How the Dispute over Arius Began at Alexandria

In this way the emperor, like a mighty herald of God, addressed all the provinces in a letter of his own, at the same time warning his subjects against superstitious error and encouraging them to pursue true godliness. But in the midst of his joyful hopes for the success of this measure, he received news of a very serious disturbance that had broken into the peace of the church. He heard it with deep concern, and at once set about finding a remedy for the evil. The origin of this disturbance may be described as follows. The people of God were in a truly flourishing state, and abounded in good works. No terror from outside attacked them; through the favor of God, a bright and very deep peace surrounded his church on every side. Meanwhile, however, the spirit of envy was watching to destroy our blessings. At first it crept in unnoticed, but soon it ran riot in the very assemblies of the saints. At length it reached the bishops themselves, and set them against one another in angry hostility, under the pretense of a jealous concern for the teachings of divine truth. So it was that a great fire was kindled, as it were, from a little spark. Beginning in the church of Alexandria, it spread over the whole of Egypt and Libya and the further Thebaid. In the end it carried its havoc into the other provinces and cities of the empire, so that not only could the leaders of the churches be seen clashing with one another in battles of words, but the people themselves were completely divided, some siding with one party and some with the other. The scandal of these proceedings became so notorious, in fact, that the sacred matters of inspired teaching were held up to the most shameful ridicule in the very theaters of the unbelievers. [a]