Photinus and His Heresy

During this time Photinus, who then presided over the church in that city, declared more openly the creed he had devised. Because of the uproar this caused, the emperor ordered a synod of bishops to be held at Sirmium. From the eastern bishops there gathered Mark of Arethusa; George of Alexandria, whom, as I said before, the Arians had sent and placed over that see when Gregory was removed; Basil, who presided over the church at Ancyra after Marcellus was thrown out; Pancratius of Pelusium; and Hypatian of Heraclea. Of the western bishops there were present Valens of Mursa and the then celebrated Hosius of Cordova in Spain, who came very much against his will. They met at Sirmium after the consulship of Sergius and Nigrinian, in a year when no consul held the customary celebrations on taking office, because of the turmoil of war. When they had met and found that Photinus held the heresy of Sabellius the Libyan and of Paul of Samosata, they at once deposed him. This decision was praised by everyone, both at the time and afterward, as honorable and just. But those who stayed on there later acted in a way that was by no means so generally approved. [a]