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NOT long after the council of Nice, Arius was recalled from
exile; but the prohibition to enter Alexandria was unrevoked. It
shall be related in the proper place how he strove to obtain permission
to return to Egypt. Not long after, Eusebius, bishop of
Nicomedia, and Theognis, bishop of Nicaea, regained possession of
their churches after expelling Amphion and Chrestos who had been
ordained in their stead. They owed their restoration to a document
which they had presented to the bishops, containing a retractation:
"Although we have been condemned without a trial by your piety, we
deemed it right to remain silent concerning the judgment passed by your
piety. But as it would be absurd to remain longer silent, when
silence is regarded as a proof of the truth of the calumniators, we now
declare to you that we too agree in this faith, and after a diligent
examination of the thought in the word 'consubstantial,' we are
wholly intent upon preserving peace, and that we never pursued any
heresy. Having proposed for the safety of the churches such argument
as occurred to us, and having been fully convinced, and fully
convincing those who ought to have been persuaded by us, we undersigned
the creed; but we did not subscribe to the anathema, not because we
impugned the creed, but because we did not believe the accused to be
what he was represented to us; the letters we had received from him,
and the arguments he had delivered in our presence, fully satisfying us
that he was not such an one. Would that the holy Synod were convinced
that we are not bent on opposing, but are accordant with the points
accurately defined by you, and by this document, we do attest our
assent thereto: and this is not because we are wearied of exile, but
because we wish to avert all suspicion of heresy; for if you will
condescend to admit us now into your presence, you will find us in all
points of the same sentiments as yourselves, and obedient to your
decisions, and then it shall seem good to your piety to be merciful to
him who was accused on these points and to have him recalled. If the
party amenable to justice has been recalled and has defended himself
from the charge made, it would be absurd, were we by our silence to
confirm the reports that calumny had spread against us. We beseech you
then, as befits your piety, dear to Christ, that you memorialize our
emperor, most beloved of God, and that you hand over our petition,
and that you counsel quickly, what is agreeable to you concerning
us." It was by these means that Eusebius and Theognis, after their
change of sentiment, were reinstated in their churches.
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