The Presbyter Who Pleaded for Arius

The emperor Constantine had a sister named Constantia. She was the widow of Licinius, who had for some time shared the imperial rank with Constantine, but had seized a tyrant’s power and had been put to death for it. This princess kept in her household a certain presbyter whom she trusted, who was tinged with the teachings of Arianism. Prompted by Eusebius and others, he took the chance, in his private conversations with Constantia, to suggest that the synod had done Arius an injustice, and that the common report about him was not true. Constantia fully believed what the presbyter said, but did not dare to report it to the emperor. Now it happened that she became dangerously ill, and her brother visited her every day. As the disease grew worse and she expected to die, she commended this presbyter to the emperor, testifying to his diligence and piety, and to his devoted loyalty to his sovereign. She died soon after, and the presbyter became one of the people closest to the emperor. Little by little he grew freer in speaking, and repeated to the emperor what he had said to his sister before. He declared that Arius held no views other than those the synod had stated, and that if he were admitted to the emperor’s presence, he would give his full assent to what the synod had decreed. He added, moreover, that Arius had been slandered without reason. The presbyter’s words seemed strange to the emperor, and he said: “If Arius signs with the synod and holds its views, I will both give him a hearing and send him back to Alexandria with honor.” Having said this, he immediately wrote to him in these words: [a]

“Victor Constantine Maximus Augustus, to Arius. [b] “Your Reverence was informed some time ago that you might come to my court, in order to have an interview with us. We are more than a little surprised that you did not do this at once. So take a public carriage immediately and hurry to our court, so that, when you have experienced our clemency and regard for you, you may return to your own country. May God protect you, beloved. Dated the twenty-fifth of November.” [c]

This was the emperor’s letter to Arius. And I cannot help admiring the ardent zeal the prince showed for religion. For it appears from this document that he had often urged Arius before to change his views, since he rebukes him for delaying to return to the truth, though he himself had written to him many times. Now when he received this letter, Arius came to Constantinople, accompanied by Euzoius, whom Alexander had stripped of his office of deacon when he excommunicated Arius and his followers. The emperor admitted them to his presence, and asked them whether they would agree to the creed. And when they readily gave their assent, he ordered them to hand him a written statement of their faith. [d]