WEBVTT 00:23.650 --> 00:25.090 BOOK VIII. 00:25.350 --> 00:25.970 PART II. 00:26.130 --> 00:27.610 CHAPTER IX THROUGH XIII. 00:29.110 --> 00:30.210 CHAPTER IX. 00:30.730 --> 00:31.990 THOSE IN THEBAEUS. 00:33.160 --> 00:37.950 It would be impossible to describe the outrages and tortures which the martyrs in 00:37.950 --> 00:39.030 Thebaeus endured. 00:39.590 --> 00:43.970 They were scraped over the entire body with shells instead of hooks until they 00:43.970 --> 00:44.410 died. 00:45.270 --> 00:50.030 Women were bound by one foot and raised aloft in the air by machines, and with 00:50.030 --> 00:54.410 their bodies altogether bare and uncovered, presented to all beholders this 00:54.410 --> 00:57.630 most shameful, cruel, and inhuman spectacle. 00:59.430 --> 01:03.930 Others being bound to the branches and trunks of trees perished, for they drew 01:03.930 --> 01:07.950 the stoutest branches together with machines and bound the limbs of the 01:07.950 --> 01:12.450 martyrs to them, and then, allowing the branches to assume their natural position, 01:12.930 --> 01:16.990 they tore asunder instantly the limbs of those for whom they contrived this. 01:18.690 --> 01:23.550 All these things were done, not for a few days or a short time, but for a long 01:23.550 --> 01:24.510 series of years. 01:25.110 --> 01:29.430 Sometimes more than ten, at other times above twenty, were put to death. 01:29.970 --> 01:34.550 Again not less than thirty, then about sixty, and yet again a hundred men with 01:34.550 --> 01:39.430 young children and women were slain in one day, being condemned to various and 01:39.430 --> 01:40.570 diverse torments. 01:41.750 --> 01:47.410 We, also being on the spot ourselves, have observed large crowds in one day, 01:47.790 --> 01:52.730 some suffering decapitation, others torture by fire, so that the murderous 01:52.730 --> 01:57.870 sword was blunted, and becoming weak was broken, and the very executioners grew 01:57.870 --> 01:59.450 weary and relieved each other. 02:01.030 --> 02:06.430 And we beheld the most wonderful ardor, and the truly divine energy and zeal of 02:06.430 --> 02:08.530 those who believed in the Christ of God. 02:08.930 --> 02:13.230 For as soon as sentence was pronounced against the first, one after another 02:13.230 --> 02:18.110 rushed to the judgment seat and confessed themselves Christians, and regarding with 02:18.110 --> 02:22.250 indifference the terrible things and the multiform tortures, they declared 02:22.250 --> 02:26.430 themselves boldly and undauntedly for the religion of the God of the universe. 02:27.070 --> 02:30.990 And they received the final sentence of death with joy and laughter and 02:30.990 --> 02:35.390 cheerfulness, so that they sang and offered up hymns and thanksgivings to the 02:35.390 --> 02:38.450 God of the universe till their very last breath. 02:39.960 --> 02:44.550 These indeed were wonderful, but yet more wonderful were those who, being 02:44.550 --> 02:49.350 distinguished for wealth, noble birth and honor, and for learning and philosophy, 02:49.770 --> 02:54.210 held everything secondary to the true religion and to faith in our Savior and 02:54.210 --> 02:55.450 Lord Jesus Christ. 02:57.050 --> 03:02.130 Such an one was Philoromas, who held a high office under the imperial government 03:02.130 --> 03:07.590 at Alexandria, and who administered justice every day, attended by a military 03:07.590 --> 03:10.350 guard corresponding to his rank and Roman dignity. 03:11.130 --> 03:16.230 Such also was Phileas, bishop of the church of Thimois, a man eminent on 03:16.230 --> 03:20.150 account of his patriotism and the services rendered by him to his country, 03:20.510 --> 03:23.010 and also on account of his philosophical learning. 03:24.010 --> 03:28.570 These persons, although a multitude of relatives and other friends besought them, 03:28.970 --> 03:33.470 and many in high position, and even the judge himself entreated them, that they 03:33.470 --> 03:37.490 would have compassion on themselves and show mercy to their children and wives, 03:37.870 --> 03:42.350 yet were not in the least induced by these things to choose the love of life and to 03:42.350 --> 03:46.050 despise the ordinances of our Savior concerning confession and denial. 03:46.370 --> 03:51.470 But with manly and philosophic minds, or rather with pious and God-loving souls, 03:51.770 --> 03:56.330 they persevered against all the threats and insults of the judge, and both of them 03:56.330 --> 03:56.970 were beheaded. 03:58.010 --> 04:02.970 Chapter 10 The Writings of Phileas the Martyr Describing the Occurrences at 04:02.970 --> 04:08.470 Alexandria Since we have mentioned Phileas as having a high reputation for secular 04:08.470 --> 04:13.370 learning, let him be his own witness in the following extract, in which he shows 04:13.370 --> 04:18.530 us who he was and at the same time describes more accurately than we can the 04:18.530 --> 04:21.210 martyrdoms which occurred in his time at Alexandria. 04:22.950 --> 04:27.510 Having before them all these examples and models and noble tokens which are given us 04:27.510 --> 04:31.870 in the divine and sacred scriptures, the blessed martyrs who were with us did 04:31.870 --> 04:37.310 not hesitate, but directing the eye of the soul in sincerity toward the God over all, 04:37.750 --> 04:42.390 and having their mind set upon death for religion, they adhered firmly to their 04:42.390 --> 04:42.770 calling. 04:43.390 --> 04:47.450 For they understood that our Lord Jesus Christ had become man on our account, 04:47.950 --> 04:52.550 that he might cut off all sin and furnish us with the means of entrance into eternal 04:52.550 --> 04:53.010 life. 04:53.170 --> 04:58.470 For he counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God, but emptied himself, 04:58.670 --> 05:03.570 taking the form of a servant, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled 05:03.570 --> 05:06.770 himself unto death, even the death of the cross. 05:08.270 --> 05:13.170 Wherefore, also being zealous for the greater gifts, the Christ-bearing martyrs 05:13.170 --> 05:18.330 endured all trials and all kinds of contrivances for torture, not once only, 05:18.590 --> 05:20.470 but some also a second time. 05:20.810 --> 05:25.050 And although the guards vied with each other in threatening them in all sorts of 05:25.050 --> 05:30.230 ways, not in words only, but in actions, they did not give up their resolution, 05:30.730 --> 05:33.170 because perfect love casteth out fear. 05:34.390 --> 05:38.930 What words could describe their courage and manliness under every torture? 05:39.630 --> 05:44.210 For as liberty to abuse them was given to all that wished, some beat them with 05:44.210 --> 05:49.150 clubs, others with rods, others with scourges, yet others with thongs, 05:49.330 --> 05:50.450 and others with ropes. 05:51.220 --> 05:55.630 And the spectacle of the outrages was varied and exhibited great malignity. 05:56.130 --> 06:00.630 For some, with their hands bound behind them, were suspended on the stocks, 06:00.990 --> 06:03.410 and every member stretched by certain machines. 06:04.110 --> 06:08.510 Then the torturers, as commanded, lacerated with instruments their entire 06:08.510 --> 06:14.050 bodies, not only their sides, as in the case of murderers, but also their stomachs 06:14.050 --> 06:15.130 and knees and cheeks. 06:15.910 --> 06:20.730 Others were raised aloft, suspended from the porch by one hand, and endured the 06:20.730 --> 06:24.530 most terrible suffering of all, through the distension of their joints and 06:24.530 --> 06:24.930 limbs. 06:25.370 --> 06:30.310 Others were bound face to face to pillars, not resting on their feet, but with the 06:30.310 --> 06:33.670 weight of their bodies bearing on their bonds and drawing them tightly. 06:34.950 --> 06:39.830 And they endured this, not merely as long as the governor talked with them or was at 06:39.830 --> 06:42.550 leisure, but through almost the entire day. 06:42.910 --> 06:47.110 For when he passed on to others, he left officers under his authority to 06:47.110 --> 06:51.390 watch the first, and observe if any of them, overcome by the tortures, 06:51.630 --> 06:52.670 appeared to yield. 06:53.310 --> 06:57.310 And he commanded to cast them into chains without mercy, and afterwards, 06:57.550 --> 07:01.370 when they were at the last gasp, to throw them to the ground and drag them 07:01.370 --> 07:01.790 away. 07:03.110 --> 07:07.650 For he said that they were not to have the least concern for us, but were to think 07:07.650 --> 07:12.530 and act as if we no longer existed, our enemies having invented this second 07:12.530 --> 07:14.850 mode of torture in addition to the stripes. 07:16.490 --> 07:21.310 Some also, after these outrages, were placed on the stocks, and had both 07:21.310 --> 07:25.510 their feet stretched over the four holes so that they were compelled to lie on 07:25.510 --> 07:30.150 their backs on the stocks, being unable to keep themselves up on account of the fresh 07:30.150 --> 07:34.490 wounds with which their entire bodies were covered as a result of the scourging. 07:34.870 --> 07:38.870 Others were thrown on the ground and lay there under the accumulated infliction of 07:38.870 --> 07:43.570 tortures, exhibiting to the spectators a more terrible manifestation of severity, 07:44.070 --> 07:48.730 as they bore on their bodies the marks of the various and diverse punishments which 07:48.730 --> 07:49.690 had been invented. 07:50.870 --> 07:56.110 As this went on, some died under the tortures, shaming the adversary by their 07:56.110 --> 07:56.830 constancy. 07:57.490 --> 08:01.970 Others half-dead were shut up in prison, and suffering with their agonies, 08:02.290 --> 08:03.810 they died in a few days. 08:04.050 --> 08:09.190 But the rest, recovering under the care which they received, gained confidence by 08:09.190 --> 08:11.570 time and their long detention in prison. 08:13.750 --> 08:17.610 When therefore they were ordered to choose whether they would be released from 08:17.610 --> 08:22.550 molestation by touching the polluted sacrifice, and would receive from them the 08:22.550 --> 08:27.250 accursed freedom, or refusing to sacrifice, should be condemned to death, 08:27.590 --> 08:30.550 they did not hesitate, but went to death cheerfully. 08:31.090 --> 08:34.590 For they knew what had been declared before by the sacred scriptures. 08:34.590 --> 08:40.170 For it is said, He that sacrificeth to other gods shall be utterly destroyed, 08:40.710 --> 08:44.010 and thou shalt have no other gods before me. 08:45.390 --> 08:49.390 Such are the words of the truly philosophical and God-loving martyr, 08:49.890 --> 08:54.110 which, before the final sentence, while yet in prison, he addressed to the 08:54.110 --> 08:59.230 brethren in his parish, showing them his own circumstances, and at the same time 08:59.230 --> 09:04.210 exhorting them to hold fast, even after his approaching death, to the religion of 09:04.210 --> 09:04.650 Christ. 09:05.630 --> 09:10.950 But why need we dwell upon these things, and continue to add fresh instances of the 09:10.950 --> 09:15.410 conflicts of the divine martyrs throughout the world, especially since they were 09:15.410 --> 09:19.670 dealt with no longer by common law, but attacked like enemies of war? 09:21.390 --> 09:22.630 Chapter 11. 09:23.050 --> 09:24.110 Those in Phrygia. 09:25.430 --> 09:31.050 A small town of Phrygia, inhabited solely by Christians, was completely surrounded 09:31.050 --> 09:33.110 by soldiers while the men were in it. 09:33.550 --> 09:37.930 Throwing fire into it, they consumed them with the women and children while they 09:37.930 --> 09:39.350 were calling upon Christ. 09:39.890 --> 09:44.490 This they did because all the inhabitants of the city, and the curator himself, 09:44.830 --> 09:49.570 and the governor, with all who held office and the entire populace, confessed 09:49.570 --> 09:54.270 themselves Christians, and would not in the least obey those who commanded them to 09:54.270 --> 09:55.090 worship idols. 09:55.990 --> 10:01.550 There was another man of Roman dignity named Adoctus, of a noble Italian family, 10:02.070 --> 10:06.590 who had advanced through every honor under the emperors, so that he had blamelessly 10:06.590 --> 10:11.030 filled even the general offices of magistrate, as they call it, and of 10:11.030 --> 10:11.990 finance minister. 10:12.450 --> 10:17.110 Besides all this, he excelled in deeds of piety and in the confession of the Christ 10:17.110 --> 10:20.530 of God, and was adorned with the diadem of martyrdom. 10:20.910 --> 10:25.170 He endured the conflict for religion while still holding the office of finance 10:25.170 --> 10:25.730 minister. 10:27.310 --> 10:28.130 CHAPTER XII. 10:28.690 --> 10:32.870 MANY OTHERS, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, WHO SUFFERED IN VARIOUS WAYS. 10:33.550 --> 10:38.150 Why need we mention the rest by name, or number the multitude of the men, 10:38.430 --> 10:42.070 or picture the various sufferings of the admirable martyrs of Christ? 10:42.590 --> 10:45.330 Some of them were slain with the axe, as in Arabia. 10:45.970 --> 10:48.790 The limbs of some were broken, as in Cappadocia. 10:49.350 --> 10:53.890 Some, raised on high by the feet, with their heads down, while a gentle fire 10:53.890 --> 10:58.130 burned beneath them, were suffocated by the smoke which arose from the burning 10:58.130 --> 11:00.490 wood, as was done in Mesopotamia. 11:01.050 --> 11:05.870 Others were mutilated by cutting off their noses and ears and hands, and cutting to 11:05.870 --> 11:09.650 pieces the other members and parts of their bodies, as in Alexandria. 11:11.330 --> 11:15.890 Why need we revive the recollection of those in Antioch who were roasted on 11:15.890 --> 11:20.470 grates, not so as to kill them, but so as to subject them to a lingering 11:20.470 --> 11:21.090 punishment? 11:21.690 --> 11:25.950 Or of others who preferred to thrust their right hand into the fire rather than touch 11:25.950 --> 11:27.330 the impious sacrifice? 11:28.530 --> 11:32.650 Some, shrinking from the trial, rather than be taken and fall into the 11:32.650 --> 11:37.430 hands of their enemies, threw themselves from lofty houses, considering death 11:37.430 --> 11:39.750 preferable to the cruelty of the impious. 11:40.990 --> 11:47.310 A certain holy person, in soul admirable for virtue, in body a woman, who was 11:47.310 --> 11:51.350 illustrious beyond all in Antioch for wealth and family and reputation, 11:51.910 --> 11:56.210 had brought up in the principles of religion her two daughters, who were now 11:56.210 --> 11:58.150 in the freshness and bloom of life. 11:58.690 --> 12:03.810 Since great envy was excited on their account, every means was used to find them 12:03.810 --> 12:07.550 in their concealment, and when it was ascertained that they were away, 12:08.070 --> 12:10.370 they were summoned deceitfully to Antioch. 12:10.950 --> 12:13.230 Thus they were caught in the nets of the soldiers. 12:13.850 --> 12:17.870 When the woman saw herself and her daughters thus helpless, and knew the 12:17.870 --> 12:23.130 things terrible to speak of that men would do to them, and the most unbearable of all 12:23.130 --> 12:28.310 terrible things, the threatened violation of their chastity, she exhorted herself 12:28.310 --> 12:31.890 and the maidens that they ought not to submit even to hear of this. 12:32.550 --> 12:37.090 For, she said, that to surrender their souls to the slavery of demons was worse 12:37.090 --> 12:40.970 than all deaths and destruction, and she set before them the only 12:40.970 --> 12:44.210 deliverance from all these things, escape to Christ. 12:45.650 --> 12:49.990 They then listened to her advice, and after arranging their garments 12:49.990 --> 12:54.510 suitably, they went aside from the middle of the road, having requested of the 12:54.510 --> 12:59.150 guards a little time for retirement, and cast themselves into a river which was 12:59.150 --> 12:59.950 flowing by. 13:01.330 --> 13:03.550 Thus they destroyed themselves. 13:04.170 --> 13:08.750 But there were two other virgins in the same city of Antioch who served God in all 13:08.750 --> 13:13.330 things, and were true sisters, illustrious in family and distinguished in 13:13.330 --> 13:19.490 life, young and blooming, serious in mind, pious in deportment, and admirable for 13:19.490 --> 13:19.910 zeal. 13:20.290 --> 13:24.650 As if the earth could not bear such excellence, the worshippers of demons 13:24.650 --> 13:28.590 commanded to cast them into the sea, and this was done to them. 13:29.930 --> 13:33.530 In Pontus others endured sufferings horrible to hear. 13:34.050 --> 13:37.150 Their fingers were pierced with sharp reeds under their nails. 13:37.710 --> 13:42.550 Melted lead, bubbling and boiling with the heat, was poured down the backs of others, 13:42.850 --> 13:46.070 and they were roasted in the most sensitive parts of the body. 13:47.230 --> 13:51.610 Others endured on their bowels and privy members shameful and inhuman and 13:51.610 --> 13:56.790 unmentionable torments, which the noble and law-observing judges, to show their 13:56.790 --> 14:01.290 severity, devised as more honorable manifestations of wisdom. 14:01.770 --> 14:05.950 And new tortures were continually invented, as if they were endeavoring, 14:06.110 --> 14:09.730 by surpassing one another, to gain prizes in a contest. 14:11.270 --> 14:15.810 But at the close of these calamities, when finally they could contrive no 14:15.810 --> 14:20.150 greater cruelties, and were weary of putting to death, and were fulfilled and 14:20.150 --> 14:24.030 satiated with the shedding of blood, they turned to what they considered 14:24.030 --> 14:27.970 merciful and humane treatment, so that they seemed to be no longer 14:27.970 --> 14:30.330 devising terrible things against us. 14:31.610 --> 14:35.770 For they said that it was not fitting that the cities should be polluted with the 14:35.770 --> 14:39.990 blood of their own people, or that the government of their rulers, which was kind 14:39.990 --> 14:44.970 and mild toward all, should be defamed through excessive cruelty, but that rather 14:44.970 --> 14:49.150 the beneficence of the humane and royal authority should be extended to all, 14:49.570 --> 14:54.230 and we should no longer be put to death, for the infliction of this punishment upon 14:54.230 --> 14:58.030 us should be stopped in consequence of the humanity of the rulers. 14:59.590 --> 15:04.090 Therefore it was commanded that our eyes should be put out, and that we should be 15:04.090 --> 15:08.050 maimed in one of our limbs, for such things were humane in their sight, 15:08.410 --> 15:10.410 and the lightest of punishments for us. 15:10.930 --> 15:15.110 So that now, on account of this kindly treatment accorded us by the impious, 15:15.470 --> 15:20.530 it was impossible to tell the incalculable number of those whose right eyes had first 15:20.530 --> 15:26.050 been cut out with the sword, and then had been cauterized with fire, or who had been 15:26.050 --> 15:30.570 disabled in the left foot by burning the joints, and afterward condemned to the 15:30.570 --> 15:35.290 provincial copper mines, not so much for service as for distress and hardship. 15:35.730 --> 15:40.750 Besides all these, others encountered other trials, which it is impossible to 15:40.750 --> 15:44.570 recount, for their manly endurance surpasses all description. 15:45.370 --> 15:50.090 In these conflicts the noble martyrs of Christ shone illustrious over the entire 15:50.090 --> 15:54.190 world, and everywhere astonished those who beheld their manliness. 15:54.770 --> 16:00.190 And the evidences of the truly divine and unspeakable power of our Savior were made 16:00.190 --> 16:01.390 manifest through them. 16:01.890 --> 16:06.470 To mention each by name would be a long task, if not indeed impossible. 16:08.590 --> 16:09.570 Chapter 13. 16:10.090 --> 16:14.250 The Bishops of the Church that evinced by their blood the genuineness of the 16:14.250 --> 16:15.670 religion which they preached. 16:17.070 --> 16:20.710 As for the rulers of the church that suffered martyrdom in the principal 16:20.710 --> 16:25.050 cities, the first martyr of the kingdom of Christ, whom we shall mention among the 16:25.050 --> 16:29.670 monuments of the pious, is Anthimus, bishop of the city of Nicomedia, 16:30.070 --> 16:30.910 who was beheaded. 16:32.110 --> 16:37.670 Among the martyrs at Antioch was Lucian, a presbyter of that parish, whose entire 16:37.670 --> 16:39.090 life was most excellent. 16:39.750 --> 16:43.950 At Nicomedia, in the presence of the emperor, he proclaimed the heavenly 16:43.950 --> 16:49.530 kingdom of Christ, first in an oral defense and afterwards by deeds as well. 16:50.910 --> 16:54.810 Of the martyrs in Phoenicia, the most distinguished were those devoted pastors 16:54.810 --> 16:59.550 of the spiritual flocks of Christ, Tyrannion, bishop of the church of Tyre, 16:59.990 --> 17:04.790 Zenobius, a presbyter of the church at Sidon, and Silvanus, bishop of the 17:04.790 --> 17:06.150 churches about Emesa. 17:07.430 --> 17:12.130 The last of these, with others, was made food for wild beasts at Emesa, 17:12.490 --> 17:15.350 and was thus received into the ranks of martyrs. 17:15.670 --> 17:20.170 The other two glorified the word of God at Antioch through patience unto death. 17:20.810 --> 17:25.910 The bishop was thrown into the depths of the sea, but Zenobius, who was a very 17:25.910 --> 17:31.070 skillful physician, died through severe tortures which were applied to his sides. 17:32.390 --> 17:36.890 Of the martyrs in Palestine, Silvanus, bishop of the churches about Gaza, 17:37.350 --> 17:40.810 was beheaded with thirty-nine others at the copper mines of Pheno. 17:41.170 --> 17:45.590 There also the Egyptian bishops, Peleus and Nihilus, with others, 17:45.890 --> 17:47.230 suffered death by fire. 17:48.990 --> 17:54.350 Among these we must mention Pamphilus, a presbyter, who was the great glory of 17:54.350 --> 17:58.670 the parish of Caesarea, and among the men of our time most admirable. 17:59.590 --> 18:03.570 The virtue of his manly deeds we have recorded in the proper place. 18:04.170 --> 18:08.530 Of those who suffered death illustriously at Alexandria and throughout Egypt and 18:08.530 --> 18:13.690 Thebaeus, Peter, bishop of Alexandria, one of the most excellent teachers of the 18:13.690 --> 18:18.290 religion of Christ, should first be mentioned, and of the presbyters with him, 18:18.410 --> 18:23.730 Faustus, Dias, and Ammonius, perfect martyrs of Christ, also Phileas, 18:24.110 --> 18:29.730 Hezekias, Pacemius, and Theodorus, bishops of Egyptian churches, and besides 18:29.730 --> 18:34.230 them many other distinguished persons who are commemorated by the parishes of their 18:34.230 --> 18:35.250 country and region. 18:36.680 --> 18:41.230 It is not for us to describe the conflicts of those who suffered for the divine 18:41.230 --> 18:45.710 religion throughout the entire world, and to relate accurately what happened to 18:45.710 --> 18:46.470 each of them. 18:46.990 --> 18:50.950 This would be the proper work of those who were eyewitnesses of the events. 18:51.490 --> 18:56.370 I will describe for posterity in another work those which I myself witnessed. 18:57.850 --> 19:02.790 But in the present book I will add to what I have given the revocation issued by our 19:02.790 --> 19:07.090 persecutors and those events that occurred at the beginning of the persecution, 19:07.630 --> 19:10.850 which will be most profitable to such as shall read them. 19:12.210 --> 19:16.730 What words could sufficiently describe the greatness and abundance of the prosperity 19:16.730 --> 19:21.610 of the Roman government before the war against us, while the rulers were friendly 19:21.610 --> 19:23.090 and peaceable toward us? 19:23.690 --> 19:27.910 Then those who were highest in the government, and had held the position ten 19:27.910 --> 19:32.830 or twenty years, passed their time in tranquil peace, in festivals and public 19:32.830 --> 19:35.410 games, and most joyful pleasures and cheer. 19:36.590 --> 19:41.250 While thus their authority was growing uninterruptedly, and increasing day by 19:41.250 --> 19:46.030 day, suddenly they changed their peaceful attitude toward us, and began an 19:46.030 --> 19:47.190 unimplacable war. 19:47.690 --> 19:52.250 But the second year of this movement was not yet passed, when a revolution took 19:52.250 --> 19:55.670 place in the entire government and overturned all things. 19:57.410 --> 20:01.610 For a severe sickness came upon the chief of those of whom we have spoken, 20:02.030 --> 20:06.610 by which his understanding was distracted, and with him who was honored with the 20:06.610 --> 20:09.610 second rank, he retired into private life. 20:10.250 --> 20:15.290 Scarcely had he done this when the entire empire was divided, a thing which is not 20:15.290 --> 20:17.530 recorded as having ever occurred before. 20:19.090 --> 20:24.290 Not long after, the Emperor Constantius, who through his entire life was most 20:24.290 --> 20:29.150 kindly and favorably disposed toward his subjects, and most friendly to the Divine 20:29.150 --> 20:34.290 Word, ended his life in the common course of nature, and left his own son, 20:34.490 --> 20:38.030 Constantine, as Emperor and Augustus in his stead. 20:38.310 --> 20:42.930 He was the first that was ranked by them among the gods, and received after death 20:42.930 --> 20:45.290 every honor which one could pay to an Emperor. 20:46.250 --> 20:51.230 He was the kindest and mildest of Emperors, and the only one of those of our 20:51.230 --> 20:55.150 day that passed all the time of his government in a manner worthy of his 20:55.150 --> 20:55.590 office. 20:56.290 --> 21:00.870 Moreover, he conducted himself toward all most favorably and beneficently. 21:01.570 --> 21:06.610 He took not the smallest part in the war against us, but preserved the pious that 21:06.610 --> 21:09.010 were under him unharmed and unabused. 21:09.550 --> 21:13.870 He neither threw down the church buildings, nor did he devise anything else 21:13.870 --> 21:14.690 against us. 21:15.050 --> 21:18.110 The end of his life was honorable and thrice blessed. 21:18.670 --> 21:23.850 He alone at death left his empire happily and gloriously to his own son as his 21:23.850 --> 21:28.490 successor, one who was in all respects most prudent and pious. 21:29.650 --> 21:34.610 His son Constantine entered on the government at once, being proclaimed 21:34.610 --> 21:39.930 Supreme Emperor and Augustus by the soldiers, and long before by God himself, 21:40.130 --> 21:41.010 the King of all. 21:41.510 --> 21:45.590 He showed himself an emulator of his father's piety toward our doctrine. 21:46.130 --> 21:47.590 Such an one was he. 21:48.070 --> 21:53.590 But after this, Licinius was declared Emperor and Augustus by a common vote of 21:53.590 --> 21:54.050 the rulers. 21:55.830 --> 22:01.510 These things grieved Maximinus greatly, for until that time he had been entitled 22:01.510 --> 22:03.150 by all only Caesar. 22:03.870 --> 22:08.530 He therefore, being exceedingly imperious, seized the dignity for himself, 22:08.850 --> 22:12.190 and became Augustus, being made such by himself. 22:12.890 --> 22:17.170 In the meantime, he whom we have mentioned as having resumed his dignity after his 22:17.170 --> 22:21.850 abdication, being detected in conspiring against the life of Constantine, 22:22.410 --> 22:24.310 perished by a most shameful death. 22:24.890 --> 22:29.110 He was the first whose decrees and statues and public monuments were destroyed 22:29.110 --> 22:31.470 because of his wickedness and impiety.