|
ON the death of the tyrants, Constantius anticipated the restoration
of peace and cessation of tumults, and quilted Sirmium in order to
return to ancient Rome, and to enjoy the honor of a triumph after his
victory over the tyrants. He likewise intended to bring the Eastern
and the Western bishops, if possible, to one mind concerning
doctrine, by convening a council in Italy. Julius died about this
period, after having governed the church of Rome during twenty five
years; and Liberius succeeded him. Those who were opposed to the
doctrines of the Nicaean council thought this a favorable opportunity
to calumniate the bishops whom they had deposed, and to procure their
ejection from the church as abettors of false doctrine, and as
disturbers of the public peace; and to accuse them of having sought,
during the life of Constans, to excite a misunderstanding between the
emperors; and it was true, as we related above, that Constans
menaced his brother with war unless he would consent to receive the
orthodox bishops. Their efforts were principally directed against
Athanasius, towards whom they entertained so great an aversion that,
even when he was protected by Constans, and enjoyed the friendship of
Constantius, they could not conceal their enmity. Narcissus, bishop
of Cilicia, Theodore, bishop of Thrace, Eugenius, bishop of
Nicaea, Patrophilus, bishop of Scythopolis, Menophantes, bishop
of Ephesus, and other bishops, to the number of thirty, assembled
themselves in Antioch, and wrote a letter to all the bishops of every
region, in which they stated that Athanasius had returned to his
bishopric in violation of the rules of the Church, that he had not
justified himself in any council, and that he was only supported by
some of his own faction; and they exhorted them not to hold communion
with him, nor to write to him, but to enter into communion with
George, who had been ordained to succeed him. Athanasius only
contemned these proceedings; but he was about to undergo greater trials
than any he had yet experienced. Immediately on the death of
Magnentius, and as soon as Constantius found himself sole master of
the Roman Empire, he directed all his efforts to induce the bishops
of the West to admit that the Son is of like substance with the
Father. In carrying out this scheme, however, he did not, in the
first place, resort to compulsion, but endeavored by persuasion to
obtain the concurrence of the other bishops in the decrees of the
Eastern bishops against Athanasius; for he thought that if he could
bring them to be of one mind on this point, it would be easy for him to
regulate aright the affairs connected with religion.
|
|