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DOROTHEUS bishop of the Arians, who, as we have said, was
translated by that sect from Antioch to Constantinople, having
attained the age of one hundred and nineteen years, died on the 6th of
November, in the seventh consulate of Honorius, and the second of
Theodosius Augustus. After him Barbas presided over the Arian
sect, in whose time the Arian faction was favored by possessing two
very eloquent members, both having the rank of presbyter, one of whom
was named Timothy, and the other George. Now George excelled in
Grecian literature; Timothy, on the other hand, was proficient in
the sacred Scriptures. George indeed constantly had the writings of
Aristotle and Plato in his hands: Timothy found his inspiration in
Origen; he also evinced in his public expositions of the holy
Scriptures no inconsiderable acquaintance with the Hebrew language.
Now Timothy had formerly identified himself with the sect of the
Psathyrians; but George had been ordained by Barbas. I have myself
conversed with Timothy, and was exceedingly struck by the readiness
with which he would answer the most difficult questions, and clear up
the most obscure passages in the Divine oracles; he also invariably
quoted Origen as an unquestionable authority in confirmation of his own
utterances. But it is astonishing to me that these two men should
continue to uphold the heresy of the Arians; the one being so
conversant with Plato, and the other having Origen so frequently on
his lips. For Plato does not say that the second and third cause, as
he usually terms them, had a beginning of existence: and Origen
everywhere acknowledges the Son to be co-eternal with the Father.
Nevertheless although they remained connected with their own church,
still they unconsciously changed the Arian sect for the better, and
displaced many of the blasphemies of Arius by their own teachings.
But enough of these persons. Sisinnius bishop of the Novatians dying
under the same consulate, Chrysanthus was ordained in his place, of
whom we shall have to speak by and by.
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