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OF the courage and prudence shewn by Eusebius after he had received
the imperial edict which commanded him to depart into Thrace, I think
all who have been hitherto ignorant should hear.
The bearer of this edict reached his destination in the evening, and
was exhorted by Eusebius to keep silent and conceal the cause of his
coming. "For," said the bishop, "the multitude has been nurtured
in divine zeal, and should they learn why you have come they will drown
you, and I shall be held responsible for your death." After thus
speaking anti performing evening service, as he was wont, the old man
started out alone on foot, at nightfall. He confided his intentions
to one of his household servants who followed him carrying nothing but a
cushion and a book. When he had reached the bank of the river (for
the Euphrates runs along the very walls of the town) he embarked in a
boat and told the oarsmen to row to Zeugma. When it was day the
bishop had reached Zeugma, and Samosata was full of weeping and
wailing, for the above mentioned domestic reported the orders given him
to the friends of Eusebius, and told them whom he wished to travel
with him, and what books they were to convey. Then all the
congregation bewailed the removal of their shepherd, and the stream of
the river was crowded with voyagers.
When they came where he was, and saw their beloved pastor, with
lamentations and groanings they shed floods of tears, trod tried to
persuade him to remain, and not abandon the sheep to the wolves. But
all was of no avail, and he read them the apostolic law which clearly
bids us be subjects to magistrates and authorities. When they had
heard him some brought him gold, some silver, some clothes, and
others servants, as though he were starting for some strange and
distant land. The bishop refused to take anything but some slight
gifts from his more intimate friends, and then gave the whole company
his instruction and his prayers, and exhorted them to stand up boldly
for the apostolic decrees.
Then he set out for the Danube, while his friends returned to their
own town, and encouraged one another as they waited for the assaults of
the wolves.
In the belief that I should be wronging them were the warmth and
sincerity of their faith to lack commemoration in my history I shall
now proceed to describe it.
The Arian faction, after depriving the flock of their right excellent
shepherd, set up another bishop in his place; but not an inhabitant of
the city, were he herding in indigence or blazing in wealth, not a
servant, not a handicraftsman, not a hind, not a gardener, nor man
nor woman, whether young or old, came, as had been their wont, to
gatherings in church. The new bishop lived all alone; not a soul
looked at him, or exchanged a word with him. Yet the report is that
he behaved with courteous moderation, of which the following instance
is a proof. On one occasion he had expressed a wish to bathe, so his
servants shut the doors of the bath, and kept out all who wished to
come in. When he saw the crowd before the doors he ordered them to be
thrown open, and directed that every one should freely use the bath.
He exhibited the same conduct in the balls within; for on observing
certain men standing by him while he bathed he begged them to share the
hot water with him. They stood silent. Thinking their hesitation was
due to a respect for him, he quickly arose and made his way out, but
these persons had really been of opinion that even the water was
affected with the pollution of his heresy, and so sent it all down the
sinks, while they ordered a fresh supply to be provided for
themselves. On being informed of this the intruder departed from the
city, for he judged that it was insensate and absurd on his part to
continue to reside in a city which detested him, and treated him as a
common foe. On the departure of Eunomius (for this was his name)
from Samosata, Lucius, an unmistakable wolf, and enemy of the
sheep, was appointed in his place. But the sheep, all shepherdless
as they were, shepherded themselves, and persistently preserved the
apostolic doctrine in all its purity. How the new intruder was
detested the following relation will set forth.
Some lads were playing ball in the market place and enjoying the game,
when Lucius was passing by. It chanced that the ball was dropped and
passed between the feet of the ass. The boys raised an outcry because
they thought that their ball was polluted. On perceiving this Lucius
told one of his suite to stop and learn what was going on. The boys
lit a fire and tossed the ball through the flames with the idea that by
so doing they purified it. I know indeed that this was but a boyish
act, and a survival of the ancient ways; but it is none the less
sufficient to prove in what hatred the town held the Arian faction.
Lucius however was no follower of the mildness of Eunomius, but
persuaded the authorities to exile many others of the clergy, and
despatched the most distinguished champions of the divine dogmas to the
furthest confines of the Roman Empire; Evolcius, a deacon, to
Oasis, to an abandoned village; Antiochus, who had the honour of
being related to the great Eusebius, for he was his brother's son,
and further distinguished by his own honourable character, and of
priestly rank, to a distant part of Armenia. How boldly this
Antiochus contended for the divine decrees will be seen from the
following facts. When the divine Eusebius after his many conflicts,
whereof each was a victory, had died a martyr's death, the wonted
synod of the people was held, and among others came Jovinus then
bishop of Perrha who for some little time had held a communion with the
Arians. Antiochus was unanimously chosen as successor to his uncle.
When brought before the holy table and bidden there to bend the knee,
he turned round and saw that Jovinus had put his right hand on his
head. Plucking the hand away he bade him be gone from among the
consecrators, saying that he could not endure a right hand which bad
received mysteries blasphemously celebrated.
These events happened somewhat later. At the time I am speaking of
he was removed to the interior of Armenia.
The divine Eusebius was living by the Danube where the Goths were
ravaging Thrace and besieging cities, as is described in his own
works.
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