Eusebius and Theognis Restored to Their Sees

Not long after the Council of Nicaea, Arius was recalled from exile, but the ban on his entering Alexandria was not lifted. I will tell in its proper place how he worked to obtain permission to return to Egypt. Not long afterward, Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, and Theognis, bishop of Nicaea, took possession of their churches again, after driving out Amphion and Chrestus, who had been ordained in their place. They owed their restoration to a document containing a recantation, which they had presented to the bishops: [a]

“Although we were condemned by Your Piety without a trial, we thought it right to keep silent about the judgment Your Piety had passed. But since it would be absurd to stay silent any longer, when silence is taken as proof that our slanderers speak the truth, we now declare to you that we too agree in this faith. After carefully examining the meaning of the word ‘of one substance,’ we are wholly intent on keeping the peace, and we have never followed any heresy. “For the safety of the churches we put forward such arguments as occurred to us. Then, having been fully convinced ourselves, and having fully convinced those who ought to be persuaded by us, we signed the creed. But we did not sign the anathema. This was not because we found fault with the creed, but because we did not believe the accused man to be what he was represented to us as being. The letters we had received from him, and the arguments he had made in our presence, fully satisfied us that he was no such man. “We wish the holy synod were convinced that we are not set on opposing you, but are in agreement with the points you have precisely defined; and by this document we attest our assent to them. We do this not because we are weary of exile, but because we wish to clear away all suspicion of heresy. For if you will be good enough to admit us to your presence now, you will find us of the same mind as yourselves on every point and obedient to your decisions. And then Your Piety will see fit to show mercy to the man who was accused on these points, and to have him recalled. “If the one who was answerable to justice has been recalled and has cleared himself of the charge brought against him, it would be absurd for us, by our silence, to confirm the reports that slander has spread against us. We beg you, then, as befits your Christ-loving piety, to lay our case before our emperor, most beloved of God, to hand over our petition, and to decide quickly what you think right concerning us.”

It was by these means that Eusebius and Theognis, having changed their minds, were restored to their churches.