WEBVTT 00:26.280 --> 00:30.420 CHAPTER XXX-THIRTY THROUGH THIRTY-TWO CHAPTER XXX-THIRTY THROUGH THIRTY-TWO 00:30.420 --> 00:37.020 Chapter 30 The Epistle of the Bishops against Paul The pastors who had assembled 00:37.020 --> 00:41.760 about this matter prepared by common consent an epistle addressed to Dionysius, 00:42.160 --> 00:46.940 Bishop of Rome, and Maximus of Alexandria, and sent it to all the provinces. 00:47.800 --> 00:52.480 In this they make manifest to all their own zeal and the perverse error of Paul, 00:52.880 --> 00:56.940 and the arguments and discussions which they had with him, and show the entire 00:56.940 --> 00:58.680 life and conduct of the man. 00:59.200 --> 01:03.420 It may be well to put on record at the present time the following extracts from 01:03.420 --> 01:04.060 their writing. 01:05.940 --> 01:10.700 To Dionysius and Maximus, and to all our fellow ministers throughout the world, 01:11.100 --> 01:15.220 bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and to the whole Catholic Church under 01:15.220 --> 01:21.860 heaven, Helenus, Hymenaeus, Theophilus, Theoteknus, Maximus, Proclus, Nicomus, 01:22.200 --> 01:29.220 Ilianus, Paul, Bolanus, Protogenes, Hierax, Eutychius, Theodorus, Malchion, 01:29.400 --> 01:33.480 and Lucius, and all the others who dwell with us in the neighboring cities and 01:33.480 --> 01:38.960 nations, bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and the churches of God, greeting to the 01:38.960 --> 01:40.440 beloved brethren in the Lord. 01:41.500 --> 01:44.080 A little farther on they proceed thus. 01:44.280 --> 01:48.840 We sent for and called many of the bishops from a distance to relieve us from this 01:48.840 --> 01:53.800 deadly doctrine, as Dionysius of Alexandria and Firmilianus of Cappadocia, 01:54.180 --> 01:55.200 those blessed men. 01:55.840 --> 01:59.700 The first of these, not considering the author of this delusion worthy to be 01:59.700 --> 02:04.520 addressed, sent a letter to Antioch, not written to him, but to the entire 02:04.520 --> 02:07.140 parish, of which we give a copy below. 02:08.660 --> 02:13.740 But Firmilianus came twice, and condemned his innovations, as we who are present 02:13.740 --> 02:16.520 know and testify, and many others understand. 02:17.220 --> 02:21.760 But as he promised to change his opinions, he believed him, and hoped that without 02:21.760 --> 02:25.100 any reproach to the word what was necessary would be done. 02:26.000 --> 02:30.800 So he delayed the matter, being deceived by him who denied even his own God and 02:30.800 --> 02:34.040 Lord, and had not kept the faith which he formerly held. 02:35.300 --> 02:40.320 And now Firmilianus was again on his way to Antioch, and had come as far as Tarsus 02:40.320 --> 02:43.860 because he had learned by experience his God-denying wickedness. 02:44.380 --> 02:48.660 But while we, having come together, were calling for him and awaiting his 02:48.660 --> 02:50.060 arrival, he died. 02:51.800 --> 02:56.040 After other things they describe as follows the manner of life which he led. 02:56.720 --> 03:01.700 Whereas he has departed from the rule of faith, and has turned aside after base and 03:01.700 --> 03:07.140 spurious teachings, it is not necessary, since he is without, that we should pass 03:07.140 --> 03:11.420 judgment upon his practices, as for instance, in that although formerly 03:11.420 --> 03:16.300 destitute and poor, and having received no wealth from his fathers, nor made anything 03:16.300 --> 03:21.100 by trade or business, he now possesses abundant wealth through his iniquities and 03:21.100 --> 03:25.320 sacrilegious acts, and through those things which he extorts from the brethren, 03:25.700 --> 03:30.200 depriving the injured of their rights, and promising to assist them for reward, 03:30.600 --> 03:34.980 yet deceiving them, and plundering those who in their trouble are ready to give 03:34.980 --> 03:39.600 that they may obtain reconciliation with their oppressors, supposing that gain is 03:39.600 --> 03:40.140 godliness. 03:41.080 --> 03:46.160 Or in that he is haughty, and is puffed up, and assumes worldly dignities, 03:46.540 --> 03:51.140 preferring to be called ducenarius rather than bishop, and struts in the 03:51.140 --> 03:56.220 marketplaces, reading letters and reciting them as he walks in public, attended by a 03:56.220 --> 04:01.640 bodyguard, with a multitude preceding and following him, so that the faith is envied 04:01.640 --> 04:04.680 and hated on account of his pride and haughtiness of heart. 04:05.360 --> 04:10.460 Or in that he practices chicanery in ecclesiastical assemblies, contrives to 04:10.460 --> 04:15.140 glorify himself and deceive with appearances, and astonish the minds of the 04:15.140 --> 04:20.200 simple, preparing for himself a tribunal and lofty throne, not like a disciple of 04:20.200 --> 04:24.740 Christ, and possessing a secretum, like the rulers of the world, and so 04:24.740 --> 04:29.200 calling it, and striking his thigh with his hand, and stamping on the tribunal 04:29.200 --> 04:30.000 with his feet. 04:30.720 --> 04:35.260 Or in that he rebukes and insults those who do not applaud, and shake their 04:35.260 --> 04:39.540 handkerchiefs, as in the theatres, and shout and leap about like the men and 04:39.540 --> 04:43.480 women that are stationed around him, and hear him in this unbecoming manner, 04:43.860 --> 04:47.500 but who listen reverently and orderly, as in the house of God. 04:47.980 --> 04:52.680 Or in that he violently and coarsely assails in public the expounders of the 04:52.680 --> 04:57.220 word that have departed this life, and magnifies himself, not as a bishop, 04:57.520 --> 04:59.340 but as a sophist and juggler. 05:00.600 --> 05:05.760 And stops the psalms to our Lord Jesus Christ as being the modern productions of 05:05.760 --> 05:10.160 modern men, and trains women to sing psalms to himself in the midst of the 05:10.160 --> 05:14.560 church on the great day of the Passover, which anyone might shudder to hear, 05:14.880 --> 05:18.860 and persuades the bishops and presbyters of the neighboring districts and cities 05:18.860 --> 05:23.620 who fawn upon him to advance the same ideas in their discourses to the people. 05:24.780 --> 05:29.260 For to anticipate something of what we shall presently write, he is unwilling to 05:29.260 --> 05:32.000 acknowledge that the Son of God has come down from heaven. 05:32.500 --> 05:36.340 And this is not a mere assertion, but it is abundantly proved from the 05:36.340 --> 05:40.600 records which we have sent to you, and not least where he says Jesus Christ 05:40.600 --> 05:41.480 is from below. 05:42.160 --> 05:46.420 But those singing to him and extolling him among the people say that their impious 05:46.420 --> 05:48.760 teacher has come down an angel from heaven. 05:49.240 --> 05:53.920 And he does not forbid such things, but the arrogant man is even present when 05:53.920 --> 05:54.800 they are uttered. 05:55.520 --> 06:00.280 And there are the women, the sub-introductae, as the people of Antioch 06:00.280 --> 06:04.480 call them, belonging to him and to the presbyters and deacons that are with him. 06:04.940 --> 06:09.720 Although he knows and has convicted these men, yet he connives at this and their 06:09.720 --> 06:14.820 other incurable sins, in order that they may be bound to him, and through fear for 06:14.820 --> 06:18.820 themselves may not dare to accuse him for his wicked words and deeds. 06:19.260 --> 06:23.840 But he has also made them rich, on which account he is loved and admired 06:23.840 --> 06:25.840 by those who covet such things. 06:26.940 --> 06:31.720 We know, beloved, that the bishop and all the clergy should be an example to the 06:31.720 --> 06:36.880 people of all good works, and we are not ignorant how many have fallen or incurred 06:36.880 --> 06:41.920 suspicion through the women whom they have thus brought in, so that even if we should 06:41.920 --> 06:46.740 allow that he commits no sinful act, yet he ought to avoid the suspicion which 06:46.740 --> 06:51.420 arises from such a thing, lest he scandalize someone or lead others to 06:51.420 --> 06:52.260 imitate him. 06:53.760 --> 06:58.320 For how can he reprove or admonish another not to be too familiar with women, 06:58.640 --> 07:03.120 lest he fall, as it is written, when he has himself sent one away already 07:03.120 --> 07:07.560 and now has two with him, blooming and beautiful, and takes them with him 07:07.560 --> 07:11.760 wherever he goes, and at the same time lives in luxury and surfeiting? 07:13.120 --> 07:18.200 Because of these things all mourn and lament by themselves, but they so fear his 07:18.200 --> 07:21.280 tyranny and power that they dare not accuse him. 07:23.120 --> 07:28.200 But as we have said, while one might call the man to account for this conduct if he 07:28.200 --> 07:32.400 held the Catholic doctrine and was numbered with us, since he has scorned the 07:32.400 --> 07:37.340 mystery and struts about in the abominable heresy of Artemis, for why should we not 07:37.340 --> 07:41.300 mention his father, we think it unnecessary to demand of him an 07:41.300 --> 07:42.860 explanation of these things. 07:44.260 --> 07:48.000 Afterwards, at the close of the epistle, they add these words. 07:48.560 --> 07:53.080 Therefore we have been compelled to excommunicate him, since he sets himself 07:53.080 --> 07:57.980 against God and refuses to obey, and to appoint in his place another bishop 07:57.980 --> 07:59.280 for the Catholic Church. 07:59.740 --> 08:04.560 By divine direction, as we believe, we have appointed Domnus, who is adorned 08:04.560 --> 08:08.680 with all the qualities becoming in a bishop, and who is a son of the blessed 08:08.680 --> 08:13.700 Demetrianus, who formerly presided in a distinguished manner over the same parish. 08:14.200 --> 08:18.860 We have informed you of this that you may write to him, and may receive letters of 08:18.860 --> 08:19.940 communion from him. 08:20.260 --> 08:25.080 But let this man write to Artemis, and let those who think as Artemis does 08:25.080 --> 08:26.320 communicate with him. 08:27.640 --> 08:31.920 As Paul had fallen from the episcopate, as well as from the orthodox faith, 08:32.380 --> 08:36.600 Domnus, as has been said, became bishop of the church at Antioch. 08:37.560 --> 08:42.360 But as Paul refused to surrender the church building, the emperor Aurelian was 08:42.360 --> 08:46.920 petitioned, and he decided the matter most equitably, ordering the building to be 08:46.920 --> 08:50.800 given to those to whom the bishops of Italy and of the city of Rome should 08:50.800 --> 08:51.500 adjudge it. 08:52.160 --> 08:56.860 Thus this man was driven out of the church with extreme disgrace by the worldly 08:56.860 --> 08:57.400 power. 08:58.760 --> 09:03.360 Such was Aurelian's treatment of us at that time, but in the course of his reign 09:03.360 --> 09:08.100 he changed his mind in regard to us, and was moved by certain advisers to 09:08.100 --> 09:12.420 institute a persecution against us, and there was great talk about this on 09:12.420 --> 09:13.260 every side. 09:14.460 --> 09:18.780 But as he was about to do it, and was, so to speak, in the very act of signing 09:18.780 --> 09:23.680 the decrees against us, the divine judgment came upon him, and restrained him 09:23.680 --> 09:28.040 at the very verge of his undertaking, showing in a manner that all could see 09:28.040 --> 09:32.460 clearly, that the rulers of this world can never find an opportunity against the 09:32.460 --> 09:37.440 churches of Christ, except the hand that defends them permits it, in divine and 09:37.440 --> 09:42.040 heavenly judgment, for the sake of discipline and correction, at such times 09:42.040 --> 09:43.140 as it sees best. 09:44.220 --> 09:48.240 After a reign of six years, Aurelian was succeeded by Probus. 09:48.720 --> 09:53.560 He reigned for the same number of years, and Carus, with his sons Carinus and 09:53.560 --> 09:55.380 Numerianus, succeeded him. 09:56.060 --> 09:59.520 After they had reigned less than three years, the government devolved on 09:59.520 --> 10:02.460 Diocletian, and those associated with him. 10:03.020 --> 10:07.400 Under them took place the persecution of our time, and the destruction of the 10:07.400 --> 10:08.760 churches connected with it. 10:09.860 --> 10:14.360 Shortly before this, Dionysius, Bishop of Rome, after holding office for 10:14.360 --> 10:17.700 nine years, died, and was succeeded by Felix. 10:19.640 --> 10:20.600 CHAPTER XXXI. 10:21.060 --> 10:25.280 THE PERVERSIVE HERESY OF THE MANICHEANS WHICH BEGAN AT THIS TIME. 10:26.560 --> 10:32.440 At this time the madman, named from his demoniacal heresy, armed himself in the 10:32.440 --> 10:37.360 perversion of his reason, as the devil, Satan, who himself fights against God, 10:37.680 --> 10:39.720 put him forward to the destruction of many. 10:40.200 --> 10:45.680 He was a barbarian in life, both in word and deed, and in his nature demoniacal and 10:45.680 --> 10:46.260 insane. 10:46.840 --> 10:51.080 In consequence of this he sought to pose as Christ, and being puffed up in his 10:51.080 --> 10:55.000 madness, he proclaimed himself the paraclete and the very Holy Spirit, 10:55.520 --> 11:00.100 and afterwards, like Christ, he chose twelve disciples as partners of his new 11:00.100 --> 11:00.520 doctrine. 11:01.640 --> 11:06.040 And he patched together false and godless doctrines collected from a multitude of 11:06.040 --> 11:11.780 long-extinct impieties, and swept them, like a deadly poison, from Persia to our 11:11.780 --> 11:12.700 part of the world. 11:13.240 --> 11:17.580 From him the impious name of the Manicheans is still prevalent among many. 11:18.140 --> 11:23.080 Such was the foundation of this knowledge falsely so called, which sprang up in 11:23.080 --> 11:23.940 those times. 11:25.540 --> 11:26.740 CHAPTER XXXII. 11:27.320 --> 11:32.060 THE DISTINGUISHED ECCLESIASTICS OF OUR DAY, AND WHICH OF THEM SURVIVED UNTIL THE 11:32.060 --> 11:33.460 DESTRUCTION OF THE CHURCHES. 11:34.040 --> 11:38.760 At this time Felix, having presided over the Church of Rome for five years, 11:39.100 --> 11:44.140 was succeeded by Eutychianus, but he in less than ten months left the position to 11:44.140 --> 11:46.060 Caius, who lived in our day. 11:46.540 --> 11:51.360 He held it about fifteen years, and was in turn succeeded by Marcellinus, 11:51.580 --> 11:53.520 who was overtaken by the persecution. 11:54.860 --> 11:59.340 About this time Timaeus received the episcopate of Antioch after Domnus, 11:59.560 --> 12:02.460 and Cyril, who lived in our day, succeeded him. 12:03.080 --> 12:07.800 In his time we became acquainted with Dorotheus, a man of learning among those 12:07.800 --> 12:11.620 of his day, who was honored with the office of presbyter in Antioch. 12:12.320 --> 12:17.120 He was a lover of the beautiful in divine things, and devoted himself to the Hebrew 12:17.120 --> 12:20.760 language, so that he read the Hebrew scriptures with facility. 12:21.840 --> 12:26.240 He belonged to those who were especially liberal and was not unacquainted with 12:26.240 --> 12:27.680 Grecian propedutics. 12:28.220 --> 12:32.080 Besides this, he was a eunuch, having been so from his very birth. 12:32.460 --> 12:36.960 On this account, as if it were a miracle, the emperor took him into his family, 12:37.200 --> 12:40.960 and honored him by placing him over the purple dye-works at Tyre. 12:41.180 --> 12:44.640 We have heard him expound the scriptures wisely in the Church. 12:45.880 --> 12:50.560 After Cyril, Tyrannus received the episcopate of the parish of Antioch. 12:51.060 --> 12:54.180 In his time occurred the destruction of the churches. 12:55.560 --> 13:00.720 Eusebius, who had come from the city of Alexandria, ruled the parishes of Laodicea 13:00.720 --> 13:01.640 after Socrates. 13:02.340 --> 13:05.800 The occasion of his removal thither was the affair of Paul. 13:06.320 --> 13:10.680 He went on this account to Syria, and was restrained from returning home by 13:10.680 --> 13:13.220 those there who were zealous in divine things. 13:13.720 --> 13:17.080 Among our contemporaries he was a beautiful example of religion, 13:17.480 --> 13:21.040 as is readily seen from the words of Dionysius which we have quoted. 13:22.560 --> 13:27.180 Anatolius was appointed his successor, one good man, as they say, following 13:27.180 --> 13:27.580 another. 13:28.060 --> 13:30.380 He also was an Alexandrian by birth. 13:30.840 --> 13:35.060 In learning and skill in Greek philosophy, such as arithmetic and geometry, 13:35.520 --> 13:39.840 astronomy and dialectics in general, as well as in the theory of physics, 13:40.240 --> 13:45.100 he stood first among the ablest men of our time, and he was also at the head in 13:45.100 --> 13:46.240 rhetorical science. 13:46.700 --> 13:51.340 It is reported that for this reason he was requested by the citizens of Alexandria to 13:51.340 --> 13:54.500 establish there a school of Aristotelian philosophy. 13:55.840 --> 14:00.440 They relate of him many other eminent deeds during the siege of the Pyrrhocheum 14:00.440 --> 14:05.280 in Alexandria, on account of which he was especially honored by all those in high 14:05.280 --> 14:08.940 office, but I will give the following only as an example. 14:10.220 --> 14:15.100 They say that bread had failed the besieged, so that it was more difficult to 14:15.100 --> 14:20.080 withstand the famine than the enemy outside, but he being present provided for 14:20.080 --> 14:21.080 them in this manner. 14:21.660 --> 14:25.980 As the other part of the city was allied with the Roman army, and therefore was not 14:25.980 --> 14:31.300 under siege, Anatolius sent for Eusebius, for he was still there before his transfer 14:31.300 --> 14:36.240 to Syria, and was among those who were not besieged, and possessed moreover a great 14:36.240 --> 14:39.700 reputation and a renowned name which had reached even the Roman general, 14:40.080 --> 14:43.860 and he informed him of those who were perishing in the siege from famine. 14:44.720 --> 14:48.660 When he learned this, he requested the Roman commander as the greatest possible 14:48.660 --> 14:52.200 favor to grant safety to deserters from the enemy. 14:52.800 --> 14:56.740 Having obtained his request, he communicated it to Anatolius. 14:57.220 --> 15:00.900 As soon as he received the message, he convened the Senate of Alexandria, 15:00.900 --> 15:05.520 and at first proposed that all should come to a reconciliation with the Romans. 15:06.240 --> 15:10.100 But when he perceived that they were angered by this advice, he said, 15:10.420 --> 15:15.020 But I do not think you will oppose me if I counsel you to send the supernumeraries 15:15.020 --> 15:20.000 and those who are in no wise useful to us, as old women and children and old men, 15:20.180 --> 15:23.280 outside the gates, to go wherever they may please. 15:23.620 --> 15:28.080 For why should we retain for no purpose those who must at any rate soon die? 15:28.420 --> 15:32.220 And why should we destroy with hunger those who are crippled and maimed in body, 15:32.600 --> 15:36.980 when we ought to provide only for men and youth, and to distribute the necessary 15:36.980 --> 15:40.100 bread among those who are needed for the garrison of the city? 15:41.340 --> 15:46.120 With such arguments he persuaded the assembly, and rising first he gave his 15:46.120 --> 15:50.100 vote that the entire multitude, whether of men or women, who were not 15:50.100 --> 15:54.840 needful for the army, should depart from the city, because if they remained and 15:54.840 --> 15:59.360 unnecessarily continued in the city, there would be for them no hope of safety, 15:59.600 --> 16:01.080 but they would perish with famine. 16:02.080 --> 16:06.900 As all the others in the senate agreed to this, he saved almost all the besieged. 16:07.080 --> 16:11.700 He provided that first those belonging to the church, and afterwards, of the others 16:11.700 --> 16:15.900 in the city, those of every age, should escape, not only the classes 16:15.900 --> 16:21.160 included in the decree, but under cover of these, a multitude of others, secretly 16:21.160 --> 16:25.660 clothed in women's garments, and through his management they went out of the gates 16:25.660 --> 16:27.980 by night and escaped to the Roman camp. 16:28.820 --> 16:32.600 There Eusebius, like a father and physician, received all of them, 16:32.980 --> 16:37.100 wasted away through the long siege, and restored them by every kind of 16:37.100 --> 16:38.140 prudence and care. 16:39.660 --> 16:44.300 The church of Laodicea was honored by two such pastors in succession, who, 16:44.440 --> 16:49.100 in the providence of God, came after the aforesaid war from Alexandria to that 16:49.100 --> 16:49.500 city. 16:51.090 --> 16:56.020 Anatolius did not write very many works, but in such as have come down to us we can 16:56.020 --> 16:57.940 discern his eloquence and erudition. 16:58.580 --> 17:01.980 In these he states particularly his opinions on the Passover. 17:02.640 --> 17:06.260 It seems important to give here the following extracts from them. 17:07.380 --> 17:09.820 From the Pascal Canons of Anatolius. 17:10.200 --> 17:14.440 There is then in the first year the new moon of the first month, which is the 17:14.440 --> 17:18.920 beginning of every cycle of nineteen years, on the twenty-sixth day of the 17:18.920 --> 17:20.280 Egyptian Faminoth. 17:20.520 --> 17:24.460 But according to the months of the Macedonians, the twenty-second day of 17:24.460 --> 17:29.380 Distrus, or as the Romans would say, the eleventh before the calends of April. 17:30.440 --> 17:34.820 On the said twenty-sixth of Faminoth, the sun is found and not only entered on 17:34.820 --> 17:38.520 the first segment, but already passing through the fourth day in it. 17:38.960 --> 17:44.320 They are accustomed to call this segment the first dodecatomorion, and the equinox, 17:44.560 --> 17:48.820 and the beginning of months, and the head of the cycle, and the starting point of 17:48.820 --> 17:49.860 the planetary circuit. 17:50.380 --> 17:54.560 But they call the one preceding this the last of months, and the twelfth segment, 17:55.120 --> 17:59.560 and the final dodecatomorion, and the end of the planetary circuit. 18:00.260 --> 18:04.800 Wherefore we maintain that those who place the first month in it, and determine by it 18:04.800 --> 18:08.760 the fourteenth of the Passover, commit no slight or common blunder. 18:09.940 --> 18:14.400 And this is not an opinion of our own, but it was known to the Jews of old, 18:14.740 --> 18:17.860 even before Christ, and was carefully observed by them. 18:18.400 --> 18:22.860 This may be learned from what is said by Philo, Josephus, and Mucius. 18:24.060 --> 18:29.860 And not only by them, but also by those yet more ancient, the two Agathobuli, 18:30.240 --> 18:34.880 surnamed masters, and the famous Aristobulus, who was chosen among the 18:34.880 --> 18:38.960 seventy interpreters of the sacred and divine Hebrew scriptures by Ptolemy 18:38.960 --> 18:44.600 Philadelphus and his father, and who also dedicated his exegetical books on the law 18:44.600 --> 18:46.440 of Moses to the same kings. 18:47.420 --> 18:52.760 These writers, explaining questions in regard to the Exodus, say that all alike 18:52.760 --> 18:57.580 should sacrifice the Passover offerings after the vernal equinox in the middle of 18:57.580 --> 19:02.100 the first month, but this occurs while the sun is passing through the first segment 19:02.100 --> 19:06.660 of the solar, or as some of them have styled it, the zodiacal circle. 19:07.680 --> 19:12.320 Aristobulus adds that it is necessary for the feast of the Passover that not only 19:12.320 --> 19:16.520 the sun should pass through the equinoctial segment, but the moon also. 19:17.480 --> 19:22.100 For as there are two equinoctial segments, the vernal and the autumnal, directly 19:22.100 --> 19:26.620 opposite each other, and as the day of the Passover was appointed on the fourteenth 19:26.620 --> 19:30.560 of the month, beginning with the evening, the moon will hold a position 19:30.560 --> 19:35.720 diametrically opposite the sun, as may be seen in full moons, and the sun 19:35.720 --> 19:40.680 will be in the segment of the vernal equinox, and of necessity the moon in that 19:40.680 --> 19:41.600 of the autumnal. 19:42.560 --> 19:46.800 I know that many other things have been said by them, some of them probable, 19:47.280 --> 19:51.460 and some, approaching absolute demonstration, by which they endeavor to 19:51.460 --> 19:55.600 prove that it is altogether necessary to keep the Passover and the feast of 19:55.600 --> 19:57.720 unleavened bread after the equinox. 19:58.160 --> 20:02.780 But I refrain from demanding this sort of demonstration, for matters from which the 20:02.780 --> 20:07.840 veil of the Mosaic law has been removed, so that now at length with uncovered face 20:07.840 --> 20:12.380 we continually behold as in a glass Christ and the teachings and sufferings of 20:12.380 --> 20:16.740 Christ, but that with the Hebrews the first month was near the equinox, 20:17.100 --> 20:19.600 the teachings also of the book of Enoch show. 20:20.480 --> 20:25.260 The same writer has also left the institutes of arithmetic in ten books, 20:25.660 --> 20:30.220 and other evidences of his experience and proficiency in divine things. 20:31.580 --> 20:36.220 Theoteknus, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, first ordained him as bishop, 20:36.220 --> 20:40.580 designing to make him his successor in his own parish after his death. 20:41.320 --> 20:44.800 And for a short time both of them presided over the same church. 20:45.260 --> 20:49.400 But the synod which was held to consider Paul's case called him to Antioch, 20:49.680 --> 20:53.860 and as he passed through the city of Laodicea, Eusebius being dead, 20:54.220 --> 20:56.200 he was detained by the brethren there. 20:57.440 --> 21:02.000 And after Anatolius had departed this life, the last bishop of that parish 21:02.000 --> 21:06.480 before the persecution was Stephen, who was admired by many for his knowledge 21:06.480 --> 21:08.640 of philosophy and other Greek learning. 21:09.120 --> 21:13.500 But he was not equally devoted to the divine faith, as the progress of the 21:13.500 --> 21:18.940 persecution manifested, for it showed that he was a cowardly and unmanly dissembler 21:18.940 --> 21:20.440 rather than a true philosopher. 21:22.100 --> 21:26.820 But this did not seriously injure the church, for Theodotus restored their 21:26.820 --> 21:32.180 affairs, being straightway made bishop of that parish by God himself, the Saviour of 21:32.180 --> 21:32.560 all. 21:33.480 --> 21:37.960 He justified by his deeds both his lordly name and his office of bishop, 21:38.460 --> 21:43.440 for he excelled in the medical art for bodies and in the healing art for souls, 21:43.800 --> 21:49.140 nor did any other man equal him in kindness, sincerity, sympathy and zeal in 21:49.140 --> 21:51.080 helping such as needed his aid. 21:51.760 --> 21:54.620 He was also greatly devoted to divine learning. 21:55.300 --> 21:56.640 Such an one was he. 21:57.900 --> 22:03.140 In Caesarea in Palestine, Agapius succeeded Theoteknus, who had most 22:03.140 --> 22:05.960 zealously performed the duties of his episcopate. 22:06.500 --> 22:11.060 Him too we know to have labored diligently, and to have manifested most 22:11.060 --> 22:16.240 genuine providence in his oversight of the people, particularly caring for all the 22:16.240 --> 22:17.720 poor with liberal hand. 22:18.740 --> 22:23.220 In his time we became acquainted with Pamphilus, that most eloquent man, 22:23.380 --> 22:28.160 of truly philosophical life, who was esteemed worthy of the office of presbyter 22:28.160 --> 22:29.020 in that parish. 22:29.620 --> 22:34.560 It would be no small matter to show what sort of a man he was and whence he came, 22:34.760 --> 22:39.780 but we have described, in our special work concerning him, all the particulars of his 22:39.780 --> 22:43.780 life, and of the school which he established, and the trials which he 22:43.780 --> 22:48.420 endured in many confessions during the persecution, and the crown of martyrdom 22:48.420 --> 22:50.060 with which he was finally honored. 22:50.760 --> 22:53.920 But of all that were there he was indeed the most admirable. 22:54.860 --> 22:59.640 Among those nearest our times we have known Pierius, of the presbyters in 22:59.640 --> 23:05.000 Alexandria, and Meletius, bishop of the churches in Pontus, rarest of men. 23:05.840 --> 23:09.980 The first was distinguished for his life of extreme poverty and his philosophic 23:09.980 --> 23:14.900 learning, and was exceedingly diligent in the contemplation and exposition of divine 23:14.900 --> 23:17.960 things, and in public discourses in the church. 23:17.960 --> 23:23.340 Meletius, whom the learned call the honey of Attica, was a man whom everyone would 23:23.340 --> 23:28.260 describe as most accomplished in all kinds of learning, and it would be impossible to 23:28.260 --> 23:30.840 admire sufficiently his rhetorical skill. 23:31.560 --> 23:36.100 It might be said that he possessed this by nature, but who could surpass the 23:36.100 --> 23:39.720 excellence of his great experience and erudition in other respects? 23:40.880 --> 23:45.080 For in all branches of knowledge had you undertaken to try him even once, 23:45.320 --> 23:48.260 you would have said that he was the most skillful and learned. 23:48.960 --> 23:52.540 Moreover, the virtues of his life were not less remarkable. 23:53.180 --> 23:58.180 We observed him well in the time of the persecution, when for seven full years he 23:58.180 --> 24:01.520 was escaping from its fury in the regions of Palestine. 24:02.640 --> 24:06.740 Zamdas received the episcopate of the church of Jerusalem after the bishop 24:06.740 --> 24:09.600 Hymenaeus, whom we mentioned a little above. 24:10.020 --> 24:14.760 He died in a short time, and Hermon, the last before the persecution in our 24:14.760 --> 24:19.900 day, succeeded to the apostolic chair, which has been preserved there until the 24:19.900 --> 24:20.680 present time. 24:21.840 --> 24:27.040 In Alexandria, Maximus, who after the death of Dionysius had been bishop for 24:27.040 --> 24:29.940 eighteen years, was succeeded by Theonus. 24:30.620 --> 24:35.820 In his time, Achillas, who had been appointed a presbyter in Alexandria at the 24:35.820 --> 24:38.540 same time with Peirius, became celebrated. 24:39.480 --> 24:43.440 He was placed over the school of the sacred faith, and exhibited fruits of 24:43.440 --> 24:48.560 philosophy most rare and inferior to none, and conduct genuinely evangelical. 24:49.800 --> 24:54.660 After Theonus had held the office for nineteen years, Peter received the 24:54.660 --> 24:59.420 episcopate in Alexandria, and was very eminent among them for twelve entire 24:59.420 --> 24:59.840 years. 25:00.420 --> 25:04.140 Of these he governed the church less than three years before the persecution, 25:04.800 --> 25:08.420 and for the remainder of his life he subjected himself to a more rigid 25:08.420 --> 25:13.080 discipline, and cared in no secret manner for the general interest of the churches. 25:13.860 --> 25:17.420 On this account he was beheaded in the ninth year of the persecution, 25:18.040 --> 25:20.540 and was adorned with the crown of martyrdom. 25:21.560 --> 25:25.800 Having written out in these books the account of the successions from the birth 25:25.800 --> 25:30.260 of our Savior to the destruction of the places of worship, a period of three 25:30.260 --> 25:35.200 hundred and five years, permit me to pass on to the contests of those who, 25:35.500 --> 25:39.960 in our day, have heroically fought for religion, and to leave in writing, 25:40.260 --> 25:45.160 for the information of posterity, the extent and the magnitude of those conflicts.