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Lucius went with the general of the soldiers in Egypt, against the
monks in the desert; for he imagined that if he could overcome their
opposition by interrupting the tranquillity which they loved, he would
meet with fewer obstacles in drawing over to his party the Christians
who inhabited the cities. The monasteries of this country were
governed by several individuals of eminent sanctity, who were
strenuously opposed to the heresy of Arius. The people, who were
neither willing nor competent to enter upon the investigation of
doctrinal questions, received their opinions from them, and thought
with them; for they were persuaded that men whose virtue was manifested
by their deeds were in possession of truth. We have heard that the
leaders of these Egyptian ascetics were two men of the name of
Macarius, of whom mention has already been made, Pambo and
Heraclides, and other disciples of Antony.
On reflecting that the Arians could never succeed in establishing an
ascendency over the Catholic Church, unless the monks could be drawn
over to their party, Lucius determined to have recourse to force to
compel the monks to side with him, since he was unable to persuade
them. But here again his scheme failed; for the monks were prepared
to subject their necks to the sword rather than to swerve from the
Nicene doctrines. It is related that, at the very time that the
soldiers were about to attack them a man whose limbs were withered and
who was unable to stand on his feet was carried to them; and that when
they had anointed him with oil, and commanded him in the name of
Christ, whom Lucius persecuted, to arise and go to his house, he
suddenly became whole. This miraculous cure openly manifested the
necessity of adopting the sentiments of those to whom God himself had
testified as possessing the truth, while Lucius was condemned, in
that God heard their prayers and had healed the sick.
But the plotters against the monks were not led to repentance by this
miracle; on the contrary, they arrested these holy men by night, and
conveyed them to an island of Egypt, concealed in the swamps. The
inhabitants of this island had never heard of the Christian faith, and
were devoted to the service of demons: the island contained a temple of
great antiquity which was held in great reverence. It is said that
when the monks landed on the island, the daughter of the priest, who
was possessed of a devil, went to them. The girl ran screaming
towards them; and the people of the island, astonished at her sudden
and strange conduct, followed. When she drew near the ship in which
were the holy messengers, she flung herself pleadingly upon the
ground, and exclaimed supplicatingly in a loud voice, "Wherefore are
you come to us, O servants of the great God? for we have long dwelt
in this island as our residence; we have troubled no one. Unknown to
men, we have concealed ourselves here, and are everywhere surrounded
by these marshes. If, however, it please you, accept our
possessions, and fix your abode here; we will quit the island."
Such were her utterances. Macarius and his companions rebuked the
demon, and the girl became sane. Her father and all her house, with
the inhabitants of the island, immediately embraced Christianity, and
after demolishing their temple, they transformed it into a church. On
these occurrences being reported at Alexandria, Lucius was overcome
with immoderate grief; and, fearing lest he should incur the hatred of
his own partisans, and be accused of warring against God, and not
against man, he sent secret orders for Macarius and his companions to
be reconveyed to their own dwellings in the wilderness. Thus did
Lucius occasion troubles and commotions in Egypt.
About the same period, Didymus the philosopher and several other
illustrious men acquired great renown. Struck by their virtue, and by
that of the monks, the people followed their doctrines and opposed
those of the partisans of Lucius.
The Arians, though not so strong in point of numbers as the other
party, grievously persecuted the church of Egypt.
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