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Athanasius the bishop being fortified with such letters as these,
passed through Syria, and came into Palestine. On arriving at
Jerusalem he acquainted Maximus the bishop both with what had been
done in the Council of Sardica, and also that the Emperor
Constantius had confirmed its decision: he then proposed that a Synod
of the bishops there should be held. Maximus, therefore, without
delay sent for certain of the bishops of Syria and Palestine, and
having assembled a council, he restored Athanasius to communion, and
to his former dignity. After which the Synod communicated by letter
to the Alexandrians, and to all the bishops of Egypt and Libya,
what had been determined respecting Athanasius. Whereupon the
adversaries of Athanasius exceedingly derided Maximus, because having
before assisted in his deposition, he had suddenly changed his mind,
and as if nothing had previously taken place, had voted for his
restoration to communion and rank. When Ursacius and Valens, who
had been fiery partisans of Arianism, ascertained these things,
condemning their former zeal, they proceeded to Rome, where they
presented their recantation to Julius the bishop, and gave their
assent to the doctrine of consubstantiality: they also wrote to
Athanasius, and expressed their readiness to hold communion with him
in future. Thus Ursacius and Valens were at that time subdued by the
good fortune of Athanasius and induced to recognize the orthodox
faith. Athanasius passed through Pelusium on his way to Alexandria,
and admonished the inhabitants of every city to beware of the Arians,
and to receive those only that professed the Homoousian faith. In
some of the churches also he performed ordination; which afforded
another ground of accusation against him, because of his undertaking to
ordain in the dioceses of others. Such was the progress of affairs at
that period in reference to Athanasius.
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