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AFTER the Synod of Jerusalem, Arius went to Egypt, but as he
could not obtain permission to hold communion with the Church of
Alexandria, he returned to Constantinople. As all those who had
embraced his sentiments, and those who were attached to Eusebius,
bishop of Nicomedia, had assembled cunningly in that city for the
purpose of holding a council, Alexander, who was then ordering the
see of Constantinople, used every effort to dissolve the council.
But as his endeavors were frustrated, he openly refused all covenant
with Arius, affirming that it was neither just nor according to
ecclesiastical canons, to make powerless their own vote, and that of
those bishops who had been assembled at Nicaea, from nearly every
region under the sun. When the partisans of Eusebius perceived that
their arguments produced no effect on Alexander, they had recourse to
contumely, and threatened that unless he would receive Arius into
communion on a stated day, he should be expelled from the church, and
that another should be elected in his place who would be willing to hold
communion with Arius. They then separated, the partisans of
Eusebius, to await the time they had fixed for carrying their menaces
into execution, and Alexander to pray that the words of Eusebius
might be prevented from being carried into deed. His chief source of
fear arose from the fact that the emperor had been persuaded to give
way. On the day before the appointed day he prostrated himself before
the altar, and continued all the night in prayer to God, that his
enemies might be prevented from carrying their schemes into execution
against him. Late in the afternoon, Arius, being seized suddenly
with pain in the stomach, was compelled to repair to the public place
set apart for emergencies of this nature. As some time passed away
without his coming out, some persons, who were waiting for him
outside, entered, and found him dead and still sitting upon the seat.
When his death became known, all people did not view the occurrence
under the same aspect. Some believed that he died at that very hour,
seized by a sudden disease of the heart, or suffering weakness from his
joy over the fact that his matters were falling out according to his
mind; others imagined that this mode of death was inflicted on him in
judgment, on account of his impiety. Those who held his sentiments
were of opinion that his death was brought about by magical arts. It
will not be out of place to quote what Athanasius, bishop of
Alexandria, stated on the subject. The following is his narrative.
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