metropolis of

Cappadocia Prima, should explain

the circumstances, since they shared the presidency

mth

Juvenalis accordingly said, that the

himself.

reading of a sacred rescript, having precedency, had, at his decision,

been interposed, and that no one had sub-

sequently mentioned the epistle.

Thalassius said that

he had not opposed the reading, nor had he sufficient authority to enable proceed.

him

The reading

proceeded with

;

singly to signify that of the transactions

it

should

was then

and on some of the bishops excepting

to certain passages as forgeries, Stephen, bishop of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

90

[bOOK

II.

Ephesus, being asked which of his notaries were copyists in this phice,

named

Lebedus, and Crispinus

;

Julian, afterwards bishop of

but said that the notaries of

Dioscorus would not allow them to their lingers, so that

He

grievous treatment.

act,

but seized

they were in danger of most also affirmed, that

on one

and the same day he subscribed to the deposition of Flavian.

To

this statement, Acacius, bishop of Aria-

they had

rathia, added, that

all

subscribed a blank

paper by force and compulsion, being beset with

numerable

evils,

and surrounded by

soldiers

in-

with

deadly weapons.

Again, on the reading of another expression, Theodore, bishop of Claudiopolis,

uttered the words. proceeding, effect

those

said

that no one had

the reading was thus

as

on the occurrence of a passage to the

that Eutyches

who

And

disapproval of

expressed his

affirmed that the flesh of our

God and Lord

and Saviour Jesus Christ had descended from heaven, the acts testify that Eusebius, upon this, asserted that

Eutyches

had discarded

indeed

the

term " from

heaven," but had not proceeded to say from whence

and that Diogenes, bishop of Cyzicus, then urged him with the demand, "Tell us from whence;" but that further than this they were not allowed to press the question.

The

acts then

Seleucia, in Isauria, said,

shew

:

—that

Basil, bishop of

" I worship our one

Lord

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only Divine AVord,

UEBATEH

CHAP. XVlll.]

natures

—that the Egyptians clamoured against

" Let no one part the indivisible to call the one

claimed, "

hmi

9L

incarnation and union in two

manifested after the ;"

THE CUUNCIL.

IN

One

it is

;

this,

not proper

Son two ;" and that the Orientals ex-

Anathema

that divides

I"

to

him that parts

!

anathema

to

—that Eutyches was asked, whether

he affirmed two natures in Christ

to

;

which he

replied,

that he held Christ to have been from two natures before the union, but that after the union there was

only one

;

—that Basil

that unless he maintained

said,

two natures without severance and without confusion union, he maintained a confusion and after the commixture

but, notwithstanding,

;

he would add

if

" invested with humanity,"

the terms " incarnate,"

and and should understand the incarnation and the sumption of humanity

in the

same sense

affirmed the same thing as themselves

God-

for the

;

as-

as Cyril, he

head derived from the Father was one thing, and

humanity from His mother

On the

Avas another.

the parties being asked

deposition

why

of Flavian, the

Orientals exclaimed, intreat pardon."

"We

they had subscribed acts

have

shew that the

all

erred;

we

all

Again, as the reading proceeded,

they shew that the bishops were asked why,

when

Eusebius wished to enter the council, they did not allow him.

To

this Dioscorus replied, that Elpidius

presented a commonitorium, and solemnly affirmed that the emperor Theodosius had given

command

that

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

92

Eusebius sliould not be admitted. that Juvenalis also gave the

[bOOK

The

same answer.

acts

II-

shew

Thalassius,

however, said that authority in the matter did not

These replies were disallowed by

rest with himself.

the magistrates, on the ground that such excuses were insufficient

when

the faith was at issue

Dioscorus recriminated

" In

;

upon which

:

what respect does the

presence of Theodoret at this time accord with the

The senators

observance of the canons?''

had been admitted

that Theodoret

an

but Dioscorus

accuser;

sig-nified, 0"'"'"^5

that

he was

bishop.

The

senators

a

in the position of

sitting

rejoined,

in the character of

again said, that Eusebius and Theodoret occupied the position of accusers, as Dioscorus himself that of an

accused person.

The

transactions

entire

synod

of the second

at

Ephesus having been accordingly read, and, in like manner, the sentence against Flavian and Eusebius, as far as the place test,

"

where Hilary had declared a pro-

the Oriental bishops and their party exclaimed,

Anathema

to Dioscorus

deposed Dioscorus.

:

Holy Lord, do thou avenge him

corus.

sovereign, do thou avenge

of

Leo

Christ has at this

!

Many

moment

Flavian was deposed by Dios-

him

!

!

Orthodox

INIany be the years

be the years of the patriarch

I"

When

the sequel of the document had been read, shewing that all the assembled bishops had assented to the deposition of Flavian, the most illustrious magistrates

CHAP. XVIII.] PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL. ruled

as follows

" Concerning

:

we

catholic faith,

plete assemblage of the

made

and

orthodox

more

are clearly of opinion that a

accurate investigation should be

it

the

93

more com-

in a

But

synod to-morrow.

since

appears that Flavian, of pious memory, and Eusethe most reverent bishop of Dorylteum, were

bius,

not in error concerning the

faith,

but were unjustly

deposed, both from the examination of the acts and

and from the present confession of those who

decrees,

presided in the synod, that themselves were in error,

and the deposition was null to the

;

it

good pleasure of God,

seems to to

us,

most divine and pious

approval of our

according

be just, M'ith the that

lord,

Dioscorus, the most reverent bishop of Alexandria; the most

Juvenalis,

the

Thalassius,

reverent bishop of Jerusalem;

most reverent bishop

of Ctesarea;

Eusebius, the most reverent bishop of Ancyra; Eusta-

most reverent bishop of Ber}i;us

thius, the

the

most reverent bishop of

;

Seleucia,

and in

Basil,

Isauria,

should be subjected to the same penalty, by being deprived, through this holy synod, in accordance with

the canons, of the episcopal dignity of whatever

On

this

When

and the Illyrian bishops,

let

us

with a reference

consequent, to the imperial supremacy."

the Orientals exclaimed,

decision;" error;

is

;

all

" This

"We

a just

is

were

all

the Orientals had again exclaimed, " This

just verdict

:

in

be deemed deserving of pardon."

Christ has deposed the murderer

:

is

a

Christ

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

94

has avenged the martyrs effect,

severally put forth his

II.

the senators ruled to the

!"

each of the

that

[bOOK

should

bishops

assembled

own formulary

of

fliith,

under

the assurance that the belief of the most divine em-

peror was in accordance with the exposition of the three hundred fathers at Niceea, and of the hundred

and

fifty at

Constantinople

and with the

;

epistles of

the holy fathers, Gregory, Basil, Hilary, Athanasius,

and Ambrose, as well as the two of

made as

public in the

first

synod

at

Cyril,

which were

Ephesus; inasmuch

upon these grounds Leo, the most reverent bishop

Rome, had deposed Eutyches.

of the Elder

manner

was

closed

the

pi-esent

meeting

In this of

the

council.

next, composed of the most holy bishops

At the

alone, Eusebius presented libels in behalf of himself

and Flavian, in which he objected to Dioscorus, that he held the same opinions as Eutyches, and had deprived themselves of the priesthood.

He

further

charged him with inserting in the transactions expressions

which were not uttered

in the synod,

and having

procured their subscription to a blank paper.

He

petitioned that the entire acts of the second synod at

Ephesus should be annulled by vote of those who were

now

assembled; that themselves should retain their

priesthood

;

and that

foul tenet be anathematised.

After the reading of this document, he also required that

his

adversary

should

})e

present.

Wlien

this

CHAP. XVIII.]

PUOCEK DINGS AGAINST DIOSCOKUS.

had been ruled

in the affirmative, Aetius,

and priniicerius of the

notaries,

95

archdeacon

stated that he

proceeded to Dioscorus, as also to the others

had

hut that

;

he said he was not permitted by the persons on guard to appear.

It

was then decided that Dioscorus should

be sought in front of the place of meeting

;

and, on

his not being found, Anatolius, bishop of Constanti-

nople, ruled that he ought to be

present before the synod.

summoned, and be

This course having been

adopted, the delegates, on their return, said that he

had replied

"I am under

:

whether they leave

me

Let these say

restraint.

free to

proceed thither ;" and

to their intimation that they were deputed to himself,

and not be

:

to the civil powers, his

"I am ready but

synod,

I

answer was stated to

to proceed to the holy

am

prevented."

To

and universal

this

statement

Himerius added, that the Assistant of the Master of the Sacred Offices had met them on their return, in com-

whom

pany with corus,

These were then read, and

passed. precise

the bishops had again visited Dios-

and that he had taken some notes of what then

words of Dioscorus, as follows

reflection,

reply.

and due consideration of my

set

:

"

forth the

Upon calm

interest, I

thus

Whereas, at the former meeting of the

s}niod,

ruled upon

many

the most

illustrious

several points,

and

I

magistrates

am now summoned

to a second,

object a modification of the preceding

having for

its

matters

pray that the most illustrious magistrates

;

I

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

96

who

[bOOK

II.

attended on the former occasion, and the sacred

senate, should

do so on the present

the same pomts

may

shew that Acacius words

"

:

also,

m

order that

The

be agam debated."

then replied

in

The great and holy synod,

acts

the following-

in requiring the

presence of your holiness, has not in view a modification of

most but

what was transacted

illustrious

in the presence of the

magistrates and the sacred senate;

has deputed us merely that you should have a

it

place in the meeting, and that your holiness should

not be wanting to to the acts, "

had presented ing myself

You

I

libels.

may

Dioscorus replied, according

it."

me

have just told

that Eusebius

pray that the matters touch-

be again sifted in the presence of the

magistrates and the senate."

Then follow other

similar matters.

Afterwards,

persons were again sent with a commission to urge

Dioscorus to appear; who, on their return, said that

they had taken notes of his words. appears that he said

your

piety,

and that trates

I

both that

demand

From

these

it

" I have already signified to

:

I

am

suffering from

sickness,

that the most illustrious magis-

and the sacred senate should

also

on the present

occasion attend the investigation of the matters at issue.

this

Since, however,

ground

pius, then,

I

my

sickness has increased,

am withholding my

as

on

attendance." Cecro-

appears from the acts, intimated to

Dioscorus, that but a short time before he had

made

CHAP. XVIII.] PROCEEDINGS AGAINST DIOSCOUUS.

97

no mention of sickness, and, accordingly, he ought to the

satisfy

requisitions

Dioscorus rejoined

:

all,

that the

Then Rufinus,

ought to be present."

magistrates

To whom

canons.

of the

" I have said once for

bishop of Samosata, told him that the matters mooted

were under canonical regulation, and that on

his

appearance he would be at liberty to make whatever statements he chose.

To

the enquiry of Dioscorus,

whether Juvenalis, Thalassius, and Eustathius were present, he replied that this

The

was nothing to the purpose.

shew that Dioscorus

acts

said in answer, that he

prayed the Christ-loving emperor to the eifect that the magistrates should be present, and also those as judges in conjunction with himself.

had acted

this the deputies rejoined, that

only,

who To

Eusebius accused him

and there was accordingly no occasion that

all

should be present.

Dioscorus replied, that the others

who had

him ought

acted with

to be present, for the

of Eusebius did not affect himself individually,

suit

but rested in fact upon a judgment in which they

had

united.

all

When

the deputies

still

hisisted

this point, Dioscorus sunnnarily replied

have

said,

I

have said once for

all;

and

upon

What I have now "

:

I

nothing further to say."

Upon

this report,

Eusebius stated that his charge

was against Dioscorus person

;

only,

and against no other

and he required that he should be sunnnoned

a third time.

Aetius then, in continuance, informed 7

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

98

them

[bOOK

II.

that certain persons from Alexandria, professing

had

to be clerks, together with several laymen,

presented outside,

libels

Dioscorus,

against

lately

standing

and,

When,

were now invoking the synod.

ac-

cordingly, in the first place Theodoras, a deacon of

the holy church at Alexandria, had presented

and afterwards presbyter,

and nephew of Cyril, and

which they charged Dioscorus

in

oifences

libels,

a deacon, Athanasius, a

Ischyrion,

also Sophronius,

mth

blasphemies,

agamst the person, and violent seizures of

money; a third summons was issued urging him Those who were accordingly selected for

attend. service,

said

:

to

this

on their return, reported Dioscorus to have

"I have

already

piety on this point,

sufficiently

informed your

and cannot add any thing further."

Since Dioscorus had persisted in the same reply, while

the

continued

delegates

Paschasinus said: "

At

press

to

him,

the

length, after being

a third time, Dioscorus has not appeared

summoned :"

then asked what treatment he deserved.

when the

bishop

and he

To

this,

bishops had replied that he had rendered

himself obnoxious to the canons, and Proterius, bishop of Smyrna, had observed, that

when Flavian had been

murdered, no suitable measures had been taken with respect to

the elder

—

"

him

;

the representatives of Leo, bishop of

Rome, made a

declaration as follows:

The aggressions committed

bishop of the

great

city

])y

—

Dioscorus, lately

Alexandria,

in

violation

CHAP. XVIII.]

TROCEEDINGS AGAINST DIOSCORUS.

99

of canonical order and the constitution of the church,

have been clearly proved by the investigations at meeting, and the proceedings of to-day.

the former

not

For,

to

mention the mass of his

his

own

communion

his

on

did,

offences,

partisan

Eutyches,

been canonically deprived by his

own

he

admit to

authority, uncanonically

after

having

bishop, namely,

our sainted father and archbishop Flavian; and

this

before he sat in council with the other bishops at

Ephesus.

don

To them,

indeed, the holy see granted par-

for the transactions of

deliberate authors,

which they were not the

and they have hitherto continued

obedient to the most holy archbishop Leo, and the

body of the holy and universal synod; on which

ac-

count he also admitted them into communion with him, as being his fellows in

Whereas Dioscorus

faith.

has continued to maintain a haughty carriage, on ac-

count of those very circumstances over which he ought to have bewailed,

and humbled himself to the

earth.

Moreover, he did not even allow the epistle to be read

which the blessed pope Leo had addressed

memory; and

of holy

that too,

to Flavian,

notmthstandiiig he

was repeatedly exhorted thereto by had promised with an oath to that

tlie

effect.

of the epistle not being read, has been to

bearers,

The fill

and

result

the most

holy churches throughout the world with scandals and mischief. tion,

it

Notwithstanding, however, such presump-

was our purpose

to deal mercifull}' with

him

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

100

as regards his past impiety, as

[bOOK

we had done with

II.

the

other bisliops, although they had not held an equal

Vmt inasmuch

judicial authority with liim.

by

as he has,

his sulisequent conduct, overshot his fonner ini-

quity,

and has presumed to pronounce excommunica-

tion against Leo, the

of great

Rome

;

most

since,

lioly

and religious archbishop

moreover, on the presentation

of a paper full of grievous charges against

him

to the

holy and great synod, he refused to appear, though once, twice, and thrice canonically

summoned by

own

the

;

and

since he has unla"\vfully given reception to those

who

bishops, pricked

no doubt by

had been duly deposed by thus,

his

conscience

different s^aiods; he has

by variously trampling upon the laws of the

church, o'iven his fore Leo, the

own verdict

great and elder

Rome,

and the present synod, blessed

and

all

has,

by the agency of ourselves

in conjunction with the thrice-

honoured Peter, who

basis of the Catholic church,

orthodox

ag-ainst himself. AA^iere-

most blessed and holy archbishop of the

faith,

is

the rock and

and the foundation of the

deprived him of the episcopal dignity,

and severed him from every

priestly function.

Ac-

cordingly, this holy and great synod decrees the provisions of the canons on the aforesaid Dioscorus."

After the ratification of this proceeding by Anatolius

and Maximus, and by the other bishops, with the

exception of those

who had been deposed

together

with Dioscorus bv the senate, a relation of the matter

101

DEPRIVATION OF DIOSCORUS.

CHAP. XVIII.]

was addressed

to

Marcian by the synod, and the

instrument of deposition was transmitted to Dioscorus, to

the following ellect

"

:

On

account of contempt of

the sacred canons, and thy contumacy regarding this

holy and universal synod, inasmuch

as, in

addition to

the other offences of which thou hast been convicted,

thou didst not appear, even when summoned the third time by this great and holy synod, according to the sacred canons, in order to reply to the charges against thee

know then

;

made

that thou hast been deposed

from thy bishoprick, on the thirteenth day of

this

present month, October, by the holy and universal

synod, and deprived of aU ecclesiastical rank."

After

a letter had been written to the bishops of the most holy church at Alexandria on this subject, and an edict

had been framed against Dioscorus, the pro-

ceedings of this meeting were closed.

After the business of the preceding meeting had

terminated in this manner, the members of the synod,

agam trates,

assembling, replied to the inquiry of the magis-

who

desired

to

be informed respecting the

orthodox doctrine, that there was no need that any further formulary

should be framed,

now

that the

matter relating to Eutyches had been brought to a close,

and had received a conclusive determination

the hands

of the

accordance of

Roman

all parties.

one voice exclaimed,

at

bishop, with the further

After the bishops had with

that

they

all

held

the same

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

102

[bOOK

II.

language, and the magistrates had ruled that each

two persons of

patriarch, selecting one or diocese, should

council

Florentius,

;

respite, so that

fathers,

bishop

:

of

of their several

prayed a

Sardis,

and Cecropius, bishop of Sebas"

spoke as follows.

The

been well

faith has

by the three hundred and eighteen holy

forth

set

own

they might approach the truth with

due deliberation topolis,

his

into the midst of the

order to a declaration

in

opinions

come forward

and has been confirmed by the holy

fathers,

Athanasius, Cyril, Celestine, Hilary, Basil, Gregory,

and again, on the present occasion, by the most holy

We

Leo.

accordingly require that the words both of

the three hundred and eighteen holy fathers and of

the most holy Leo be

now

At the conclusion

read."

of the reading the whole synod exclaimed, " This the faith of the orthodox

does the Pope Leo believe

thus we

;

;

all

believe

;

is

thus

thus did Cyril believe

;

thus has the Pope expounded."

Another interlocution was then form

set forth

also be read

:

by the hundred and

issued, that

fifty fathers

which was accordingly done

members of the synod exclaimed, " This of all

;

this is the faith of the

believe

all

Then his

;

is

should

and the

;

the faith

thus do

we

!"

Aetius, the archdeacon, said that he held in

hand the

which

orthodox

the

all

epistle of the divine Cyril to Nestorius,

who were assembled

at

Ephesus had

ratified

CHAP. XVIII.]

by

tliL'ir

individual

which had

subscriptions

;

103 as also another

same Cyril addressed to John of Antioch,

epistle of the

earnestly

EPISTLE OF CYRIL.

been confirmed.

also

itself

prayed might be read.

These he

Agreeably with

an interlocution on the point, both were then read

;

a portion of the former being precisely as follows. " Cyril to our most reverent fellow minister Nestorius.

Certain persons, as I

am

informed, treat

my

rebuke

with levity in the presence of your holiness, and that, too, repeatedly, taking especial occasion for that pur-

pose of the meetings of the authorities

with the idea of gratifying your

wards

it

proceeds.

"

The

of very God, light of light,

made

all

humanity, ascended

into

rose

heaven.

:

perhaps also

the Father, very

was incarnate, assumed

again

on the third

This declaration we,

that the Divine

and assumed humanity. the

nature of

became

flesh,

the

God

by whose agency the Father

ought to follow, carefully considering what

by the expression,

After-

that the only begotten

God

things, descended, suiFered,

;

ears."

declaration, then, of the

holy and great synod was this Son, begotten naturally of

own

is

Word was

day, too,

signified

incarnate

For we do not afiirm that

Word by undergoing

a change

nor yet was even converted into

a

complete human being, consisting of soul and body but this we rather maintain, that the Word, by uniting ;

personally soul,

mth

himself

became man

flesh,

animated by a rational

in an ineffable

and incomprehensible

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

104

manner, and bore the respect

of

mere

[bOOK

II.

Son of Man, not

in

or pleasure, nor even, as

it

title

will

of

tlie

were, in an assumption of person merely; and, furthat the natures which conspired to the true

ther,

unity, were different, but

Son

;

from both

is

one Christ and

not as though the difference of the natures had

been done away for the sake of the union, but they

had rather consummated

Lord and

for us the one

Christ and Son, from both the

Godhead and the man-

hood, by their ineffable and mysterious coalition for unity." since,

And

sakes and

for our

personally united forth

from a woman

;

Word

he

is

descended upon him

but the Word,

:

have undergone a carnal nativity, as

it

assumption of the nativity of his own

as

though the

his

own

in the

of the holy Virgin, and

having been united from the very womb,

is

said to

were, by an

flesh.

that

He

suffered

Word

of

God had endured,

manner we say

came

said also to

For he was not born

man

But

having

salvation,

himself, he

in this respect

instance an ordinary

then the

for our

humanity with

have been born carnally. first

"

presently the epistle proceeds.

In this

and rose agam

;

not

as regards

nature, stripes or piercings of nails, or the

other wounds, for the Deity incorporeal.

is

impassible, as being

Since, however, his o^vn

these circumstances.

Himself

is

body underwent

said,

on the other

hand, to have suffered them on our behalf, inasmuch as the impassible being

was

in the suffering body."

The greater part of inserted

m

105

EPISTLE OF CYRIL.

CIIAP. XVIII.]

been

other epistk; has

tlie

the preceding portion of this history.

contains, however, a passage to the following

It

eflt'ect,

which John, bishop of Antioch wrote, and Cyril "

entirely approved.

We

confess the holy Virgin to

be the Mother of God, because from her the Divine

Word was

incarnate and assumed humanity, and from

the very conception united with himself the temple

With

which was derived from her.

respect, however,

and apostolical language concerning

to the evangelical

our Lord, we know that the expressions of the divinely inspired

men

are

sometimes comprehensive, as

respect of a single person

two natures

respect of

;

;

and that they

deliver such as

are of divine import, in reference to the

and those which are

Christ,

His manhood."

words

we

— " On

:

find tliat

there

is

Cyril

Godhead of

hunil)le, in reference to

then subjoins the following

reading these your sacred expressions,

we ourselves hold the same ophiion

one

in

sometimes distinctive, as in

Lord,

one

faith,

one baptism.

accordingly glorify God, the Saviour of

all,

:

for

A¥e

rejoicing

mutually, because both our churches and yours hold a faith which tures,

is

and the

in accordance with the inspired scrip-

tradition of our holy fathers."

After the reading of these epistles, the members of the synod exclaimed in these words all

believe

;

:

"

Thus do we

thus does the Pope Leo believe.

thema to him that divides and

to

him

Ana-

that confounds

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

106

[bOOK

Thus does

the faith of Leo the archbishop.

This

is

Leo

believe.

Thus do we

Thus do Leo and Anatolius

believe

;

believe.

As Cyril believed, so do we. memory of Cyril Agreeably with the of Cyril do we also think. Thus did we thus do we now believe. Leo the archbishop all believe.

Eternal be the epistles

II.

!

thus thinks, thus believes, thus has ^vritten."

An

interlocution having been given to that effect,

the epistle of Leo was also read, in a translation, and is

inserted in the acts

exclaiming, " This

;

the bishops at

the faith of the Apostles.

does not thus believe

!

him who

to

Leo

thus has Cyril taught.

:

is

This

!

the true

is

This

think.

was not

Anathema

the same.

believe

Thus do the orthodox

Why

:

Peter has uttered these words

him who does not thus

of the fathers.

is

Anathema

The teaching of Leo and Cyril

faith.

this

believe

Thus have the Apostles taught.

has taught truly and piously

to

:

Thus do we aU

thus do the orthodox believe.

through Leo.

conclusion

its

the faith of the fathers

is

is

this read at

the faith

Ephesus

?

This did Dioscorus withhold." It is

contained in the acts that,

when

the bishops

of Illyria and Palestine had expressed some hesitation, after the following

read

:

"In order

passage of the epistle had been

to the discharge of the debt of

our

natural state, the divine nature was united to the passible, that

Jesus,

beino-

one and the same person, the the mediator between

man

Christ

God and man,

107

DEBATES ON THE EPISTLE OF LEO.

CHAP. XVIII.]

might be enabled from the one part

to

but

die,

incapable of decease from the other, such being the process adapted to our cure

;"

—that upon

this Aetius,

archdeacon of the most holy church of Constantinople,

produced a passage from Cyril to the follomng purport " Since, however, His

own body by

the grace of God,

as says the Apostle Paul, tasted death for every

man,

Himself is said to have suiFered the death on our behalf;

own

not that he experienced death to the extent of his nature, for

it

would be madness to say or think this,

but because, as

I said before, his flesh tasted death."

Again, when the bishops of Illyria and Palestine

had expressed their hesitation of the epistle of Leo:

form

its

— " For

at the following passage

there operates in each

peculiar property, in union with

to the other

the

;

Word working

what belongs

that which pertains

Word, and the body discharging that which pertains to the body and the one shines forth by the

to the

;

miracles, the other

was subjected

to the insults

;"

upon

this the said Aetius read a passage of Cyril as

lows — :

"

The

rest of the

appropriate to deity to

manhood

;

;

expressions

others, again, are equally suited

and some hold,

as

it

were, an intermeas being

God and

when

the same

diate place, presenting the

Son of God

man

Afterwards,

at the

fol-

are especially

same time."

bishops hesitated at another part of the epistle of Leo,

which

is

as follows

Christ there

is

:

—

"

Although

in

our Lord Jesus

altogether one person, of

God and man,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

108

[bOOK

II.

yet the one part from which was derived to the other a

community of ignominy,

"vvhich

is

distinct

from that from

proceeded a community of glory

was derived the manhood, which Father, and from

is

for

;

from us

inferior to

the

Father the Godhead, which

the

partakes equality with the Father;" Theodoret said,

had

to adjust the point, that the blessed Cyril

expressed himself thus

and

at the

nature;

:

same time did not lay

aside His proper

for the latter continued as before,

dwelling in what was different from

it

;

when

any one

still

though

namely, the

divine nature in conjunction with humanity."

wards,

also

— " That He both became man,

After-

the illustrious magistrates asked whether hesitated, all replied that they

no longer

entertained any doubt. Atticus, bishop of Nicopolis, then begged a respite

of a few days, in order that a formulary might be

framed of the matters which were approved by God

and the holy have the

fathers.

epistle

He also prayed

which was addressed by Cyril to

Nestorius, in which he exhorts

twelve chapters. these requests

;

that they might

him

to assent to his

All expressed their concurrence in

and when the magistrates had ruled

that a respite of five days should be allowed, in order to their assembling with Anatoli us, president of Constantinople, all the bishops signified their approval,

saying, "

Thus do we

Not one of us hesitates.

believe, thus

do we

all believe.

We have all subscribed." Upon

DERATES

CHAr. XVIII.] this

it

was ruled

THE COUNCIL.

IN

— "Tliero

as follows:

that you should

assemble;

all

who have

soever he those

may deem

who have

the subscribers

Upon

doubted."

The

fathers

We

intreat for the

the synod.

to

Our prayers

Our prayers

whom-

members of

this the

who

Those

Our words

accord with Leo to the synod.

emperor.

is

proper for the information of

the synod proceeded to exclaim, " fathers.

it

hesitated

the most reverent bishop

let

among

Anatolius select from

no necessity

however,

since,

reasonable that the minds of those

should be confirmed,

is

109

to

the

to the orthodox sovereign.

We

to Augusta.

indulgence be granted to

have

Upon

all."

all

Let

erred.

those wlio

this,

belonged to the church of Constantinople cried out, "

But few

are exclaiming.

The synod is not speaking."

Then the Orientals shouted,

And

"

The Egyptian

to exile

"We entreat compassion upon

the Illyrians,

and again the Orientals,

"

The Egyptian

!"

all;"

to exile

I"

Wliile the Illyi'ians persisted in their prayer, the Constantinopolitan clergy shouted,

The Egyptian to

exile

!

" Dioscorus to exile

The heretic

the Illyrians and their party, "

Grant indulgence to

all.

corus to the churches the

same

kind,

brought to a

!"

to exile

We

!"

have

and again erred.

all

Dioscorus to the synod

!

Dios-

After further proceedings of

the business of this meeting was

close.

At the next meeting, when the senators had ruled that the forms which had been already enacted should

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

110

[bOOK

II.

be read, Constantine, the secretary, read from a paper, as follows faith,

we

:

" Concerning

are agreed that a

the orthodox and catholic

more exact inquiry should

take place before a fuller assembly of the council, at its

next meeting.

But inasmuch

as

it

has been shewn,

from examination of the acts and decrees, and from the oral testimony of the presidents of that synod,

who

admit that themselves were in error, and the deposition

was

void, that Flavian, of pious

memory, and the most

reverent bishop Eusebius, were convicted of no error

concerning the

seems

to us,

faith,

and were wrongfuUy deposed,

just proceeding, if approved

pious

it

according to God's good pleasure, to be a

sovereign,

by our most divine and

that Dioscorus, the most reverent

bishop of Alexandria bishop of Jerusalem

;

;

Juvenalis, the most reverent Thalassius, the most reverent

bishop of Csesarea, in Cappadocia; Eusebius, the most reverent bishop

of

Ancyra

reverent bishop of Berytus

;

;

Eustathius,

and

Basilius, the

reverent bishop of Seleucia, in Isauria

sway and precedency jected

in that

S3mod

to the selfsame penalty,

the most

;

;

who

most

exercised

should be sub-

by suffering

at the

hands of the holy synod deprivation of their episcopal dignity, according to the canons

;

whatever

is

con-

sequent hereupon, being submitted to the cognizance of the emperor's sacred supremacy."

After several other readings, the assembled bishops, beinof

asked whether the letters of Leo accorded with

CHAP. XVIII.] PROCEEDINGS OF THE COUNCIL. the

of the three hundred

fiiith

who met

fathers

and

at Nictea,

all

of the proceedings the

believe alike

we

thus do

We

"

:

we

:

all

all believe.

concur

the emperor

Many

!

fathers to the synod

synod

The

those

fathers to the synod

Many

!

who

As Leo

in

opinion, to the synod !

We

have

An

interlocution

thinks, so do we."

was then pronounced

The

!

agree with us in faith,

be the years of the emperor

scribed.

!

be the years of

be the years of the emperor

Those who agree with us

Many

:

be the years of Augusta :

Many

I

:

At

epistle.

members of the we all approve

hold the same sentiments

all

the subscribers to the synod

to the

present, replied, that

and he further subscribed the

;

stage

synod exclaimed

we

who were

all

Leo accorded with the before-mentioned

the epistle of fathers

and eighteen holy

and that of the hundred

the imperial city, Anatolius, president of

fifty in

Constantinople, and

this

Ill

all

sub-

"We

to the following effect.

have referred these matters to our most sacred and pious lord, and are piety.

now

waiting the answer of his

But your reverence

concerning Dioscorus,

who

will give account to

God

has been deposed by you

without the knowledge of our most sacred sovereign

and are

ourselves,

and concerning the

now making

of the synod." saying, "

God

entreaty,

five for

and concerning

They then expressed has deposed Dioscorus

been justly deposed.

whom you all

the acts

their approval, ;

Dioscorus has

Christ has deposed Dioscorus."

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

112 Afterwards,

Marcian,

oii

[bOOK

the presentation of a response from

leaving the case of those

who had been

deposed to the decision of the bishops, as the locution of the magistrates had set forth

entreaty in the following words.

may

be admitted:

synod

:

II.

—our

"

inter-

they made

;

We pray that

fellows in doctrine,

they

to the

our fellows in opinion, to the synod

:

the

subscribers to the epistle of Leo, to the synod."

They

were accordingly, by an interlocution to that

effect,

numbered with the members of the synod.

Then were read

the petitions presented from the

Egyptian diocese to the emperor JMarcian other

addition to

"

We

matters,

contain

;

which, in

the following.

agree in opinion with what the three hundred

and eighteen fathers Athanasius, and

at

and

Nicasa,

the sainted

Cyril

the

have

blessed

set forth

anathematising every heresy, both those of Arius, of

Eunomius, of Manes, of Nestorius, and that of those

who

say, that the flesh of

our Lord was derived from

heaven and not from the holy Mother of God and evervirgin Mary, in like

of

exception

exclaimed

:

"

manner with

Upon

sin."

Why

this,

ourselves, with the

the

whole synod

have they not anathematised the

doctrine of Eutyches ?

Let them subscribe the

epistle

of Leo, anathematising Eutyches and his doctrines.

Let tliem concur with the to jeer us,

Egypt

and be gone."

stated, that the

epistle of Leo.

They intend

In reply, the bishops from

Egyptian bishops were numerous,

rpyrmoN of the monks.

113

and that they themselves could not assume

to represent

CHAP. XVIII.]

those

who were

absent

and they prayed the synod to

:

await their areh})ishop, that they might be guided by his

judgment, as usage required

:

for if they should

do any thing before the appointment of their head,

tlie

many

in-

whole diocese would treaties

on

assail

it

was

After

which were stoutly resisted

this subject,

by the synod,

them.

ruled, that a respite should be

granted to the bishops from Kgypt, until their archbishop should be ordained.

Then

petitions

were presented from certain monks

;

the purport of which was, that they should not be

compelled to subscril^e certain papers, before the synod

which the emperor had summoned should have assembled,

and

these had

its

determinations be

made known.

After

been read, Diogenes, bishop of Cyzicus,

stated that Barsumas, one of the persons present,

had

been the murderer of Flavian, for he had exclaimed

" Slay him!" and, though not a party had improperly obtained admission. the bishops exclaimed

Syria

;

he has

"

:

to the petition,

Upon

this

all

Barsumas has desolated

all

upon us a thousand monks."

let loose

After an interlocution, to the eifect that the assembled

monks should await the determination of the synod, they demanded that the libels which they had dra^vn up, should be read

;

one requisition therein contained

being, that Dioscorus

should be present

and the bishops of

in the

synod.

his party

In repl}^ to which

all

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

114

the bishops exclamied

"

:

Anathema

[bOOK

Dioscorus.

to

Cast out such persons.

Christ has deposed Dioscorus

!

Away

Avith violence

synod

with outrage

Our words

!

outrage

away

;

the

to

emperor

a repetition of these exclamations,

Away

!

it

affirmed, that the

improper

that,

;

!"

with After

was ruled that

the remainder of the libels should be read

was

from the

away with infamy from the synod

;

II.

:

wherein

deposition of Dioscorus

when a matter

it

was

of faith was before the

and

council, he

ought

that, if this

were not granted, they would shake their

from

garments

share in

its

communion

the

delil^erations,

of

the

assembled

In reference to these expressions, Aetius,

bishops.

the

to

archdeacon,

read

separate themselves.

a

canon against

wlio

those

Again, when, at the questions

of the most holy bishops, the

monks manifested

dis-

agreement, and afterwards at an interrogation put by Aetius in the

name

of the synod, some anathematised

Nestorius and Eutyches, while others declined;

it

was

ruled by the magistrates, that the petitions of Faustus

and the other monks should be read the emperor no longer to sanction the lately opposed the

:

which prayed

monks who had

orthodox doctrines.

Whereupon

Dorotheus, a monk, termed Eutyches orthodox reply to

by

whom

:

in

various doctrinal points were started

the magistrates.

At the

fifth

meeting, the magistrates ruled that the

determinations relating to the faith should

l)e

pub-

CHAP. XVIII.] lished;

DEFINITION OF FAITH.

115

and Asclepiades, a deacon of Constantinople,

read a fonnnlaiy,

wliicli it

majority approved exclamations,

was resolved should not be

Some

inserted in the acts. it

:

dissented from

it,

but the

and on the utterance of counter

the magistrates

said,

that

Dioscorus

affirmed that he had deposed Flavian on his asserting

two natures, whereas the formulary contained the

"from two

expression

To

natures."

replied, that Dioscorus

this Anatolius

had not been deposed on a

point of faith, but because he had excommunicated

Leo, and, after having been thrice, summoned, did not appear.

The magistrates then required

that

the

substance of the epistle of Leo should be inserted in the formulary

but since the bishops objected, and

;

maintained that no other formulary could be framed,

inasmuch as a complete one already existed, a relation

was made

to the

emperor

who commanded

;

that six

of the Oriental bishops, three from Pontus, three from Asia, three

from Thrace, and three from

together with

lllyria, should,

Anatolius and the vicars of Eome,

assemble in the sanctuary of the martyr, and rightly

frame the ride of

faith,

declaration of faith

must be held state

in the

;

or put forth each his several

or be assured that the synod

On

West.

this,

being required to

whether they followed Dioscorus when affirming

that Christ

was from two natures

were two natures

in Christ

;

;

or Leo, that there

they exclaimed that tliey

agreed with Leo, and that those

who

contradicted,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

IIG

The magistrates then

were Eutychians.

mth

accordance

in

[bOOK

II.

that,

said,

the language of Leo, a clause

were two

sliould be added, to the effect that there

natures united in Christ, without change, or severance, or confusion

;

and they entered the sanctuary of the

holy martyr Euphemia, in company with Anatolius

and the vicars of Leo, Juvenalis

as well as

of Jerusalem,

Cnppadocia, and others

Maximus

Thalassius ;

of Antioch, Ca^sarea

of

"

formulary of faith was read, as follows.

and Saviour Jesus Christ," and

so forth, as

Our Lord it

is

the faith of the fathers

the metropolitans at once subscrilie

by

has been

When

inserted in a previous part of the history.

had exclaimed, " This

in

and on their return, the

we

!

This

is

guided

:

all

let

the faith

thus do

of the Apostles

:

we

the magistrates ruled, that the formu-

all

think

lary, thus

!"

this are

all

:

framed by the fathers and approved by

all,

should he referred to the imperial supremacy.

At

the sixth meeting Marcian was present, and

harangued the bishops on the subject of unanimity.

At

the

read

b}^

command

of the emperor, the formidary was

Aetius, archdeacon of Constantinople, and

subscril^ed

it.

The emperor then

all

asked, whether the

fornndary had been composed with the approbation of all

:

upon which

all

declared their confirmation of

expressions of approval.

addressed them, and

all

Again the emperor

applauded.

At

it

by

tvv^ice

the emperor's

suggestion certain canons were enacted, and metro-

CASE OF TIIEODOUET AND OTHERS.

CHAP. XVIII.] politcUi

was conferred upon

ruiik

1

17

The

Clialceclon.

emperor further commanded the bishops to remain three or four days; that each one should

move the synod on

whatever matters he might choose, in the presence of the magistrates

should take

The

effect.

Another was

and

and such

;

held, at

as

meetino;

were judged proper,

was then

closed.

which canons were enacted

at the next, Juvenalis

;

and Maximus came to an

agreement that Antioch should have for

its

province

the two Phoenicias and Arabia; and Jerusalem, the

three Palestines

;

which was

ratified

by an

interlo-

cution of the magistrates and bishops.

At the ninth meeting,

He

mooted.

thema

to Nestorius,

the holy Virgin

him who begotten faith

and

Mary

divides into !

I

the case of Theodoret

was

anathematised Nestorius, saying, " Anato

him who does not

to be

affirm

Mother of God, and

to

two Sons the one Son, the only

have also subscribed the formulary of

and the

epistle

of Leo."

Upon

restored to his see, by an interlocution of

At another meeting,

this

he was

all parties.

the case of Ibas was discussed

and the judgment was read which had been passed

upon him by Photius, bishop of Tyre, and Eustathius of Berytus

;

but the vote was deferred to the next

meeting.

At the eleventh meeting, when bishops

the majority of the

had voted that Ibas should be restored to

his episcopal rank, others, in rejoinder, said that his

ECCLESIASTICAL IIISTOKY.

118

[bOOK

II.

accusers were waiting outside, and required that they

should be admitted.

then read

;

The proceedings

but when

in his case

were

the magistrates ruled, that the

transactions at Ephesus respecting Ibas should also be read, the bishops replied, that all the proceedings in

the second

synod at Ephesus were

On

null,

Maximus

exception of the ordination of

with the

of Antioch.

emperor to

this point, they further requested the

decree that nothing should be valid which had been transacted at Ephesus subsequently to the

first

synod,

over which the sainted Cyril, president of Alexandria,

had presided.

It

was judged right that Ibas should

retain his bishopric.

At

the next meeting, the case of Bassianus was

inquired into, and

it

was judged

were formally voted thirteenth, the case

that he should be

"fit

removed and Stephen substituted

which measures

:

at the following meeting.

At the

was investigated of Eunomius of

Nicomedia and Anastasius of about their respective

cities.

Nicasa,

A

who had a dispute

fourteenth was also

held, at

which the case of Sabinianus was investigated.

Finally,

it

was decided that the

see of Constantinople

should rank next after that of Rome.

THE END OF THE SECOND BOOK.

THE THIRD BOOK.

CHAPTER

I.

CHARACTER OF THE EMPEROR ZENO. Zeno, on becoming, by the death of his son, sole emperor, as

if

entertaining an idea that his power was

incomplete ^\'ithout an unrestrained pursuit of every pleasure that presented

from the

itself,

so far

abandoned himself

to the solicitations of desire,

first

hesitate at nothing of all that

is

unseemly and

as to illicit

but so thorough was his habitude in such things, that he esteemed

it

grovellmg to practise them in conceal-

ment and privacy

;

but to do

it

openly, and as

in a conspicuous spot, truly royal

but an emperor

emperor

is

sway over sways his

:

and suited

a notion base and servile

;

it

were,

to

none

for the

known, not by the circumstances of ordinary others, but

by those wherem he

rules

and

himself, in guarding against the admission in

own person

of whatever

is

indecorous; and

bemg

thus unconquered by loose indulgence, so as to be a living

image of virtue for imitation and the mstruction

of his subjects.

But he who

pleasures of sense,

is

lays himself open to the

unwittingly becoming a base

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

120 slave,

[bOOK

III.

an uiiransoiiied captive, continually passing,

like worthless slaves,

another

from the hands of one master to

inasmuch as pleasures are an unnumbered

;

train of mistresses, linked in endless succession

;

while

the present enjoyment, so far from being lasting,

either banishes the rabble rule of pleasures,

becoming

thus a sovereign instead of a victim of tyranny continuing a slave to the

last,

is

man

only the kindler and prelude to another, until a

;

or,

receives the portion of

the infernal world.

CHAPTER

II.

INCURSIONS OF THE BARBARIANS.

In such a manner, then, had Zeno, from the com-

mencement of

his reign,

depraved his course of

while, however, his subjects, both in the East

West, were greatly distressed

;

in the

fashion,

;

and

by the inroads of the Huns, formerly knoAvn

by the name of Massaget^e, who crossed the

mthout

:

one quarter, by

the general devastations of the Scenite barbarians in Thi-ace,

life

and the

opposition

:

was making

escaped them.

Ister

while Zeno himself, in barbarian violent

seizure

on

whatever

CHAP.

REVOLT or HA8IL1SCUS.

IV. 1

CHAPTER

III.

INSURRECTION OF BASILISCUS.

But OH of A^erma

121

A.D.475.

FLIGHT OF ZENO.

the iHsnrrectioii of Basiliscus, the brother

— for

disposition of his nearest con-

the

nexions was hostile, from the universal disgust at his

most disgraceful courage

life

for vice

:

Zeno

was utterly wanting

craven and desponding,

unmanly

ciently indicating its

pleasures.

—he

is

fled

with

spirit

in

suffi-

by submission

precipitation,

and

to

sur-

rendered so great a sovereignty to Basiliscus without a

struo-(Tle.

district,

He was

Isauria,

blockaded in his native

also

having with him his wife Ariadne,

who had subsequently fled from her mother, and those Basiliscus, parties who still continued loyal to him. having thus acquired the

on his son Marcus the

Roman

title

diadem, and bestowed

of Caesar, adopted measures

opposed to those of Zeno and his predecessors.

CHAPTER

IV.

CIRCULAR OF BASILISCUS.

At

the instigation of an embassy of certain Alex-

andrians, Basiliscus

summons Timotheus ^lurus from

his exile, in the eighteenth year of his

Avhich

time

Acacius

held

the

banishment

episcopate

of

;

at

Con-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

122

On

stantinople.

arrival

his

at

[bOOK

unperial

the

III.

city,

Timotheus persuades Basiliscus to address circular letters to the bishops in every quarter,

and to anathe-

matise the transactions at Chalcedon and the tome of

They were

Leo.

to this effect.

THE CIRCULAR LETTER OF BASILISCUS. "

The emperor

Ca3sar Basiliscus, pious, victorious,

triumphant, supreme, ever-worshipful Augustus, and

Marcus, the most illustrious Csesar, to Timotheus, archbishop of the great city of the Alexandrians, most reverent and beloved of God.

It

has ever been our

pleasure, that whatever laws have been decreed in

behalf of the true and apostolic faith, by those our

pious

who have maintained

predecessors

service of the blessed

Trinity,

should never be inoperative

rather disposed

enactment. of our

has

We,

enounce them

to

as

the true life-giving

but we are

;

of

our

own

preferring piety and zeal in the cause

God and Saviour Jesus

made us

affairs,

and undecaying and

Christ

who

created and

glorious, before all diligence in

human

and being further convinced that unity among

the flocks of Christ

and our

the preservation of ourselves

is

subjects, the stout foundation

bulwark of our empire

moved with godly

;

zeal,

and unshaken

being by these considerations

and

offering to our

God and

Saviour Jesus Christ the unity of the Holy Church as the

first

fruits of

our reign, ordain that the basis

CHAP.

and

123

CIKCULAK UV BASILISCUS.

IV.]

settleiiieiit

of

human

felicity,

namely, the symbol

of the three hundred and eighteen holy fathers

who

were assembled, in concert with the Holy Spirit, at Nicfea, into

which both ourselves and

predecessors were baptised

all

our believing

that this alone should

;

have reception and authority with the orthodox people in all the

most holy churches of God, as the only

formulary of the right

faith,

and

sufficient for the

utter destruction of every heresy, and for the complete

unity of the holy churches of notwithstanding,

hundred and

to

God

of

force

the

without prejudice,

;

the

acts

of

the

holy Others assembled in this

fifty

imperial city, in confirmation of the sacred symbol

condemnation of those who blasphemed as well as of all that were against the Holy Ghost passed in the metropolitan city of the Ephesians

itself,

and

in

;

against the impious

who

Nestorius and those

sub-

But the proceedings

sequently favoured his opinions.

which have disturbed the unity and order of the holy churches of God, and the peace of the whole world, that said

is

to say, the so-called

and done

at

tome of Leo, and

all

things

Chalcedon in innovation upon the

before-mentioned holy symbol of the three hundred

and eighteen holy

fathers,

of faith, or setting

whether by w^ay of definition

forth of symbols,

pretation, or instruction, or discourse

these shall be anathematised Avhere

;

or of inter-

we

ordain that

both here and every

by the most holy bishops

in every church,

and

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

124 shall

III.

be committed to the flames whenever they shall

be found, inasmuch as all

[bOOK

was

so enjoined respecting

by our

predecessors, of pious

it

heretical doctrines

and blessed memory, Constantine, and Theodosius the younger

;

and

having thus been rendered

that,

null,

they shall be utterly expelled from the one and only catholic

and apostolic orthodox church,

as superseding

the everlasting and saving definitions of the three

hundred and eighteen

at

Ephesus

fathers,

by the Holy

fathers who, ;

that

and those of the blessed

made

Spirit,

no one,

their decision either of the

short,

in

priesthood or laity, shall be allowed to deviate from that most sacred constitution of the holy symbol ; and that,

together with

all

the

upon the

innovations

sacred symbol which were enacted at Chalcedon, there

who do not

be also anathematised the heresy of those confess, that the only begotten

incarnate,

Son of God was truly

and made man of the Holy

Spirit

and of

the holy and ever-virghi Mary, Mother of God, but,

accordmg

to their strange conceit, either

or in mere phantasy and seeming heresy,

:

from heaven,

and, in short, every

and whatever other innovation,

in respect

either of thought or language, has been devised in

violation of the sacred

any time or

place.

symbol

in

And, inasmuch

any manner or as

it is

at

the special

task of kingly providence to furnish to their subjects,

with

forecasting

deliberation,

abundant

security, not only for the present but

i'or

means of

future time,

CHAP.

CmCULAK OF

IV. j

we

oi'diiin

most holy

tliat tlie

125

15ASILTSCUS.

our sacred circular

shall subst-ribe to this

cveiy place

bislio])s in

epistle

exhibited to them, as a distinct declaration are indeed ruled

also

defined

they

by the sacred symbol of the three

hiuidrcd and eighteen holy fathers alone

hundred and

when

tiiat

fifty

— which the

holy fathers confirmed

by the most holy

fathers,

;

as

it

was

who, sub-

sequently, assembled in the metropolitan city of the

Ephcsians, that the sacred symbol of the three hundred

and eighteen holy fathers ought to be the only rule they anatliematise ever}^ stumbling-l)lock enacted

^^'hile

at

Chalcedon to the faith of the orthodox people, and

utterly eject

them from the churches,

over,

who,

as an

and our own.

to the general happiness

after the issuing of these

our sacred

which we trust to have been uttered with the will of God, that unity which

all

in

impediment

Those, more-

in

letters,

accordance

an endeavour to accomplish

desire for the holy churches of

God, shall attempt to bring forward or so

much

name

which was

the

innovation

upon

the

faith

as to

enacted at Chalcedon, either in discourse or instruction or Avriting, in whatever manner, place, or time

;

with

respect to those persons, as being the cause of confusion

and tumult

in the churches of

God and anions' God and our

the whole of our subjects, and enemies to safety,

we command

(in

accordance with the laws

ordained by our predecessor, Theodosius, of blessed

and sacred memory, against such

sort of evil designs.

ECCLESIASTICAL

126

which laws are subjoined

to this

that, if bishops or clergy,

they be deposed

or

III.

our sacred circular) ;

if

monks

that they be subjected to banishment and

laics,"

every

[bOOK

IIISTOPwY.

mode

of confiscation, and the severest penalties

for so the holy

and homoousian Trinity, the Creator

and Vivifier of the universe, which has ever been adored by our piety, receiving at the present time service at our

hands in the destruction of the before-

mentioned tares and the confirmation of the true and apostolic traditions of the holy

symbol, and being

thereby rendered favourable and gracious to our souls

and to

all

our subjects, shall ever aid us in the exercise

of our sway, and preserve the peace of the world."

CHAPTER

V.

RECEPTION OF THE CIRCULAR.

According who, as

to Zacharias, the rhetorician, Timotheus,

I said,

was just returned from banishment,

agrees to these circular letters

;

as does also Peter,

president of the church of Antioch, surnamed the Fuller, city.

who

also attended

Timotheus

at the imperial

After these proceedings, they also determined

that Paul should occupy the archiepiscopal throne of

the church of Ephesus.

This author also says, that

Anastasius, the successor of Juvenalis as president of

Jerusalem, subscribes the circular, and very

many

RKCErTION OF THE CIRCELAK.

v.]

CIIAl'.

others

so that those

;

who

repudiated the tome of Leo

and the s3aiod of Chalcedoii, amounted

hundred

and

:

also

127

that

to about five

written

a

was

petition

addressed to Basiliscus by the Asiatic bishops, assembled at Ephesus, a part of which following terms

:

"To

is

couched in the

our entirely pious and Christ-

loving lords, Basiliscus and Marcus, ever victorious

emperors." fiiith

Presently

proceeds

it

:

"

has been hated and assailed, you,

Christ-lovino-

sovereiojns,

have

Whenever the pious and

all

made

manifest

it

And

throughout that you were equally assailed." further on

:

"

A

ment and fury your serenity

certain fearful retribution of judg-

of divine fire and the just wrath of

shall

suddenly involve the adversaries,

who endeavour with vauntful assault to battle down the mighty God and your sovereignty fortified those

by the

faith

;

spared

our

humble

slandered

Avho also in various

and belied

but

selves,

us,

as

ways have not

have

continually

having subscribed to

your sacred and apostolic circular

letters

by com-

pulsion and violence, v/hich we, in fact, subscribed

with it

all

joy and readiness."

And

furtlier

on

:

" Let

therefore be your pleasure, that nothing be put

forward otherwise than as accords with your sacred circular, being assured that, as

we have

before said, the

whole world will be turned upside down, and the

which have proceeded from the synod will be

found

trifling in

at

evils

Chalcedon

comparison, notwithstanding

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

128

[bOOK

III.

the iiiimincrable slaughters which they have caused,

and the blood of the orthodox which they have

And

unjustly and lawlessly shed."

"We

further on:

conjure your piety, in the presence of our Lord Jesus

and canonical and

Christ, to maintain the just

eccle-

siastical

condemnation and deposition which has been

inflicted

on them, and especially on him who has been

on

many

points convicted of having unduly exercised

The same Zacha-

the episcopate of the imperial city." rias

also writes as follows

imperial

those

circulars,

"On

:

the

in

the issuing of the capital

infected with the phantasy of Eutyches,

who were

and followed

the monastic rule, believing themselves to have chanced

on a prize in the person of Timotheus, and hoping by

own

the circulars to catch their

with

all

speed,

and again

Timotheus that the with ourselves as to

Word flesh,

profit, flock to

him

retire, as if

convinced by

God

consubstantial

of

is

and consubstantial with the

Father as respects the Godhead."

CHAPTER

VI.

PROCEEDINGS OF TIMOTHY yELURUS.

The same author from the imperial

says, that city,

Timotheus, setting out

visited

enthroned Paul as archpriest ordained, according to the

;

Ephesus, and there

wdio had already been

more ancient custom, by

GHAP.

129

COUNTER CIKCULAR.

VII.]

the bishops of the province, but had been ejected from his see

and he

:

Ephesus the dignity

also restored to

of the patriarchate, of which the synod at Chalcedon

had deprived

it,

as I have already mentioned.

Pro-

ceeding thence, he arrives at Alexandria, and uniformly required

synod

all

who approached him

Accordingly,

Chalcedon.

at

to anathematise the

there abandon

him, as has been recorded by the same Zacharias,

many

of his party, and

among them Theodotus, one who

of the bishops ordained at Joppa by Theodosius,

by means of

had,

certain persons,

become bishop of

Jerusalem, at the time when Juvenalis betook himself to Byzantium.

CHAPTER

YII.

COUNTER CIRCULAR OF This author also

says, that Acacius, president of the

church of Constantinople,

populace of the imperial

the

was a heretic

circular,

in

consequence of these

up the monastic body and the

proceedings, stirred

iscus

BASILISCUS.

:

city,

on the plea that Basil-

and that the

latter repudiated

and issued a constitution

that transactions

precipitated

to the effect,

by overbearing

influ-

ence were utterly null; and also sent forth a counter circular in

recommendation of the synod

This counter circular, as he terms 9

it,

at Chalcedon.

he has, however,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

130

omitted, having written the whole ate feelings.

It is as follows

:

—

work under

THE COUNTER CIRCULAR OF

"We,

[bOOK

passion-

BASILISCUS.

the emperors, Cresars, Basiliscus and Marcus,

thus ordain: that the apostolic and orthodox

which has held sway very

III.

first,

faith,

churches from the

in the catholic

both until the beginning and during the

continuance of our reign, and ought to sway

'in

coming time, into which

and in

which we believe; that

also this

we were

baptised,

all

continue to sway

alone

uninjured and unshaken, and ever prevail throughout the catholic and apostolic churches of the orthodox

and that no question tending otherwise be a subject of debate.

On

this

account

we

also enjoin, that all acts

during our reign, whether circular

any thing whatever relating constitution,

be null;

while

letters or others, or

to faith or ecclesiastical

we

at

the same

time

anathematise Nestorius, Eutyches, and every other heresy, with

all

who

hold like sentiments; and that

no synod or other debate be held on

this subject,

but

that the present form remain unimpaired and unshaken. Also, that the provinces, the ordination to which

was

possessed by the see of this imperial and glorious city,

be restored to the most reverent and holy patriarch

and archbishop Acacius, the present bishops, highly beloved of God, retaining their respective sees provided ;

CILU\

RESTOIIATION OF ZENO.

VIII.]

— A.D.477.

131

that no prejudice thence arise after their demise to the right of ordination belonging to the illustrious see of this imperial

and glorious

That

city.

this

our sacred

ordinance has the force of a sacred constitution

is

a

matter of doubt to none."

Such was the course of these transactions.

CHAPTER Vm. OF

RESTORATION

But

ZENO.

Zeno, having seen in a vision the holy and

tried proto-martyr Thecla encouraging

much

him and

pro-

mising him restoration to power, after winning over the besiegers by bribes, marches on Byzantium and expels Basiliscus, for

two

years,

who had now held the supreme power and, on his taking refuge in a holy

precinct, surrenders

him

Zeno, in

to his enemies.

consequence, dedicated to the proto-martyr Thecla a

very extensive sanctuary, of singular statelmess and beauty, at Seleucia, which

is

situated near the borders

of Isauria, and embellished royal times.

offerings,

Basiliscus

is,

at'

many and

accordingly, conveyed to Cappa-

docia, in order to his death,

and children

with very

it

which have been preserved to our

the

and

station

is

slain

with his wife

named Acusus.

Zeno

enacts a law in abrogation of what Basiliscus the tyrant

had constituted by the Fuller,

is

his circulars,

ejected

and Peter, surnamed

from the church of the Auti-

ochenes, and Paul from that of the Ephesians.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

132

CHAPTER

[bOOK

III.

IX.

EPISTLE OF THE ASIATIC BISHOPS TO ACACIUS.

The

bishops of Asia, to sooth Acacius, address to

him a deprecatory

plea,

and implore

his

pardon in a

repentant memorial, wherein they alleged, that they

had subscribed the circular by compulsion and not voluntarily case

was

faith,

and they affirmed with an oath that the

;

and that they had

really thus,

and

still

maintained

in accordance with the

it

The purport of the document

synod at Chalcedon. is

settled their

as follows.

An epistle or petition

sent from the bishops of Asia, to

"

Acacius, bishop of Constantinople.

To

Acacius, the

most holy and pious patriarch of the church perial city of Constantine, the

afterwards proceeds

person

who

shortly after:

we

By

And

it

"We have been duly visited by the

:

will also act as

"

in the im-

New Rome."

our representative."

these letters

And

we acquaint you that

subscribed, not designedly but of necessity, having

agreed to these matters with letters and words, not Avith the heart.

For,

by your acceptable prayers and

the will of the higher Power,

have received

it

;

the faith as Ave

from the three hundred and eighteen

lights of the world,

fathers

we hold

and the hundred and

fifty

holy

and, moreover, Ave assent to the terms Avhich

Avere piousl}^

and rightly framed

holy fathers there assembled."

at

Chalcedon by the

CHAP. XI.]

SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS.

133

Whether Zacharias has slandered these

persons, or

they themselves lied in asserting that they were unwilling to subscribe, I

am

not able to say.

CHAPTER

X.

SUCCESSION OP BISHOPS AT ANTIOCH.

Next tioch,

to Peter, Stephen succeeds to the see of

whom

with reeds sharpened

John the Ehetorician.

like lances,

those

Timotheus,

who approached and,

as

is

recorded by

After Stephen, Calandion

entrusted with the helm of that

upon

An-

the sons of the Antiochenes dispatched

at the

see,

is

and he wrought

him, to anathematise

same time, the

circular of

Basiliscus.

CHAPTER XL SUCCESSION OP BISHOPS AT ALEXANDRIA. It was the

intention of Zeno to eject Timotheus

from the church of Alexandria

;

but,

on being

in-

formed by certain persons that he was already aged,

and had almost reached the common resting-place of all men, he abandoned

his purpose.

And,

in fact,

theus shortly after paid the debt of nature. the Alexandrian bishops elect, on their

own

Timo-

Upon

this

authority,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

134

surnained

Peter,

Mongus

;

[bOOK

III.

announcement of

the

which proceeding exasperated Zeno, who judged him to have incurred the penalty of death,

and he

recalls

Timotheus, the successor of Proterius, while residing,

on account of a popular tumult,

at

Canopus.

Thus

Timotheus obtained, by the commands of the emperor, possession of his rightful see.

CHAPTER

XII.

ECCLESIASTICAL MEASURES OF ZENO.

By

the advice of certain persons, John, a presbyter,

^vlio lield

the office of steward of the venerable temple

of the holy forerunner and baptist John, visits the imperial

city,

in order to negotiate permission for the

inhabitants of Alexandria to elect as president of their

church a person of their own choice, that their bishop should

if it

should happen

depart out of the

world.

According to Zacharias, he was detected by the emperor in the endeavour to compass his to the bishopric,

own appointment

and was allowed to return home, under

an oath that he would never aspire to the see of Alexandria.

The emperor too

that, after the death of

be bishop

issues a precept, to the effect

Timotheus, that person should

whom the clergy and

people might elect.

On

the death of Timotheus, which took place shortly after,

John,

l)y tlie

employment of money,

as the

same Zacha-

CHAP.

writes,

rias

IIENOTICON OF ZENO.

XIII.]

and in disregard of

the emperor, procures his

sworn pledge to

his

own nomination

as bishop

The emperor, on being informed

of the Alexandrians. of these circumstances,

commands

his expulsion, and,

at the suggestion of certain persons, addresses

cution to the Alexandrians, which he directing, at the

135

A.D. 482.

an

allo-

named Henoticon,

same time, that the

see of

Alexandria

should be restored to Peter, with a stipulation, that he should subscribe this document and admit to

commu-

nion the party of Proterius.

CHAPTER Xm. PUBLICATION OF THE HENOTICON OF ZENO.

Of

measure of arrangement, framed according

this

to the advice of Acacius, bishop of the imperial city,

Pergamius

is

the bearer,

who had been appointed

pro-

curator of Egypt. Finding, on his arrival at Alexandria, that

John had

fled,

he addresses himself to Peter, and

urges him to receive the allocution of Zeno, and also to admit the separatists.

He, accordingly, receives and

subscribes the before mentioned allocution, with a pro-

mise also to admit to communion the members of the opposite party. festival at

Accordingly, on occasion of a general

Alexandria and the universal acceptance of

the so-called Henoticon of Zeno, Peter admits the partizans of Proterius

;

and, on delivering in the church

an address to the people, he reads the allocution of Zeno, as follows.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

136

[bOOK

III.

CHAPTER XIV. THE HENOTICON (INSTRUMENT OF UNION).

"The emperor

Caesar Zeno, pious, victorious, trium-

phant, supreme, ever worshipful Augustus, to the most

reverent bishops and clergy, and to the laity

throughout Alexandria, Egypt, Libya, and Pen-

tapolis. tion, the is

monks and

Being assured that the origin and constitu-

might and invincible defence of our sovereignty

the only right and true faith, which, through divine

inspiration, the three

hundred holy fathers assembled at

Nicasa set forth, and the hundred and fifty holy fathers,

who ^ve

in like

manner met

at Constantinople, confirmed;

night and day employ every means of prayer, of

zealous pains and of laws, that the holy Catholic and apostolic church in every place

may be

multiplied, the

uncorruptible and immortal mother of our sceptre

;

and

that the pious laity, continuing in peace and unani-

mity with respect to God, may, together with the bishops, highly beloved of God, the

the

most pious clergy,

archimandrites and monks, offer up acceptably

their supplications in behalf of our sovereignty.

long as our great

God and Saviour Jesus

Christ,

So

who

was incarnate and born of Mary, the Holy Virgin, and

Mother of God, approves and readily accepts our concordant glorification and

service,

the power

of our

enemies will be crushed and swept away, and peace

Avith

its

produce,

blessings,

kindly

and whatever

faith is the preserver

petitions

is

temperature, beneficial to

Since, then, the

liberally bestowed.

weal,

137

THE llENOTICON.

CHAP. XIV.]

abundant

man,

^vill

be

irreprehensible

both of ourselves and the

Roman

have been offered to us from pious

archimandrites and hermits, and other venerable per-

imploring us with tears that unity should be

sons,

procured for the churches, and the limbs should be knit together, which the

enemy of all good has of

old

time been eagerly bent upon severing, under a consciousness

that defeat

him whenever he an entire condition. For

will befall

assails

the body while in

since

happens, that of the unnumbered generations

it

which during the lapse of so many years time has withdrawTi from

life,

some have departed, deprived of

the laver of regeneration, and others have been borne

away on the

inevitable journey of

man, without having

partaken in the divine communion

murders have

also

;

and innumerable

been perpetrated; and not only the

earth, but the very air has been defiled

of blood- she ddings

;

by a multitude

that this state of things

might be

who woidd not pray? For we were anxious that you should be informed, that we and the churches in every quarter neither have held, nor do we or shall we hold, nor are we aware of persons who hold, any other symbol or transformed into good,

this

reason,

lesson or definition of faith or creed than the before-

mentioned holy symbol of the three hundred and

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY,

138

[bOOK

III.

eighteen holy fathers, which the aforesaid hundred and

holy fathers confirmed

fifty

hold such, that

tliis

we deem him an

symbol alone

as

is,

and

;

alien

we

if

for

:

said,

any person does

we

are confident

the preserver of

our sovereignty, and on their reception of this alone are all the people baptised

which

illumination:

when desirous

symbol

assembled at Ephesus

of the saving

the

holy

fathers

also followed;

who

further

all

passed sentence of deposition on the impious Nestorius

and those who subsequently held his sentiments which :

we also anathematise, together with Eutyand all who entertain opinions contrary to those

Nestorius ches

above-mentioned, receiving at the same time the twelve chapters of Cyril, of holy memory, formerly archbishop

We

of the holy Catholic church of the Alexandrians.

moreover

confess, that the only begotten

himself God,

who

Lord Jesus

Christ,

Son of God,

truly assumed manhood, namely, our

who

is

con-substantial with the

Father in respect of the Godhead, and con -substantial with ourselves as respects the manhood; that He,

having descended, and become incarnate of the Holy Spirit

and Mary, the Virgin and

and not two

;

for

we

is

one

affirm that both his miracles,

and

INIother of God,

the sufferings which he voluntarily endured in the flesh,

are those of a single person

deoree admit those

who

either

confusion, or introduce a

:

for

make a

phantom

;

we do

in

no

division or a

inasmuch as his

truly sinless incarnation from the Mother of God did not

139

THE HENOTICON.

CHAP. XIV.]

produce an addition of a son, because the Trinity con-

when one member of the Trinity, God Word, became incarnate. Knowing, then, that neither the holy orthodox churches of God in all parts, nor the priests, highly beloved of God, who are at their

tinued a Trinity even the

head, nor our

own

sovereignty, have allowed or do allow

any other symbol or mentioned holy

definition of faith than the before-

setting forth a

rance

:

we have united ourselves thereto And these things we write- not as

lesson,

without hesitation.

new form

of faith, but for your assu-

and every one who has held or holds any other

opinion, either at the present or another time, whether at

Chalcedon or in any synod whatever, we anathema-

tise

;

and

Eutyches,

specially the before-mentioned Nestorius

and

and those who maintain their doctrines.

Link yourselves,

therefore, to the

spiritual mother,

communion

the church, and in her enjoy the same

with us, according to the aforesaid one and only nition of the faith, namely, that of the three

and eighteen holy

fathers.

For your

all

defi-

hundred

holy mother,

the church, waits to embrace you as true children, and longs to hear your loved voice, so long withheld. Speed yourselves, therefore, for

by

so doing

you

will

both

draw towards yourselves the favor of our Master and Saviour and God, Jesus Christ, and be commended by our sovereignty."

When

this

had been read,

all

the Alexandrians

united themselves to the holy catholic and apostolic church.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

140

CHAPTER

[bOOK

III.

XV.

CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN SIMPLICIUS AND ZENO.

whom we have made mention from Alexandria, arrives at the

John, however, of before,

having

ancient

Rome, and there causes great

fled

that he had been banished from his

stir,

by saying

riglitful see for

upholding the doctrines of Leo and the council at Chalcedon, and had been superseded by another person,

who was their opponent. of the elder

reply charges John this reason

Upon

Rome, writes

this Simplicius, bishop

in alarm to Zeno;

Avith perjury,

and

who

in

alleges that for

and no other he had been ejected from

his

bishopric.

CHAPTER

XVI.

DEPOSITION OF CALANDION AND RESTORATION OF

PETER THE FULLER. Calandion, president of Antioch, writing to the

emperor Zeno, and to Acacius, president of Constantinople, terms Peter an adulterer, saying that,

was

at Alexandria,

Chalcedon. Oasis,

He

is

when he

he had anathematised the council at afterwards condemned to exile at

on a supposition of having supported lUus,

Leontius, and Pamprepius, in their usurpation against

LETTER FROM PETER TO ACACIUS.

CHAP. XVII.]

Zeno

;

dioii

and Stephen, as

own

The

and Peter the

see.

141

Fuller, the predecessor of CalanI

have mentioned, recovered

his

Henoticon of

latter also subscribed the

Zeno, and addressed s3^nodical letters to Peter, bishop of Alexandria.

Acacius, president of Constantinople,

also entered into

communion with him. Martyrius,

too,

bishop of Jerusalem, addressed synodical letters to Peter.

Subsequently, certain persons withdrew from

communion with

Peter, who, in consequence, thence-

forward openly anathematised the synod at Chalcedon.

The news of this circumstance greatly troubled Acacius, and induced him to send persons

to gain

on the subject;

when

had not so

drew up memorials,

acted,

persons said, from their

Peter, to convince in

own knowledge,

information

them

that he

which certain that Peter had

not done any thing of the kind.

CHAPTER

XVII.

LETTER FROM PETER TO ACACIUS. This Peter never abided by one opinion, being a double dealer, a waverer, and a time-server,

now

ana-

thematising the synod at Chalcedon, at another time recanting,

and

admitting

it

with

entire

assent.

Accordingly, the same Peter wrote an epistle to Acacius, president of Constantinople, in the following words

"The most high God

will repay

your holiness for the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

142

many

labours and

of time,

[bOOK

III.

wherewith, during the lapse

toils

you have guarded the form of

faith of the

holy fathers, which you have confirmed by unceasingly proclaiming

it

;

in

which form when we found the

symbol of the three hundred and eighteen holy fathers to be embraced,

that

symbol

believe

;

in

which

who assembled ingly,

we were

disposed to accord with

which we believed also the

at baptism,

and

it

still

hundred and fifty holy fathers, Accord-

at Constantinople, confirmed.

while increasing in your endeavours to guide

all aright,

you have united the holy church of God, by

convincing us by the most powerful proofs that nothing at variance with this ral

was enacted

in the holy

synod held at Chalcedon, but that

it

and gene-

accorded with

the acts of the holy fathers at Nicsea, and confirmed

them.

Thus, having discovered no novelty therein, Ave

have of our own free motion accorded our assent and belief.

But we are informed that

certain monks,

envying our brotherly union, have conveyed certain slanders to your holy ears, which have with some

difii-

culty succeeded in embittering the feelings of your holiness.

And,

in the first place,

it is

alleged that Ave

have removed to another place the remains of our sainted father, the blessed archbishop Timotheus, a

thing abhorrent to religion and laAV

:

and they have

further shifted their ground to another charge, in itself

incoherent and Avorse than the former; for Ave possibly

how

could

have anathematised the synod at Chalcedon,

ClIAr. XVII.]

LETTER FROM TETER TO ACACIUS.

Avhicli wti luid

previously confii'ined by according to

But the nudignant teuiper and

our belief?

143

of our people are notorious, and cannot but be to

your

piety, as well as of tliose

posed to innovation

;

who,

monks who

known

are dis-

with certain

in conspiracy

ill-designing persons that have broken loose

from the

away the

church, are endeavouring to draw

it

fickleness

people.

Through your prayers we have also devised a discourse of a directly healing tendency, and in no

transactions contain no novelty satisfaction of

those

who had

even

tares, are

still

not at

:

tlie

we have procured

much

exertion, I have

but I make known to your holiness, the

monks who

are ever sowinoo the

rest, associating also

as mstruments, persons

monasteries;

its

united themselves to us, to affirm this

readily checked

that

and, further, for

;

guileless persons,

This nnschief, then, by

point.

way impugn-

synod at Chalcedon, well knowing that

ing the

with themselves,

who were never

but they travel

about

the inmates of

disseminating

various rumours to our disadvantage, and, while they

do not allow that we act canonically and in a manner suitable to the holy catholic church of God, but are

habituating our people to govern rather than obey us,

they are bent on doing whatever service of God.

holiness

world of

We

will inform the all

is

unbecoming the

doubt not, however, that your

most sacred master of

tlie

these circumstances, and provide that a

formulary shall be put forth by his serenity, embracing

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

144

[bOOK

III.

the necessary matters relating to such a peace of the

church as becomes both God and the emperor so as to ;

lead

all to

repose on

provisions."

its

CHAPTER XVm. FELIX ISSUES A SENTENCE OF DEPOSITION AGAINST ACACIUS.

John,

who had

fled to

Rome, was urgent on

Felix,

the successor of Simplicius in that see, respecting the

proceedings of Peter, and recommends, according to Zacharias, that an instrument of deposition should be

from Felix, on the ground of

to Acacius

sent

communion with Peter

:

canonical, Acacius did not admit, as the writes,

rias

on

same Zacha-

presentation by certain

its

his

which, however, as being un-

members

of the monastery of the Acoemets, as they are called.

Such to

is

me

the account given by Zacharias to

transactions,

and

fect hearsay.

I

lar

but he appears

to have reported merely

now

of the proceedings.

Felix

;

have been altogether ignorant of the real

proceed to give a precise account

On

the presentation of libels to

by John against Acacius, on the

communion with

an imper-

Peter,

score of irregu-

and other uncanonical pro-

ceedings, the bishops Vitalis

and Misenus are sent by

Felix to the emperor Zeno, with a requisition that the

authority of the synod at Chalcedon should be main-

LETTER FROM ZENO TO FELIX.

CHAP. XX.]

145

tained, that Peter should be ejected as a heretic,

and

that Acacius should be sent to Felix to answer for

him by John,

himself to the charges brought against of

whom we have made

frequent mention.

CHAPTER

XIX.

INTERFERENCE OF CYRIL THE MONK. Before, however, they reached the imperial Cyril, the superior of the

city,

Acoemets, writes to Felix,

blaming his tardiness, when so grievous offences were being committed against the right faith; and Felix writes to Misenus and his associates, that they should

take no measures until they had conferred with Cyril,

and learnt from him what was best

CHAPTER

to be done.

XX.

correspondence BETWEEN FELIX AND ZENO.

Further commonitories were them by Felix;

as also

letters

both the synod at Chalcedon,

which Huneric was carrying on wrote an

groundless

;

addressed to

Zeno,

concerning

and the persecution in Africa.

Zeno wrote

epistle to Acacius.

that the concern with which

also

to

He

also

in answer,

John had iiUed him, was

because, having sworn that he would in

10

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

146

no way endeavour

[bOOK

III,

to insinuate himself into tlie see of

Alexandria, and having subsequently violated these

terms and disregarded his oath, he had been guilty of the extreme of sacrilege

:

that Peter had not been

appointed without being tested, but had with his

hand subscribed

hundred and eighteen holy fathers who met which the holy synod Part of the epistle

is

at

tioned most holy Peter, and

all

"You

words:

l)efo re-men-

the most holy churches,

and revere the most holy synod

which agreed with the

at Nictea,

Chalcedon also followed.

in these precise

ought to be assured that our piety, and the

receive

own

his reception of the faith of the three

faith of the

at Chalcedon,

Nicene synod."

In the transactions are also contained epistles from the before-mentioned Cyril, and other archimandrites of the imperial city, and from bishops and clergy of

the Egyptian Peter, as

province, addressed

being a heretic,

communicated with

him.

to Felix

against

and against those who

The members

of the

monastery of the Acoemets who came to Felix, further averred against Misenus and his party, that before their arrival at

Byzantium, the name of Peter had been

read secretly in the sacred diptychs, and since that

time without any concealment, and that they had in this

way communicated with him.

the Eg\i^tians

Peter

;

The

epistle also of

ailirmed the same things

respecting

and that John, being orthodox, had been

fully ordained

:

right-

that Peter was ordained by two Inshops

CHAUGIC AGAINST THE LEGATES.

CHAP. XXI.]

147

only, inaintainei's of similar errors with himself:

that

John every

had

since the flight of

been

inflicted

on the orthodox

stances had been

who had

species of severity

that

:

made known

to Acacius

visited the imperial city

convinced that he was in

these circum-

all

;

by persons

and that they were

things acting in union

all

with Peter.

CHAPTER

XXI.

ACCUSATION OF THE LEGATES BY SIMEON THE MONK,

AND THEIR CONSEQUENT DEPRIVATION. This

was further increased by Simeon, an

stir

Acoemet, who had been dispatched to Rome by Cyril. He expressly charged Misenus and Vitalis with holding

communion with the

name

the heretics, by distinctly uttermg

of Peter in the reading of the sacred di-

ptychs and affirmed that ;

many

simple persons had, on

this ground, been beguiled by the heretics,

that Peter

Roman

was admitted

see

gatories,

:

communion even of the

to the

said that

Misenus and

by

letter,

presumptuous attempts

There was

his party

had

have communication with any orthodox

person, either in person or

the

said

and, further, in reply to various interro-

Simeon

declined to

who

also

who had been

or to

upon the

sift

right

any of faith.

brought forward Silvanus, a presbyter,

in

company

-^vith

Misenus and Vitalis

at

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

148

Constantinople, and he coniirmed

tlie

[bOOK

III.

statement of the

too, a letter

from Acaciiis

to Simplicins, to the effect that Peter

had been long

There was read,

monks.

On these

ago deposed and had become a child of night.

grounds Misenus and Vitalis were removed from the priesthood and severed from the holy communion, when a unanimous vote was passed

ing terms

:

"

by the synod,

in the follow-

The church of the Eomans does not admit

Peter, the heretic,

who

demned by the holy

see,

excommunicated, and anathe-

if

there were no other objection,

matised.

To whom,

this is sufficient,

by

heretics,

orthodox." "

has also been long ago con-

namely, that having been ordained

he could not have authority over the

The decree

also contains

what follows:

The mere circumstance shews Acacius, bishop of

Constantinople, to have incurred very great responsibility,

because,

termed Peter a

writing to

Simplicius and having

heretic, he has

such declaration to the emperor if

Let is

He

he were loyal to him.

tial to

nevertheless

made no

which was

his duty,

:

is,

however, more par-

the emperor than to the faith."

me now

extant an

return to the order of events. epistle

from Acacius to the Egyptian

bishops, the clergy, monks,

by which he endeavours on which subject he Alexandria.

There

and the people

in general,

to heal the existing schism

also T\Tote to Peter, bishop of

149

TllOUBLES AT ALEXANDRIA.

CHAP. XXII.

CHAPTER

XXII.

COMMOTION AT ALEXANDRIA ON ACCOUNT OE THE COUNCIL OF CHALCEUON.

While

the schism at Alexandria was thus at

height, Peter, having again anathematised the

and those who

Leo, the transactions at Chalcedon, refused to admit theus, induced to

tlie

its

tome of

writings of Dioscorus and Timo-

some of the bishops and archimandrites

communicate with him; and faihng to prevail upon

the others, ejected most of them from their monasteries.

On

account of these proceedings, Xephalius visited the

imperial city, and reported

them

Zeno; Avho, in

to

great vexation, despatches Cosmas, one of his officers,

charged to load Peter with menaces, for the enforce-

ment

of unity, on

serious dissension

the score of his having caused a

by

Cosmas returns

his harshness.

to the imperial city without accomplishing the object

of his mission, having merely restored those

Subsequently,

been ejected, to their monasteries. Arsenius

is

sent out

by the emperor

Egypt and commander of the

who had

forces.

as

governor of Arriving at

Alexandria in company with Nephalius, he negociated Avith a

view to unity; but foiling to induce persons to

acquiesce in his measures, he sends some of

the imperial city, where, accordingly,

them

to

many discussions

took place in the presence of Zeno: but with no

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

150 practical

[bOOK

III.

because the emperor altogether de-

result,

clined agreement with the synod at Chalcedon.

CHAPTER XXm. SUCCESSION

OF BISHOPS AT CONSTANTINOPLE,

ALEXANDRIA, AND ANTIOCH.

At

this

common On

juncture Acacius departed on the

journey of all men, and

is

succeeded by Fravitas.

his addressing synodical letters to Peter of Alexandria,

former

with a repetition of the

the latter replies

matters respecting the synod at Chalcedon.

On

the

demise of Fravitas, after an episcopate of only four

months, Euphemius was ordained as his successor, and is

the recipient of the letters of Peter addressed to

Fravitas.

On

discovering the anathema against the

transactions at Chalcedon,

Both

epistles

Peter,

extant,

are

feelings

his

roused, and he broke off from

were greatly

communion with

Peter.

namely, from Fravitas to

and from Peter to Fravitas; but

over on account of their length.

I pass

When,

them

in conse-

quence, Euphemius and Peter were upon the point of

coming to open

hostility,

and summoning synods

against each other, these proceedings were prevented

by the death of the nasius,

latter.

who attempted

He

is

succeeded by Atha-

to unite the dissidents;

but

without success, since the parties were ranged under

151

DEATH OF AEMATUS.

CHAP. XXIV.]

Subsequently,

diti^rences of opinion.

ing syiiodical letters to

when

Palladius, the

dispatch-

successor of

Peter in the bishopric of Antioch, he took a similar course respecthig the synod at Chalcedon

;

as did also

John, his successor in the see of Alexandria.

On

the

death of Palladius, and the succession of Flavian to the see of Antioch, Solomon, a presbyter of that church, is

sent to Alexandria, as the bearer of synodical letters,

with the request of an answer from John to Flavian.

John

is

succeeded in the see of Alexandria by another

of the same name.

events tasius

Such was the progress of these

to a certain period of the reign of Anas-

:

down who had

himself ejected Euphemius.

I

have

been compelled thus to detail them continuously, for the sake of perspicuity and a ready comprehension of the

whole.

CHAPTER

XXIY.

DEATH OF AEMATUS. Zeno, at the instigation of

Illus,

puts to death

Armatus, a kinsman of the empress Verina.

Armatus had been sent against him by Zeno had succeeded, by

When

Basiliscus,

bribes, in converting

him from

a foe into an ally, and had bestowed on his son Basiliscus

the rank of Caasar at Xiciea

:

but on his return to Con-

stantinople, he procures the assassination of Armatus,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

152

and makes

[

III.

The latter

his son a priest instead of Cffisar.

was afterwards raised

BOOK

to the episcopal dignity.

CHAPTER

XXV.

INSURRECTION AND DEATH OF THEODORIC.

Theodoric

also, a

and having collected against Zeno.

march taking

marched

his forces in Thrace,

After ravaging every place in his

as far as the

the

Scythian, raised an insurrection,

mouth

imperial

of the Pontus, he was near

when some

city,

of his most

intimate companions were secretly induced to enter into a plot against his

When, however, he had

life.

learnt the disaffection of his followers, he

a retreat, and was very soon afterwards

commenced

numbered with

the departed, by a kind of death which I will mention,

and which happened thus.

A spear, with its thong pre-

pared for immediate use, had been suspended before his tent in barbaric fashion.

to be brought to

him

He had

ordered a horse

for the purpose of exercise,

being in the habit of not having any one to in

mounting, vaulted into his

seat.

assist

The

and

him

horse, a

mettlesome and ungovernable animal, reared before Theodoric was fairly mounted, so that, in the contest, neither daring to rein back the horse, lest

it

should

come do^vn upon him, nor yet having gained a firm seat,

he was whirled round in

all

directions,

and

153

INSURRECTION OF MARCIAN.

ClIAr. XXVI.]

dashed against the point of the spear, Mliich thus struck

him

obliquely,

and wounded

He was

his side.

then conveyed to his couch, and after surviving a few '

days, died of the wound.

CHAPTER

XXYl.

OF

INSURRECTION

MARCIAN.

Subsequently Marcian had a rupture with Zeno,

and attempted

He

to dispute the empire with him.

was the son of Anthemius who had formerly reigned at

Rome, and was

allied to

Leo, the preceding emperor,

having married his younger daughter Leontia. a severe battle around the palace, in which

on both

sides,

had he not

palace,

the critical moment, by putting off the opera-

morrow.

tion to the

For the close

fell

Marcian repulsed his opponents, and

would have become master of the let slip

After

many

critical

upon

one,

season

it

may

is

swift of flight

be secured

have escaped the grasp,

it

;

:

when

but should

soars aloft

it

and laughs

it

is

once at its

pursuers, not deigning to place itself again within their reach.

And

hence no doubt

painters, while they figure

in front, represent the

it

it is,

it

may

hangmg down

^vith a lock

head as closely shaven behind

thus skilfully symbolising, that

behind one,

that statuaries and

when

it

comes up from

perhaps be held fast by the flowing

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

154

forelock, but fairly escapes start,

it

III.

has once got the

from the absence of any thing by which the

pursuer might grasp

And the

when

[bOOK

was what

this

moment

to find

it

Apostles

afterwards.

when he had lost

own

For the next day he was

followers,

and being completely

to the sacred precinct of the divine

lied ;

befel Marcian,

favourable to his success, and was unable

betrayed by his deserted,

it.

whence he was dragged away by

transported to Ca3sarea in Cappadocia.

force,

and

Having there

joined the society of certain monks, he was afterwards detected in meditating an escape

by the emperor

;

and being removed

to Tarsus in Cilicia, he

ordained a presbyter

:

was shorn, and

of all which particulars an elegant

narrative has been given by Eustathius the Syrian.

CHAPTER

XXVII.

INSURRECTION OF ILLUS AND LEONTIUS.

The same '

writer states that Zeno also devised in-

numerable machinations against Verina, and afterwards sent her

mother-in-law

his

away

to Cilicia;

that subsequently, on the assumption

power by lUus, she removed castle of Papirius

;

where she

to

what

and

of sovereign is

called the

died.

Eustathius also narrates with great ability the story of Illus

:

how he

escaped Zeno's plots against

liim,

and

VARIOUS INSURRECTIONS.

CHAP. XXYIII.]

how

up

Zeiio gave

Illus,

rewarding

head for his failure in the

loss of his

He

attempt.

man who

to capital punishinciit the

had been commissioned to murder

him with the

155

also appointed Illus

commander

of the

forces of the East, thinking thus to conceal his real

designs

but he, having

:

Leontius, Marsus, a

proceeded to the

gained over as partizans

man of reputaion, and Pamprepius,

east.

The same Eustathius then mentions the proclamation of Leontius as emperor, which took place at Tarsus in Cilicia;

and how these persons reaped the

their assumption of power,

when

Theodoric, a

Gothic extraction, but illustrious

among

had been sent out against them, with a

fruits of

man

of

the Romans,

force

composed

both of native and foreign troops.

The same author ably Avere miserably

loyalty to

hhn

of the evil

Rome.

;

depicts the fate of those

who

put to death by Zeno in return for their

and how Theodoric, becoming aware

designs of Zeno, -withdrew to the elder

Some, however, say that this was done at the

suggestion of Zeno.

Having there defeated Odoacer,

he made himself master of Rome, and assumed the title

of king.

CHAPTER XX Vm. ACCOUNT OF MAMMIANUS AND* HIS STRUCTURES.

John the Zeno,

rhetorician writes,

Mammianus from an

that in the time of

artizan

became a person of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

156 note and a

member

the suburb of

on a

site

[bOOK

of the senate ; and that he built in

Daphne what

called the Antiphorus,

is

previously planted with vines and suitable for

cultivation, directly opposite the public baths

there

is

III.

also the brazen statue inscribed, "

the friend of the city."

within the

city,

two

He

;

where

Mammianus

also states that

he built

basilicas, singularly beautiful in

their design,

and embellished with

and

an intervening structure to the two, he

that, as

brilliant stone-work

raised a Tetrapylum, exquisitely finished both in

columns and

its

The

brazen work.

identified, retaining, together

basilicas I

its

have

with their name, some

trace of their former beauty, in the stones from Pro-

comiesus,

which form the

but nothing

pavement,

remarkable in their architecture

:

for,

in consequence

of the calamities which had befallen them, they had lately

way

been

rebuilt,

of ornament.

without receiving any thing in the

Of the Tetrapylum

I

was not able

to detect the slightest vestige.

CHAPTER DEATH OF ZENO.

On

XXIX.

— SUCCESSION

OF ANASTASIUS.

the decease of Zeno, by epilepsy, without issue,

after a reign of seventeen years,

Longinus

his brother,

having raised himself to considerable power, hoped to secure

the sovereignty,

but

was,

notwithstanding,

CHAP. XXX.] ACCESSION OF ANASTASIUS disappointed of his expectation.

A.D. 491.

157

For Ariadne bestows

the diadem on Anastasius, a person

who had

not yet

attained senatorian rank, hut belonged to the corps of

the Silentiaries.

Eustathius writes, that two hundred and seven years elapsed from the beginning of the reign of Diocletian to the death of five

Zeno and the nomination of Anastasius

hundred and fifty-two years and seven months

from the time that Augustus obtained the supreme power; eight hundred and thirty- two years and seven

months from the reign of Alexander the Macedonian one thousand and fifty-two years and seven months

from the reign of Romulus one thousand six hundred ;

and eighty-six years

and seven months from the

taking of Troy.

This Anastasius, called

bemg

now

Dyrrachium, both succeeds to the sovereignty

of Zeno and espouses his place,

a native of Epidamnus,

Tvdfe

Ariadne.

In the

first

he dismisses to his native country Longinus, the

brother of Zeno,

who

held the post of Master of the

Offices,

formerly termed commander of the household

troops

and afterwards, many other Isaurians

o^^^l

;

at their

request.

CHAPTER XXX. DIVISIONS IN

THE CHURCH.

Tins Anastasius, being of a peaceful disposition,

was

alto2:ether averse to the introduction of changes.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

158

[bOOK

III.

especially in the state of the church, but endeavoured

by

every means, that the most holy churches should continue undisturbed, and the whole body of his subjects

enjoy profound tranquillity, by the removal of

and contention from matters both civil.

all strife

ecclesiastical

and

During these times, accordingly, the synod of

Chalcedon was neither openly proclaimed holy churches, nor yet was repudiated by

in the all

:

most

but the

bishops acted each according to his individual opinion.

Thus, some very resolutely maintained vdiat had been

put forth by that synod, and would not yield to the extent of one

word

of

its

determinations, nor admit

even the change of a single all

contact and

letter,

communion with

admit the matters there

but firmly declined

those

set forth.

who

refused to

Others,

again,

not only did not submit to the synod of Chalcedon

and it

its

determinations, but even anathematised both

and the tome of Leo.

Others, however, firmly

adhered to the Henoticon of Zeno, and that too

though mutually

at variance

and double nature

;

al-

on the point of the single

some being caught by the

artful

composition of that document; and others influenced

by an

inclination for peace.

Thus the churches

in

general were divided into distinct factions, and their presidents did not

even admit each other to com-

munion.

Numerous

divisions,

East, in the West,

and

hence arising, existed in the in Africa; while

the eastern

CHAP. XXXI.]

159

DEPOSITION OF BISHOPS.

bishops had no friendly intercourse with those of the

West and The

Africa, nor the latter with those of the East.

evil too

became

still

more monstrous,

for neither

did the presidents of the eastern churches allow com-

munion among themselves, nor yet those who held the sees of

Europe and

Africa,

much

less

with those of

remote parts. In consideration of these circumstances, the Emperor Anastasius

removed those bishops who were pro-

moters of change, wherever he detected any one either proclaiming or anathematising the synod of Chalcedon in

opposition to the practice of the neighbourhood.

Accordingly, he rejected from the see of the imperial city, first,

Euphemius, as has been already mentioned,

and afterwards Macedonius,

Vvdio

was succeeded by

Timotheus; and Flavian from the see of Antioch.

CHAPTER

XXXI.

LETTER TO ALCISON FROM THE MONKS OF PALESTINE.

The monastic body

in Palestine, writing to Alcison

concerning Macedonius and Flavian, express themselves thus

:

"On

the death of Peter, they were again

separated, but Alexandria, Egypt, at unity

among themselves;

the rest of the East

;

as,

and Africa remained

on the other hand, did

while the churches of the

West

refused to communicate with them on any other terms

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

IGO

[bOOK

III.

than the anathematising of Xestorius, Eutyches, and Dioscorus, including also Peter, surnamed IMongTis,

and Acacius.

Such, then, being the situation of the

churches throughout the world, the genuine followers of Dioscorus and Eutyches were reduced to a very

number

small

and when they were upon the point of

;

disappearing altogether from the earth, Xenaias,

was truly a stranger

know said,

begins to raise a

him

we

what enmity towards Flavian,

not, or pursuing

but under colour of defending the

niate

who

with what object

to God,

stir

ftiith,

as

is

generally

against him, and to calum-

When, however, he

as being a Nestorian.

had anathematised Nestorius and transferred his attacks from

his notion,

him

Xenaias

to Dioscorus

and

Theodore, Theodoret, Ibas, Cyrus, Eleutherius, and

John

;

and we know not

mustered them

:

whom

some of Avhom

opinions of Xestorius,

besides

and whence he

really maintained the

but others, having been sus-

pected, anathematised him, and departed in the com-

munion of the church. anathematise

all

these,

'Unless,' said he, 'thou shalt as holding

the opinions

of

Xestorius, thou art thyself a Xestorian, though thou

shouldest ten thousand times anathematise his notion.'

He also endeavoured by

him and

letters to induce

the advocates of Dioscorus and Eutyches to take arms

with him against Flavian, not however with a view of exacting from

him an anathema upon the synod, but Cut when

merely on the before-mentioned persons.

PROCEEDINGS OF XENAIAS.

CHAP. XXXI.] the

Flavian

bishop

resistance to them,

liad

maintained

161

prolonged

a

and other persons had united with

Xenaias against him, namely, Eleusinus, a bishop of Cappadocia Secunda, Nicias, of Laodicea in Syria, and others from other quarters, the motive of whose spite

Flavian

against

is

it

the province of others, not of

ourselves, to detail; at last, in hope of peace, he yielded to their contentious spirit,

and having

in writing ana-

thematised the before-mentioned persons, he despatched the instrument to the emperor, for they had stirred

him

of Nestorius.

Xenaias, not contented with

demands of Flavian synod

itself,

that

Godhead; and on

this,

again

should anathematise the

namely, the flesh and the

his refusal,

After

being a Nestorian.

after the patriarch

faith, in

lie

and those who maintained two natures

in the person of the Lord,

and

up

also against Flavian as a maintainer of the opinions

much

again accused stir

upon

him

of

this subject,

had put forth an exposition of

which he confessed that he admitted the synod

as far as regards the deposition of Nestorius ches, not

however

as defining

and Euty-

and teaching the

faith

they again impugn him as secretly holding the opinions of Nestorius, unless he would further anathematise the

synod

itself,

and those who maintained two natures

in the person of the Lord, the flesh

The}^

also

win over

and the Godhead.

to their side the Isaurians,

various deceitful expressions, and having drawn

formulary of

faith,

in

by

up

a

which they anathematise the 11

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

162

[bOOK

III.

synod together with those who maintamed the two natures or

themselves from

persons, they separate

Flavian and Macedonius, but unite with others on their subscribing the formulary.

At

the same time

they also demanded of the bishop of Jerusalem a written statement of faith; which he put forth, and sent

to

by the hands of the party of

the emperor

Dioscorus.

This they present, containing an anathema

upon those who maintained the two

natures.

bishop of Jerusalem himself, affirming that forged by them,

anathema.

it

But the had been

puts forth another without such

And no

wonder.

For they have often

forged discourses of the fathers, and to

many

^vi'itings

of ApoUinaris they have attached titles assigning them to Athanasius,

Gregory Thaumaturgus, and Julius;

their principal object in so doing being to

the multitude to their

manded

own

impieties.

draw over

They

also

de-

of Macedonius a written statement of faith

who put one

forth, affirming that

he recognised only

the creed of the three hundred and eighteen, and of

the one hundred and

fifty fathers,

anathematising at

the same time Nestorius, Eutyches, and those

who

held the doctrine of two sons or two Christs, or divided the natures;

making, however, no mention of the

sjaiod of Ephesus,

which deposed Nestorius, nor that

of Chalcedon, which deposed Eutyches.

Indignant

at this, the monastic bodies about Constantinople sepa-

rate

from their bishop Macedonius. In the mean time

CHAP. XXXII.]

DEPOSITION OF MACEDONIUS.

163

Xenaias and Dioscorus, associating with them

many

of the bishops, became insufferable, from the stir which

they raised against those and,

by various

who

devices, they

the banishment of those

who

refused to anathematise

endeavoured to procure

persisted in their refusal.

In this way, accordingly, they banish both Macedonius,

and John, bishop of Paltus, and Flavian." Such are the contents of the

CHAPTER EJECTION

AND FLAVIAN

SEES.

other things which caused secret vex-

For when Ariadne was desirous

ation to Anastasius.

of investing

XXXII.

OF MACEDONIUS

FROM THEIR

There were

letter.

him with

the archiepiscopal

the purple, Euphemius,

see,

who held

withheld his approval, until

Anastasius had presented to him an agreement, written

with his

own hand, and

secured with fearful oaths,

that he would maintain the faith inviolate, and intro-

duce no innovation into the holy church of God, in case he should obtain the sceptre also

deposited with

sacred treasures.

:

which document he

Macedonius, the keeper of the

This measure he adopted, because

Anastasius had generally the reputation of holding the

Manichaean doctrine.

When, however, Macedonius

ascended the episcopal throne, Anastasius was desirous

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

164

[bOOK

III.

that the agreement should be returned to him, affirm-

ing

to be an insult to the imperial dignity, if the

it

before-mentioned document, in his should be preserved

:

own

hand-writing,

and when ]\Iacedonius resolutely

opposed the demand, and firmly protested that he

would not betray the

faith,

the emperor pursued every

insidious device for the purpose of ejecting his see.

hun from

Accordingly, even boys were brought forward

as informers,

who

falsely accused

Macedonius of infamous

both themselves and

But when Mace-

practices.

donius was found to be emasculate, they had recourse to other contrivances

commander from

;

until,

by the advice of

Celer,

of the household troops, he secretly retired

his see.

With

the ejection of Flavian, other circumstances

are associated. For we have met with some very aged men who remembered all the events of this time.

These gica,

say, that the

monks

of the district called Cyne-

and of the whole of Syria Prima, having been

wrought upon by Xenaias, who was bishop of the neighbouring city of Hierapolis, and in

Greek Philoxenus, rushed into the

who was named

city in a

body with

great noise and tumult, endeavouring to compel Fla-

vian to anathematise the synod of Chalcedon and the

tome of Leo.

by

Roused

at the indignation manifested

Flavian, and the violent urgency of the monks, the

people of the city that a very large

made

a great slaughter of them, so

number found

a grave in the Orontes,

165

SEVERUS OF ANTIOCII.

CHAP. XXXIII.]

where the waves performed their only funeral There happened

magnitude than the former.

less

Ciele S}Tia,

now

For the monks of

called Syria Secunda,

from sympathy

with Flavian, since he had led a monastic

monastery of the to

rites.

also another circumstance of scarcely

district called

life

in a

Tilmognon, advanced

Antioch, with the intention of defending him.

From which

,

circumstance,

also,

no inconsiderable

Accordingly, on the ground either of

mischief arose.

the former or latter occurrence, or both, Flavian ejected,

and condemned to reside

at Petra,

is

on the ex-

treme verge of Palestine.

CHAPTER

XXXIII.

SEVERUS BISHOP OF ANTIOCH.

Flavian having been thus

ejected, Severus ascends

the episcopal throne of Antioch, in the five hundred

and

sixty-first

year of the era of that

city, in

the

month

Dius, the sixth year of the Indiction; the year in which I

am now

first

writing being the six hundred and forty-

of that era.

He was

a native of Sozopolis, a city

of Pisidia, and had applied himself to the profession of

a pleader at Berytus

;

but immediately on his aban-

doning the practice of the law, having participated in holy baptism in the sacred precinct of the divine martyr Leontius,

who is

revered at Tripolis, a city of Phcenicia

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

166

Maritima, he assumed the monastic

life

[bOOK

III.

in a certain

monastery situated between the city of Gaza and the

town

called

Majumas

;

who had been

Iberian,

which

in

latter place Peter the

bishop of the same Gaza, and

had been banished with Timotheus ^lurus, passed through the same

famous memory. with Nephalius,

discipline,

and

left

behind him a

Severus there engages in a discussion

who had

formerly sided

mth him

on

the question of the single nature, but had subsequently

been one of the synod at Chalcedon and among those

who

held the opinion of two natures in the person of

our Lord Jesus Christ; and he

is,

in consequence,

own monastery by Nephalius and together with many others who held similar

expelled from his his party,

Thence he proceeds

doctrines.

to plead the cause of himself

to the imperial city,

and those who had been

expelled with him, and thus obtains the notice of the

emperor Anastasius, the

life

as

is

narrated by the author of

of Severus.

Accordingly, Severus, in issuing synodical letters, expressly anathematised the synod at Chalcedon;

which point the follows.

"

letters addressed to Alcison

The synodical

letters of

on

speak as

Timotheus of Con-

stantinople were admitted here in Palestine, but the

deposition of Macedonius and Flavian

was not admitted,

nor yet the synodical letters of Severus ers

were

put to flight, Avith the

;

but the bear-

ignominy and insult

which they deserved, by the people and monks of the

who

city,

Such was the situation of

upon them.

rose

But of the bishops subject

matters in Palestine.

among whom force

Avas Marinus, bishop of

and compulsion concurred

ters of Severus,

the synod and

persons

and

all

others

who

others

;

affirmed two natures or

m the Lord, namely, the flesh and the Godhead

others, after having concurred

Apamea;

by compulsion,

re-

and among them the bishops subject

others, again, altogether refused concur-

among whom were

rence,

Berytus

in the synodical let-

which mcluded an anathema, both on

called their assent,

to

to

away mto compliance,

Antioch, some were carried

by

167

LETTEll TO ALCISON.

CHAP. XXXIII.]

Julian, bishop of Bostra,

Epiphanius of Tyre, and some others, as

But

is said.

the Isaurian bishops, having returned to their sober senses, are

into

now condemning

themselves for the error

which they had been beguiled, and are anathema-

tising Severus

and

his party.

Others of the bishops

and clergy subject to Severus have abandoned their

among them Julian of Bostra, and Peter who are now living in these parts, as also This latter is one of those two who seemed

churches, and of Damascus,

Mamas.

to be the chiefs of the followers of Dioscorus,

means

also Severus obtained his dignity

condemns the arrogance of that party." the letter proceeds.

and Jerusalem

mous

"

The monasteries

itself are,

:

by whose

but he

now

And presently

m

these parts

with the aid of God, unani-

respecting the right faith, and very

besides, together with their bishops, for

many

all

of

cities

whom,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

168

and

for ourselves, pray thou that

most

our

temptation,

holy

[bOOK

we may not and

lord

III.

enter into

honoured

father."

CHAPTER

XXXIV.

ACT OF DEPOSITION AGAINST SEVERUS. Since, then, these letters state, that the priests sub-

separated from Sever us, let

me now

add a circumstance transmitted to us from our

fathers,

ject to

Apamea had

although

it

has not hitherto found a place in history.

Cosmas, bishop of stands

my

native place, Epiphanea, which

on the Orontes, and Severian, bishop of the

neighbouring city of Arethusa, being troubled at the synodical letters of Severus, and having withdrawn

from

his

communion, despatched an instrument of

position to him, while

still

bishop of Antioch.

de-

They

entrust the document to Aurelian, chief of the deacons at Epiphanea,

and

he,

through dread of Severus and

the majesty of so great a bishopric, on his arrival at

Antioch puts on a female dress, and apj)roaches Severus with dehcate carriage and the entire assumption of

a Avoman's appearance. breast,

Letting his vail

fall

down to his

with wailing and deep drawn lamentation he

presents to Severus, as he advanced, the instruments

of deposition in the guise of a petition

:

he then passes

unobserved from among the attendant crowd and

HUMANITY OF ANASTASIUS.

CHAP. XXXIV.J

purchased safety by

flight, before

the purport of the document. the

169

Severus had learned

Severus, having received

document and learned its contents, continued, never-

theless, in his see, until the

On bemg record

the

benevolent measure

directs Asiaticus,

he

in Phoenicia

Cosmas and Severian from

their

because they had sent the instrument of deposi-

tion to Severus.

that

of Anastasius,

who was commander

Libanensis, to eject sees,

death of Anastasius.

informed of these transactions, for I must

Findmg, on

many adhered

and that

his arrival in the East,

to the opinions of those bishops,

their cities resolutely upheld them, he reported

to Anastasius that he could not eject

bloodshed. tasius,

them without

So great then was the humanity of Anas-

that he wi'ote in express terms to Asiaticus,

that he did not desire the accomplishment of any object,

however important and

was

illustrious, if

one drop of blood

to be shed.

Such,

then,

was the

situation

of the

churches

throughout the world down to the reign of Anastasius

whom

some, treating him as an

enemy to

the synod at

Chalcedon, erased from the sacred diptychs

was

also anathematised at

life-time.

;

and he

Jerusalem even during his

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

170

[bOOK

III.

CHAPTER XXXV. SUPPRESSION OF THE ISAURIAN INSURRECTION. It will not be inconsistent,

in accordance with

if,

the promise which I originally made, I insert in

my

narrative the other circumstances worthy of mention

which occurred in the time of Anastasius. Longinus, the kinsman of Zeno, on his arrival at his native country, as has been already detailed, openly

commences war agamst the emperor:

and

numerous army had been raised from different in

after a

quarters,

which Conon, formerly bishop of Apainea in

was

also present,

Isaurians,

an end was put to the war by the utter

destruction of the Isaurian troops of Longinus.

heads

Syria,

who, as being an Isaurian, aided the

The

of Longinus and Theodore were sent to the

imperial city

by John the Scythian which the emperor ;

displayed on poles at the place caUed Sycee, opposite

Constantmople, an agreeable spectacle to the Byzantines,

who had been hardly

Isaurians.

treated

by Zeno and the

The other Longinus, surnamed of Selinus,

the main stay of the insurgent faction, and Indes, are sent alive to Anastasius

back

;

by John, surnamed Hunch-

a circumstance which especially gladdened the

emperor and the Byzantines, by the display of the prisoners led in triumph along the streets and the

hippodrome, with iron chains about their necks and

CHAP. XXXVII.] INVASION OF THE ARABS,

Thenceforward,

hands. rica

also,

—A.D. 500.

171

the payment called Isau-

accrued to the imperial treasury,

being gold

previously paid to the Barbarians annually, to the

amount of five thousand pounds.

CHAPTER INVASION

The

XXXYI. THE

OF

ARABS.

Scenite barbarians also insulted the

however, to their

empire; not,

Roman

own advantage; by

plundering Mesopotamia, either Phoenicia, and PalesAfter having been every^vhere chastised by the

tine.

commanders, they subsequently continued universally

CHAPTER CAPTURE OF AMIDA.

The

and

XXXVII. FOUNDING OF DARAS.

Persians too, having, in violation of treaties,

marched beyond Cabades, a town

quiet,

made peace with the Romans.

first

their

own

territories

under their king

attacked Armenia, and having captured

named Theodosioj^olis, reached Amida,

city of Mesopotamia,

which the

a strong

which they took by storm and

Roman emperor

;

subsequently restored by

great exertions. If

any one

is

inclined to learn the particulars of these

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

172

transactions,

and

able narrative, a

to trace the

work

[bOOK

III.

whole mmutely, a very

of great labour and elegance,

has been composed by Eustathius

;

who, after having

brought down his history to this point, Avas numbered with the departed; closing with the twelfth year of the reign of Anastasius.

After the close of this war, Anastasius founds a city

on the spot called Daras, in Mesopotamia, situated near the limits of the

Roman

dominion,

were, a border-point of the two empires. it

with strong

and, as

and embellishes

fortifications,

it

He surrounds it

with

various stately erections, both of churches and other sacred buildings,

by some

public

basilicas,

ornaments of distinguished

baths,

The

cities.

name

to have obtained the

and other

place

is

said

of Daras, because

there Alexander the Macedonian, the son of Philip, utterly defeated Darius.

CHAPTER XXX Vm. THE LONG WALL.

By rable

the same emperor was raised a vast and

work

called the

Long

situation in Thrace, distant

hundred and eighty

stadia.

Wall,

from Constantinople two It reaches

from one sea

to the other, like a strait, to the extent of four

and twenty

stadia

;

memo-

in a favourable

making the

city

hundred

an island, in a

THE LONG WALL.

CHAP. XXXIX.]

173

A.D. 507.

manner, instead of a peninsula, and affording a very such as choose, from the Pontus to the

safe transit, to

Euxine

Sea.

It

a check

is

upon the inroads of the

Barbarians from the Euxine, and of the Colchians from the Palus Masotis, and from beyond the Caucasus, as well as of those

who have made irruptions from Europe.

CHAPTER

XXXIX.

ABOLITION OF THE CHRYSARGYRUM.

The same emperor completed an

extraordinary and

divine achievement, namely, the entire abolition of the

now

tax called chrysargyrum which transaction I must :

detail,

though the task needs the eloquence of Thucy-

dides,

or something

will, lio^vever,

still

more

myself describe

lofty

it,

and

graceful.

I

not in reliance upon

powers of language, but encouraged by the nature of the action.

There was imposed upon the so singular in its

Roman commonwealth,

magnitude and duration, a tax

vile

and hateful to God, and unworthy even of Barbarians,

much more of the most Christian empire of the Romans which, having been overlooked, from ^vhat cause I

unable to say, until the time of Anastasius, he royally abolished. classes of persons

It

am

most

was imposed, both on many other

who procured

their livelihood

an accumulation of petty gains, and also upon

by

women

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

174

who made themselves

III.

a sale of their charms, and surrendered

m

brothels to promiscuous fornication in

the obscure parts of the city

who were devoted

;

and

besides,

to a prostitution

not only nature but the

mode

[bOOK

upon those

which outraged

common weal

:

so that this

of revenue proclaimed, as distinctly as a direct

enactment, that

all

who

wickedness in security.

chose,

might practise such

The impious and accursed

revenue raised from this source, the collectors paid at the end of every five years into the hands of the

and most dignified of the prefects

:

so that

no unimportant part of the functions of that had

its

separate exchequer, and accountants,

it

first

formed

and

ofiice,

men who

regarded the business as a military service, suited, like the rest, to persons of some distinction. Anastasius, being informed of the circumstance, laid

the matter before the senate, and justly declaring

it

to

be an abomination and unparallelled defilement, decreed that

it

should be utterly abolished

;

and committed to

the flames the papers which were vouchers for collection.

With

its

the desire also of making this mea-

sure a complete sacrifice to God, and of preventing any of his successors from reviving the ancient shame, he

puts on the appearance of vexation, and accuses himself of inconsiderateness

and excessive folly, saying, that

in the too eager pursuit of novelty he

the interests of the

had neglected

commonwealth, and had rashly

and thoughtlessly abolished so important a revenue.

THE CHRYSARG-i-RUM.

CHAP. XXXIX.] wliicli

had been established

m

175

former thnes and con-

firmed by so long a contmuance, without duly weighing the impending dangers, or the expenses necessary for the maintenance of the army, that living buhvark of the empire, nor yet for the service of God. Accordingly,

without betraying his secret thoughts, he proclaims his desire to restore the before-mentioned revenue

;

and

having summoned those who had been in charge of the levy, he told

them

knew not what error, now that

that he repented of the step, but

course to take, or

how

to rectify his

the papers had been burnt which could

be vouchers for the particulars of

its

exaction.

And

while they, on their part, lamented the abolition of the

on account of

levy, not in semblance but in reality,

the unrighteous gain which had thence accrued to them,

and were professing the same perplexity as the emurged and exhorted them to employ every mode of search, in the endeavour to procure from among peror, he

documents preserved in various quarters, a statement of the entire lev}^

Supplymg each

money, he despatched hun to ing

him

to bring every paper

this matter

wherever

it

individual with

collect materials, enjoin-

which threw

light

upon

might be found that by means ;

of the utmost circumspection and minute attention, a

statement of the business might be again put together. Accordingly, on the return of those

who were engaged

in the execution of these orders, Anastasius put

on a

pleased and gladsome appearance, and was in reality

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

176

rejoiced in having compassed the object

He

was bent.

how

also

made

[bOOK

III.

on which he

particular enquiries, both

they were discovered and in whose possession,

and whether any thing of the same kind was still remaining and on their affirming that they had ex:

pended great pains upon the

by the emperor could be

himself,

a voucher

and swearing

collection,

that no other paper which

was preserved throughout the

Avhole empire, Anastasius

again lighted up

a

great

pile with the papers thus produced, and drenched the

ashes with water, with the intention of removing every trace of this levy dust,

;

so that there

might appear neither

nor ashes, nor any remnant whatever of the

business, through imperfect combustion.

In order, however, that, while we are thus extolling the abolition of this impost,

ignorant feelings

how much

we may

not seem to be

has been T\Titten under passionate

on the subject by former authors,

let

me

pro-

duce these matters, and shew their falsehood, and that

more

especially

from their own statements.

CHAPTER

XL.

FALSEHOODS OF THE HISTORIAN ZOSIMUS. ZosiMUS, a follower of the accursed and foul religion of the Greeks, in his anger against Constant ine, ])ecause

he was the

first

emperor that had adopted Christianity,

CHAP. XLI.]

177

CALUMNIES OF ZOSIMUS.

abandoning the abominable superstition of the Greeks,

who

that he was the person

says,

called

devised the tax

Chrysargyrum, and enacted that

He

levied every five years.

has on

many

it

should be

other grounds

and magnificent monarch;

also reviled -that pious

many

he affirms that he contrived

for

other intolerable

proceedings against every class of persons; that he

miserably destroyed his son Crispus, and

made away

with his wife Fausta by inclosing her in an overheated bath

;

and

that,

after

to procure purification

having in vain endeavoured to

from murders so detestable

the hands of the priests of his plainly declared its

own

at

religion (for they

impossibility), he

met with an

Egyptian who had come from Iberia and, having been ;

assured by him that the faith of the Christians had the

power of blotting out every Eg}^ptian had

he embraced what the

sin,

imparted to him, and thenceforward

abandoning the

faith of his fathers,

mencement of

assertions I will forthwith shew, treat of the matter of the

he made the com-

The falsehood of

his impiety.

and

these

in the first place

Chrysargyrum.

CHAPTER

XLI.

REFUTATION OF ZOSIMUS.

Thou

sayest,

evil

and malignant demon, that

Constantine, Avishing to raise a city equal to Rome,

12

178 first

made

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

[bOOK

commencement

by laying

a

of so vast a place

III.

strong foundations and erecting a lofty wall between

Troas and Ilium;

l^ut

Byzantium a more

when he had

suitable

site,

discovered

in

he in such fashion

encircled the place with walls, so far extended the

former

city,

and embellished

it

with Iniildings so

splendid, as hardly to be surpassed

by Rome

itself,

which had received gradual increase through so long a

Thou

course of years.

sayest also that he

made a

distribution of provisions at the public cost to the

sum who had accompanied him thither,

people of Byzantium, and bestowed a very large of gold upon those for the

erection

Avi'itest to

of private

the following effect

Again, thou

houses. :

that on the decease of

Constantine, the imperial power came into the hands of Constantius, his only surviving son after the death of his two brothers

;

and that when Magnentius and

Vetranio had assumed the sovereignty, he wrought

upon the

latter

by persuasives

:

and when both armies

had been mustered, Constantius, addressing them reminded the

first,

soldiers of the generosity of his father,

whom they had served through many wars, and by whom they had been distinguished with the most with

liberal gifts

;

and that the

soldiers,

on hearing

stripped Vetranio of his imperial robe, and

this,

made him

descend from the tribunal into a private station

;

and

that he suffered no unkindness at the hands of Constantius

:

wlio has shared with his father in so

much

179

RKFUTATION OF ZOSIMUS.

CHAP. XLI.]

How

of thy calumny.'

thou canst then maintain that

the same person could be so liberal, so munificent, and at the

same time

accursed a tax,

I

so paltry

am

and sordid as to impose so

utterly unable to comprehend.

In proof that Constantine did not destroy Fausta or Crispus, nor

was on that account

Egyptian into our mysteries, Eusebius Pamphili,

by an

initiated

history of

listen to the

who was contemporary with Con-

stantine and Crispus, and had intercourse with them.

For what thou

so far

writest,

from being truth, was

not even contemporary hearsay, since thou livedst longafter, in the

time of Arcadius and Honorius

period thou hast brought after their time.

down thy

Eusebius, in the eighth book of his

ecclesiastical history, has the following

no very long

— to which — or even

history

interval, the

words

:

"After

emperor Constantine, having

maintained a disposition remarkable for gentleness respect to his whole

life,

and favour towards the divine word, the

common

in

kindliness towards his subjects, closes his life b}'

laws of nature, leaving behind him, as

emperor and Augustus son, Constantius."

in

his

own room,

And farther

Constantius, having at the very

a legitimate

on he says: "His son

commencement

of his

reign been proclaimed supreme emperor and Augustus

by the armies, and long before by God

himself, the

universal Sovereign, shewed himself an imitator of his father's pietj^ as respects

our

faith."

And

at the

of the liistorv he ex]iresses liimself in the

end

f()llo\viiig

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

180 terms

"The

:

[bOOK

III.

mighty, victorious Constantine, distin-

guished by every religious excellence, in conjunction

with his son Crispus, a sovereign highly beloved of God,

and resembling rightful

obtained his

his father in all things,

possession

survived Constantine, would never have

pus in these terms,

who

Eusebius,

of the East."

praised Cris-

he had been destroyed by his

if

Theodoret, in his history, says that Constan-

father.

tine partook in the saving baptism at Nicomedia, near

the close of his till

life,

this period,

formed

and that he had deferred the

from a desire that

it

rite

should be per-

in the river Jordan.

Thou that the

most detestable and polluted one,

sayest,

Roman empire from the time of the

of Christianity, either because

fell

away and was

appearance

altogether ruined

thou hast not read any of the older

writings, or because thou art a traitor to the truth.

For, on the contrary,

clearly appears that the

it

Roman

power increased together with the spread of our Consider, for instance,

sojourn of Christ our

faith.

how, at the very time of the

God among mankind,

the greater

part of the Macedonians were crushed by the Romans,

and Albania, subjugated. eighty-first

Iberia, the Colchians,

Caius Caesar

Olympiad,

Gauls, Germans, and

the

Roman

cities

;

also,

subdued Britons,

and Arabians were

in the

the

and thereby added to

empire the inhal)itants of

as has l^een recorded

hundred and

in great battles

five

by historians.

hundred

He

also

REFUTATION OF ZOSIMUS.

CHAP. XLI.]

was the

who attamed

first

181

to sole sovereignty since

the establishment of consuls, thereby preparing a for the previous introduction of a reverence for

way

mon-

archy, after the prevalence of polytheism and popular rule,

on account of the monarchy of Christ which

A

immediately to appear. also

forthwith

made

of the whole of Judaea and the

neighbouring territories

:

so that

it

that the first registration took place also fulfil

was the

enrolled,

Avas

further acquisition was

in order

was

at this time

in

which Christ

;

that Bethlehem

prophecy relating to

it;

might

had the

for thus

prophet Micah spoken respecting that place:

"And

thou, Bethlehem, territory of Judali, art by no

means

least

come

among

the princes of Judah, for from thee shall

forth a governor

who

shall feed

my people

Israel."

Also after the nativity of Christ our God, Egypt was

added to the

Roman dominion; Augustus

C^sar, in

whose time Christ was born, having completely overthrown Antony and Cleopatra; who selves.

Upon

also killed them-

wdiich Cornelius Gallus

is

Augustus governor of Egypt, being the that country after the Ptolemies

by

historians.

appointed by

first

who

ruled

:

as has been recorded

To what extent

the territories of the

Persians were curtailed by Ventidius, general of Nero,

Severus,

Corbulo the

Trajan, Car us,

Cassius,

Odenatus of Palmyra, ApoUonius, and others; and

how

often

Seleucia and

Nisibis changed sides;

Ctesiphon were taken, and

and how Armenia and the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

182

[bOOK

neighbouring countries were added to empire

;

as well as

by

by

thyself,

others.

had, however, nearly forgotten to notice

I

Roman

the

these matters have been narrated

III.

what thou

thyself writest respecting the achievements of Constantine,

how nobly and

courageously he swayed the

Roman

empire, while professing our religion, and what befell

and the votary of thy

Julian, thy hero

l)equeathed to the

commonwealth

orgies,

who

injuries so serious.

Whether, however, he has either already received a foretaste of the things

which have been foretold con-

cerning the end of the world, or will even receive their full

measure,

is

economy

a question relating to an

too high for thy comprehension.

Let

us, at all events,

stances heathen

consider under what circum-

and Christian emperors have

the

iirst sole

sovereign, close his

life

by

Tiberius ?

their

own

officers

swords Caius, the grandson of

Was not Nero slain by one of his domestics ?

Did not Galba, Otho, and

Vitellius,

who

reigned in

Was

only sixteen months, suffer a similar fate? Titus, on his attaining the empire, taken off

by

Ca3sar,

assassination ?

In the next place, did not some of his despatch with

respec-

Did not Caius Julius

tively closed their reigns.

his OA\ai brother

Domitian?

Was

by poison

not Domitian

himself miserably despatched by Stephanus? too dost thou say about

by Narcissus?

Commodus ? Was

Pertinax and Julian, did

all

not

What

not he killed

tlie\"

not meet

ciiAr.

Avitli

xll] the

refutation of zosimus.

sMine

183

Autoiiinus,

treatnieiit?

the son

of

he not murder his l)rother Geta, and was

Sevei'us, did

himself murdered by Martial?

Macrinus

too,

was he

not dragged about Byzantium, like a captive, and then

butchered by his o^vn soldiers ? ninus, the Emesene,

And

with his mother?

And

Aurelius Anto-

was he not slaughtered together his successor Alexander,

was

he not, together with his mother, involved in a similar catastrophe?

Wliat

Maximin, who was

should

slain

by

dian, brought to a similar

Tell

me whether

not perish

say, too, concerning

own

troops? or Gor-

end by the designs of Philip ?

Philip and his successor Decius did

the hands

b}^

I

his

of their enemies?

Gallus and Volusian by their o^vn armies ?

was he not involved

in the

same

fate ?

And

was he not made prisoner and carried about

by the Persians ?

And

^milian, Valerian, as a

show

After the assassination of Gallienus

and the murder of Carinus, the sovereignty came into the hands of Diocletian and those

whom he

chose as his

partners in the empire.

Of these,

and Maxentius

and Licinius utterly perished.

his son,

Herculius, Maximian,

But from the time that the renowned Constantine succeeded to the empire, and had dedicated to Christ the city which bears his name,

of those

who have

mark me, whether any

reigned there, except Julian thy

hierophant and monarch, have perished by the hands of either domestic or foreign foes, and whether a rival

has overthrown any of them; except that Basiliscus

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

184

expelled Zeno, by

[bOOK

III.

whom, however, he was afterwards

overthroAvn and killed. I also agree with thee in what

thou sayest about Valens, evils

upon the Christians

who had for of

:

inflicted so

many

any other case not

even thou thyself makest mention.

Let no one think that these matters are foreign to

an

ecclesiastical history

gether useful,

and

;

since they are, in fact, alto-

essential,

on account of wilful

desertion of the cause of truth on the part of heathen writers.

me now

Let

proceed to the rest of the acts

of Anastasius.

CHAPTER

XLIL

THE GOLD-RATE.

The before-mentioned measures Anastasius fully carried out in a truly royal spirit

others

what

by no means worthy of them

is

called the gold-rate,

plies for the

success-

but he adopted

both by devising

and farming out the sup-

army on terms most burdensome

He also

provincials.

:

;

to the

took the levying of imposts out of

the hands of the councils of the respective

cities,

and

appointed what "are called Vindices, at the suggestion, as is said, of

prefecture,

Pra3torium.

Marinus the Syrian, who held the highest

termed in former times the Prefect of the

The

to a great extent,

result

was that the revenue

and the

local dignitaries

fell off

sunk into

CHAP. XLIIl.j REVOLT OF VITALIAN. tibeyaiice

their

:

— A. D. 514.

185

for persons of liigh fuinilies formerly

names inscribed

regarded those

in the

album of each

who were members

of

city

had

which

;

council, as a

its

kind of senate.

CHAPTER INSURRECTION

OF

XLIII. VITALIAN.

ViTALiAN, a Thracian by birth, disputes the empire

with Anastasius, and having devastated Thrace and

Mysia as far as Odessus and Anchialus, was advancing

upon the imperial

rapidly

innumerable force of Huns.

Hypatius to encounter

city, at

the head of an

The emperor despatched

this force; and, after

he had

been captured through the treachery of his own troops,

and liberated

at a large

war was entrusted

The Avith

battle

ransom, the conduct of the

to Cyril.

which followed, was

at tirst

indecisive,

several subsequent alternations of success

;

but,

notwithstanding the advantage was on the side of Cyril, the

enemy

rallied,

and he was ultimately

through the wilful desertion of his o^vn

routed

soldiers.

In

consequence, Vitalian captured Cyril in Odessus, and

advanced as far as the place called Syc«, laying the

whole country Avaste with nothing

less

tire

and sword meditating ;

than the capture of the city

seizure of the sovereignty.

itself

AATien he had

and the

encamped

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

186

[bOOK

III.

despatched by the

we have mentioned emperor to attack him by

The two armaments,

accordingly, encountered,

at Sycee, Mariiius the Syrian, ^vllom

before, sea.

is

the one having Sycte astern, the other Constantinople.

For a time the

fleets

remained inactive but, :

after the

skirmishings and discharge of missiles had been

lowed by a

V Italian withdraws from the line flight,

fol-

fierce conflict in the place called Bytharia,

of battle and takes to

with the loss of the greater portion of his

The remainder then

fly

fleet.

with such precipitation, that

the next day not a single

enemy was found

channel or in the neighbourhood of the

city.

in the

It is said

that Yitalian then continued inactive for some time at

There was

Anchialus.

who had passed

also another inroad of

About the same time Rhodes earthquake at the dead of night time

it

Huns,

the defiles of Cappadocia.

had been

visited

:

sufl'ered

this

by a violent

being the third

by that calamity.

CHAPTER

XLIV.

SEDITION AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

A VERY great sedition occurred at Byzantium, arising from a wish of the emperor to add the clause, "

Who

was

to the Trisagion

crucified for our sakes:"

which

Avas regarded as subversive of the Christian religion. Its

prime mover and chief was Macedonius, aided by

CHAP.XLIV.] TUMULT AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

A.D.51S. 187

his subject clergy, as Severus says in a letter to Sotericus,

which he wrote before

his elevation to the epis-

copal throne, while residing at the imperial city, at the

time when, with several others, he had been expelled

from his monastery, as

was on account of

I

have already mentioned.

It

this imputation, in addition to the

causes before mentioned, that, in

donius was ejected from his

see.

lable excitement of the populace

my

Mace-

opinion,

Amid

the uncontrol-

which followed, persons

of rank and station were brought into extreme danger,

and many principal parts of the

The populace, having found the Syrian, a

monk from

city Avere set

in the

on

fire.

house of Marin us

the country, cut off his head,

saying that the clause had been added at his instigation;

and

having fixed

it

upon a

pole, jeeringly

exclaimed: " See the plotter against the Trinity!"

Such was the violence of the tumult,

filling

every

quarter with devastation, and surpassing every means of control, that the emperor was driven to appear at the Hippodrome in pitiable guise, without his crown,

and despatched heralds to proclaim to the assembled people, that he

was most ready to resign

his sovereign-

ty; at the same time reminding them, that

impossible that

all

it

was

should be elevated to that dignity,

which admitted not of a plurality of occupants, and that one individual only could be his successor.

At

this

the temper of the

people was suddenly

changed, as by some divine impulse; and they begged

188

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Anastasius to resume his

cro^vii

;

[bOOK

III.

with a promise of

peaceable conduct in future.

Anastasius survived this event a very short time,

and departed

to the other world after a reign of twenty-

seven years, three months,

and three days.

THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

THE FOURTH BOOK.

CHAPTER

I.

ACCESSION OF JUSTIN.

After Anastasius the better

lot,

had, as I have said, departed for

by

Justin, a Thracian

birth,

assumes

the purple, in the five hundred and sixty- sixth year of

the Era of Antioch, on the ninth day of the

Panemus, which the Romans

call

July.

month

He was

pro-

claimed emperor by the imperial body-guards, of which

he was also the commander, having been appointed prefect of the household troops.

however, contrary to

many most

all

His elevation was,

expectation, since there were

distinguished and flourishing

members of

the family of Anastasius, possessed also of sufficient influence to have secured for themselves the supreme

power.

CHAPTER

II.

DESIGNS AND DEATH OF AMANTIUS AND THEOCRITUS.

Amantius was the imperial chamberlain, and a man

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

190

of very great influence; but as

it

[bOOK

was not

IV.

laAvful for

any emasculated person to attain the sovereignty of the Romans, he was desirous that the imperial crown

should be given to Theocritus, one of his creatures. He, therefore, sends for Justin, and gives him a large

sum

of money, with orders to distribute

persons most

fit

for this purpose,

Theocritus with the purple. either

it

amongst tlie

and able

invest

to

But with the money he

bought over the people, or purchased the good-

will of

what are termed the Excubitores

accounts are given

— and

—for

so attained the empire.

both

Soon

afterwards he took off Amantius and Theocritus, with

some

others.

CHAPTER m. ASSASSINATION OF VITALIAN.

Justin sends for Vitalian, who was living

in

Thrace

and who had entertained designs of dethroning Anastasius, to Constantinople: for

he dreaded his power,

his military experience, his universal

renown, and his

great desire to possess the sovereignty

:

and rightly

conjecturing that he should not be able to overcome

him otherwise than by pretending

way

to be a friend

;

by

of concealing his guile under a plausible mask, he

appoints him

commander

Prwsentcs, and, as

a

more

of one of the bodies called effectual pei'suasive, with a

CHAP.

DEPOSITION OF SEVERIIS.

IV.]

view to a

still

A.l).

5U).

191

grcnter cleceptioii, he raises

him

to the

He, being consul

consulship.

elect,

was assassinated

on visiting the palace, at an inner door, and thus

met with a punishment

Roman

sovereignty.

for his insolence

towards the

But these events happened

sid3-

sequently.

CHAPTER

IV.

DEPOSITION OF SEVERUS, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH. SION OF PAUL AND EUPHRASIUS.

SUCCES-

Severus, Avho had been ordained president of Antioch, as stated above, ceased not daily to

anathematise

the synod at Chalcedon, and chiefly by means of those epistles called Enthronistic,

he sent to

all

and

in the responses

which

the patriarchs, though they were received

only at Alexandria, by John, the successor of the

mer John, and by Dioscorus and Timotheus epistles

:

for-

which

have come down to our time.

Many

contentions having thus arisen in the church,

whereby the most

faithful

people w^ere

split

into

factions, Justin, in the first year of his reign, ordered

him

to be arrested,

by having

his

and to be punished,

tongue cut out

;

as

some

say,

the execution of which

sentence was committed to Irenseus, who, at Antioch, held the government of the Eastern provinces,

Severus himself confirms the account of Ireneeus

being appointed to arrest him, in a letter to some

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

192

of the Antiochenes, describing the

cape;

[bOOK

manner of

IV.

his es-

wherein he casts the strongest invectives on

and

IrenjBus,

states that he is

veillance lest he should escape

say that Vitalian, est favour

who

still

under the

strictest sur-

Some

from Antioch.

appeared to be in the high-

with Justin, demanded the tongue of Seve-

rus, because

he had reproached him in his discourses.

Accordingly, he

flies

from

his

see, in

GorpijBus, which in the Latin language

is

the

month

called Sep-

tember, in the five hundred and sixty-seventh year of the Era of Antioch.

Paul succeeds to the

see,

with

orders to proclaim openly the synod at Chalcedon.

Afterwards, retiring voluntarily from Antioch, he went the

way

of

all flesh

by a natural death.

He

is

suc-

ceeded in his see by Euphrasius from Jerusalem.

CHAPTER

V.

.

FIRES AND EARTHQUAKES AT ANTIOCH. EUPHRASIUS.

About pened

at

DEATH OF

the same period of Justin's reign there hap-

Antioch numerous and dreadful

fires,

as if

harbingers of the terrible shocks which afterwards took place, ties.

and serving For,

as a prelude for the

coming calami-

a short time after, in the tenth

month

of the seventh year of Justin's reign, being Artemisius

or May, on the twenty-ninth day of the month, precisely

CHAP.

noon,

at

was

EARTHQUAKE AT ANTIOCH.

VI.]

on the sixth day of

an earthquake, which

visited with the shock of

for

fire,

to share, as

how many

This was

it.

fire in its

The damage that the

persons according to

became the victims of the

fol-

were, in the calamity

it

what escaped the earthquake, the

reduced to ashes.

week, the city

the

very nearly destroyed the whole of

lowed by a

193

A.D. 526.

spread

city sustained,

probable

estimate

and earthquake, what

fire

strange occurrences surpassing the power of words

took place, have been feelingly related by John the Rhetorician,

who

concludes his history with

the

relation.

Euphrasius also perished another misfortune to the provide for

its

in

city,

the

ruins,

to

add

by leaving no one

to

exigencies.

CHAPTER

VI.

ELEVATION OF EPHRAEMIUS, COUNT OF THE EAST, TO THE PATRIARCHATE OF ANTIOCH.

But

the saving care of

God

for

man, which prepares

the remedy before the stroke, and the compassion

which, while sharpening the sword of wrath, at the

moment

of the deepest despair displays

its

sympathy,

raised up Ephraemius, at that time governor of the

Eastern provinces, to take upon himself the city;

so that

it

all

the care of

lacked not any thhig that

Vd

its

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

194

On

exigency required.

[bOOK

IV.

this account, the sons of the

Antiochenes so admired him, that they elected him their priest

and he thus

:

attains the apostolic see as a

reward and prize of

his singular care for the place.

Thirty months

the city suffered again from an

after,

earthquake.

At

this time also,

city of

what had been hitherto

called the

Antiochus was entitled the City of God, and

received additional care at the hands of the emperor.

CHAPTER

YII.

MIRACLES OF ZOSIMAS AND JOHN.

Now

that

calamities,

I

let

have recorded the above-mentioned

me

also

add to the present narrative

some other circumstances worthy of record, and which have been transmitted to us from those who have made

them a

subject of notice.

Zosimas was a native of Sinde, a village of Phoenicia Maritiina, distant

from Tyre about twenty

pursued the monastic

discipline.

stadia,

and

He, by means both

of abstinence and use of food, having attained to such

a union with

God

as not only to discern forthcoming

events, but also to possess the grace of perfect freedom

from passion, was in company with a distinguished person

from

Palestines.

Ca3sarea,

the

of one

capital

This was Arcesilaus,

a

man

of the

of g-ood

CHAP.

195

MIRACLES OF ZOSIMAS.

VII.]

family, accomplished,

ever gives lustre to

and high

in dignities

and what-

moment

Zoshnas, at the very

life.

of the overthrow of Antioch, suddenly became troubled, uttered lamentations and deep sighs, and then shed-

ding such a profusion of tears as to bedew the ground, called

a censer, and having fumed

for

the whole

place where they were standing, throws himself

God with

the ground, propitiating

Upon

plications.

this trouble,

all

Arcesilaus asking

rino'inor

in

his ears.

This led Arcesilaus and the

company

to note

and they afterwards found that

;

Zosimas had

By

of

reason

he distinctly replied, that the sound

of the astonished

hour

the

overthrow of Antioch was at that instant

of the

rest

upon

prayers and sup-

his

down it

the

was

as

said.

hand many other miracles were performed

but omitting the greater part of them, since they are too

numerous

to detail, I shall

mention a few.

Contemporary with Zosimas, and endued with equal virtues,

was a man named John, who had practised

the endurance of the solitary and immaterial

life

in

the cloister called Chuzibas, situated at the extremity of the glen at the northern part of the highway lead-

ing from Jerusalem to Jericho, and was the before-named Ca^sarea.

now

bishop of

This John, the Chuzibite,

having heard that the wife of Arcesilaus had of her eyes

by

lost

one

a stroke of a spindle, runs immediately

to her to see the accident

;

and when he

finds that the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

196 pupil

[bOOK

IV.

gone and the eye altogether lacerated, he

is

commands one

of the physicians in attendance to bring

a sponge, and, having replaced as well as he could the lacerated parts, to apply and secure the sponge with

Arcesilaus was absent, for he happened to

bandages.

be Avith Zosimas in his monastery at Sinde, distant

from Csesarea

full five

hundred

messengers proceeded with

whom they found sitting When informed of the

stadia.

all

haste

it

towards heaven.

asking him the reason, he told him

what had happened, interrupting

him

Arcesilaus,

circumstance, he uttered a

his

account

mth

Whereupon Zosimas,

frequent wailings and tears. leaving

to

in conversation with Zosimas.

piercing cry, tore his hair and cast

Upon Zosimas

Accordingly,

alone, goes to his

chamber, where he

used to make his addresses to God according to the rule of such persons,

proaches

and

after

some interval he ap-

with a solemnly joyous coun-

Arcesilaus

tenance, and gently pressing his hand, said

with joy, depart.

Your

wife

her eyes

;

is

Grace

cured,

for the

is

and

is

accident

:

" Depart

given to the Chuzibite. in possession

of both

has had no power to

deprive her of them, since such was the desire of the Chuzibite."

This was brought about by the united

wonder-working of both the just men. Again, as the same Zosimas was going to Csesarea,

and leading an

ass laden with certain necessaries, a

lion encountered

him and

carried off the ass.

Zosimas

CHAP.

GENERAL CALAMITIES

VIII.]

A.D. 521.

197

follows into the wood, reaches the place where the lion

was, satiated with his meal upon the beast, and smiling

"Come,

says,

since I

am

my

friend;

heavy and

able to carry on

therefore carry

my

it,

you wish Zosimas

far

my

journey

is

interrupted,

advanced in years, and not

back the

ass's load.

though contrary

to

You must

your nature,

to get out of this place

if

and yourself

to be a wild beast again." All at once the lion, foro-ettinsr his ferocity, fa^aied

on him, and by

manifested obedience.

upon him, and led him

Zosunas then put the ass's load to the gates of Cgesarea,

the power of God, and to

man

if

we

given to us. prolix by

live to

his gestures plainly

how

all

showing

things are subservient

Him and do not pervert the grace I may not render my history

But that

more circumstances of the kind,

I

mil

return to the point wlience 1 digressed.

CHAPTER GENERAL

DuEiNG the reign of called

did

VIII.

CALAMITIES.

Justin, Dyrrachium, formerly

Epidamnus, suifered from an earthquake; as

also Corinth in Greece,

and afterwards,

for the

fourth time, Anazarbus, the capital of Cilicia Minor.

These

cities

Justin restored at great expence.

About

the same time Edessa, a large and flourishing city of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

198

[bOOK

IV.

Osroene, was inundated by the waters of the Skirtus,

which runs

by

close

it

so that

;

most of the buildings

were swept away, and countless multitudes that were carried

down by

Accordingly,

the stream, perished.

the names of Edessa and Anazarbus were changed Justin,

and each of them was

called,

by

after himself,

Justinopolis.

CHAPTER

IX.

APPOINTMENT OF JUSTINIAN TO A SHARE IN

THE

When

EMPIRE.

Justin had reigned eight years, nine months,

and three days, he associated tinian, his

the

government Jus-

in the

nephew, who was proclaimed on the

month Xanthicus,

first

of

or April, in the five hundred

and seventy -fifth year of the era of Antioch.

After

these transactions, Justin departs his earthly sovereignty, closing his life

on the

first

month Lous, or

of the

August, having had Justin for his associate in the

empire four months, and reigned in three days.

the

Roman

Now

that Justinian

all

was

nine years and

sole sovereign of

empire, and the synod at Chalcedon was

being proclaimed in the most holy churches by the

commands

of Justin, as stated before

;

the state of the

church was disturbed in some of the provinces, but

MEASURES OF JUSTINIAN.

CHAP. X.J

chiefly at Constantinople

199

and Alexandria, Anthimus

being bishop of the former, and Theodosius of the latter

:

for both held the doctrine of the single nature

of Christ.

CHAPTER

X.

THE COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON UPHELD BY JUSTINIAN. Justinian very resolutely upheld the

synod at

Chalcedon and what was put forth by it and Theodora, ;

who maintained

his consort-, those

either because such

when

the faith

is

the single nature

were their real sentunents

—

for

a matter of dispute, fathers are

divided against their children, children against the

authors of their birth, a wife against her

and again a husband

against his

own

own husband, wife

— or

by

mutual understanding, that he should uphold those

who maintained after the

nature.

union

;

the two natures in Christ our

and she those who alleged the

Neither conceded to the other

uously supported

the

acts

:

God

single

but he stren-

at Chalcedon, and she,

ranging with the opposite party, exercised the greatest care towards those

Our people

who maintained

the single nature.

she treated with the warmest kindness, and

others too with great munificence.

Justinian to send for Severus.

She also persuades

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY.

200

[bOOK

IV.

CHAPTER XL DEPOSITION OF ANTHIMUS AND THEODOSIUS

FEOM THEIR

There

SEES.

are letters extant from Severus to Justinian

and Theodora, from which we may gather that

at first

he put oif his journey to the imperial city on leaving his

see

of Antioch.

arrived there

;

he

Nevertheless

and has written to the

afterwards

effect that

when

he came thither and had conversed with Anthimus,

and found him holding the same sentiments with himself,

and the same opinions with respect

head, he persuaded

him

to

withdraw from

to the

God-

his see.

He

wrote concerning these matters to Theodosius, bishop of Alexandria, and greatly gloried in having persuaded

Anthimus, as stated before, to prefer such doctrines to earthly glory and the possession of his see. are also extant on this subject from dosius,

which

and from Theodosius I pass over, leaving

to consult them, that I

to Severus

them

may not

work too great a mass of mandates

Letters to Theo-

and Anthimus

to those

who

choose

include in the present

materials.

both were ejected from their imperial

Anthimus

sees,

Nevertheless,

as opposing

the

and the decrees of Chalcedon.

Zoilus succeeded to that of Alexandria, and Epiphanius to that of the imperial city

:

so that

from that time

forward the synod at Chalcedon was openly proclaimed

CHAP. XIL] ClIOSKOES KING OF PERSIA. in all the churches it

;

while those

rable

and no one dared

;

who

dissented,

methods to assent to

tution

subjected those penalties

:

who

were urged by innumeAccordingly, a consti-

it.

which

he

and

held their doctrines, to the highest

in

any of the churches, but the

several dioceses agreed with each

patriarchs of the

and the bishops of the

respective primates.

;

followed their

that held at Nicaea;

first,

secondly, that at Constantinople

one at Ephesus

cities

Four synods were thus proclaimed

throughout the churches;

which

in

Anthimus, and others,

the effect of which was, that thenceforward

no schism remained

fifth also

201

to anathematise

was drawn up by Justinian

anathematised Severus,

other,

—A.D. 5ol.

;

thirdly, the former

and fourthly, that

at Chalcedon.

A

took place by order of Justinian, concerning

I shall

say what

while I weave into

my

is

suitable in its proper place,

present narrative the several

events of the same period which are worthy of notice.

CHAPTER

XIL

CABADES AND CHOSROES, KINGS OF PERSIA.

The

history

of Belisarius

Procopius the Rhetorician.

has

He

been written by says that Cabades,

king of the Persians, wishing to invest his youngest son Chosroes with the sovereignty, was desirous to

have him adopted by the

Roman

emperor, so that by

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

202 that

means

this

was

[bOOK

IV.

might be secured. But when

his succession

refused, at the suggestion of Proclus,

advised Justinian as his qua3stor, they conceived a

who still

greater hatred against the Romans.

This same Proco-

pius has, with

and

elegance,

diligence,

Persians while Belisarius was of the East.

The

Romans which he

set

commander

records,

He

of the forces

victory on the side of the

first

m

was

of Daras and Nisibis, under the

and Hermogenes.

ability,

war between the Romans and

forth the events of the

the neighbourhood

command of Belisarius

subjoins an

account of the

occurrences in Armenia, and the mischief inflicted on the

Romans by Alamundarus, the chieftain of the Scenite who captured Timostratus, the brother of

barbarians,

Rufinus, together with liberated

him

his

troops,

and afterwards

for a considerable ransom.

CHAPTER Xm. INCUKSION OF THE

ARABS.

SEDITION AT

CONSTANTINOPLE.

He also feelingly

details the incursion of the before-

named Alamundarus and Azarethus territory; troops,

and how

into the

Belisarius, compelled

by

Roman

his o^^i

engaged them in their retreat by the Euphrates,

on the eve of Easter day

was destroyed through

;

and how the Roman army

their

repugnance to the mea-

CHAP. XIV.] PERSECUTION BY IIUNERIC. sures of Belisarius

;

—A.D. 484.

203

and how Rufinus and Hermogenes

made with the Persians the peace called the perpetual peace.

He

subjoins an account of the insurrection of the

people at Byzantium, which derived

watchword of the populace

:

its

name from

for they entitled

it

the

"Nica",

because on their assembling they chose this term as the

watchword, to know each other.

On

this occasion

Hypatius and Pompeius were compelled by the people to

But on the

assume the sovereignty.

populace, both were beheaded

command quelled.

of

by the

defeat of the

soldiers at the

and the insurrection was

Justinian,

Procopius states that thirty thousand per-

sons were killed in this disturbance.

CHAPTER

XIV.

PERSECUTION BY HUNERIC.

The same

writer,

when

treating of the affairs of the

Vandals, has recorded most important occurrences and

worthy of perpetual memory, which mention.

I

now

proceed to

Huneric, the successor of Genseric, and a

professor of the creed of Arius, entertained most cruel intentions against the African Christians, in the en-

deavour to convert by force the maintainers of the orthodox doctrines to

the

opinions of the Arians.

Those who refused compliance, he destroyed both by

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

204 fire

[BOOK

IV.

and various modes of death, and some he deprived

The

of their tongues.

latter,

Procopius says that he

himseK saw, when they had taken refuge rial city,

at the impe-

and that he maintained a conversation with

them in the same manner as with unmutilated persons that their tongues were cut out from the root tlieless

their speech was

distinctly

new and

a

;

articulate,

never-

strange marvel, of which also a

constitution of Justinian

makes mention. Two of these

persons lapsed, as Procopius himself writes. their desiring

;

and they conversed

For on

commerce with women, they were

de-

prived of their speech, since the grace of their martyr-

dom had abandoned

them.

CHAPTER THE

CABAONES

He

also

relates

religion,

religious reverence.

MOOK.

another wonderful

wrought by our Saviour God indeed to our

XV.

who,

He

Moors

of the

Tripolis.

This Cabaones, he says

to use his

own words during

—

that

the

chieftain

matter also

men, aliens

however, acted with

states in

occurrence

in the case of

—

Cabaones was

neighbourhood of for

it is

worth while

his able narration of this

this Cabaones, as soon as

he learned that

the Yandals were marching against him, acted in the following manner.

First,

he commanded

all his

sub-

CHAP. XV.]

CABAONES THE MOOR.

jects to refrain

from

and

injustice

205

A.D. 522.

all

luxurious food,

but particularly from commerce with women; and

having raised two himself with

women

all

fortified enclosures,

men

the

in one,

in the other, threatening death to

should approach the women.

he encamped

and enclosed the any man who

Afterwards, he

scouts to Carthage with these instructions

the

that

:

sent

when

Vandals on their march outraged any temple

reverenced by the Christians, they should note what

was being done, and when the Vandals immediately on their

should,

left

the place,

departure,

treat the

sanctuary in a manner directly the reverse.

mentioned that he further

God worshipped by

of the

likely, if

would

said, that

the Christians, but

it

was

he were powerful, as was affirmed, that he

who outraged him, and defend

chastise those

such as rendered him service.

commg

It is

he was ignorant

The

to Carthage, continued to

tions of the Vandals,

scouts, therefore,

watch the prepara-

and when the army

for Tripolis, they followed

The Vandals, encamping

it,

set

forward

disguised in a sorry dress.

at the close of the first day,

introduced their horses and other beasts into the temples of the Christians,

outrage,

but gave

and abstained from no

way

to

beating and severely scourging the priests

happened to

seize,

Cabaones did

all

that

left

and

whom they

bid them wait upon them.

soon as the Vandals had

species of

their usual license;

But

as

the place, the scouts of

had been enjoined them, and

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

206

immediately

sanctuaries,

the

cleansed

[bOOK

IV.

sedulously

removing the dung and every other defilement

they

:

the tapers, paid reverent obeisance to the

lighted

all

priests,

and saluted them with every kindness; and

when they had bestowed money on

the beggars Avho

sat round the shrine, they followed the

army

of the

Vandals, who, from this point along the whole line of

march, committed the same outrages, while the scouts

remedied them. great

distance,

When, however, they were the

scouts,

announced to Cabaones

all

at

no

proceeding in advance,

that had been done

by the

Vandals and themselves to the temples of the Christians, this,

and that the enemy were now he prepared to engage.

By

near.

On

hearing

far the greater part

of the Vandals, as our author states, were destroyed

some were captured by the enemy, and very few returned home.

Such was the misfortune that Thra-

samund sustained died

some time

at the

after,

hands of the Moors.

He

having ruled the Vandals for

seven and twenty years.

CHAPTER

XVI.

EXPEDITION OF BELISARIUS AGAINST THE VANDALS.

The same author

^viites that Justinian, having, in

pity to the Christians in that quarter, professed his

intention of undertaking an expedition for their

relief.

EXPEDITION AGAINST CARTHAGE,

CIIAr. XVI.]

was being diverted from

his purpose

of John, prefect of the palace,

him not

to him, bidding

of his design

for,

;

by

207

by the suggestion

when a dream appeared

to shrink

from the execution

assisting the Christians he

would

overthrow the power of the Vandals. Being determined

by

this circumstance, in the seventh year of his reign,

he despatches Belisarius, about the summer

solstice,

on which occasion, when the

Carthage;

attack

to

general's ship touched at the shore of the palace, Epi-

phanius, bishop of the city, offered

having

prayers, soldiers

up appropriate

previously baptized

some

and embarked them on board the

of the

He

vessel.

also narrates

some circumstances, worthy of record,

relating to the

martyr Cyprian,

in the following

words

" All the Carthaginians especially reverence Cyprian, a holy man, and having erected on the shore, in front

of their city, a noble shrine, besides other reverential observances, they celebrate an annual festival, and call it

Cypriana

;

and the

sailors are

tempestuous weather which the same

pen

name

at the

fixed

its

I

accustomed to

call

the

have before mentioned by

as the festival,

smce

it is

wont

to hap-

time of the year at which the Africans have perpetual

celebration.

This

temple the

Vandals, in the reign of Huneric, took by force from the Christians, and ignominiously expelling the priests, refitted

it,

They say dream

as henceforward belonging to the Arians.

that Cyprian,

to the Africans

frequently appearing

who were

indignant and

in

a

dis-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

208

tressed on this account, told

[bOOK

IV.

them that there was no

occasion for the Christians to be solicitous about him, for in time he

attamed

its

would avenge himself: which prediction

accomplishment in the time of Belisarius,

Avhen Carthage, ninety-five years after

Roman

reduced by him under the

overthrow of the Vandals of the Arians was

:

at

to the prediction of the

loss,

was

which time the doctrine

entirely extirpated

the Christians recovered their

its

power, by the utter

own

from Africa, and

temples, according

martyr Cyprian."

CHAPTER

XYII.

TRIUMPH OF BELISARIUS.

The same author sarius

"

writes as follows.

When

had subdued the Vandals, he returned

to

tium, bringing the spoils and prisoners, and

them Gelimer, king of the Vandals.

A

Beli-

Byzan-

among

triumph was

granted him, and he carried in procession through the

Hippodrome whatever would be an

Among

object of wonder.

these were considerable treasures obtained

by

Genseric from the plunder of the palace at Rome,- as I

have already narrated;

when Eudoxia,

the wife of

Valentinian, emperor of the West, having been both

deprived of her husband and subjected to an outrage

on her chastity by Maximus, invited Genseric, with a

CHAP. XVI 11.

ORIGIN OF THE MOORS.

209

promise of surrendering the city to him occasion, after burning

on which

:

Rome, he conveyed Kudoxia

and her daughters to the country of the Vandals. Together with the other treasures, he then carried oif all

that Titus, the son of Vespasian, had

Rome

on the capture of Jerusalem;

Solomon had dedicated

to God.

brought to

oiferings

which

These Justinian, in

honour of Christ our God, sent back to Jerusalem act of

had

in the first instance

been dedicated.

On

an

this oc-

casion, Procopius says that Gelimer, prostrating self

;

whom they

becoming reverence to the Deity, to

him-

on the ground in the hippodrome, before the

imperial throne

on which Justinian was

witness the proceedings,

made

sitting to

application, in his

own

language, of the divine oracle: " Vanity of vanities; all is

vanity."

CHAPTER ORIGIN OF THE MOORS.

XVIII.

MUNIFICENCE OF JUSTINIAN

IN AFRICA.

Procopius mentions another circumstance, unnoticed before his time, but one that can scarcely be regarded

with sufficient wonder.

Lybia

settled

in

He

states that the

Moors of

that country after being dislodged

from Palestine, and that they are those

whom

the

divine oracles mention as the Girgashites and Jebusites,

14

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

210

[bOOK

IV.

and the other nations subdued by Josliua the son of

He

Nun.

concludes the entire truth of the story from

an inscription in Phoenician characters, which he says that he himself had read, and that

where were two

tain,

pillars of

were engraved these words

"

:

was near a foun-

it

white stone on which

We

are those

who

fled

from the face of Joshua the robber, the son of Nun."

Such was the end of these transactions,

in Africa

becoming again subject to the Romans, and paying, before,

as

an annual tribute.

Justinian

is

said to have restored one

fifty cities in Africa,

hundred and

some of which had been

and others extensively ruined

;

and

this

altogether,

he did with

surpassing magnificence, in private and public works

and embellishments, structures propitiated

by which :

in fortifications, cities are

and other vast

adorned and the Deity

also in aqueducts for use

and ornament,

the supply of water having been in some cases con-

veyed to the to

its

former

cities for

the

first

time, in others restored

state.

CHAPTER

XIX.

EVENTS FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THEODORIC. I

NOW

proceed to relate what occurred in Italy

events which have also been treated very distinctly by

Procopius, the Rhetorician,

down

to his

own

times.

RECOVERY OF ROME.

CHAP. XIX.]

21

A.J), bfil

1

After Tlieodoric, as I have already detailed, had

Rome

ca))tured

and

Odoacer, and had closed his

Roman

destroyed

utterly

Amalasuntha held the

common

reins of government, as guardian of their

son Athalaric

;

a

woman

rather of a masculine temper-

ament, and administering the

first

person

who

for the Gothic war,

She was

affairs accordingly.

led Justinian to entertain a desire

by sending an embassy

to

the

however, of Athalaric at a very early age,

Theodatus, a the

him on

On

the formation of a conspiracy against herself. death,

king

in possession of the

lite

sovereignty, his wife

its

kmsman

of Theodoric, was invested with

but

sovereignty of the West,

abdicated

when

Justinian had despatched Belisarius to that quarter;

being a person addicted rather to literature,

wanting

altogether

Vitiges, an able soldier,

From

military

in

was

in

experience

command

;

and while

of his forces.

the materials which the same Procopius has

may

abandoned

collected,

one

Rome on

the arrival of Belisarius in Italy

gather that

once marched upon the

city.

Vitiges

;

The Romans

who

at

readily

opened their gates to him; a result mainly l^rought about by Silverius, their bishop, who, with this view,

had sent

to

him

Fidelis,

formerly assessor to Athalaric.

They accordingly surrendered their city to him withand thus Rome, after an interval of out resistance :

sixty years, again

fell

into

Roman hands on

the ninth

day of the month Apellaius, called by the Latins

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

212 December.

The same Procopius

[bOOK

writes, that,

IV.

when

the Goths were besieging Rome, Belisarius, suspecting Silverius of a design to betray the city, transports

him

to Greece

and appoints Vigilius

CHAPTER

in his room.

XX.

CONVERSION OF THE HERULI.

About when the Danube

the same time, as Procopius Heruli,

who had

also writes,

already crossed

river

tlie

had experienced

in the reign of Anastasius,

generous treatment at the hands of Justinian, in large presents of money, the whole nation embraced Christianity

and adopted a more

civilised

CHAPTER LOSS

mode

of

life.

XXI.

AND RECOVERY OF ROME.

In the next place he records the return of Belisarius to Byzantium,

and how he brought thither

Vitiges, together with the spoils of

seizure of the sovereignty of

Rome by

Rome

;

Totila,

also the

and how

the city again feU under the dominion of a Goth

how

Belisarius,

recovered the

having twice entered

city,

Italy,

;

again

and how, on the breaking out of

the Median war, he was recalled to Byzantium by the

emperor.

CHAP. XXIII.]

CONVERSION OF BARBARIANS.

CHAPTER

213

XXII.

CONVERSION OF THE ABASGI.

pROCorius also records, that the Abasgi, having

become more

civilised,

trine about the to

embraced the Christian doc-

same time, and that Justinian sent

them one of the eunuchs of the

palace,

countryman, by name Euphratas, with an

no one

henceforward

that

undergo emasculation

among them appointed,

in

that

nation

in violation of nature

their

interdict,

;

should

for

from

the imperial chamberlains were principally

whom

time, Justinian,

usage styles

eunuchs.

At

this

having erected among the Abasgi a

temple in honour of the Mother of God, appointed priests

for

them;

by which means they were

ac-

curately instructed in the Christian doctrine.

CHAPTER

XXIII.

CONVERSION OF THE PEOPLE ON THE TANAIS.

EARTHQUAKES.

The same author

narrates, that the people on the

Tanais (the natives give the name of Tanais to the channel extending from the Palus Maeotis to the

Euxine Sea) urged Justinian to send a bishop to them;

which request he granted, and

gladly sent

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

214

them

The same

a priest.

writer describes, with great

the irruptions of the Goths of the M^otis

ability,

Roman

into the

territory in the time of Justinian,

and the violent Greece

[bOOK IV.

how

;

earthquakes

Boeotia, Achaia,

which took place

and the neighbourhood

of the Crisssean bay suffered shocks

towns

and

cities

many

formed,

were

in

levelled,

;

how innumerable and chasms were

of which closed again, while others

remained open.

CHAPTER

XXIV.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PIETY OF NARSES. Procopius also describes the expedition of Narses,

who was

sent

by Justinian

into Italy;

how he

threw Totila and afterwards Tela; and how

was taken

over-

Rome

Those about the person

for the iifth time.

of Narses affirm that he used to propitiate the Deity Avith

prayers and

honour

other

also to the Virgin

acts

she distinctly announced to action

;

of piety, paying due

and mother of God,

so that

him the proper season

for

and that Narses never engaged until he had

received the signal from her. distinguished

exploits

He

of Narses

recounts also other in

the

overthrow

of Buselinus and Syndualdus, and the acquisition of

nearlv the whole counti'V as tar as the ocean.

These

niAP. XXV.] transactions

PERSIAN INVASION.

215

A.D. 540.

have been recounted by Agathias

Rhetorician, but

his

history has

not

tlie

reached our

liands.

CHAPTER INVASION OF THE PERSIANS.

The same Procopius account.

XXV. CAPTURE OF ANTIOCU.

has also written the following

AMien Chosroes had learned

what had

occurred in Africa and Italy favourable to the

Roman

dominion, he was moved to excessive- jealousy, and

advanced certain charges against the

Roman

govern-

ment, that terms had been violated and the existing peace broken.

In the

first

place,

Justinian

sent

ambassadors to Chosroes to induce him not to break the peace which was intended to be perpetual, nor to trespass on the existing conditions;

proposing that

the points in dispute should be discussed and settled in an amicable

manner.

But Chosroes, maddened by

the ferment of jealousy, would not listen to any proposals,

and invaded the Roman territory with a large

army, in the thirteenth year of the reign of Justinian.

The

historian also writes, that Chosroes captured

and

destroyed Sura, a city on the banks of the Euphrates, after

with

having professed to make terms, but dealing it

in deiiance of all justice,

by paying no regard

to the conditi(ms, and becoming master of

it

rather

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

216

He

by stratagem than by open war.

[bOOK

also narrates

upon

the l)urning of Bersea, and then the advance

Antioeh;

at

which time Ephraemius was bishop of

the city, but had abandoned his

This person

plans.

Church and

IV.

its

is

precincts,

it

on the

failure of all

said to have rescued the

by arraying

with the

it

sacred offerings, in order that they might serve as a

ransom

for

The

it.

historian also feelingly describes

of Antioeh

the capture

miscuous devastation by

by Chosroes, and lire

and sword

its

pro-

his visit to

:

the neighbouring city of Seleucia, and to the suburb

Daphne, and

his advance

episcopate of Thomas, a

and deed. in

He had

towards Apamea, during the

man most

powerful in word

the prudence to yield to Chosroes

becoming a spectator of the horse-races

hippodrome, though an act of irregularity

;

in the

employ-

ing every means to court and pacify the conqueror.

Chosroes also asked him whether he was desirous to see

him

in his

replied that

own

neighbourhood

city

:

and

it is

was no pleasure

it :

at

said that he frankly to

see

him

in

his

which answer Chosroes was struck

with wonder, justly admiring the truthfuhiess of the

man.

CHAP. XXVI.]

DltSl'LAY

OF THE CROSS.

CHAPTER

217

A.D. 540.

XXVI.

DISPLAY OF THE WOOD OF THE CROS8 AT APAMEA.

Now

that I have arrived at this point of

tive, I will relate a

and

is

worthy of a place

When that

narra-

in the present history.

Apameans were informed

the sons of the

Antioch had been burnt,

Thomas

before-mentioned

my

prodigy, which occurred at Apamea,

they besought the

to bring forth

the saving and life-giving

wood

viation from established rule

;

and display

of the cross, in dethat they might be-

hold and kiss for the last time the sole salvation of

man, and obtain a provision life,

in

for the passage to another

having the precious cross as their means of

transport to the better request,

lot.

Thomas brings

In performance of which

forth the

announcing stated days for

its

life-giving

wood,

display, that all the

neighbouring people might have an opportunity to assemble and enjoy the salvation thence proceeding. Accordingly, rest,

my parents visited

accompanied by myself,

When,

therefore,

together with the

at that time a school-boy.

we requested permission

to adore

and

Thomas,

up both

his

kiss the precious cross,

hands, displayed the curse,

it

making an

lifting

wood which blotted out the

ancient

entire cii'cuit of the sanctuary, as

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

218

was customary on the ordinary

Thomas moved from him a

body of

large

[bOOK

clays of adoration.

IV.

As

place to place, there followed

blazing but not consuming

fire,

whole spot where he stood to display the

so that the

precious cross seemed to be hi flames

:

and

this took

place not once or twice but often, as the priest

making the

circuit of the place,

people were entreating

him

that

was

and the assembled it

might be done.

This circumstance foreshewed the preservation which

was granted

to the

presentation of

Apameans.

re-

was suspended on the roof of the

it

explaining

sanctuary,

According^, a

by

it

its

delineation to those

who were uninformed: which was preserved until the irruption of Adaarmanes and the Persians, when it was burnt together with the holy church flagration of the entire city.

But Chosroes, of conditions

been made inconstant rational

in his retreat, acted in direct violation

— for

—

in the con-

Such were these events.

in a

even on this occasion terms had

manner

disposition,

suited to his restless

but

utterly

and

unbecoming a

man, much more a king professing

a

regard

for treaties.

CHAPTER

XXVII.

SIEGE OF EDESSA BY CHOSROES.

The same Procopius

narrates what the ancients

had recorded concerning Edessa and Abgarus, and

SIEGE OF EDESSA.

CHAP. XXVII. J

A.l).

He

then relates

movement

to lay siege

hoAv Christ wrote a letter to him.

how Chosroes made

a fresh

219

540.

to the city, thinking to folsify the assertion prevalent

among

the faithful, that Eclessa would never

enemy

the power of an

:

which

fall

into

assertion, however, is

not contained in what was written to Ahgarus by Christ our

God

may gather from the who cites the epistle

as the studious

;

history of Eusebius Pamphili,

verbatim.

Such, however,

of the faithful

;

is

the averment and belief

which was then

realised, faith bringing

For

about the accomplishment of the prediction. after Chosroes

had made many assaults on the

had raised a mound of

city,

sufficient size to overtop the

walls of the town, and had devised innumerable ex-

he raised the siege and retreated.

pedients beside, I

will,

however, detail

the

Cliosroes

particulars.

ordered his troops to collect a great quantity of wood for the siege

from whatever timber

fell in

their

way

and when this had been done before the order could well be issued, arranging

threw a mound inside with the city.

In this

way

it

in

its

elevating

timber and earth, and pushing town, he raised Avail,

it

a circular form,

it

it

gradually with the

forward towards the

to a height sufficient to overtop the

so that the besiegers could hurl their missiles

from vantage ground against the defenders. the besiegers saw the like a

he

face advancing against

mound approaching

moving mountain, and the enemy

in

Wlien

the walls expecta-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

220

town

of stepping into the

tion

so that the

lire,

"

— and

mound

the

The mine was completed

they failed in attempting to

state

was unable

air,

of utter

the wood, l^ecause

fire

ha^dng no exit whence

fire,

supply of

—which the

by that means apply

combustion of the timber might cause

the downfall of the mound. I) lit

IV.

they

day- break,

at

devised to run a mine under the

Latins term " aggestus

[bOOK

could obtain a

it

to take hold of

it.

In this

bring the divinely

perplexity, they

wrought image, which the hands of men did not form, but Christ our God sent to Abgarus on his desiring to see

Him.

Accordingly, having introduced this holy

image into the mine, and washed

it

over with water,

they sprinlded some upon the timber

power forthwith being present

who had

and the divine

was accomplished which

so done, the I'esult

had previously

;

to the faith of those

l3een impossible

:

for the timber im-

mediately caught the flame, and being in an instant

reduced to cinders, communicated with that above,

and the

fire

spread in

all

When

directions.

besieged saw the smoke rising, they adopted the

Having

lowing contrivance. sulphur,

tow, and

other

them upon the aggestus

filled

small jars with

combustibles, ;

and

these,

smoke

as the fire

was increased by the

flight,

prevented

that

mound from

the fol-

they threw

sending

fortli

force of their

which was rising from the

being observed

;

so that all

who were

not in the secret, supposed that the smoke proceeded

CIIAr. XXVIII.]

solely

MIRACLE AT SERGIOPOLIS,

from the

were seen

tliircl

day the flames

earth,

and then the

But Chosroes,

fortunate situation.

the

the

from the

as if in opposition

power of heaven, endeavoured

pile,

by turning

outside the city

the water as

221

mound became aware of their un-

Persians on the

to the

On

jars.

issuing

A.D. 540.

upon

if it

to extinguish

the Avater-coui'ses which were

all it.

The

had been

fire,

oil

however, receiving

or sulphur, or some

other combustible, continually increased, until

completely levelled the entire aggestus to ashes.

it

had

mound and reduced

Then Chosroes,

the

in utter despair,

impressed by the circumstances with a sense of his disgraceful folly in having entertained an idea of prevailing over the

ingloriously into

God whom we worship, his own territories.

CHAPTER MIRACLE

What

retreated

XXVIII.

AT SERGIOPOLIS.

occurred at Sergiopolis through the proceed-

ings of Chosroes shall also be described, as being a

notable event and worthy of perpetual remembrance.

Chosroes advanced against this city too, eager for

its

capture; and on his proceeding to assault the walls, negociations took place with a view to spare the city

and

it

was agreed that the sacred treasures should be

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

222

a ransom for the place,

[bOOK

among which was

also a cross

When

presented by Justinian and Theodora.

IV.

had been duly conveyed, Chosroes asked the

they priest

and the Persians who had been sent with him, whether there

was not any thing

besides.

Upon

this

one of

them, being persons unaccustomed to speak the truth, told Chosroes that there

were some other treasures

concealed by the townsmen, fact,

who were but

few.

In

there had been left behind not any treasure of

gold or

silver,

but one of more valuable material, and

irrevocably devoted to God, namely, the holy relics

of the victorious martyr Sergius, lying in a coffin of the oblong sort, plated over with silver.

Chosroes,

influenced by these persons, advanced his whole against the city

;

when suddenly

army

there appeared along

the circuit of the walls, in defence of the place, in-

numerable shields

;

on seemg which the persons sent

by Chosroes returned, describing, with wonder, the

number and ther

fashion of the arms.

enquiry,

he

remained in the

learned city,

that

Aiid when, on fur-

very few persons

and these consisted of aged

people and children, from the absence of the flower of the population, he perceived that

tlie

prodigy pro-

ceeded from the martyr, and, influenced by fear and

wonder

at the faith of the Christians, he

his o"svn country.

They

withdrew into

also say that in his latter

days he partook in the holy regeneration.

CHAP. XXIX.]

PESTILENCE

A.D.

CHAPTER

542

223

594.

XXIX.

PESTILENCE. I

WILL also describe the circumstances of the

lence which

commenced

pesti-

and has now

at that period,

prevailed and extended over the whole world for

two years; a circumstance such been recorded.

Two years

widely

now

diiixirent.

reported,

It

took

and made a

in succession, leaving,

human race

fifty-

has never before

after the capture of Antioch

by the Persians, a pestilence broke similar to that described

as

some respects

out, in

by Thucydides, its rise

in others

from ^Ethiopia, as

circuit of the

as I suppose,

whole

no part of the

Some

unvisited by the disease.

is

^\^orld

cities ^v^ere

so severely afflicted as to be altogether depopulated,

though

in other places the visitation

It neither

commenced according

nor was the time of

upon some

its

to

was

any fixed period,

cessation uniform

places at the

less violent.

;

but

commencement

it

seized

of winter,

others in the course of the spring, others during the

summer, and advanced. of a city,

in

some

when

cases,

the

autumn was

In some instances, having infected a part it

left

the remainder untouched; and fre-

quently in an uninfected city one might remark a few households excessively wasted; and in several places, while one or two households utterly perished, the rest of the city remained unvisited

:

but, as

we have learned

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

224

[bOOK

IV-

from careful observation, the uninfected households

But the most

alone suffered the succeeding year.

gular circumstance of

all

was

this

that

;

if it

sin-

happened

that any inhabitants of an infected city were living in a place which the calamity

had not

This visitation also

were seized with the disorder. befell cities

and other places

in

visited, these alone

many

instances accord-

ing to the periods called Indictions; and the disease

human

occurred, with the almost utter destruction of

Thus

beings, in the second year of each indiction.

happened in

my own

case

—

deem

for I

due adaptation of circumstances, to

it

insert also in this

—that

history matters relating to myself

mencement of this calamity termed buboes, while

still

was

I

my wife,

and many of

my

at the

seized with

com-

what are

a school-boy, and lost by

recurrence at different times

it

fitting, in

its

several of ray children,

kin, as well as of

my

domes-

tic

and country servants the several indictions making,

as

it

;

my misfortunes. Thus, my writing this, being now year of my age, on its fourth visit to

were, a distribution of

not quite two years before in the fifty-eighth

Antioch, at the expiration of the fourth indiction from its

commencement,

besides those

lost a

I

who had

daughter and her son,

died previously.

was a complication of diseases:

commencing

in

the

head,

in

The plague some

cases,

and rendering the eyes

bloody and the face swollen, throat,

for,

it

and then destroyed the

descended into the patient.

In others.

CHAP. XXIX.]

TESTILENCE.

there was a flux of the bowels

2:25

buboes were

in otliers

:

formed, followed by violent fever; and the sufferers died at the end of two or three days, equally in possession,

with the healthy, of their mental and bodily powers.

Others died

Cases occnrred where

breaking out of carbuncles. persons,

attacked once and twice and

who had been

by a subsequent

liad recovered, died

The ways

and some by the

in a state of delirium,

seizure.

which the disease was communicated,

in

were various and unaccountable

for

:

some perished by

merely living with the infected, others by only touching them, others by having entered

by frequenting public the infected

cities,

tlieir

chaml^er, others

Some, having

places.

fled

from

escaped themselves, but imparted

Some were

the disease to the healthy.

altogether free

from contagion, though they had associated with many

who were

afflicted,

and had touched many not only

their sickness but also

when

Some,

dead.

were desirous of death, on account of the utter their children

themselves as diseased,

pestilence

and

and

friends,

much

as

witli this

contact with the

possible in

against

loss of

view placed

were nevertheless not infected; as struggled

in

who

too,

their

purpose.

if

the

This

calamity has prevailed, as I have already said, to the present time, for two and that have preceded

wonder that the

pestilence

lasted for fifteen ye^rs.

fifty

years,

exceeding

all

For Philostratus expresses

it.

which happened

The 15

sequel

is

in his time,

uncertain, since

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

226 its

[bOOK

IV.

course will be guided by the good pleasure of God,

who knows both I shall

dencies.

digressed,

and

and their

the causes

of things,

now return

to the point

relate

ten-

from which

I

remainder of Justinian's

the

history.

CHAPTER XXX. '-

~^—'^-^^'-'

AVARICE

was

Justinian

OF

.JUSTINIAN.

insatiable

in

the

acquisition

of

wealth, and so excessively covetous of the property of

money the whole body of his who were entrusted with offices or

others, that he sold for

subjects to those

who were

collectors of tributes,

and to whatever per-

sons were disposed to entrap others by groundless charges.

He

stripped of their entire property innu-

merable wealthy persons, under colour of the emptiest pretexts.

If even a prostitute,

marking out an

indivi-

dual as a victim, raised a charge of criminal intercourse against him,

all

law was at once rendered vain, and

by making Justinian her she

transferred

accused person.

expenditure

;

to

associate in dishonest gain,

herself the whole wealth of the

At the same time he was

liberal in

so far as to raise in every quarter

many

sacred and magnificent temples, and other religious edifices

devoted to the care of infants and aged persons

of either sex, and of sucli as Avere afflicted with various

CIIAl'.

XXXI.]

diseases.

He

CHURCH OF

ST.

227

SOrHIA.

also appropriated considerable revenues

for carrying out these objects

;

and performed many

such actions as are pious and acceptable to God, pro-

who perform them do

vided that those

own means, and

CHAPTER

also raised at Constantinople

SOPHIA

ST.

many

ings of elal)orate beauty, in honour of saints,

from their

XXXI.

DESCRIPTION OP THE CHURCH OF AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

He

so

the offering of their deeds be pure.

sacred build-

God and

and erected a vast and incomparable

the

v>^ork,

such as has never been before recorded, namely the largest edifice of the Church, a noble

structure,

and surpassing

beyond the power of words to

describe.

Nevertheless I will endeavour to the best of lity to detail the

plan of the sacred precinct.

nave of the sanctuary arches,

my

is

a dome, supported

abi-

The

by four

and raised to so great a height that the sight

of persons surveying

it

from beloAV can scarcely reach

the vertex of the hemisphere, and no one from above,

however daring, ventures to bend over and look down to the floor.

pavement and

left

The arches

to the roof

are ranged

:

Ijut

are raised clear

from the

within those on the right

columns of Thessalian stone,

which, together with other corresponding

pillars, sup-

port galleries, so as to allow those Vvdio wish, to look

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

228

[bOOK

IV.

down upon the performance of the rites below. From these the empress also, when attending at the festivals, But

witnesses the ceremony of the sacred mysteries.

the eastern and western arches are

left

vacant, without

any thing to interrupt the imposing aspect of

so vast

There are also colonnades under the

dimensions.

before-mentioned galleries, forming, with pillars and arches, a termination to so vast a structure.

small

But

in order to

wonderful

convey a more distinct idea of this

fabric, 1

have thought proper to

in feet, its length, breadth,

and height,

span and height of the arches, as follows

down

set

as well as the :

— The length

from the door facing the sacred apse where are performed the is

rites of the bloodless sacrifice, to the apse,

one hundred and ninety

to south

feet

:

one hundred and

is

the breadth from north fifteen feet

from the centre of the hemisphere

hundred and eighty arches

is

*

east to west

* is

*

the depth is

one

feet:

the span of each

feet

the length, however, from

:

two hundred and sixty

range of the lights seventy -five to the west

:

to the floor

feet.

feet;

of the

and the

There are also

two other noble colonnades, and on

sides unroofed courts of elaborate beauty.

all

Justinian

also erected the

church of the holy Apostles, which

may

first

dispute the

place with any other.

In this

the emperors and the bishops are usually interred.

have thought

fit

similar matters.

I

thus to take some notice of these and

CHAP. XXX II.]

229

BLUE FACTION.

TllH

CHAriEii XXX 11. PARTIALITY OF JLSTINIAN FOR THE BLUE FACTlOiN.

Justinian was possessed by unequalled ferocity

anotliei- pvopeiisity, of

whether attributable to an innate

;

and appre-

defect of his disposition, or to cowardice

am

hensions, I

not able to say.

the existence of the faction tinguished by the

name

took

It

among

its rise

from

the populace dis-

He

" Nica."

appeared to

favour one party, namely the Blues, to such an excess, that they slaughtered their opponents at inid-day and in

the middle of the city, and, so far from dreading punishment, were even rewarded; so that

became murderers from this cause.

many

persons

They were allowed

to assault houses, to plunder the valuables they contained, lives;

and to compel persons to purchase and

if

their

own

any of the authorities endeavoured

check them, he was in danger of his very

life

:

and

to it

actually happened that a person holding the govern-

ment of the

East, having chastised

some of the

rioters

with lashes, was himself scourged in the very centre of the city, and carried about in triumph. also,

the governor

legal

punishment two

Faustinus,

who had

despatch him,

of

Cilicia,

Cilician murderers,

assaulted

Paul and

and endeavoured to

suffered impalement,

for rio'ht feelinir

Callinicus

having subjected to

as

the

and maintenance of the laws.

penalty

The

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

230

members fled

[bOOK

IV.

of the other faction having, in consequence,

from their homes, and meeting with a welcome

nowhere, but being universally scouted as a pollution, betook themselves to waylaying travellers, and committed thefts and murders to such an extent, that every place was filled with untimely deaths, robberies, and

every other crime. Sometimes

by surrendering

whom

with the other

to the vengeance of the laws those

he had allowed to commit in the

suffice for a

Thus much

will,

minute

cities

equal

Neither words nor time

outrages with barbarians.

would

also, siding

put to death in turn their opponents,

faction, Justinian

detail of these transactions.

however, serve for a conception of

the remainder.

CHAPTER

XXXIII.

BARSANUPHIUS THE ASCETIC.

There

lived at that season

men

divinely inspired

and workers of distinguished miracles in various parts of the world, but Y>^hose glory has shone forth every

where.

First,

Barsanuphius, an Egyptian.

Tie main-

tained in the flesh the exercise of the fleshless

a certain seat of contemplation near the

to"\vn

life,

in

of Gaza,

and succeeded

in

working wonders too numerous to be

He

is

also believed to be stiU alive, enclosed

recorded.

SIMEON THE MONK.

CHAP. XXXIV.] in a

chamber,

this time

231

and more from

altliougli for fifty years

he has not been seen by any one, nor has he

When Eustochius,

partaken of any earthly thing.

the

president of the church of Jerusalem, in disbelief of this account,

had determined

to dig into the

where the man of God was enclosed, and nearly consumed

all

those

chamber

burst forth

fire

who were on

the spot.

CHAPTER XXXI V. SIMEON

THE MONK.

•

Theke

Emesa, Simeon, n

lived also at

man who had

so completely unclothed himself of vain-glory

as to

appear insane to those who did not know him, although filled

with

all

wisdom and

divine grace.

lived principally in solitude,

This Simeon

affording to none the

means of knowing how and when he propitiated the Deity, nor his time of abstinence or eating.-

quently, too, on

public

the

Fre-

seemed to be

roads, he

deprived of self-possession, and to become utterly void of sense and intelligence, and entering at times into a tavern, he

would

eat,

when he happened

whatever food was mthin his reach. saluted

him with an

to be hungry,

But

if

any one

inclination of the head, he

leave the place angrily

and

hastily,

would

through reluctance

that his peculiar virtues should be detected

by many

Such was the conduct of Simeon

in public.

persons.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

232

[bOOK

IV.

his acqiiamtances, with

whom

he associated without any assumed appearances.

One

But there were some of

of his friends had

a

female domestic, who, having been

debauched and become pregnant she was urged

by her owners

was

she

some person, when

name

the individual,

had secretly cohabited with her and

said that vSimeon

that

to

b}'

pregnant

by

him

;

that

she

was

ready to swear to the truth of this statement, and,

On

necessary, to convict him.

saying that

assented, frailties

;

he

hearing

bore

the

with

flesh

if

Simeon

this,

its

and when the story was universally spread,

and Simeon,

as

it

seemed, was deeply disgraced, he

withdrew into retirement, as

When the woman's

if

from feelings of shame.

time had arrived, and she had been

placed in the usual position, her throes, causing great

and intolerable peril,

sufferings,

brought her into imminent

but the birth made no progress.

When,

accord-

they besought Simeon, who had come thither

ing!}',

designedly, to pray for her, he openly declared that

woman would not be delivered before she had said who was the father of the child and when she had the

:

done

this,

and named the

instantaneous, as though

real father, the delivery

by the midwifery of

was

truth.

He

once was seen to enter the chamber of a cour-

tezan,

and having closed the door, he remained alone

^vith

ing

her a considerable time; and when, again open-

it,

he went away looking round on

any one should

all

sides lest

see him, suspicion rose to so high

pitch, that those

who

witnessed

it,

a

brought out. the

CHAP. XXXV.]

THE

TPIOiMAS

233

xMONK.

woman, and inquired what was the nature of Simeon's visit

her and continuance with her for so long a

to

She swore

time.

from want of necessaries, she

that,

had tasted notliing but water

for three days past,

that Simeon had brought her victuals and of

wine;

that,

satisfy her

Also

hunger, after her sufferings from want

at

the approach

of the

Phcenicia Maritima, and

Bjd^lus,

and

Tripolis

in his hand,

columns

in the

especially

(if

earthquake which

by which Berytus, suffered,

forum, exclaiming, "Stand

Inasmuch

actions were unmeaning, those

raising a

still, if

as

who were

there

none of his

present care-

marked which were the columns he passed by

AA'ithout

striking them.

thrown down by the other

a

he struck the greater part of the

shall be occasion to dance."

fully

set

set before her.

visited

whip

he

and bid her make a meal, and

She then produced the remains of what had

food.

been

having closed the door,

her

before

table

and

a vessel

things he

These were soon afterwards

effects of the earthquake.

also

did

Many

which require a separate

treatise.

CHAPTER XXXV. THOMAS THE MONK.

At

that time lived also Thomas,

same mode of

life in

Coele-Syria.

who pursued

On

the

occasion of his

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

234

IV.

purpose of receiving the

Antioch, for the

visiting

[bOOK

yearly stipend for the support of his monastery, which

had been assigned from the revenues of the church in that place, Anastasius, the steward

struck

him on the head with

quently troubled

When

him.

of the church,

his hand, because he fre-

the bystanders mani-

fested indignation, he said that neither himself should

pay the money.

again receive nor Anastasius

which things came after

to pass,

Both

by the death of Anastasius

an interval of one day, and by the departure of

Thomas

to the unfading

sick hospital at the sited his

body

in the

life,

on his way back, in the

They depo-

suburb of Daphne.

tomb appropriated

to strangers

two

but, after the subsequent interment of

others, his

body was found above them, an extraordinary wonder, proceeding from God, after his death

;

considerable distance. to

who

bore testimony to him even

for the other bodies

were thrown to a

They report the circumstance

Ephraemius, in admiration of the

sequence, his holy body

is

saint.

In con-

transported to Antioch,

with a public festival and procession, and

is

with a place in the cemetery, having, by

translation,

its

honoured

stopped the plague which was then visiting the place.

The yearly

festival in

honour of

whom

the sons of the

Antiochenes continue to celebrate to our time with great magnificence.

my

subject.

Let

me

now, however, return to

CHAP. XXXVr.]

235

AT CONST ANTINOl'LE.

MIllACLE

CHAPTER

XXXYI.

ACCOUNT OF A MIT.ACLE IN THE PATRIARCHATE

(j6-

OF MENAS.

When

Anthimus, as

was removed Epiphanius

from

been already mentioned,

lias

to

imperial

city,

bishopric; and

after

of the

the see

succeeds

the

Epiphanius, Menas, in whose time also occurred a

remarkable prodigy. imperial city, that,

It

when

an old custom

is

in

the

there remains over a con-

siderable quantity of' the holy fragments of the im-

maculate body of Christ our God, boys of tender age should be fetched from

there was included

worker, a

Jew by

among

On

schools, to eat them.

those

among them

faith;

who

attend the

one occasion of this kind, the

son of a glass-

who, in reply to the inquiries

of his parents respecting the cause of his delay, told

them

wdiat had taken place,

and what he had eaten

The

company with the other boys. nation

and fury, places the boy

he used to mould the glass. find her child, tions

in the furnace

where

The mother, unable

wandered over the

in

father, in his indig-

to

with lamenta-

city

and wailings; and on the third day, standing by

the door of her husband's workshop, was calling upon

the boy by name, tearing

He, recognising

his

herself

mother's

from within the furnace, and

voice,

in

her sorrow.

answered her

she, bursting

open the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

236

saw, on her entrance, the

doors,

[bOOK

boy standing

the midst of the coals, and untonched by the

On

visited it

how woman in

being asked

said that a

he had continued unhurt,

hhn

;

lie

him

water, and with

coals

which was near-

offered

had quenched that part of the

est to

in

tire.

a purple robe had frequently

him that she had 5;

IV.

and that she had supplied him with food

as often as he

was hungry.

Justinian, on the report of this occurrence, placed

the boy and his mother in the orders of the church, after they

had been enlightened by the laver of

generation.

bered

among

But

the father, on«his refusal to be

re-

num-

the Christians, he ordered to be impaled

the suburb of Syca3, as being the murderer of his

in

child.

Such was the course of these occurrences.

CHAPTER

XXXVII.

SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS.

Apter Menas, Eutychius At Jerusalem,

is

himself succeeded by Helias.

was the

Peter; and

after

The next

who

is

in succession

him came Macarius, without

emperor's confirmation.

his see,

elevated to the see.

Sallustius succeeds Martyrius,

He was

ejected

from

on the charge of maintaining the opinions of

Origen, and was

succeeded by

Eustochius.

After

CHAP. XXXVllI.J FIFTH GENERAL COUNCIL. the

removal of

Theodosius,

ineiitioned, Zoilus

is

has

as

Donininus

A.I).

552. 237

been

already

appointed bishop of Alexandria,

and when he had been gathered to Apollinaris

—

obtains

the

his predecessors,

Ephraemius,

After

chair.

entrusted with the see of Antioch.

is

CHAPTER

XXXYIII.

THE FIFTH GENERAL COUNCIL.

During the time that Elder Rome, and

first

Yigilius

was bishop of the

Menas, then Eutychius of

New

Rome, Apollinaris of Alexandria, Domninus of Antioch,

and Eustocliius of Jerusalem, Justinian summons

the fifth synod, for the following reason

of the increasing influence of those ions of Origen, especially in

what

:

who is

— On

account

held the opin-

called the

New

Laura, Eustocliius used every effort for their removal, and, visiting the place

driving

them

itself,

he ejected the whole party,

to a distance, as general pests.

These

persons, in their dispersion, associated with themselves

many

They found a champion

others.

surnamed Ascidas, of Cappadocia,

in

Theodore,

bishojD of Ctesarea, the metropolis

who was

constantly about the person of

Justinian, as being trusty and highly serviceable to

him.

Whereas he was creating much confusion

in the

imperial court, and declared the proceeding of Eustochius to be

utterly

impious

and lawless, the latter

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

238

[bOOK

IV.

despatches to Constantinople Rufus, superior of the

monastery of Theoclosius, and Conon, of that of Saba, persons of the

among

distinction

first

the solitaries,

both on account of their personal worth and the gious houses of which they were the heads

them were dignity.

;

reli-

and with

associated others scarcely their inferiors in

These, in the

first instance,

tions relating to Origen, Evagrius,

mooted the ques-

and Didymus.

But

Theodore of Cappadocia, with a view to divert them

from

this point, introduces the subject of

Mopsuestia, Theodoret, and Ibas

;

Theodore of

the good

God

provi-

dentially disposing the whole proceeding, in order that

the profanities of both parties should be ejected.

On the first it

a

question being started, namely, whether

were proper to anathematise the dead, Eutychius,

man

of

consummate

skill in

the divine Scrij^tures,

being as yet an undistinguished person still

living,

and he was himself

rius to the bishop of

Amasea

—

for

Menas was

at that time apocrisia-

—casting

a look on the

assembly, not merely of commanding intelligence but of

contempt, plainly declared that the question needed no debate, since

King Josiah

in former time not only slew

the living priests of the demons, but also broke up the sepulchres of those

was considered by pose.

who had long been

all to

dead.

This

have been spoken to the pur-

Justinian also, having been

made acquainted

with the circumstance, elevated him to the see of the imperial city on the death of Menas, which happened

FIFTH GENERAL COUNCIL.

CHAP. XXXVIII.]

immediately

A^igilius

after.

239

gave his assent in writing

to the assembling of the synod but declined attendance.

Justinian addressed an inquiry to the synod on

its

assembling, as to what was their opinion concerning

Theodore, and the expressions of Theodoret against Cyril and his twelve chapters, as well as the epistle of Ibas, as

it is

termed, addressed to Maris, the Persian.

After the reading of

many

passages of Theodore and

Theodoret, and proof given that Theodore had been

long ago condemned and erased from the sacred diptychs, as also that

condemned

it

was

fitting that heretics

after their death, they

should be

unanimously ana-

thematise Theodore, and what had been advanced by

Theodoret against the twelve chapters of Cyril and the right faith sian

;

;

as also the epistle of Ibas to Maris, the Per-

in the following

"Our

great

words

:

God and Saviour Jesus

Christ,

ac-

cording to the parable in the gospels," and so forth.

"In addition

to all

other heretics,

who have been

condemned and anathematised by the before-mentioned four holy synods and by the holy catholic and apostolic

church,

we condemn and anathematise Theodore,

styled bishop of Mopsuestia, and his impious writings; also

whatever has been impiously written by Theodoret

against the right faith, against the twelve chapters of the sainted Cyril, sus,

and

all

and against the

first

holy synod at Ephe-

that he has written in defence of Theodore

and Nestorius.

We further

anathematise the impious

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

240

epistle said to

[bOOK

IV.

have been written by Ibas to Maris the

Persian."

After some other matter, they proceed to set forth fourteen chapters concerning the right and unimpeachable faith.

ceeded

:

In this manner had the transactions pro-

but on the presentation of

doctrine of Origen,

named

followers of his impious error,

libels against the

Adamantius, and the

also

by the monks Eulogius,

Conon, Cyriacus, and Pancratius, Justinian addresses a question to the synod concerning these points, append-

ing to

it

Vigilius

may

a copy of the

libel,

upon the subject

:

as well as the

be gathered the attempts of Origen to

plicity of the apostolic doctrine

Manicheean

epistle of

from the whole of which fill

the sim-

with philosophic and

Accordingly, a relation was ad-

tares.

dressed to Justinian by the synod,

after they

had

uttered exclamations ag^ainst Orio-en and the maintainers of similar errors.

A

the following terms:

"0

portion of

it is

gifted with heavenly generosity of soul, "

"We

have shunned, accordingly,

error; for Ave

knew not

expressed in

most Christian emperor, and so

forth.

we have shunned

this

the voice of the alien; and

having bound such a one, as a thief and a robber, in the cords of our anathema, sacred precincts. "

And

we have

ejected

him from the

presently they proceed

:

perusal you will learn the vigour of our acts. "

"By To

this they appended a statement of the heads of the

matters which the followers of Oriojen were tauo-ht to

HETERODOXY OF JUSTINIAN.

CHAP. XXXIX.] iiijiiutain,

241

shewing their agreements, as well as their

The

agreements, and their manifold errors.

fifth

dis-

head

contains the blasphemous expressions uttered by private individuals belonging to

what

is

called the

New

Laura,

Theodore, surnamed Ascidas, the Cappa-

as follows.

and Martyrs at the present

docian, said "If the Apostles

time work miracles, and are already so highly honoured, unless they shall be equal with Christ in the restitution of things, in ?"

them

They

what respect

also reported

is

there a restitution for

many

other blasphemies of

Didymus, Evagrius, and Theodore

;

diligence extracted whatever bore

At an

interval of

synod, Eutychius

some time is

having with great

upon these

after the

and there

ejected,

his place to the see of Constantinople

Seremis, which

is

points.

meeting of the is

appointed in

John a native of

a village of the district of Cynegica,

belonging to Antioch.

CHAPTER

XXXIX.

DEPARTUKE OF JUSTINIAN FROM ORTHODOXY.

At

that time Justinian, abandoning the right road

of doctrine, and following a path untrodden by the apostles

and

and briers

;

fathers,

became entangled among thorns

with which wishing to

fill

he failed in his purpose, and thereby diction of

prophecy

;

the

the

Church

also,

fulfilled the pre-

Lord having secured the

roval road with an unfailing^ fence, that murderers ~~ 16

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOHY.

242

might not

also Catelinus,

Vigilius

upon

were,

leap, as it

broken hedge.

linaris, of

IV.

a tottering wall or a

Thus, at the time when John, named v,^as

bishop of the elder Rome, after

John from Seremis, of

;

[uOOK

New Rome

;

Apol-

Alexandria; Anastasius, of Theopolis, after

Domninus; and Macarius, of Jerusalem, had been restored to his see tized Origen,

;

Justinian," after

he had anathema-

Didymus, and Evagrius, issued what the

Latins call an Edict, after the deposition of Eustochius, in

which he termed the body of the Lord incorruptible

and incapable of the natural and blameless passions; affirming that the

the same

manner

Lord

ate

as after his

before his

passion

in

resurrection, his holy

body having undergone no conversion or change from the time of

its

actual formation, in the

in respect of the voluntary

yet after the resurrection.

compel the bishops in

However, they

all

all

womb, not even

and natural passions, nor

To

this,

he proceeded to

quarters to give their assent.

professed to look to Anastasius, the

bishop of Antioch, and thus avoided the

CHAPTER

first attack.

XL.

ANASTASIUS, PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH.

Anastasius was a man most accomplished learning, and so strict in his as to insist

in divine

manners and mode of

upon very minute matters, and on no

sion to deviate

from a

staid

and

settled frame,

life,

occa-

much

CHAP. XL.] AXASTASIUS OF ANTIOCM.

neither,

243

561.

relation to the

So well tempered was his character,

Deity himself. tliat

A.l).

moment and having

things of

less in

—

by being

and

accessible

difficult

Accordingly, in

of approach for proper purposes.

was ready

nor by

;

being austere and unindulgent, did he become

serious concei'ns he

was he

affable,

exposed to the intrusion of things unsuitable

ear and fluent in

in

tongue, promptly resolving the questions proposed to

him

;

but in trifling matters, his ears were altogether

closed,

and a bridle restrained

his tongue,

so

that

speech was enthralled by thought, and silence resulted,

more valuable than like

speech.

Justinian assaults him,

some impregnable tower, with every kind of

considering that

if

this bulwark, all difficidty

turing the

city,

device,

he could only succeed in shaking

would be removed right

enslaving the

doctrine,

and

In such a manner

taking captive the sheep of Christ.

was Anastasius raised above the

in cap-

assailing

force

by

heavenly greatness of mind, for he stood upon the

immoveable rock of dicted

faith, that

he unreservedly contra-

Justinian by a formal declaration, in which

he showed very clearly and forcibly that the body of the Lord was corruptible in respect of the natural

and blameless and

passions,

and that the divine apostles

the inspired fathers both held

opinion.

and delivered

this

In the same terms he replied to a question

of the monastic body of Syria

confirming the minds of

all,

Prima and Secunda,

preparing them fn- the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

244 struo'gle,

and daily reading

in

the

words of the "chosen vessel:"*

[bOOK

Churcli

IV.

those

"If any one

is

preaching to you a gospel different from that which ye

have received, even though

him be accursed. "f

let

To

be an angel from heaven, this

all,

with few excep-

paid a steady regard and zealous adherence.

He

addressed to the Antiochenes a valedictory

dis-

tions,

also

it

course, on hearing that Justinian intended to banish

him its

;

a discourse deserving admiration for

its

elegance,

flow of thought, the abundance of saci'ed texts, and

the appropriateness of

its

historical matters.

CHAPTER

XLT.

DEATH OF JUSTINIAN.

But

was not published, " God having

this discourse

provided some better thing for us:" J for Justinian, while dictating the banishment of Anastasius and his associate stroke,

priests,

departed this

having reigned

in

all

life

by an

invisible

eight and thirty years

and eight months. f GaL

* Acts ix. 15.

I

Heb.

xi.

40.

THE END OF THE FOURTH BOOK

i.

9.

THE FIFTH BOOK.

CHAPTER

I.

ACCESSION OF JUSTIN THE SECOND. Ix this manner did Justinian depart to the lowest region of retribution, after having

filled

every place

with confusion and tumults, and having received at the close of his

life

the reward of his actions.

His

nephew Justin succeeds

to the purple; having pre-

viously held the

of guardian

styled in the

except those

office

of the palace,

Latin knguage Curopalata.

who

Avere

No

one,

immediately about his person,

was aware of the demise of Justinian or the declara-

made

tion of Justin, until the latter in the

stated functions

of royalty.

this simple proceeding,

His

his

appearance

hippodrome, by way of formally assuming the

first edict

Confining himself to

he then returned to the palace.

was one dismissing the bishops

their respective sees, wherever they

to

might be assembled,

with a provision that they should maintain what was already

established

novelties in

in

matters of

to his honour.

In his

religion,

This proceeding was

faith.

mode

and abstain from

of

life,

however, he was

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

246

dissolute, utterly

pleasures

:

[bOOK

V.

abandoned to luxury and inordinate

and to such a degree was he inflamed with

desire for the property of others, as to convert every

thing into a means of unlawful gain

awe of the Deity even

^making them a matter of public that

ofl'ered.

of

vices

;

sale to

and cowardice, he

audacity

was

for military skill

and

at that time stationed

gaged

but

any purchasers

Possessed, as he was, alike

place sends for his kinsman Justin, a

famous

standing in no

in the case of bishoprics,

in

man

by the

the

first

universally

his other distinctions,

who

upon the Danube, and en-

preventing the Avars from crossing that river.

in

These were one of those Scythian tribes who wagons, and inhabit the plains beyond

Having been worsted by

iivd

their neighbours, tlie Turks,

they had migrated in a mass to the Bosphorus

having subsequently

left

;

and,

the shores of the Euxine

where were many barbarian cities, castles,

live in

Caucasus.

tribes,

and where

also

and some harbours had been located by

the Romans, being either settlements of veterans, or colonies sent out

by the emperors

—they

were pur-

suing their march, in continual conflict \vith the bar-

whom they

barians

bank of the Danube

encountered, ;

luitil

they reached the

and thence they sent an embassy

to Justinian.

From

this quarter Justin

was summoned,

as having

a claim to the fulfilment of the terms of the as-reement d between himself and the emperor. For, since both

CHAP. Oi

IMUliDER OF JUSTIN

II.]

tliciii

liad

THE GENERAL.

247

been possessed of equal dignity, and the

succession to the empire was in suspense between both,

they had agreed, after

much

dispute, that whichever

of the two should become possessed of the sovereignty,

should confer the second place on the other; so that wJiile

ranking beneath the emperor, he should

take precedence of

all

still

others.

CPIAPTER

IT.

MUIIDER OF JUSTIN, KINSMAN OF THE EMPEROR.

The emperor

accordingly received him, in the hrst

instance, with an

abundant display of kindness. After-

Avards, he proceeded to fix certain charges upon him,

and

to

withdraw the various guards of

forbidding

him at the same time

his person,

access to his presence

for he himself lived in the retirement of

and ultimately he ordered There he

is

liis

palace

removal to Alexandria.

miserably murdered in the dead of night,

when he had reward of

his

just retired

his fidelity to

achievements in

Avar.

to rest;

the

Nor

such being the

commonwealth and

his

did the emperor and his

consort Sophia abate their rage, nor had they ciently indulged their boiling spite,

gazed upon his head and spurned

suffi-

before they had

it Avitli

their feet.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKV.

248

[bOUK

V.

CHAPTER m. EXECUTION OF ^THERIUS AND ADD^US.

Not

long

after,

who had

to

trial

and Addseus, members of the

for treason ^tlierius senate,

brought

the emperor

occupied the very highest position at

^therius confessed to a design

the court of Justinian,

of poisoning the emperor, saying that he had in Adda^us

an accomplice in the plot and an abettor throughout.

The

latter,

however, asseverated, with fearful impre-

cations, that tion.

he was utterly ignorant of the transac-

Both were accordingly

beheaded,

affirming, at the instant of execution, that he falsely

Adda3us

had been

accused on this point, but admitting that he re-

ceived his

due

hands of all-seeing Justice, for

at the

that he had taken off Theodotus, prefect of the palace,

by

sorcery.

How

far these statements are true, I

not able to say; but both were

men

Adda?us being addicted to unnatural

am

of bad character; lust,

pursuing to the utmost a system of

and jEtlierius

false

accusation,

and plundering the property both of the living and the dead, in the

which

he

Justinian.

name

of the

imperial household, of

had been comptroller

Such was

tlie

in

the

time of

termination of these matters.

EDICT OF JUSTIN.

CI1A1\ IV.]

A.D. 566.

CHAPTER

241)

IV.

EDICT OV JUSTIN CONCERNING THE FAITH.

Justin issues an edict to the Christians in every quarter, in the following terms. " In the

Emperor ment,

name of

the

Lord Jesus

Christ, our God, the

Ca3sar Flavian Justin, faithful in Christ, cle-

Alemannicus,

supreme, beneficent,

Gothicus,

Germanicus, Anticus, Francicus, Herulicus, Gepidicus, pious, fortunate, glorious, victorious, triumphant, ever-

worshipful Augustus.

'"My peace

I give to you,' says

My

claims to

mankind.

all

that those

who

the Lord Christ, our

peace I leave to you,

very God.

'

Nov/

believe on

this is

'

he also pro-

nothing

him should gather

else

than

into one

and the same church, being unanimous concerning the true belief of Christians, and withdrawing from such as affirm or entertain contrary opinions

means of

salvation for all

right faith. lical

men

Wherefore we

for the

prime

the confession of the

foUomng the evange-

precepts and the holy symbol or doctrine of the

holy fathers, exhort

all

persons to unite in one and the

same church and sentiment in the Father, Son,

trine

is

also,

:

of a

;

and Holy

and

this

Spirit,

we

do, believing

holding the doc-

consubstantial Trinity, one

Godhead or

nature and substance, both in terms and reality; one

power, influence, and operation in three subsistences

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

250 or persons

into

;

which we

which doctrine we were baptized, in

believe,

and

to

which we have united our-

For we worship a Unity

selves.

Trinity in unity, peculiar both in its

[bOOK V-

in trinity

its

division

and a

and

in

union, being Unity in respect of substance or God-

head, and Trinity with regard to sistences or persons

and

speak,

is

for

;

united divisibly

proprieties or sub-

for there

:

Godhead

in three, namely, the

its

divided indivisibly, so to

it is

are one, namely, those in which

is

one thing

and the three things

;

is

the Godhead, or, to

speak more accurately, which are the Godhead

:

and we

acknowledge the Father to be God, the Son God, and the Holy Spirit God, whenever each person

—the thought

by itself

that are inseparable

conjunction to be

nature

;

—and the three when

God by sameness

inasmuch as

is

regarded

in that case separating the things

it is

viewed in

of motion and of

proper both to confess the

one God, and at the same time to proclaim the three subsistences or proprieties.

We

also confess the only

begotten Son of God, the God-Word,

v>']io,

before the

ages and without time, was begotten of the Father, not

made, and

Avho, in the last of the days, for

for our salvation, descended from heaven,

our sakes and

and was incar-

nate of the Holy Spirit and of our Lady, the holy glorious

Mother of God and ever virgin Mary, and was born of her;

who

our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the Holy

is

Trinity, united in glorification with the Father

Holy

Spirit

:

for the

and the

Holy Trinity did not admit the

addition of a fourth person, even Trinity, the God- Vv^ord,

Lord Jesus Christ stantial with

and

at the

251

KDICT OF JUSTIN.

CHAP. IV.J

God

when one

had become incarnate

;

of the

but our

one and the same, being consub-

is

the Father, as respects the Godhead,

same time consubstantial with ourselves as

respects the

manhood;

passible in the flesh,

Godhead

same time impassible

in tlie

admit that the divine

Word who

we

confess our

Lord

for

and

at the

we do not

wrouglit the miracles

was one, and he who underwent the other; but

:

sufferings

was an-

Jesus Christ to be one

and the same, namely, the Word of God become nate and cles

made

perfectly

incar-

man, and that both the mira-

and the sufferings which he voluntarily underwent

for our salvation

much

as

belong to one and the same

;

inas-

was not ahumanbeingthat gave himself on

it

our behalf; but the God-Word himself, becoming

man

without undergoing change, submitted in the flesh to the voluntary passion and death on our behalf. cordingly, while confessing

hhn

contravene the circumstance of his being

Ac-

we do not

to be God,

man and while ;

confessing him to be man, we do not deny the fact of his being God whence, while confessing our Lord Jesus :

Christ to be one and the same, composed of both natures,

namely, the Godhead and the manhood, we do not superinduce confusion upon the union; forhewiU not lose the circumstance of being like ourselves

;

nor

God on becoming man

yet, in being

by nature God, and

in

that respect incapable of likeness to us, will he also

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

252

decline the circumstance of being

tinued

God

in

manhood

in like

;

sessed of divine supremacy, he

God and man

in one,

at the

Further, while confessing perfect in

Godhead and

two he was

man.

[bOOK

But

V.

as he con-

manner, though pos-

no less man being both

is

;

same time, one Emmanuel.

him

to be at the

perfect in

same time

manhood, of which

composed, we do not attach to his one

also

complex subsistence a division by parts or severance but we signify that the difference of the natures annulled by the union

for neither

:

tinctly

;

tion of its

own

according to

nature,

human

but, each being the

understood and existent

we say

subsistence.

;

not

was the divine na-

ture changed into the human, nor the

converted into the divine

is

in the limit

nature

more and

dis-

rela-

that the union took place

The union according

subsistence signifies, that the God- Word, that

is

to

to say

one subsistence of the three subsistences of the Godhead, was not united with a previously existing being,

womb

but in the

glorious

Lady, the holy

Mother of God and ever virgin Mary, formed

for himself of her, in his stantial

of our

human

own

subsistence, flesh consub-

with ourselves, having the same passions in

all

respects except sin,

and animated with a reasonable

and

for he retained his subsistence in

intelligent soul

himself,

;

and became man, and

Lord Jesus

is

one and the same, our

Christ, united in glorification with the

Father and the Holy

Spirit.

dering his ineffable union,

wc

Further, while consi-

rightly confess one nature,

253

EDICT OF JUSTIN.

IV.]

I'lIAP.

that of the Divhie

Word,

to have

become incarnate, by

animated with a reasonable and intelligent soul

flesh

and, on the other hand, while contemplating the diffe-

rence of the natures,

we

affirm that they are two, with-

out, however, introducing is

him

in

;

any division,

for either nature

whence we confess one and the same

Christ,

one Son, one person, one subsistence, both God and

man

ions at variance

who have held or do hold opinmth these, we anathematize, judging

them

from the Holy and Apostolic Church

together

:

and

to be alien

of God.

all

Accordingly, while the right doctrines which

have been delivered to us by the holy fathers are being thus proclaimed,

we exhort you

all

to gather into one

and the same Catholic and Apostolic Church, or rather w^e

even entreat you

;

for

though possessed of imperial

supremacy, we do not decline the use of such a term, in behalf of the unanimity

and union of

all

Christians,

in the universal offering of one

doxology to our great

God and Saviour Jesus

and

Christ,

the future on the part of

about persons and words

all

in abstinence for

from unnecessary disputes

— since the words lead to one

true belief and understanding

— while

form which has hitherto prevailed

the usage and

in the holy Catholic

and Apostolic Church of God, remains

for

ever un-

shaken and unchanged.

To

this edict all assented, saying that

pressed in orthodox language.

it

was ex-

None, however, of the

severed portions of the Church were entirely reunited,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

254

[bOOK

V.

because the edict distinctly declared that what had hitherto been unshaken

tinue so in

and unchanged, should con-

coming time.

all

CHAPTER

V.

DEPOSITION OF ANASTASIUS, PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH.

Justin also ejected Anastasius from the episcopate of Theopolis, on the charge of a profuse and improper

expenditure of the funds of the scandalous language

against

Anastasius, on being asked

it

was done to prevent

that universal

and

pest, Justin.

see,

also for

inasmuch as

why he was

squandering the property of the that

see,

himself;

so lavishly

frankly replied,

being carried off by

its

He

is

also said to

have

entertained a grudge against Anastasius, because he had

refused to pay a

sum of money, when demanded

of

him

in consideration of his appointment to the bishopric.

Other charges were also brought against him by persons, who,

as

I

suppose,

wished to second the

emperor's bent.

CHAPTER

VI.

GREGORY, THE SUCCESSOR OF ANASTASIUS.

Next

in

succession,

episcopal see:

Gregory

is

elevated

to the

"wide whose renown," according

to

CHAP. VI.]

GREGORY OF ANTIOCII

255

A.D. 571.

who had devoted

the language of poetry; a person

himself from the earliest period of

to the monastic

life

and had wrestled therein so manfully and

discipline,

stoutly, that he arrived at the highest elevation

scarcely past his boyhood, and

when

became superior of the

monastery of the Byzantines, in which he had assumed

mode

the bare

of

life,

and subsequently, by the orders

Mount

of Justin, of the monastery of

Here he

Sinai.

encountered extreme danger, having sustained a siege

by the Scenite Arabs. Having, nevertheless, secured the complete tranquillity of

the spot, he

was thence summoned to the

He was

archiepiscopal dignity.

excellence of intellect

and

unrivalled

virtue,

in accomplishing whatever he

in

every

and most energetic

resolved

upon,

unin-

fluenced by fear, and incapable of shrinking before secular power.

So noble was

expenditure of

his

money, in a general system of liberality and munificence, that whenever he appeared in public, crowds, besides his ordinary attendants, followed

round him who saw or heard of

shewn

respect

the

him and all gathered ;

his

to so high a dignity,

approach.

The

was but second

to

honour bestowed upon the individual, in the

generous desire of persons to obtain a near view of

him and

to hear his

words

;

for he

singular power to inspire with

himself

all

was possessed of

attachment towards

who held converse with him, being

a person

of most imposing aspect and sweet address, especially

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

256

[bOOK

V.

quick of perception and prompt in execution, a most

and judge, both

able counsellor

in those of others.

On

this

in his

own

account

matters and

was that he

it

accomplished so much, never deferring any thing

By

to-morrow.

till

dealing with matters with unfailing

promptitude, according as either necessity required or opportunity favoured, he filled with admiration not

Roman

only the

set forth the

but the Persian sovereigns, as I shall

particulars in their proper place.

character was strongly

His

marked by vehemence, and

times by indications of anger;

while,

at

on the other

hand, his meekness and gentleness were not confined,

but were exceedingly abundant admirably

;

him was

so that to

fitted the excellent expression of

Gregory

Theologus, "austerity tempered with modesty," while neither quality striking

by the

was impaired, but each rendered more other.

CHAPTER

YU.

SUBMISSION OF THE INHABITANTS OF PERSARMENIA.

In the

first

year of the episcopate of Gregory, the

inhabitants of what was formerly called the greater

Armenia, but afterwards Persarmenia

—

this

country

was formerly subject to the Romans, but when PhiHp, the successor of Gordian, had betrayed wlint

is

called the lesser

it

to Sapor,

Armenia alone was possessed

RUPTURE WITH

ClIAr. VII.]

b}^

I'ERSIA.

A.l).

257

072.

the Ivomans, but the remairider by the Persians

this people,

—

being Christians and cruelly treated by

the Persians, especially on the score of their faith,

sent a

secret

embassy to Justin, imi)loring

to be

allowed to place themselves under the dominion of the Romans, in order to a safe and unrestrained ob-

When

servance of their religion.

the emperor had ad-

mitted their overtures, and certain written conditions

had been

settled

on his part and guaranteed by the

most solemn oaths, the Armenians massacre their governors; and the whole nation, together with their allied neighbours,

both of kindred and foreign race,

unite themselves

to

Roman

the

empire,

Vardanes

having a precedence among his countrymen by birth, dignity,

and military

of Chosroes on

In reply to the complaints

skill.

account of these transactions, Justin

alleged that the peace had expired,

and that

it

impossible to reject the advances of Christians,

was

when

desirous of uniting themselves Avith fellow Chrrstians in time of war.

Such was

his reply.

no preparation

for

Notwithstanding,

he made

but was involved in his

war,

habitual luxury, regarding every thing as secondary to his personal enjoyments.

17

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

258

CHAPTER

[bOOK

V.

VIII.

SIEGE OP NISIBIS BY MARCIAN.

The emperor commander

sends out his kinsman Marcian, as

of the forces of the East, without, however,

sufficiently supplying

imminent

him

Avith troops, or the

other

He

occupies Mesopotamia, at the

risk of utter

ruin,foUowedhy very few troops,

material of war.

and these imperfectly armed, and by a few

whom

labourers and herdsmen, his service

from among the

rustic

he had pressed into

provincials.

the advantage in some skirmishes near

After gaining Nisibis

with

who were themselves not yet completely he sits down before that city, though the

the Persians, prepared,

enemy

did not think

it

necessary to close the gates,

and insolently jeered the

many

other

prodigies

Roman

presaging

calamities,

I also saw, at the

newly born

calf with

troops.

the

Besides

approaching

beginning of the war, a

two heads.

CHAPTER

IX.

INVASION OF THE PERSIANS.

Chosroes, when his preparations for war were completed,

having accompanied Adaarmanes for some

dis-

CHAP. IX.] IRRUPTION OF THE PERSIANS.

him

tance, sent

A.D. 574. 259

across the Euphrates from his

bank of the river

Roman

into the

territory,

by

own

Circe-

sium, a city most important to the Romans, situated at the limit of the empire, and rendered strong not only

by

its

walls,

which are carried to an immense height,

but by the rivers Euphrates and Aboras, which, as were,

crossed the Tigris with his

advanced upon

Of

it

Chosroes himself, having

the place.

insulate

own

division of the army,

Nisibis.

these operations the

Romans were

for a

ignorant, so far that Justin, relying on a

longtime

rumour

to

the effect that Chosroes was either dead or approacliing his last breath,

was indignant

siege of Nisibis,

at the tardiness of the

and sent persons

for the purpose of

stimulating the efforts of Marcian, and bringing to the keys of the gates as quickly as possible. tion,

him

Informa-

however, that the siege was making no progress,

but that the commander was bringing great discredit

upon himself by attempting

impossibilities in the case

of so important a city with so contemptible a force,

conveyed in the Theopolis

:

first

is

instance to Gregory, bishop of

for the bishop of Nisibis, being strongly

attached to Gregory, as having received munificent presents from hun, and especially being indignant at

the insolence which the Persians vrere continually dis-

playing towards the Christians, and desirous that his city should

be subject to the

information to Gregorv of

all

Roman

power, supplied

things that were going

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

200 on

in the

[bOOK

V.

enemy's territory, at each several juncture.

Thisthe latter mimediately forwarded to Justin, informing liim as quickly as possible of the advance of Chosroes

:

biit he,

being immersed in his habitual pleasures,

paid no regard to the letters of Gregory

;

nor was he

indeed inclined to believe them, indulging rather the

thoughts suggested by his wishes

mark

of dissolute persons

:

for the ordinary

a meanness of spirit com-

is

bined with confidence with regard to results as incredulity, if

to their desires.

;

as well

any thing occurs which runs counter Accordingly he writes to Gregory,

altogether repudiating the information as being utterly false,

and, even supposing

Persians would not come concluded,

and

beaten oif with

that, loss.

were true, saying that the

it

up before they

if

He

did,

the siege was

they would be

further sends Acacius, a

wicked and insolent man, to Marcian with orders to supersede him in the command, even supposing he had already set one foot within the town.

This

command

he strictly executed, carrying out the emperor's orders

without any regard to the public good rival at the

:

for,

camp, he deprives Marcian of his

on

his ar-

command

while on the enemy's territory, and without informing the

army

of the transaction;

The various

officers,

on

learning at the l^reak of the next day that their com-

mander was superseded, no longer appeared at the head of their troops, but stole

away

and thus raised that ridiculous

in various directions,

sie^e.

SUCCESSES OF THE PERSIANS.

CUAV. IX.]

Adaaniiancs, on the other hand, in

261

command

of a

considerable force of Persians and Scenite barbarians,

having marched by Circesinm, inflicted every possible injury with iire and sword upon the setting

no

captures

many fortresses and

tering any resistance

was no one the liis

in

Roman

;

He

He

also

in the first place, because there

command, and

secondly, because, since

troops were shut up in Daras

also directed an

were compelled to draw

by Chosroes,

made in perfect secu-

advance upon Theopolis,

without proceeding thither in person.

scarcely

territory,

towns, without encoun-

foragings and incursions were

rity.

Roman

limits to his intentions or actions.

ofl'

These troops

most unexpectedly

;

for

any one, or indeed very few persons, remained

in the city;

and the bishop had

fled,

taking with him

the sacred treasures, because both the greater part of the walls had fallen to ruins, and the populace had

made

insurrection with the hope of gaining ascendancy

by change a thing of frequent occurrence, and especially :

at junctures like this.

abandoned the

city,

The insurgents themselves also

without any attempt to meet the

emergency or take active measures against the enemy.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

2()2

CHAPTER

[bOOK

V.

X.

CAPTURE OP APAMEA AND DARAS. Failing thus in

this attempt,

Adaarmanes, having

burnt the city formerly called Heraclea but subsequently Gagalica, made himself master of Apamea; AYhich,

having been founded by Seleucus Nicator, was

once flourishing and populous, but had fallen to a great

On

extent into ruin through lapse of time.

the capi-

tulation of the city from the inability of the inhabitants

any

to oiFer

resistance, since the wall

through age, he

fired

violation of the terms,

and drew

captive the inhabitants of the

country, and

He

also

march,

had

fallen

and pillaged the whole off,

down

place, in

carrying away

town and the adjoinmg

among them the bishop and the

governor.

exercised every kind of atrocity during his

^vitliout

meeting with any resistance or indeed

attempt at opposition, except a very small force sent out by Justin under the

command of Magnus, Avho had

formerly been a banker at Constantinople, and subse-

quently appointed steward of one of the imperial dences.

These troops hoAvever

fled

and narrowly escaped being made

resi-

with precipitation,

prisoners.

After these operations, Adaarmanes joins Chosroes,

who had not yet captured the city he was l^esieging. By the junction, he threw an important weight into the

INSANITY OF JUSTIN.

CHAP. XI.] scale,

raising the spirits of his coimtryiiieii, while he

ill

disheartened their opponents.

by

off

263

He found

the city cut

and a huge mound carried forward within

lines,

a short distance of the walls, with engines mounted,

and especially catapults, shooting from vantage ground.

By

Chosroes took the city by

these means,

John, the son of Timostratus, was governor, little

it

;

for both accounts arc reported.

had besieged the city

any

of

paid

regard to the defence of the place, or perhaps

betrayed

effort

forth

storm.

who

being the

all

whom

made

for five

immense numbers, some

he miserably slaughtered but retained the

greater part as captives,

account of into his

Having brought

for its relief.

inhabitants in

Chosroes

months or more without

own

its

he garrisoned the

city,

on

important situation, and then retired

territories.

CHAPTEK XL INSANITY OF JUSTIN.

On

being informed of these events, Justin, in whose

mind no sober and after so

much

considerate thoughts found place

inflation

and

pride,

and who did not

bear what had befallen him with resignation suited to a

human

being, ffdls into a state of frenzy, and be-

comes unconscious of

all

subsequent transactions.

Tiberius assumes the direction of

affairs,

a Thracian by

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

264 birth,

but holding the

He had

first

[bOOK

V.

place in the court of Justin-

previously been sent out against the Avars by

the emperor,

who had

army for the

raised a very large

purpose; and he would inevitably have been made prisoner, since

his troops

barbarians, had not

would not even

divine Providence

delivered him, and preserved

the

Roman

him

face

the

unexpectedly

for succession to

sovereignty; which, through the incon-

siderate measures of Justin,

was

in

to ruin, together with the entire

danger of falling

commonwealth, and

of passing from such a height of power into the hands of barbarians.

CHAPTER

XII.

EMBASSY OF TRAJAN TO CHOSUOES.

AccoKDiNGLY, Tibcrius adopts a measure opportune and well suited to the state of affairs, which altogether repaired the calamity.

He

despatches to Chosroes,

Trajan, a senator and an accomplished man, universally

esteemed for his years and intelligence not, however, ;

as representative of the sovereign power, nor yet as

ambassador for the commonwealth, but merely to treat

on behalf of the empress Sophia; who herself

also

wrote to Chosroes, bewailing the calamities which had befiillen

her husband, and the loss of

its

head which

the commonAvealth sustained, and urging the unseemliness of

trampling upon a widowed female, a prostrate

ADOPTION OF TIBERIUS.

CIIAr. XIII.]

monarch, and a desolate empire

minding

hiin that,

when

:

afflicted

—

A. D. 474.

at the

same time

265 re-

with sickness, he had

himself not only been treated with similar forbearance,

but that the very best physicians had been sent to

him by the Roman government, and had cured him of his

Chosroes

disease.

the appeal, and

is,

accordingly,

when upon the very

moved by

point of attacking

the empire, makes a truce for three years, embracing

the eastern parts with a condition that Armenia should ;

be excepted, so as to allow of hostilities being maintained there, provided the East ^^re not molested.

During is

proceedings in the East, Sirmium

these

taken by the

barbarians, wliicli

had some time

before fallen into the hands of the Gepida3, and been

afterwards restored by them to Justin.

CPIAPTER

XIII.

rROCLAMATION OF TIBERIUS.

About

this time Justin,

HIS CHARACTER.

by the advice of Sophia,

bestows on Tiberius the rank of Ca3sar, giving utterance, in the

surpass history

all ;

act of declaration, to such expressions as

that has been recorded in ancient or recent

God having vouchsafed to an avowal of his own errors,

our compassionate

him an opportunity

for

and a

what was

state.

suggestioii of

for the benefit of the

For when there were assembled

in

the open

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

266 court,

[bOOK

V.

where ancient usage enjoins that such proceed-

ings should take place, both

whom we

the archbishop,

John,

have already mentioned, and his clergy, as

well as the state dignitaries, and the household troops, the emperor, on investing Tiberius with the imperial

tunic

and robe, gave utterance with a loud voice to

the following words

spectacle

:

" Let not the grandeur of thy

deceive thee, nor the

investiture

pomp

of the present

beguiled by which, I have unwittingly ren-

;

dered myself obnoxious to the most severe penalties.

Do thou make

reparation for

my

errors,

by administer-

gentleness."

Then

pointing to the magistrates, he recommended

him by

ing the commonwealth with

no means to put confidence are the very persons

condition which thou

in

all

them, adding: " These

who have brought me into the now witnessest " together with :

other similar expressions, which

filled all

with utter

amazement, and drew forth an abundance of Tiberius was very

tall,

and by

in person not only of sovereigns that, in the first place, his

sovereignty. sionate,

their

all

mankind

;

so

beauty was deserving of

In disposition, he was mjld and comi^as-

and gave cordial reception to

very

most noble

far the

but

tears.

first

approach.

all

He deemed

persons at

wealth

to

consist in aiding all with largesses, not merely so far as to

meet their wants, but even to superfluity

:

for

he did not consider what the needy ought to receive, but Avhat

it

became a Itoman em})eror to

l^estow.

He

267

MEASURES OF TIBERIUS.

CHAP. XIV.]

esteemed that gold to be adulterated which was exacted with tears: on which account he entirely remitted the taxation for one year, and released from their imposts the properties which

Adaarmanes had devastated,

not merely to the extent of the damage but even far

beyond

The magistrates were

it.

the necessity of making the

also excused

means of which the emperors formerly made a their subjects.

On

from

unlawful presents, by sale of

these points he also issued constitu-

tions, as a security for

coming time.

CHAPTER SUCCESSES OF THE ROMAN

XIV.

COMMANDER JUSTINIAN

AGAINST THE PERSIANS. Tiberius, accordingly, applying to a rightful purpose

the wealth which had been amassed by improper means,

made the necessary preparations was the army of brave men, nations, the

alpine

for war.

raised

Massageta>,

So numerous

among

the Trans-

and other Scythian

tribes,

by a choice levy

and on

this side of the Alps, as well as in Pseonia, Mysia,

Illyria,

and

in the countries on the Rhine,

Isauria, that

excellent cavalry, to the

and

fifty

he completed squadrons of

amount of nearly one hundred

thousand men, and repulsed Chosroes, who,

immediately after the capture of Daras, had advanced in

the course of the

summer

against Armenia, and

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

268

was thence directing Avhich

was the

seat of

the capital of the

movements upon

his

V.

Cagsarea,

government of Cappadocia and

cities

that

in

quarter.

Roman

contempt did Chosroes hold the

when

[bOOK

In such

power, that,

the Caesar had sent an embassy to him, he did

not deign to admit the ambassadors to an audience,

but bid them follow him to Cassarea

;

at

which place

he said he would take the embassy into his consideration.

the Roman army in the command of Justinian, the who had been miserably put to

When, however, he saw

front of him, under the

brother of that Justin

death by the Emperor Justin, in complete equipment,

with the trumpets .sending forth martial sounds, the standards uplifted for conflict, and the soldiery eager for

slaughter, breathing forth fury,

time

maintaining

perfect

and

and,

order,

numerous and noble a body of cavalry

as

at the

same

besides,

so

no monarch

had ever imagined, he drew a deep groan, with many adjurations, at the unforeseen

and was reluctant to while he

is

lingering and whiling

making a mere

who was

and unexpected

in

feint of fighting,

command

upon him; and

since

sight,

begin the engagement.

away the

time,

But and

Kurs, the Scythian,

of the right wing, advances the Persians

were unable to

stand his charge, and were in a very signal manner aljandoning

their

ground,

slaughter of his opponents.

where

Ijoth

he made

He

an

extensive

also attacks the rear,

Chosroes and the whole army had placed

DKFEAT OF CH08R0ES. — A.

CHAr. XIV.]

and captures

their baggage,

all

269

D. 576.

the royal stores and

the entire baggage, under the very eyes of Chosroes

who endured

the sight, deeming self-imposed constraint

more tolerable than the onset of Kurs. The latter, having together with his troops great

made himself master

amount of money and

off

among which

the beasts of burden with their loads,

was the sacred

of a

and carrying

spoil,

of Chosroes to which divine honours

lire

were paid, makes a

camp, singing

circuit of the Persian

songs of victory, and rejoins, about nightfall, his

own

army, who had already broken up from their position, without a commencement of battle on the part of either Chosroes

or themselves, beyond a few slight single combats, such

skirmishes or

as usually take

place.

Chosroes, having lighted tions for a night assault

;

many

made

fires,

prepara-

and since the Romans had

formed two camps, he attacks the division which lay northward, at the dead of night.

way under

this

On

their giving

sudden and unexpected onset, he

advances upon the neighbouring town of Melitene,

which was undefended and deserted by

and having

its

inhabitants,

fired the

whole place, pre})ared to cross

At

the approach, however, of the

the Euphrates.

united forces of the Romans, in alarm for his

own

safety,

he mounted an elephant, and crossed alone; whik^ great

numbers of

of the

river

:

his ami}'

found n grave

on learning whose

fate

in the

waters

he retreated.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOUY.

270

Having paid towards the

this

[bOOK

V.

extreme penalty for his insolence

Roman

power, Chosroes retires with the

snrvivors to the eastern parts, in which quarter the

terms of the truce had provided that uo one should Nevertheless Justinian

attack him.

made an irruption

into the Persian territory with his entire force,

and

passed the whole winter there, without any molestation.

He withdrew

about

having sustained any

summer near

the

summer

solstice,

loss whatever,

without

and passed the

the border, surrounded

by prosperity

and glory.

CHAPTER

XV.

DEATH OF CHOSROES. SUCCESSION OF HORMISDAS. Chosroes, lost in frenzy and despair, and submerged in the surgings of sorrow,

is

brought to a miserable

end by overwhelming anguish, after leaving behind

him

a

lasting

monument

of his flight, in the law

which he enacted, that no king of the Persians should henceforward

He I

is

lead

must now pass

in

an

army

against

succeeded by his son Hormisdas.

direct

the Romans.

These matters

over, since the events wliicli follow

succession are

my attention my narrative.

inviting

awaiting the regular progress of

and

CHAP. XVII. J EARTHQUAKE AT ANTIOCH.

CIIArXER

— A. D. 580.

271

XVI.

SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS.

On

the

Bonosus

and he

is

is

decease

of John,

intrusted with the

named

also

In the imperial city John

is

by Eutychius, who had already held the

dria

Apollinaris

is

is

see before

After Macarius,

who

elevated to the bishopric of Jerusalem,

had pursued the monastic tlie

succeeded

succeeded in the see of Alexan-

by John, and he by Eulogius,

John

see,

succeeded by another John, and he, again,

by Pelagius. him.

Catelhius,

helm of the Roman

discipline in

monastery of the Acoemets.

what

is

called

This period passed

without any changes being attempted in the state of tlie

Church.

CHAPTER XYIL EARTHQUAKE AT ANTIOCH. In the third year of the administration of the empire

by its

Tiberius, a violent earthquake befell Theopolis

and

suburb of Daphne, precisely at noon; on which

occasion the whole of that suburl) was laid in utter

ruui by the shocks, while the public and private buildings in Theopolis, though rent to the ground, were

still

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

272

not entirely levelled. in Theopolis,

ing

especial notice,

confusion,

V.

Several other events occurred

and

both

[eOOK

also in the imperial city, deserv-

which threw

both places

into

and broke out into excessive disturbances:

events which took their rise from zeal for God, and

terminated in

These

now

I

a

manner worthy of divine agency.

proceed to notice.

CHAPTER

XVin.

COMMOTION ON ACCOUNT OF ANATOLIUS.

There was lius,

who was

san, but

residing at Theopolis a certain Anatooriginally one of the vulgar

and an

had subsequently, by some means or

arti-

other,

obtained admission into public offices and other posts of importance.

In this city he was pursuing his en-

gagements, from which resulted an intimacy with Gregory, president of that Church, and frequent

visits

to liim, partly for the purpose of conversing on matters

of business, and partly with a view to obtain greater influence on the late.

ground of his intercourse with the pre-

This person was detected in the practice of sacri-

ficial rites,

and being

called to account

was proved

to

be a miscreant and a sorcerer, and implicated in innu-

merable enormities.

He

gains over, however, by bri-

bery, the governor of the East, and

an acquittal, together

would have obtained

witli his accomplices, for

he was

DANGER OF OREGORV.

CHAP. XVIII.]

273

associated with others of a similar stamp

who were

in-

volved in the detection, had not the people risen, and,

by exciting a universal

They

also

stir,

frustrated the design.

clamoured against the bishop, saying that

he was a party to the scheme

and some turbulent and

;

malignant demon induced persons to believe that he

had

also taken part with Anatolius in the sacrificial

By

rites.

this

means Gregory was brought

extreme danger, from the vehement

into

of the

efforts

populace against him and the suspicion was so far pre;

valent, that even the

learning

the

emperor Tiberius was desirous of

truth from

the

mouth

of Anatolius.

Accordingly, he orders Anatolius and his associates to

be conveyed forth^vith to the imperial

city.

ing this, Anatolius rushed to a certain

On

Mother of God, which was suspended by a cord prison,

and folding

his

learn-

image of the in the

hands behind his back, an-

nounced himself as a suppliant but :

she, in detestation

and conviction of the guilty and God-hated man, turned herself quite round, presenting a prodigy awful

and worthy of perpetual remembrance been witnessed by

who had

all

;

^vhich,

having

the prisoners as well as by those

the charge of Anatolius and his associates,

was thus published in a vision to

to the world.

some of the

She also appeared

faithful,

exhorting them

against the wretch, and saying that Anatolius

was

guilty of insult against her Son.

When

he had been conveyed to the imperial

18

city,

ECCLESIASTICxVL HISTORY.

27J:

[bOOK

V.

and, on being subjected to the extreme of torture, was

unable to allege anything against the bishop, he and

were the cause of

his associates

still

greater disturb-

ances and a general rising of the populace

for,

:

when

some of the party had received sentence of banishment instead of death, the populace, inflamed with a sort of divine zeal, caused a general commotion, in their fury

and indignation, and having

demned

to

seized the persons con-

banishment and put them into a

committed them people's verdict.

;

they

alive to the flames; such being the

They

also

clamoured against the

emperor and their own bishop Eutychius of the faith

skiif,

as betrayers

and they would have inevitably despatched

Eutychius, and those investigation,

who had been charged with

making search

for

the

them in every quarter,

had not all-preserving Providence rescued them from their pursuers,

and gradually

liumerous a population trated at their hands. first

;

so that

lulled the anger of so

no outrage was perpe-

Anatolius himself, after behig

exposed to the wild beasts in the amphitheatre

and mangled by them, was then impaled, without minating even then his punishment in the wolvesj tearing dovm. as_

a feast

before

world

ter;

for

polluted body, divided

it

among themselves; a circumstance never

noticed.

citizens,

liis

this

There was also one of

my

fellow-

who, before these events took place, affirmed

that he had been informed

ment upon Anatolius and

by a dream, that the judghis associates

was

in the

CHARACTER OF MAURICE.

CIIA1\ XIX.]

A

hands of the populace. tion,

275

person too of high distinc-

being the curator of the palace,

who had

resolutely

protected Anatolius, said that he had seen the T^Iother

how who had so

of God, demanding of him

long he intended to

defend Anatolius,

grievously outraged

Such was the termination of this

herself and her Son. business.

CHAPTER

XIX.

CUARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF MAURICE. Tiberius, being by this time in possession of the

crown on the death of Justin, supersedes Justinian,

had not been equally successful against the

since he

barbarians, and appoints Maurice to the

the forces of the East; a person scent and his

name from

more immediate

in Cappadocia; a

mode

man

of sense and ability, and of un-

Being staid and pre-

of living and manners, he

and was superior to

luxurious

life.

He was

solicitations of the vulgar,

general

;

of

origin, y/as a native of Arabissus

rate in his food, using only such as

simple,

command

derived his de-

the elder Rome, but, as regards

varying accuracy and firmness. cise in his

who

all

was tempe-

was necessary and

other indulgences of a

not easily accessible to the

nor a too easy listener in

well knowing that the one tends to produce

contempt, and the other leads to flattery. Accordingly,

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

276

[bOOK

V.

he granted audiences sparingly, and those only to persons on serious business, and closed his ears against idle talk,

reason

not with wax, as poets say, but rather with

so that this latter

;

was an excellent key

to them,

appropriately both opening and closing them during conversation.

So completely had he banished both

ignorance, the mother of audacity, and also cowardice,

which

is

at the

same time a foreigner and a neighbour

to the former, that with

him

of prudence, and to decline

to face danger

it

was an

act

was a measure of safety

while both courage and discretion were the charioteers of opportunity, and

guided the reins

to whatever

quarter necessity directed so that his efforts were both :

restrained

in

and put

forth, as

were,

it

Concerning this person

rule.

by measure and

I shall speak

more

fully

the sequel; since the detail of his greatness and

excellence I

must reserve

which displayed the man

for the history of his reign

;

in a clearer light, as unfolding,

through freedom of action, even the more inward parts of his character.

This Maurice, advancing beyond the limits of the

and

empire, captures both cities

so

much

plunder,

ciently

numerous

to^vns,

and

to

districts

that

the

and carried

captives

were

occupy at length whole

every Avhere restored to

culti^'ation.

off

suffi-

islands,

which had been deserted

thus the land which had been previousl}^vas

the

of

fortresses,

greatest importance to the Persians,

:

and

untilled,

Numerous

DEFEAT OF THE PERSIANS.

CHAP. XX.]

armies also were raised from resolutely

among them,

and courageously against the

277 that fought

otlier nations.

At the same time every household was completely furnished with domestics, on account of the easy rate at

which slaves were procured.

CHAPTER OVERTHROW OF THE

He

also

XX. PERSIANS.

engaged Tamchosroes and Adaarmanes,

the principal Persian commanders, against

him with

who had advanced

a considerable force

but the nature,

:

manner, and place of these transactions

I leave others

to record, or shall perhaps myself

make them the

my

present one pro-

sul]>ject

of a distinct work, since

fesses to treat of matters of a

very different kind.

chosroes, however, falls in battle, not

of the

and

Roman

faith

of

soldiery,

their

by the bravery

but merely through the piety

commander: and Adaarmanes,

being worsted in the fight and having lost

men,

flies

Tam-

many of his

mth precipitation, and this too, although Ala-

mundarus, the commander of the Scenite barbarians, played the traitor in declining to cross the Euphrates

and support Maurice against the Scenites of the opFor

posite party. otlier

their

this people are invincible

by any

than themselves, on account of the fleetness of horses

:

when hemmed

in,

they

cannot

be

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

278 captured

and they outstrip

;

Theodoric not so

but

too,

much

fled

with

[bOOK

V.

their enemies in retreat.

connnander of the Scythian troops, did

as venture within range of the missiles, all his

people.

CHAPTER

XXI.

PRODIGIES FOKESHEWING THE ELEVATION OF MAURICE

TO THE EMPIRE. Prodigies also occurred, which indicated that the imperial power was destined to Maurice.

As he was

offering incense, at the dead of night, within the sanc-

tuary of Mary, the holy and immaculate virgin and

Mother of God, which

is

church of Justinian, the holy table became

was

seized with

festation,

veil

^vi'apt in

which surrounds the

flames

;

so that

amazement and awe, and was

Maurice terrified

Gregory, the archbishop of the

at the sight.

who was

by the Antiochenes the

called

standing by, said that

city,

was a divine mani-

it

betokening to him the highest fortune.

God

Christ our East, calling

also

upon him

appeared to him, when in the to avenge

Him which :

circum-

stance distinctly intimated the possession of sovereign

power the

;

for of

what other person would He have made

demand than

fested so

His

much

parents

of an emperor, and one

piety towards also

who mani-

Him?

detailed

to

me

circumstances

CHAP. XXII.] ACCESSION or MAURICE

A.D. 582.

279

remarkable and worthy of being recorded, when I was

making tliat,

on

inquiries

this point

:

for his father said

about the time of his conception, he had seen in

a dream a very large vine growing from his bed, on

which hung great numbers of beautiful clusters of grapes

:

and

mother told

his

me

that, at the

time of

her delivery, the earth sent forth a strange odour of peculiar sweetness

had often carried

and that Empusa,

;

off the

as she is called,

child for the purpose of

devouring him, but had been unable to injure him. Simeon, too, pillar

in

energetic

the

who

neighbourhood of

succession

upon the

Theopolis, a most

and distinguished by every divine

man,

virtue, both said his

practised the station

and did many things which betokened to

the

empire.

history will relate respecting

The

sequel of the

him whatever circum-

stances are suitable.

CHAPTER

XXII.

ACCESSION OF MAUIMCE. ]\Iaueice assumes the sovereignty,

was

at the point of death,

his daughter Augusta,

Tiberius

and the empire as her do^\Ty.

Notwithstandino- the shortness of his left

when

and had l^estowed upon him

reio-n,

Tiberius

behind hhn an innnortal memorial in the remem-

brance of his good deeds; for he bequeathed to the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

280

commonwealth,

V.

Maurice, an

the appointment of

in

[bOOK

inheritance, not admitting of specification in terms, but

He

most precious.

also distributed his

own

appella-

Maurice the name of Tiberius, and to

tions, giving to

Augusta that of Constantina.

The

transactions

of

their reign the sequel of the history will set forth, with

the aid of the divine impulse.

CHAPTER XXHL CHRONOLOGICAL STATEMENT. In order also to an accurate account of the various periods of time, be

it

known

that Justin the younger,

reigned alone twelve years, ten months and a

and

in

conjunction with Tiberius, three

eleven months: so that the whole period years, nine

four

months and a

years

Komulus

alone

to the

amounts to *

:

so

half.

that

is

*

years;

previous and present dates.

sixteen

Tiberius also reigned

the

Avhole

time from

proclamation of Maurice *

half,

years and

as

Tiberius,

appears from the

CIIAP. XXIV. J

CATALOGUE OF HISTORIANS.

CHAPTER

281

XXIV.

SUCCESSION OF WRITERS ON SACRED AND PROFANE HISTORY.

By

the aid of God, an account of the affairs of the

Church, presenting a

fair

survey of the whole, has been

preserved for us in what has been recorded by Eusebius

Pamphili doAvn to the time of Constantine, and thence forward as far as Theodosius the younger, by Theodoret,

Sozomen, and Socrates, and

have been selected for

my

in the matters

which

present work.

Primitive and profane histoiy has been also pre-

served in a continuous narrative by those

who have

first to

com-

pose history, as has been clearly shewn by those

who

been zealous at the task

;

Moses being the

have collected whatever bears upon the subject, in writing a true account of events from the beginning of the world, derived from what he learned in converse

with God on Avhich those religion also

Mount Sinai. Then follow the accounts who after him prepared the way for our

have stored up in sacred scriptures. Josephus

composed an extensive

valuable.

history,

in

every

way

All the stories, whether fabulous or true,

relating to the contests of the Greeks

and ancient

among themselves and

against each

barbarians, both other,

period

and whatever at

else

had

which they record

l^een achieved since the tlie

first

existence of

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

282

[bOOK

V.

mankind, have been written by Charax, Theopompus, Ephorns, and others too numerous to mention. The transactions of the

Romans, embracing the history of

the whole world and whatever else took place either with respect to their intestine divisions or

ings towards other nations, have

Dionysius of Halicarnassi^s,

who

their proceed-

been treated of by

has brought

down

his

account from the times of what are called the Aborigines, to those of

Pyrrhus of Epirus. The history

then taken up by Polybius of Megalopohs, it

down

who

is

brings

to the capture of Carthage. All these materials

Appian has portioned out by a

clear arrangement, se-

parately grouping each series of transactions, though

occurring at intervals of time.

What

events occurred

subsequent to the before-mentioned periods, have been treated by Diodorus Siculus, as far as the time of Julius Caesar,

and by Dion Cassius, who continued

account as far as Antoninus of Emesa.

work

of Herodian,

tlie

his

In a similar

account extends as far as the

death of Maxinms; and in that of Nicostratus, the sophist of Trapezus, from Philip, the successor of Gordian, to

Odenatus of Palmyra, and the ignominious ex-

pedition of Valerian against the Persians.

Dexippus

has also written at great length on the same subject,

commencing with the

Scytliian wars,

and terminating

with the reign of Claudius, the successor of Gallienus

and he

also included the military transactions of the

Carpi {Uid other barl)arian tribes, in Greece, Thrace,

CATALOGUE OF HISTORIANS.

CHAP. XXIV.]

and

Ensebius

Ionia.

too, coniniencing

from

Trajan, and Marcus, brought his account

death

oi'

283 Octaviiin,

down

to the

The history of the same times has

Cams.

been partially written both by Arrian and Asinius

Quadratus as far as

that of the succeeding period

:

Honorius and Arcadius

to their reign

The whole of

:

by Zosimus,

and events subsequent

by Priscus the Rhetorician, and others. this

range of history has been excellently

epitomised by Eustathius of Epiphania, in two volumes,

one extending to the capture of Troy, the other to the twelfth year of the reign of Anastasius.

subsequent to that

period

The occurrences

have' been written by

Procopius the rhetorician as far as the tune of Justinian

and

;

the

account

has

been

thenceforward

continued by Agathias the rhetorician, and John, fellow-citizen

and kinsman, as

roes the younger to the to his

kingdom

means tardy

:

my

far as the flight of Chos-

Romans, and

his restoration

on v>hich occasion Maurice was by no

in his operations,

but royally entertained

the fugitive, and with the utmost speed restored him to his kingdom, at great cost

and with numerous

forces.

These writers, however, have not yet published their history.

With

respect to tliese events, I also will

detail in the sequel

such matters as are suitable,

the favour of the higher power.

THE EXD OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

witli

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

284

[bOOK

VI.

THE SIXTH BOOK.

CHAPTER

I.

NUPTIALS OF MAURICE AND AUGUSTA.

Maurice, on succeeding to the empire, in

made

place

first

nuptials, and,

his

and

banquetings

Constan-

festivity

every

in

part

public of

the

In attendance on the nuptials were Religion

city.

and Royalty, and

Augusta, named also

with magnificent ceremony, and with

tina,

for

accordance with the imperial

in

marries

ordinance,

the

arrangements

necessary

the

most precious.

gifts

and

father

offering an escort

mother,

to

most distinguished

For the one supplied a hallow

the

rite

with

honoured locks of grey and venerable wrinkles a circumstance strange in the story of sovereigns as

also

brethren

noble

and

blooming,

to

give

dignity to the nuptial procession the other, a gold em:

broidered

gems, of

robe,

and

adorned with

crowns

most

gold and the varied

together

witli

the

purple

costly,

with

and Indian abundance

emblazonment of jewels

attendance

of

all

who

were

CHAP.

VIRTUES OF MAURICE.

I.]

distinguislied in courtly

285

nmk or military service, light-

ing the nuptial flambeaux in splendid costumes and

and hynuiing the bridal cavalcade: so

investitures,

that no

human

happy.

display was ever

more majestic and

Damophilus, Avhen writing on the subject of

Rome, says that Plutarch the Ch^eronean * has well remarked, that

order to her greatness alone

in

Virtue and Fortune unite in friendly truce myself, I

would

say, that in respect of

Good Fortune

did Piety and

did

but, for

:

Maurice alone

so conspire;

by Piety

laying compulsion upon Fortune, and not permitting

her to shift at

It

all.

Avas

henceforward the settled

aim of the emperor to wear the purple and the diadem not merely on his person but also on his soul

:

for he

alone of recent sovereigns was sovereign of himself;

and, with authority most truly centred in himself, he

banished from his sions,

own

soul the mob-rule of the pas-

and having established an aristocracy

in

his

OA\m reasonings, he shewed himself a living image of virtue, training his subjects to imitation.

said this

by way of

motive, since he

written?

That

is

flattery

:

for

how

Nor have

could such be

not acquainted with what

such

was, however, the

is

case

T

my

being

with

Maurice, will he evidenced by the gifts bestowed upon

him by God, and the circumstances of various kinds that must unquestionably be referred to divine favour. *

De Fortuna Romanorum,

subinit.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

286

CHAPTER

V^ [-

'

i^*^

3^1

11.

ALAMUNDARUS THE ARAB AND Besides his

other

HIS SON NAAMANES.

noble purposes,

especial object with the

[dOOKVI.

this

was an

emperor, to avoid in every

case the

shedding of the blood of persons guilty of

treason.

Accordingly, he did not put to death Ala-

mundarus, chieftain of the Scenite Arabs, who had betrayed both the commonwealth and Maurice himself, as I have already detailed but sentenced ;

ation to an island with his wife and

and appointed

Naamanes

him to deport-

some of his

Sicily as the place of his

his son, notwithstanding a

children,

banishment.

unanimous

sen-

tence of death, he detained as a prisoner at large, with-

out any further infliction

;

although he had

filled tlie

empire with endless mischiefs, and, by the hands of his followers, tine,

had plundered either Phoenicia and Pales-

and enslaved the inhabitants,

Alamundarus was captured. course

in

innumerable other

at

the time

He pursued cases,

severally noticed in tlieir places.

wliicli

when

the same shall

be

CHAP.

SUCCESS OF riiiLjpricus.

111.]

ClIx\PTER

a. d. 589.

287

III.

MILITARY OPEKATIONS OF JOHN AND PHILIPPICUS.

Maurice East,

first,

some

sent out as

nothing

Phihppicus,

waste

all

many

killed

some

allied to

sisters.

him by having married

Having crossed the border and

before him, he amassed great booty, and

of the nobles of Xisibis and the other

within the

cities situated

He

Tiofris.

to the Persians, and, after

with the

of success,

alternations

worthy of mention; afterwards,

who was

one of his two Ifiid

of the forces of the

John, a Scythian, who, after experiencing

reverses, with

achieved

commander

loss of many distinguished

the enemy, he

made numerous

unharmed a

battalion,

eminence and was

men on

prisoners,

the side of

and dismissed

had retreated to an

^vhich

fairly

also orave battle

a severe conflict, attended

in his

power, under a pro-

mise that they would urge their sovereign to send

immediate proposals for peace. other measures during-

mand, namely, fluities

them

in

withdrawing

completed

also

his troops

and things tending to luxury, and

to discipline

tion of

He

the continuance of his com-

from superin reducing

and subordination the representa:

which transactions must be fixed by

past or present, according as they

may

writers,

be or have been

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

288

[bOOK

VI.

circumstanced with respect to hearsay or opinion writers whose narrative, stumbling and limping through

ignoranccj or rendered affected by partiality, or blinded

by antipathy, misses the mark of truth.

CHAPTER

lY.

MUTINY OF THE TROOPS AGAINST PRISCUS.

He is succeeded in the command by Priscus, difficult of access,

necessary

a person

and not readily approached without

occasion,

accomplishment of

who

all his

expected

measures

tain an almost entire seclusion

if

the

successful

he should main-

from a notion,

;

that,

through the awe thence resulting, the soldiery also

would be more obedient arrival at the in

to orders.

camp with

stern

Accordingly, on his

and haughty look and

imposing costume, he issued certain orders, relating

to the hardihood of the soldiery in the field, to strictness in respect of their arras

and to their allowances. Having

received previous intimation of the proceeding, they

then gave unrestrained vent to their rage and advanc;

ing in a body to the general's quarters, tliey pillage, in barbarian

fashion,

most valuable of

all

his

his treasures,

magnificence and

tlie

and would inevitably

have despatched Priscus himself, had he not mounted one of the led horses, and escaped to Edessa

which place they

laid siege,

demanding

:

to

his surrender.

ELEVATION OF GERMAXUS.

CIIAr. v.]

CHAPTER

—

A.D. 587.

289

V.

COMPULSORY ELEVATION OF GERMANUS.

On

the refusal of their

demands by the

citizens,

leave Priscus there, and seizing Germanus,

time held the elect

him

sisted

their

who

they

at tliat

command in Phoenicia Libanensis, thoy own general and emperor, while he re-

and they were the more urgent; and a struggle

thus arose, on the part of the one to escape compulsion,

After they had

of the others to enforce their object.

menaced him with death unless he would embrace the offered charge,

and

he,

on his

the alternative, disclaiming

part, eagerly

all fear

embraced

and consternation,

they proceeded to certain severities and methods of cruelty,

bear

;

which they thought he would not be able

for they did not suppose that he

to

would manifest

greater endurance than the strength of nature and his

time of

life

trial at first

forcing

him

would warrant.

By

putting him to the

cautiously and sparingly, they succeed in to accede to their

to swear that he

would be true

demands, and solemnly to them.

Thus they

compelled him to be their ruler under rule, their subject sovereign, their master in thraldom.

from them the

officers of every grade,

Then chasing they elect others

in their place, openly reviling the imperial

They

government.

treated provincials on the whole less harshly

19

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

290

[bOOK

VI.

than the barbarians did, but in a manner very unlike or servants of the

allies

commonwealth

:

for they levied

their provisions not according to stated measures or

weight, and were not contented assigned to

and

rule,

them but the :

his caprice

with the quarters

will of each individual

was a

an established measure.

CHAPTER

VI.

MISSION OF PHILIPPICUS.

The emperor

despatches Philippicus to settle this

ferment: they, however, not only denied him reception,

but perilled the lives of

all

whom

they supposed

to be connected with him.

CHAPTER

VII.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GREGORY, PATRIARCH OF ANTIOCH.

While

matters were

in

this

situation, Gregory,

bishop of Theopolis, returns from the imperial

having been victorious in the struggle which

after

now proceed to detail. At the time when Asterius

:

I

held the government of

the East, a quarrel had arisen between

gory

city,

him and Gre-

the higher ranks of the city sided entirely with

the former, and were supported by the populace, and

CHAP.

CHARGES AGAINST GREGORY.

VII.]

by those who were engaged

in trades

they had been

declared that

until at hist license

was given

291

for each class

;

injured

by Gregory;

to the rabble to vent

Thus both the other

their abuse against him.

classes

accorded with the populace, and they clamoured forth their insults against the prelate in the streets

theatre terius

and even the actors indulged

;

removed from

is

invested with

make inquiry management

it,

his

and the

in them.

As-

government, and John

is

with orders from the emperor to

into the stir; a

man incompetent to the much less a

of the most trifling matters,

Having, in consequence,

business so important.

filled

the city with confusion and uproar, and given public license to

any one that

chose, to accuse the bishop, he

him from

receives a formal charge against

a certain

banker, to the effect that he had had criminal inter-

He

own

sister,

married to another man.

also receives accusations

from other persons of the

course with his

same stamp against Gregory, disturbed the peace of the city.

as

having repeatedly

On

the latter charge

he declared his readiness to make his defence

:

with

respect to the others, he appealed to the emperor and

Accordingly, he repaired to the imperial

a synod. city, to

make answer

by myself

to these charges,

as his adviser,

and

is

accompanied

victorious after a pro-

longed struggle during an investigation of the matter before

the

patriarchs from every quarter,

who

ap-

peared either in person or by deputy, as well as the

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

292

result

was that the accuser,

scourged and paraded round the

Gregory thence returns to

exile.

when

after

city,

having been

was sent into

his see, at the time

the troops were in a state of mutiny, and Phi-

lippicus

and

VI.

and many most religious metropolitans

sacrecl senate,

and the

[bOOK

was remaining

in the

neighbourhood of Bercea

Chalcis.

CHAPTER

VITI.

RECURRENCE OF EARTHQUAKES AT ANTIOOH.

At

an interval of four months from the return of

Gregory, in the six hundred and thirty-seventh year of the era of

Theopolis, sixty-one

years

the

after

former earthquake, a crash and concussion shook the entire city, about the third last

hour of the night, on the

day of the month Hyperbereta3us,

when

I ^vas

my

celebrating

at the

time

marriage with a young

maiden, and the whole city was making rejoicings and holding a festival at the public cost, in honour of nuptial ceremony.

tlie

This convulsion levelled by far

the greater part of the buildings, their very foundations being cast

up by

the most holy church

with

tlie

it,

and

all

the portions of

were thrown to the ground,

exception of the hemisphere, which, after

its

injury by the earthquake in the time of Justin, had

been

secured

by

Ephraemius

with

timbers

from

CHAP.

VIII.]

Daphne.

EARTHQUAKE AT ANTIOCH.

By

tlie

subsequent shocks,

inclination in a northerly direction

bers were thrown fell,

by

it

received an

it

so that the tim-

and

into a leaning position,

wlien the hemisphere had returned, by the force

of the shock, exactly into liad

;

293

A.D. 589.

its

been adjusted by a rule.

original situation, as if

named Ostracine was ruined, and Psephium, 1 have made previous mention, as well as all called

Brysia,

it

Nearly the entire quarter of which the parts

and the buildings of the venerable

sanctuary of the Mother of God, with the sole exception of the central colonnade,

preserved.

All

which was singularly

towers of the plain were also

the

damaged, though the other buildings

in

escaped, with the exception of the

battlements,

that quarter

of

which some stones were thrown backwards, though they did not

fall.

Other churches also suffered

in-

jury, and one of the public baths, namely, that which

had separate

divisions according to the seasons.

incalculable

number of persons were involved

An

in the

destruction, and, according to an estimate which

some

persons drew from the supply of bread, about sixty

thousand perished.

The bishop experienced a most

unexpected preservation in the midst of the entire habitation

tion of every individual except those w^ho his person.

fall

of the

where he then was, and the destruc-

were near

These took up the bishop in their arms,

and lowered him by a

cord, after a second shock

had

rent an opening, and thus they removed Iiim beyond

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

294

Another preservation was

the reach of danger.

granted to the

[BOOK VI.

city,

also

our compassionate God having

mitigated the keenness of His threatened vengeance,

and corrected our

mercy fires

:

sin

with the branch of pity and

no conflagration followed, though so many

for

were spread about the

place, in hearths, public

and private lamps, kitchens, furnaces, baths, and numerable other tinction,

forms.*

Very many persons of

in-

dis-

and among them Asterius himself, became

the victims

of the calamity.

voured

alleviate

to

this

The emperor endea-

visitation

by

grants

of

money.

CHAPTER

IX.

INROAD AND DESTRUCTION OF THE BARBARIANS. In the army, matters continued in the same state; and, in consequence, the barbarians in the expectation that there

made an

inroad,

would be no one to

check them in the exercise of barbarian practices.

Germanus, however, encounters them with

his forces,

and

inflicted a defeat so destructive, that not a

was

left to

lortune.

man

convey to the Persians tidings of the mis-

INROAD OF THE AVARS.

CHAP. Xr.l

CHAPTER

295

A.D. 590.

X.

CLEMENCY OF THE EMPEROR TOWARDS THE REBELS. INVASION OF THE AVARS. Accordingly, the emperor remunerates the troops with largesses of money

and

others, brings

demned any

to death

infliction

:

them

;

and, withdrawing

Germanus

They were

to trial.

all

con-

but the emperor would not permit

whatever; on the contrary, he bestowed

rewards on them.

During the course of these twice

made an inroad

transactions, the

as far as the

tured Anchialus, Singidunum, and fortresses

Avars

Long Wall, and

cap-

many towns and

throughout the whole of Greece, enslaving

the inhabitants, and laying every thing waste with

and sword

;

forces being

fire

in consequence of the greater part of the

engaged in the East.

emperor sends Andrew, the

first

Accordingly, the of the

imperial

guards, on an attempt to induce the troops to receive their former officers.

CHAPTER XL MISSION OF THE PATRIARCH GREGORY TO THE TROOPS. Since, however, the troops would not endure the

bare mention of the proposal, the business

is

trans-

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

296

[bOOK

VI.

ferred to Gregory, not only as being a person com-

petent to the execution of the most important measures,

but because he had earned the highest regard

from the soldiery presents from visions,

;

him

and other

neighbourhood

since

some of them had received

money, others in clothing, pro-

in

things,

when they were passing

cordingly, he assembles,

his

Ac-

time of their enlistment.

at the

by summons despatched

to

every quarter, the principal persons of the army at Litarba,

a place distant from Theopolis about three

hundred

stadia; and,

though confined to

his couch,

addressed them in person, in the following words.

CHAPTER

XII.

OEATION OF GUEGORY TO THE TROOPS. " in

I

HAVE been

Romans

— Romans both

that your visit to

me would have

expecting,

name and deeds

—

been made long ago, for the purpose of communicating to

me your

present circumstances, and of receiving

that friendly counsel of which in

my kindliness towards you,

by past occurrences,

at the time

Since,

hitherto been taken

not permitted

it,

when

I relieved,

by a

your tempest-struck and wave-

su})ply of necessaries, tost plight.

you have an assurance

so unequivocally evinced

however, this

—

it

may

course

has

not

be that Providence has

in order that the Persians,

having

CHAP.

ORATION OF GREGORY.

XII.]

men

been utterly defeated by

— A.D. 590.

297

without a leader, might

prowess

be thereby thorouglily taught the

of the

Eomans, and that your pure loyalty might be comby the juncture

pletely proved, in having been tested

and

testified

by your deeds

you shewed

for

;

withstanding your quarrel with your

that, not-

officers,

you do

not regard any thing as more important than the good of the commonwealth

—

let

us accordingly

berate what ought to be your conduct.

now Your

deli-

sove-

reign invites you with a promise of an amnesty of all

past transactions, receiving the display of your

commonwealth and your prowess

loyalty to the

the field as emblems of supplication.

in

While bestow-

ing upon you these most certain pledges of pardon the emperor thus speaks to

their

errors,

a

'

Since

God

has given victory

on the abandonment of their

loyalty, and,

signal

:

display has been granted to their

prowess as a clear intimation of forgiveness, I

how can

do otherwise than follow the judgment of heaven?

A king's

heart

is

He

Avhithersoever once,

in tlie

Romans.

hand of God, and He sways

wdll.'

Yield, therefore, to

Let us not wilfully

present opportunity, nor allow for opportunity,

most unwilling

when

it

to be seized,

Shew

to elude

and, as is

if it

at

forfeit the

our grasp

has once slipped from us,

nant at having been neglected, of capture.

it

me

it

is

were indig-

ever after intolerant

yourselves the heirs of the obe-

dience of your fathers, as ye are of their courage

;

in

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

298

may

order that ye

taunt

may

Your

fathers,

perors,

appear altogether Romans, and no

under the command of consuls and em-

by obedience and courage became masters of Manlius

world.

though he

Torquatus,

cro^vned, yet also put to death his son,

who had played For by

a valiant part but in disobedience of orders. skill

on the part of the leaders, combined with obe-

dience in those

whom

ordinarily achieved other,

is

;

they lead, great successes are

but

either,

lame and unsteady, and

by the separation of the fore,

VI.

touch you or point at you as degenerate.

whole

the

[bOOK

when bereaved is

excellent pair.

but at once obey ray

tardy,

priestly office mediates

of the

utterly overthrown

Be

not, there-

while the

call,

between the emperor and the

army; and shew that your proceedings were not the establishment of a rival sovereign, but a transient display of just indignation against commanders

wronged you:

for unless

who had

you immediately embrace

the offer, I shall at once consider myself as quit of the service laid

upon me

the commonwealth and

in this

my

matter by

my

regard for you.

duty to

Consider

too yourselves, what has been the fate of pretenders to the sovereignty.

What

too will be the termination

To continue concentrated

of your present position? is

impossible

:

for

whence

will

you derive your pro-

vision of ordinary fruits, or those supplies sea

furnishes to the land,

Christians,

and the mutual

which the

except by war between infliction of the

most

dis-

CHAP.

XIII.]

treatment?