Ecclesiastical History, Book IV

Book IV

• Ecclesiastical History IV.1 — Of the reign and piety of Jovianus. After Julian was slain the generals and prefects met in council and deliberated who ought to succeed to the imperial power and effect both the salvation of the army in the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.2 — Of the return of Athanasius. Delighted with these words the emperor undertook for the future to take counsel for the safety of the state, and how to bring home the army without loss from the campaign. He was in no…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.3 — Synodical letter to the Emperor Jovian concerning the Faith. To Jovianus Augustus most devout, most humane, victorious, Athanasius, and the rest of the bishops assembled, in the name of all the bishops from Egypt to…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.4 — Of the restoration of allowances to the churches; and of the Emperor's death. When the emperor had received this letter, his former knowledge of and disposition to divine things was confirmed, and he issued a second…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.5 — Of the reign of Valentinianus, and how he associated Valens his brother with him. Chapter V.—Of the reign of Valentinianus, and how he associated Valens his brother with him. When the troops had become acquainted…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.6 — Of the election of Ambrosius, the Bishop of Milan. Thus spoke the emperor, and then the council begged him, being a wise and devout prince, to make the choice. He then replied, “The responsibility is too great for…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.7 — Chapter VII.—Letters of the Emperors Valentinianus and Valens, written to the dioceseof Asia about the Homoüsion, on hearing that some men in Asia and in Phrygia were in dispute about the divine decree. Valentinian…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.8 — Synodical Epistle of the Synod in Illyricum concerning the Faith. “The bishops of Illyricum to the churches of God, and bishops of the dioceses of Asia, of Phrygia, and Carophrygia Pacatiana, greeting in the Lord.…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.9 — Of the heresy of the Audiani. The illustrious emperor thus took heed of the apostolic decrees, but Audæus, a Syrian alike in race and in speech, appeared at that time as an inventor of new decrees. He had long ago…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.10 — Of the heresy of the Messaliani. At this time also arose the heresy of the Messaliani. Those who translate their name into Greek call them Euchitæ. They have also another designation which arose naturally from their…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.11 — In what manner Valens fell into heresy. I will now pursue the course of my narrative, and will describe the beginning of the tempest which stirred up many and great billows to buffet the Church. Valens, when he first…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.12 — How Valens exiled the virtuous bishops. At the very time of the baptism of Valens Eudoxius bound the unhappy man by an oath to abide in the impiety of his doctrine, and to expel from every see the holders of contrary…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.13 — Of Eusebius, bishop of Samosata, and others. Of the courage and prudence shewn by Eusebius after he had received the imperial edict which commanded him to depart into Thrace, I think all who have been hitherto…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.14 — Of the holy Barses, and of the exile of the bishop of Edessa and his companions. Chapter XIV.—Of the holy Barses, and of the exile of the bishop of Edessa and his companions. Barses, whose fame is now great not only…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.15 — Of the persecution which took place at Edessa, and of Eulogius and Protogenes, presbyters of Edessa. Chapter XV.—Of the persecution which took place at Edessa, and of Eulogius and Protogenes, presbyters of Edessa.…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.16 — Of the holy Basilius, Bishop of Cæsarea, and the measures taken against him by Valens and the prefect Modestus. Chapter XVI.—Of the holy Basilius, Bishop of Cæsarea, and the measures taken against him by Valens and…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.17 — Of the death of the great Athanasius and the election of Petrus. At Alexandria, Athanasius the victorious, after all his struggles, each rewarded with a crown, received release from his labours and passed away to the…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.18 — On the overthrow of Petrus and the introduction of Lucius the Arian. No sooner had they seated him on the episcopal throne than the governor of the province assembled a mob of Greeks and Jews, surrounded the walls of…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.19 — Narrative of events at Alexandria in the time of Lucius the Arian, taken from a letter of Petrus, Bishop of Alexandria. Chapter XIX.—Narrative of events at Alexandria in the time of Lucius the Arian, taken from a…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.20 — Of Mavia, Queen of the Saracens, and the ordination of Moses the monk. At this time the Ishmaelites were devastating the country in the neighbourhood of the Roman frontier. They were led by Mavia, a princess who…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.21 — Persecution at Constantinople and Antioch. At Constantinople the Arians filled a boat with pious presbyters and drove her without ballast out to sea, putting some of their own men on another craft with orders to set…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.22 — How Flavianus and Diodorus gathered the church of the orthodox in Antioch. Now Flavianus and Diodorus, like break-waters, broke the force of the advancing waves. Meletius their shepherd had been constrained to…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.23 — Of the holy monk Aphraates. On the north of the river Orontes lies the palace. On the South a vast two storied portico is built on the city wall with lofty towers on either side. Between the palace and the river lies…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.24 — Of the holy monk Julianus. At this time too the celebrated Julianus, whom I have already mentioned, was forced to leave the desert and come to Antioch, for when the foster children of lies, the facile framers of…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.25 — Of what other monks were distinguished at this period. There were also other men at this period who emitted the bright rays of the philosophy of solitary life. In the Chalcidian desert Avitus, Marcianus and Abraames,…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.26 — Of Didymus of Alexandria and Ephraim the Syrian. At that period at Edessa flourished the admirable Ephraim, and at Alexandria Didymus, both writers against the doctrines that are at variance with the truth. Ephraim,…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.27 — Of what bishops were at this time distinguished in Asia and Pontus. Among the bishops were the two Gregorii, the one of Nazianzus and the other of Nyssa, the latter the brother and the former the friend and fellow…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.28 — Of the letter written by Valens to the great Valentinianus about the war, and how he replied. Chapter XXVIII.—Of the letter written by Valens to the great Valentinianus about the war, and how he replied. The Lord…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.29 — Of the piety of Count Terentius. Terentius, an excellent general, distinguished for his piety, had set up trophies of victory and returned from Armenia. On being ordered by Valens to choose a boon, he mentioned one…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.30 — Of the bold utterance of Trajanus the general. After Valens had crossed the Bosphorus and come into Thrace he first spent a considerable time at Constantinople, in alarm as to the issue of the war. He had sent…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.31 — Of Isaac the monk of Constantinople and Bretanio the Scythian Bishop. It is related that Isaac, who lived as a solitary at Constantinople, when he saw Valens marching out with his troops, cried aloud, “Whither goest…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.32 — Of the expedition of Valens against the Goths and how he paid the penalty of his impiety. Chapter XXXII.—Of the expedition of Valens against the Goths and how he paid the penalty of his impiety. Valens, however,…vatican.va
• Ecclesiastical History IV.33 — How the Goths became tainted by the Arian error. To those ignorant of the circumstances it may be worth while to explain how the Goths got the Arian plague. After they had crossed the Danube, and made peace with…vatican.va