The Death of Athanasius, and Lucius at Alexandria

About this time Athanasius, bishop of the church of Alexandria, died, after holding his high priesthood for about forty-six years. The Arians learned of his death early. Euzoius, the head of the Arians at Antioch, and Magnus, the chief treasurer, were sent by the emperor, and they lost no time in seizing and imprisoning Peter, whom Athanasius had appointed to succeed him as bishop. At once they handed the government of the church over to Lucius. [a]

So the people of Egypt suffered more severely than those anywhere else, and misfortune piled on misfortune for the members of the catholic church. As soon as Lucius was settled in Alexandria, he tried to take possession of the churches. The people resisted him, and the clergy and the holy virgins were accused of starting the riot. Some escaped as if the city had fallen to an enemy; others were seized and imprisoned. Some of the prisoners were afterward dragged out of the dungeons to be torn with hooks and lashes, while others were burned with flaming torches. It seemed a wonder that they could survive the tortures they underwent. Banishment, or even death itself, would have been better than such sufferings. Peter the bishop escaped from prison, boarded a ship, and went to Rome, whose bishop held the same views as he did. So the Arians, though not many in number, kept possession of the churches. At the same time the emperor issued an edict that as many of the followers of the Nicene doctrines as Lucius might direct were to be driven out of Alexandria and the rest of Egypt. Euzoius, having accomplished everything he had set out to do, returned to Antioch. [b]