The Synod at Antioch Deposes Eustathius

So they called a synod at Antioch and deposed Eustathius as a supporter of the Sabellian heresy, rather than of the teaching the council at Nicaea had laid down. Some say this was done for other reasons, and not good ones, though no others were openly stated. This is a common thing. Bishops are in the habit of doing it in every case: they accuse and pronounce ungodly those they depose, but do not explain their grounds for doing so. George, bishop of Laodicea in Syria, one of those who detested the term homoousios, assures us in his Praise of Eusebius of Emesa that they deposed Eustathius for favoring Sabellianism, on the charge brought by Cyrus, bishop of Beroea. Of Eusebius of Emesa we will speak elsewhere in due order. George writes about Eustathius somewhat inconsistently. After saying that Cyrus accused him of holding the heresy of Sabellius, he tells us again that Cyrus himself was convicted of the same error and deposed for it. Now how could Cyrus accuse Eustathius of being a Sabellian when he leaned toward Sabellianism himself? It seems likely, then, that Eustathius was condemned on other grounds. [a]

At that time, however, a dangerous riot broke out at Antioch over his deposition. When they went on to elect a successor, so fierce a quarrel flared up that it threatened the whole city with destruction. The people were split into two factions. One fiercely pressed for the transfer of Eusebius Pamphilus from Caesarea in Palestine to Antioch; the other insisted just as strongly that Eustathius be restored. The common people of the city caught the spirit of partisanship in this quarrel among the Christians, and armed forces were drawn up on both sides with hostile intent. A bloody clash would have taken place if God, and fear of the emperor, had not held back the violence of the crowd. For the emperor by his letters, and Eusebius by refusing to accept the bishopric, helped to calm the uproar. For this the emperor greatly admired that bishop. He wrote to him praising his wise decision, and congratulating him as one thought worthy to be bishop not of one city only, but of almost the whole world. As a result, it is said, the bishop’s chair of the church at Antioch stood empty for eight years in a row after this. But at last, through the efforts of those who aimed to overthrow the Nicene Creed, Euphronius was duly installed. This is the extent of my information about the synod held at Antioch because of Eustathius.

Immediately after these events Eusebius, who had long before left Berytus and was then presiding over the church at Nicomedia, worked hard together with those of his party to bring Arius back to Alexandria. But how they managed it, and by what means the emperor was persuaded to admit both Arius and Euzoius with him into his presence, must now be told.