Arius Received at Jerusalem

Meanwhile letters arrived from the emperor directing the members of the synod to hurry to the New Jerusalem. So they left Tyre at once and traveled with all speed to Jerusalem. There, after celebrating a festival for the consecration of the place, they admitted Arius and his followers to communion again. They did this, they said, in obedience to the wishes of the emperor, who had told them in his letter that he was fully satisfied about the faith of Arius and Euzoius. They also wrote to the church at Alexandria. They said that now that all envy had been banished, the affairs of the church were settled in peace; and that since Arius had acknowledged the truth by his recantation, it was only right that, being from now on a member of the church, he should from now on be received by them as well. By saying that all envy was now banished, they meant the banishment of Athanasius. At the same time they sent word of what had been done to the emperor, in much the same terms. [a]

But while the bishops were busy with these matters, other letters came unexpectedly from the emperor, saying that Athanasius had fled to him for protection, and that on his account they must come to Constantinople. This unexpected letter from the emperor read as follows.