Athanasius Returns to Alexandria

Constantine Caesar, to the members of the catholic church of the Alexandrians:

I think it cannot have escaped the knowledge of your devout minds that Athanasius, the interpreter of the revered law, was sent for a time to Gaul, so that he would not suffer some irreparable harm from the wickedness of his bloodthirsty enemies, whose ferocity kept endangering his sacred life. To escape that wickedness, then, he was taken out of the jaws of the men who threatened him into a city under my rule. For as long as it was his appointed place to live, he was abundantly supplied with everything he needed, although his outstanding virtue, trusting in God’s help, would have made light of the weight of an even harsher fortune. Our sovereign, my father, Constantine Augustus of blessed memory, was prevented by death from carrying out his purpose of restoring this bishop to his see and to your most holy devotion. So I have thought it right to carry out his wishes, having inherited the task from him. You will learn how highly we have regarded him when he arrives among you. Nor should anyone be surprised at the honor I have shown him, since I have been moved both by a sense of what was due to so excellent a man and by knowing your loving concern for him. May divine providence keep you, beloved brothers. [a]

Relying on this letter, Athanasius came to Alexandria, and the people of the city received him with great joy. Yet all in the city who had embraced Arianism joined together and plotted against him. Their plots stirred up frequent riots, and these gave the Eusebians a pretext for accusing him before the emperor of having taken possession of the Alexandrian church on his own authority, in spite of the adverse judgment of a general council of bishops. They pressed their charges so successfully that the emperor became angry and banished him from Alexandria. How this came about I will explain later. [b]