Liberius Recalled and Restored to Rome

Not long after these events the emperor returned from Rome to Sirmium. When a delegation came to him from the Western bishops, he recalled Liberius from Beroea. In the presence of the delegates of the Eastern bishops, and of the other priests who were at the camp, Constantius pressed him to confess that the Son is not of one substance with the Father. He was urged on to this by Basil, Eustathius and Eusebius, who had great influence with him. These men had gathered into one document the decrees against Paul of Samosata and against Photinus, bishop of Sirmium. To these they added a statement of faith drawn up at Antioch when the church there was dedicated, as if certain people had used the term “of one substance” as a cover for setting up a heresy of their own. [a]

Liberius, Athanasius, Alexander, Severianus, and Crescens, a priest of Africa, were persuaded to agree to this document, as were Ursacius, Germinius, bishop of Sirmium, Valens, bishop of Mursa, and as many of the Eastern bishops as were present. They also gave partial approval to a confession of faith drawn up by Liberius, in which he declared that those who say the Son is not like the Father in substance and in every other respect are excommunicated. For when Eudoxius and his party at Antioch, who favored the heresy of Aetius, received the letter of Hosius, they had spread the report that Liberius had given up the term “of one substance” and had admitted that the Son is unlike the Father. After the Western bishops had made these enactments, the emperor allowed Liberius to return to Rome. The bishops then gathered at Sirmium wrote to Felix, who was governing the Roman church, and to the other bishops, asking them to receive Liberius. They directed that the two should share the apostolic throne and carry out the priestly duties together, in harmony of mind, and that whatever had been done unlawfully in the ordination of Felix or in the banishment of Liberius should be buried and forgotten.

The people of Rome thought Liberius a very excellent man and held him in high esteem for the courage he had shown in standing up to the emperor, so much so that they had even rioted on his account and gone as far as bloodshed. Felix lived only a short time after this, and Liberius was left in sole possession of the church. This was no doubt ordained by God, so that the seat of Peter might not be dishonored by being held by two bishops; for such an arrangement is a sign of discord, and is foreign to the law of the church.