Amphilochius, Bishop of Iconium

When the emperor returned, the admirable Amphilochius, whom I have often mentioned, came to ask that the Arian congregations be driven out of the cities. The emperor thought the request too harsh and refused it. For the moment the very wise Amphilochius said nothing, for he had hit on a plan worth remembering. The next time he entered the palace, he saw the emperor’s son Arcadius, who had recently been made emperor, standing at his father’s side. He greeted Theodosius as he usually did, but paid no honor to Arcadius. The emperor thought this neglect came from forgetfulness, and ordered Amphilochius to come forward and greet his son. “Sir,” he said, “the honor I have paid you is enough.” Theodosius was indignant at the discourtesy, and said: “An insult to my son is an insult to me.” Then, and only then, the very wise Amphilochius revealed the purpose of what he had done. He said in a loud voice: “You see, sir, that you will not put up with an insult to your son, and you are bitterly angry with those who are rude to him. Believe, then, that the God of the whole world loathes those who blaspheme the only Son, and hates them as ungrateful to their Savior and Benefactor.”

Then the emperor understood what the bishop meant, and he admired both what he had done and what he had said. Without further delay he issued an edict forbidding the heretics to hold their assemblies. [a]

But it is no easy task to escape all the snares of the common enemy of mankind. It often happens that someone who has kept clear of lustful passion is caught fast in the trap of greed. If he proves stronger than greed, there on the other side lies the pit of envy. And even if he leaps safely over this, he will find a net of passion waiting for him beyond it. The enemy sets countless other stumbling blocks in people’s paths, trying to catch them and ruin them. [b] Besides this, he has the passions of the body at his service to help the schemes he lays against the soul. Only the mind, if it stays awake, gets the better of him, defeating the attack of his schemes by its leaning toward what is divine. Now this admirable emperor had his share of human nature and was not free from its emotions. His righteous anger went beyond the bounds of moderation and led to a savage and lawless deed. I must tell the story for the sake of those into whose hands this history will fall. It does not only bring blame on the admirable emperor; it also does him so much credit that it deserves to be remembered. [c]