Constantius Writes for Athanasius; the Synod of Jerusalem

When the emperor sent Athanasius back to Egypt, he wrote in his favor to the bishops and presbyters of that country and to the people of the church of Alexandria. He bore witness to the integrity of his conduct and the goodness of his character, and urged them to be of one mind and to unite in prayer and in the service of God under his guidance. He added that if any ill-disposed persons should stir up disturbances, they would receive the punishment the laws lay down for such offenses. He also commanded that the decrees he had earlier issued against Athanasius and those in communion with him should be erased from the public records, and that his clergy should enjoy the same exemptions they had had before. Edicts to this effect were sent to the governors of Egypt and Libya. [a] As soon as he arrived in Egypt, Athanasius removed those he knew to be attached to Arianism, and put the government of the church, and the confession of faith of the Council of Nicaea, into the hands of those he approved, urging them to hold to it earnestly. It was said at the time that when he traveled through other countries he made the same change if he happened to visit churches that were in the hands of the Arians. He was indeed accused of having dared to carry out ordinations in cities where he had no right to do so. But because he had made good his return against the will of his enemies, and because it did not seem that he could easily be brought under suspicion, since he was honored with the friendship of the emperor Constans, he was held in greater regard than before. Many bishops who had earlier been hostile to him received him into communion, especially those of Palestine. When he visited them at that time, they welcomed him kindly. They held a synod at Jerusalem, and Maximus and the others wrote the following letter in his favor. [c]