Lucius against the Monks of Egypt

Lucius went with the commander of the soldiers in Egypt against the monks in the desert. He thought that if he could overcome their opposition by disturbing the quiet they loved, he would meet fewer obstacles in winning over to his party the Christians who lived in the cities. The monasteries of that country were governed by several men of outstanding holiness, who were firmly opposed to the heresy of Arius. The people, who were neither willing nor able to look into questions of doctrine for themselves, took their opinions from these men and thought as they did, because they were convinced that men whose virtue showed in their deeds had the truth. We have heard that the leaders of these Egyptian ascetics were two men named Macarius, who have been mentioned already, Pambo and Heraclides, and other disciples of Antony. [a] Lucius reflected that the Arians could never gain the upper hand over the catholic church unless the monks were brought over to their party. Since he could not persuade them, he decided to use force to compel them to take his side. But here too his scheme failed, for the monks were ready to bow their necks to the sword rather than turn away from the Nicene doctrines. It is said that at the very moment the soldiers were about to attack them, a man whose limbs were withered and who could not stand on his feet was carried to them. They anointed him with oil and commanded him, in the name of Christ whom Lucius was persecuting, to get up and go home, and at once he was made whole. This miraculous cure showed openly that people must adopt the views of those to whom God himself had borne witness that they held the truth; and Lucius stood condemned, since God had heard their prayers and healed the sick man.

But this miracle did not bring those plotting against the monks to repentance. On the contrary, they arrested these holy men by night and carried them off to an island of Egypt hidden in the swamps. The people of this island had never heard of the Christian faith and were devoted to the service of demons. The island had a very ancient temple that was held in great reverence. It is said that when the monks landed on the island, the priest’s daughter, who was possessed by a demon, went out to them. The girl ran screaming toward them, and the people of the island followed, astonished at her sudden and strange behavior. When she came near the ship carrying the holy messengers, she threw herself on the ground before them as a suppliant and cried out in a loud, pleading voice: “Why have you come to us, servants of the great God? We have long made our home on this island. We have troubled no one. Unknown to men, we have hidden ourselves here, with these marshes all around us. But if it pleases you, take what we have and settle here; we will leave the island.” That is what she said. Macarius and his companions rebuked the demon, and the girl came to her right mind. Her father and his whole household, together with the people of the island, at once embraced Christianity; they tore down their temple and turned it into a church. When these events were reported at Alexandria, Lucius was overcome with excessive grief. He was afraid of drawing the hatred of his own supporters and of being accused of making war against God and not against men. So he sent secret orders for Macarius and his companions to be taken back to their own homes in the desert. In this way Lucius brought trouble and turmoil on Egypt.

About the same time Didymus the philosopher and several other distinguished men won great fame. Struck by their virtue, and by that of the monks, the people followed their teaching and opposed that of Lucius’s supporters. [c] The Arians, though not as strong in numbers as the other party, persecuted the church of Egypt severely.