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The pastors who had assembled about this matter, prepared by common
consent an epistle addressed to Dionysius, bishop of Rome, and
Maximus of Alexandria, and sent it to all the provinces. In this
they make manifest to all their own zeal and the perverse error of
Paul, and the arguments and discussions which they had with him, and
show the entire life and conduct of the man. It may be well to put on
record at the present time the following extracts from their writing:
"To Dionysius and Maximus, and to all our fellow-ministers
throughout the world, bishops, presbyters, and deacons, and to the
whole Catholic Church under heaven, Helenus, Hymenaeus,
Theophilus, Theotecnus, Maximus, Proclus, Nicomas, Aelianus,
Paul, Bolanus, Protogenes, Hierax, Eutychius, Theodorus,
Malchion, and Lucius, and all the others who dwell with us in the
neighboring cities and nations, bishops, presbyters, and deacons,
and the churches of God, greeting to the beloved brethren in the
Lord." A little farther on they proceed thus:" We sent for and
called many of the bishops from a distance to relieve us from this
deadly doctrine; as Dionysius of Alexandria and Firmilianus of
Cappadocia, those blessed men. The first of these not considering
the author of this delusion worthy to be addressed, sent a letter to
Antioch, not written to him, but to the entire parish, of which we
give a copy below. But Firmilianus came twice and condemned his
innovations, as we who were present know and testify, and many others
understand. But as he promised to change his opinions, he believed
him and hoped that without any reproach to the Word what was necessary
would be done. So he delayed the matter, being deceived by him who
denied even his own God and Lord, and had not kept the faith which he
formerly held.
And now Firmilianus was again on his way to Antioch, and had come as
far as Tarsus because he had learned by experience his God-denying
wickedness. But while we, having come together, were calling for him
and awaiting his arrival, he died."
After other things they describe as follows the manner of life which he
led:
"Whereas he has departed from the rule of faith, and has turned aside
after base and spurious teachings, it is not necessary, since he is
without, that we should pass judgment upon his practices: as for
instance in that although formerly destitute and poor, and having
received no wealth from his fathers, nor made anything by trade or
business, he now possesses abundant wealth through his iniquities and
sacrilegious acts, and through those things which he extorts from the
brethren, depriving the injured of their rights and promising to assist
them for reward, yet deceiving them, and plundering those who in their
trouble are ready to give that they may obtain reconciliation with their
oppressors, 'supposing that gain is godliness'; or in that he is
haughty, and is puffed up, and assumes worldly dignities, preferring
to be called ducenarius rather than bishop; and struts in the
market-places, reading letters and reciting them as he walks in
public, attended by a body-guard, with a multitude preceding and
following him, so that the faith is envied and hated on account of his
pride and haughtiness of heart, or in that he practices chicanery in
ecclesiastical assemblies, contrives to glorify himself, and deceive
with appearances, and astonish the minds of the simple, preparing for
himself a tribunal and lofty throne, not like a disciple of Christ,
and possessing a 'secretum', like the rulers of the world, and so
calling it, and striking his thigh with his hand, and stamping on the
tribunal with his feet, or in that he rebukes and insults those who do
not applaud, and shake their handkerchiefs as in the theaters, and
shout and leap about like the men and women that are stationed around
him, and hear him in this unbecoming manner, but who listen reverently
and orderly as in the house of God, or in that he violently and
coarsely assails in public the expounders of the Word that have
departed this life, and magnifies himself, not as a bishop, but as a
sophist and juggler, and stops the psalms to our Lord Jesus Christ,
as being the modern productions of modern men, and trains women to sing
psalms to himself in the midst of the church on the great day of the
passover, which any one might shudder to hear, and persuades the
bishops and presbyters of the neighboring districts and cities who fawn
upon him, to advance the same ideas in their discourses to the people.
For to anticipate something of what we shall presently write, he is
unwilling to acknowledge that the
Son of God has come down from heaven. And this is not a mere
assertion, but it is abundantly proved from the records which we have
sent you; and not least where he says 'Jesus Christ is from
below.' But those singing to him and extolling him among the people
say that their impious teacher has come down an angel from heaven, And
he does not forbid such things; but the arrogant man is even present
when they are uttered. And there are the women, the
'subintroductae,' as the people of Antioch call them, belonging to
him and to the presbyters and deacons that are with him. Although he
knows and has convicted these men, yet he connives at this and their
other incurable sins, in order that they may be bound to him, and
through fear for themselves may not dare to accuse him for his wicked
words and deeds. But he has also made them rich; on which account he
is loved and admired by those who covet such things. We know,
beloved, that the bishop and all the clergy should be an example to the
people of all good works. And we are not ignorant how many have fallen
or incurred suspicion, through the women whom they have thus brought
in. So that even if we should allow that he commits no sinful act,
yet he ought to avoid the suspicion which arises from such a thing,
lest he scandalize some one, or lead others to imitate him. For how
can he reprove or admonish another not to be too familiar with women,
lest he fall, as it is written, when he has himself sent one away
already, and now has two with him, blooming and beautiful, and takes
them with him wherever he goes, and at the same time lives in luxury
and surfeiting? Because of these things all mourn and lament by
themselves; but they so fear his tyranny and power, that they dare not
accuse him. But as we have said, while one might call the man to
account for this conduct, if he held the Catholic doctrine and was
numbered with us, since he has scorned the mystery and struts about in
the abominable heresy of Artemas , we think it unnecessary to demand
of him an explanation of these things."
Afterwards, at the close of the epistle, they add these words:
"Therefore we have been compelled to excommunicate him, since he sets
himself against God, and refuses to obey; and to appoint in i his
place another bishop for the Catholic Church. By divine direction,
as we believe, we have appointed Domnus, who is adorned with all the
qualities becoming in a bishop, and who is a son of the blessed
Demetrianus, who formerly presided in a distinguished manner over the
same parish. We have informed you of this that you may write to him,
and may receive letters of communion from him. But let this man write
to Artemas; and let those who think as Artemas does, communicate
with him."
As Paul had fallen from the episcopate, as well as from the orthodox
faith, Domnus, as has been said, became bishop of the church at
Antioch. But as Paul refused to surrender the church building, the
Emperor Aurelian was petitioned; and he decided the matter most
equitably, ordering the building to be given to those to whom the
bishops of Italy and of the city of Rome should adjudge it. Thus
this man was driven out of the church, with extreme disgrace, by the
worldly power. Such was Aurelian's treatment of us at that time;
but in the course of his reign he changed his mind in regard to us, and
was moved by certain advisers to institute a persecution against us.
And there was great talk about this on every side. But as he was
about to do it, and was, so to speak, in the very act of signing the
decrees against us, the divine judgment came upon him and restrained
him at the very verge of his undertaking, showing in a manner that all
could see clearly, that the rulers of this world can never find an
opportunity against the churches of Christ, except the hand, that
defends them permits it, in divine and heavenly judgment, for the sake
of discipline and correction, at such times as it sees best.
After a reign of six years, Aurelian was succeeded by Probus. He
reigned for the same number of years, and Carus, with his sons,
Carinus and Numerianus, succeeded him. After they had reigned less
than three years the government devolved on Diocletian, and those
associated with him. Under them took place the persecution of our
time, and the destruction of the churches connected with it. Shortly
before this, Dionysius, bishop of Rome, after holding office for
nine years, died, and was succeeded by Felix.
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