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WHILE these things were taking place, the thirtieth year of
Constantine's reign was completed. But Arius with his adherents
having returned to Alexandria, again disturbed the whole city; for
the people of Alexandria were exceedingly indignant both at the
restoration of this incorrigible heretic with his partisans, and also
because their bishop Athanasius had been sent to exile. When the
emperor was apprised of the perverse disposition of Arius, he once
more ordered him to repair to Constantinople, to give an account of
the commotions he had afresh endeavored to excite. It happened at that
time that Alexander, who had some time before succeeded Metrophanes,
presided over the church at Constantinople. That this prelate was a
man of devoted piety was distinctly manifested by the conflict he
entered into with Arius; for when Arius arrived and the people were
divided into two factions and the whole city was thrown into confusion:
some insisting that the Nicene Creed should be by no means infringed
on, while others contended that the opinion of Arius was consonant to
reason. In this state of affairs, Alexander was driven to straits:
more especially since Eusebius of Nicomedia had violently threatened
that he would cause him to be immediately deposed, unless he admitted
Arius and his followers to communion. Alexander, however, was far
less troubled at the thought of his own deposition as fearful of the
subversion of the principles of the faith, which they were so anxious
to effect: and regarding himself as the constituted guardian of the
doctrines recognized, and the decisions made by the council at
Nicaea, he exerted himself to the utmost to prevent their being
violated or depraved. Reduced to this extremity, he bade farewell to
all logical resources, and made God his refuge, devoting himself to
continued fasting and never ceased from praying. Communicating his
purpose to no one, he shut himself up alone in the church called
Irene: there going up to the altar, and prostrating himself on the
ground beneath the holy communion table, he poured forth his fervent
prayers weeping; and this he ceased not to do for many successive
nights and days. What he thus earnestly asked from God, he
received: for his petition was such a one: 'If the opinion of Arius
were correct, he might not be permitted to see the day appointed for
its discussion; but that if he himself held the true faith, Arius,
as the author of all these evils, might suffer the punishment due to
his impiety.'
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