Ecclesiastical History, Book I

Book I

• Ecclesiastical History I.1 — Prologue.--Design of the History. When artists paint on panels and on walls the events of ancient history, they alike delight the eye, and keep bright for many a year the memory of the past. Historians substitute…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.2 — Origin of the Arian Heresy. After the overthrow of the wicked and impious tyrants, Maxentius, Maximinus, and Licinius, the surge which those destroyers, like hurricanes, had roused was hushed to sleep; the whirlwinds…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.3 — List of the Principal Bishops. Of the church of Rome at this period Silvester held the reins. His predecessor in the see was Miltiades, the successor of that Marcellinus who had so nobly distinguished himself during…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.4 — The Epistle of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria to Alexander, Bishop of Constantinople. Chapter III.—The Epistle of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria to Alexander, Bishop of Constantinople. “To his most revered and…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.5 — The Letter of Arius to Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia. “To his very dear lord, the man of God, the faithful and orthodox Eusebius, Arius, unjustly persecuted by Alexander the Pope, on account of that all-conquering…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.6 — The Letter of Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia, to Paulinus, Bishop of Tyre. “To my lord Paulinus, Eusebius sendeth greeting in the Lord. “The zeal of my lord Eusebius in the cause of the truth, and likewise your…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.7 — General Council of Nicæa. The emperor, who possessed the most profound wisdom, having heard of these things, endeavoured, as a first step, to stop up their fountain-head. He therefore despatched a messenger renowned…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.8 — Confutation of Arianism deduced from the Writings of Eustathius and Athanasius. Chapter VII.—Confutation of Arianism deduced from the Writings of Eustathius and Athanasius. The above-named bishops, however, did not…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.9 — Chapter VIII.—Facts relating to Meletius the Egyptian, from whom originated the Meletian Schism, which remains to this day.—Synodical Epistle respecting him. After Meletius had been ordained bishop, which was not…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.10 — The Epistle of the Emperor Constantine, concerning the matters transacted at the Council, addressed to those Bishops who were not present. Chapter IX.—The Epistle of the Emperor Constantine, concerning the matters…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.11 — The daily wants of the Church supplied by the Emperor, and an account of his other virtues. Chapter X.—The daily wants of the Church supplied by the Emperor, and an account of his other virtues. Thus did the emperor…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.12 — Letter of Eusebius on the effrontery of the Arians. I shall here insert the letter respecting the faith, written by Eusebius, bishop of Cæsarea, as it describes the effrontery of the Arians, who not only despise our…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.13 — Confutation of the blasphemies of the Arians of our time, from the writings of Eusebius, Bishop of Cæsarea. Chapter XII.—Confutation of the blasphemies of the Arians of our time, from the writings of Eusebius, Bishop…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.14 — Extract from the Letter of Athanasius on the Death of Arius. After Arius had remained a long time in Alexandria, he endeavoured riotously to obtrude himself again into the assemblies of the Church, professing to…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.15 — Letter written by the Emperor Constantine respecting the building of Churches. Chapter XIV.—Letter written by the Emperor Constantine respecting the building of Churches. “Constantinus Augustus, the great and the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.16 — The Epistle of Constantine concerning the preparation of copies of the Holy Scriptures. Chapter XV.—The Epistle of Constantine concerning the preparation of copies of the Holy Scriptures. “Constantinus Augustus, the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.17 — Letter from the Emperor to Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, concerning the building of the Holy Church. Chapter XVI.—Letter from the Emperor to Macarius, Bishop of Jerusalem, concerning the building of the Holy Church.…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.18 — Helena, Mother of the Emperor Constantine.--Her zeal in the Erection of the Holy Church. Chapter XVII.—Helena, Mother of the Emperor Constantine.—Her zeal in the Erection of the Holy Church. The bearer of these…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.19 — The Unlawful Translation of Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia. The Arian party did not desist from their evil machinations. They had only signed the confession of faith for the purpose of disguising themselves in…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.20 — Epistle of the Emperor Constantine against Eusebius and Theognis, addressed to the Nicomedians. Chapter XIX.—Epistle of the Emperor Constantine against Eusebius and Theognis, addressed to the Nicomedians. “Who has…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.21 — The artful Machinations of Eusebius and his followers against the Holy Eustathius, Bishop of Antioch. Chapter XX.—The artful Machinations of Eusebius and his followers against the Holy Eustathius, Bishop of Antioch.…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.22 — Bishops of Heretical opinions ordained in Antioch after the Banishment of St. Eustathius. Chapter XXI.—Bishops of Heretical opinions ordained in Antioch after the Banishment of St. Eustathius. Eulalius was first…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.23 — Conversion of the Indians. At this period, the light of the knowledge of God was for the first time shed upon India. The courage and the piety of the emperor had become celebrated throughout the world; and the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.24 — Conversion of the Iberians. Frumentius thus led the Indians to the knowledge of God. Iberia, about the same time, was guided into the way of truth by a captive woman. She continued instant in prayer, allowing herself…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.25 — Letter written by the Emperor Constantine to Sapor, the King of Persia, respecting the Christians. Chapter XXIV.—Letter written by the Emperor Constantine to Sapor, the King of Persia, respecting the Christians. “In…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.26 — An account of the plot formed against the Holy Athanasius. Alexander, that admirable bishop, who had successfully withstood the blasphemies of Arius, died five months after the council of Nicæa, and was succeeded in…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.27 — Another plot against Athanasius. The calumniators of Athanasius, however, did not desist from their attempts. On the contrary, they devised so bold a fiction against him, that it surpassed every invention of the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.28 — Epistle of the Emperor Constantine to the Council of Tyre. “Constantinus Augustus to the holy council assembled in Tyre. “In the general prosperity which distinguishes the present time, it seems right that the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.29 — The Council of Tyre. Arsenius was a bishop of the Meletian faction. The men of his party put him in a place of concealment, and charged him to remain there as long as possible. They then cut off the right hand of a…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.30 — Consecration of the Church of Jerusalem.--Banishment of St. Athanasius. All the bishops who were present at the council of Tyre, with all others from every quarter, were commanded by the emperor to proceed to Ælia to…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.31 — Will of the blessed Emperor Constantine. A year and a few months afterwards the emperor was taken ill at Nicomedia, a city of Bithynia, and, knowing the uncertainty of human life, he received the holy rite of…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.32 — Apology for Constantine. It ought not to excite astonishment that Constantine was so far deceived as to send so many great men into exile: for he believed the assertions of bishops of high fame and reputation, who…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History I.33 — The End of the Holy Emperor Constantine. The emperor was now translated from his earthly dominions to a better kingdom. The body of the emperor was enclosed in a golden coffin, and was carried to Constantinople by…vatican.va