Documents on the Council of Tyre, Part 1

So the plot came to an end. The Melitians were driven back and covered with shame. Even so, Eusebius and his party still did not keep quiet. It was not the Melitians they cared about but Arius and his followers, and they were afraid that if the Melitians’ proceedings were stopped, they would no longer find actors to play the parts through whom they might bring that heresy in. So they stirred up the Melitians again and persuaded the emperor to order a council to be held anew at Tyre. Count Dionysius was sent there, and Eusebius and his party were given a military guard. Macarius too was sent to Tyre as a prisoner under a guard of soldiers. And the emperor wrote to me and laid on me a command that allowed no refusal, so that, however unwilling, I set out. The whole plot can be understood from the letters that the bishops of Egypt wrote. But it will be necessary to tell how they contrived it from the outset, so that the malice and wickedness practiced against me may be seen. In Egypt, Libya and Pentapolis there are nearly one hundred bishops. Not one of them brought any charge against me. None of the presbyters found any fault with me. None of the people said anything against me. It was the Melitians, who had been expelled by Peter, and the Arians who divided the plot between them: the one party claimed for itself the right of accusing me, the other the right of sitting in judgment on the case. I objected to Eusebius and his party as my enemies on account of the heresy. Next, I showed in the following way that the man called my accuser was not a presbyter at all. When Melitius was admitted into communion (I wish he had never been admitted!), the blessed Alexander, who knew his craftiness, required from him a list of the bishops he said he had in Egypt, and of the presbyters and deacons in Alexandria itself, and of any he had in the country district. Pope Alexander did this so that Melitius, once he had been given the freedom of the church, would not palm off a great many on the church, and so, by constant fraud, keep forcing on us whomever he pleased. Accordingly Melitius drew up the following list of those in Egypt. A list presented by Melitius to Bishop Alexander. I, Melitius of Lycopolis; Lucius of Antinoopolis; Phasileus of Hermopolis; Achilles of Cusae; Ammonius of Diospolis. In Ptolemais: Pachymes of Tentyra. In Maximianopolis: Theodorus of Coptos. In the Thebaid: Cales of Hermethes, Colluthus of Upper Cynopolis, Pelagius of Oxyrhynchus, Peter of Heracleopolis, Theon of Nilopolis, Isaac of Letopolis, Heraclides of Niciopolis, Isaac of Cleopatris, Melas of Arsenoitis. In Heliopolis: Amos of Leontopolis, Ision of Athribis. In Pharbethus: Harpocration of Bubastus, Moses of Phacusae, Callinicus of Pelusium, Eudaemon of Tanis, Ephraim of Thmuis. In Sais: Hermaeon of Cynopolis and Busiris, Soterichus of Sebennytus, Pininuthes of Phthenegys, Cronius of Metelis, Agathammon of the district of Alexandria. In Memphis: John, who was ordered by the emperor to be with the archbishop. These are the ones in Egypt. And the clergy he had in Alexandria were the presbyters Apollonius, Irenaeus, Dioscorus and Tyrannus; and the deacons Timotheus, Antinous and Hephaestion. Also Macarius, presbyter of Parembole. [a]

Melitius presented these to Bishop Alexander in person. But he made no mention of the man called Ischyras, and never claimed at all to have any clergy in the Mareotis. Even so, our enemies did not give up their attempts. The man who was no presbyter was still made out to be one, for the count was there, ready to use force on us, and soldiers were hurrying us about. But even then the grace of God prevailed. They could not convict Macarius in the matter of the cup, and Arsenius, whom they had reported as murdered by me, stood before them alive and showed their accusation to be false. So when they could not convict Macarius, Eusebius and his party, enraged at having lost the prey they had been hunting, persuaded Count Dionysius, who is one of them, to send to the Mareotis. They wanted to see whether they could find something there against the presbyter, or rather to patch up their plot at a distance however they pleased while we were absent, for that was their aim. We argued that the journey to the Mareotis was a needless undertaking. They ought not to pretend that the evidence was incomplete on matters they had been busy with for so long, and they ought not to put the case off now. They had said whatever they thought they could say, and now, at a loss what to do, they were making excuses. Or, if they really had to go to the Mareotis, at least the men we suspected should not be sent. The count was convinced by my reasoning about the suspected persons. But they did anything rather than what I proposed. The very men I had objected to on account of the Arian heresy were the ones who promptly went off: Theognis, Maris, Theodore, Macedonius, Ursacius and Valens. Again letters were written to the prefect of Egypt, and a military guard was provided. And, what was remarkable and altogether most suspicious, they made Macarius, the accused, stay behind under a guard of soldiers, while they took the accuser with them. After this, who does not see through the plot? Who does not clearly see the wickedness of Eusebius and his party? If a judicial inquiry had to take place in the Mareotis, the accused should have been sent there too. But if they did not go for such an inquiry, why did they take the accuser? It was enough that he had not been able to prove the fact. But they did this so that they could carry on their designs against the absent presbyter, whom they could not convict when he was present, and could concoct a plan as they pleased. For when the presbyters of Alexandria and of the whole district found fault with them for being there by themselves, and asked that they too might be present at the proceedings (since, they said, they knew both the circumstances of the case and the history of the man named Ischyras), they would not allow it. They had with them Philagrius, the prefect of Egypt, who was an apostate, and pagan soldiers, at an inquiry that it was not fitting even for catechumens to witness; and yet they would not admit the clergy, for fear that there, as at Tyre, there would be people to expose them. [g]

But in spite of these precautions they could not escape detection. The presbyters of the city and of the Mareotis saw their evil designs and addressed the following protest to them. To Theognis, Maris, Macedonius, Theodore, Ursacius and Valens, the bishops who have come from Tyre: from the presbyters and deacons of the catholic church of Alexandria under the most reverend Bishop Athanasius. When you came here and brought the accuser with you, you were bound to bring the presbyter Macarius as well. For Holy Scripture appoints that trials be held in such a way that the accuser and the accused stand up together. But since you did not bring Macarius, and our most reverend Bishop Athanasius did not come here with you, we claimed for ourselves the right to be present at the investigation, so that we might see that the inquiry was conducted impartially and might ourselves be convinced of the truth. But when you refused to allow this, and wanted to do whatever you pleased in company only with the prefect of Egypt and the accuser, we confess that we saw a suspicion of evil in the affair, and perceived that your coming was nothing but the work of a faction and a plot. So we address this letter to you, to be a testimony before a genuine council, so that it may be known to everyone that you have carried on a one-sided proceeding for your own ends, and have wanted nothing else but to form a plot against us. So that you cannot keep it hidden, we have also handed a copy of it to Palladius, the emperor’s Controller. For what you have already done makes us suspect you and expect the same conduct from you hereafter. I, Dionysius, presbyter, have handed in this letter. The presbyters Alexander, Nilaras, Longus, Aphthonius, Athanasius, Amyntius, Pistus, Plution, Dioscorus, Apollonius, Sarapion, Ammonius, Gaius, Rhinus and Aethales. The deacons Marcellinus, Appianus, Theon, Timotheus, and a second Timotheus. [k]

This is the letter, and these are the names of the clergy of the city. The following was written by the clergy of the Mareotis, who know the character of the accuser and were with me on my visitation. To the holy council of blessed bishops of the catholic church: all the presbyters and deacons of the Mareotis send greeting in the Lord. We know what is written: “Speak what your eyes have seen,” and, “A false witness will not go unpunished.” So we testify to what we have seen, especially since the plot formed against our Bishop Athanasius has made our testimony necessary. We wonder how Ischyras ever came to be counted among the ministers of the church, and this is the first point we think it necessary to mention. Ischyras was never a minister of the church. When he once represented himself as a presbyter of Colluthus, he found no one to believe him except his own relatives. He never had a church, and was never considered a clergyman by those who lived only a short distance from his village, except, as we said, by his own relatives. And although he took this title, he was deposed in the presence of our father Hosius at the council that met at Alexandria, and was admitted to communion as a layman. So he has remained ever since, having fallen from the rank of presbyter he was falsely reputed to have. We think it unnecessary to speak of his character, since everyone is able to learn about it. But since he has falsely accused our Bishop Athanasius of breaking a cup and overturning a table, we are obliged to address you on this point. We have already said that he never had a church in the Mareotis. And we declare, with God as our witness, that no cup was broken and no table overturned by our bishop or by anyone with him. Everything alleged about this affair is mere slander. We do not say this as men who were absent from the bishop. We are all with him when he makes his visitation of the Mareotis. He never goes about alone, but all of us presbyters and deacons go with him, and a good number of the people. So we make these statements as men who were present with him on every visitation he has made among us, and we testify that no cup was ever broken nor table overturned, but the whole story is false, as the accuser himself also testifies in his own handwriting. For after he had gone off with the Melitians and reported these things against our Bishop Athanasius, he wanted to be admitted to communion. He was not received, even though he wrote and confessed in his own hand that none of these things were true, but that certain persons had put him up to saying them. [l]

That is why Theognis, Theodore, Maris, Macedonius, Ursacius, Valens and their party came into the Mareotis. When they found that none of these things were true, and it was likely to come out that they had framed a false accusation against our Bishop Athanasius, Theognis and his party, being his enemies themselves, had the relatives of Ischyras and certain Arian madmen say whatever they wanted. None of the people spoke against the bishop. But these men, through fear of Philagrius, the prefect of Egypt, and by threats, and with the support of the Arian madmen, accomplished whatever they wanted. For when we came to disprove the slander, they would not allow us, but threw us out. Meanwhile they admitted whomever they pleased to share in their schemes, arranged matters with them, and swayed them by fear of the prefect Philagrius. Through him they kept us from being present, so that we could not find out whether the men they had put up to it were members of the church or Arian madmen. And you also, dearly beloved fathers, know, as you teach us, that the testimony of enemies counts for nothing. That what we say is the truth is shown by the handwriting of Ischyras, and by the facts themselves. Since we knew that nothing of the kind they pretended had taken place, they brought Philagrius with them, so that through fear of the sword and by threats they might frame whatever plots they wanted. We testify to these things as in the presence of God. We make these statements knowing that God will hold a judgment. We would all like to come to you, but we are content to send some of our number, so that the letters may stand in place of those who have not come. I, Ingenius, presbyter, pray for your health in the Lord, beloved fathers. The presbyters Theon, Ammonas, Heraclius, Boccon, Tryphon, Peter, Hierax, Sarapion, Marcus, Ptollarion, Gaius, Dioscorus, Demetrius and Thyrsus. The deacons Pistus, Apollos, Serras, Pistus, Polynicus, Ammonius, Maurus, Hephaestus, Apollos, Metopas, Apollos, Serapas, Meliphthongus, Lucius and Gregoras.

The same clergy to the Controller, and to Philagrius, then prefect of Egypt. To Flavius Philagrius; to Flavius Palladius, ducenary, officer of the palace, and Controller; and to Flavius Antoninus, commissary of provisions and centenary of my lords the most illustrious prefects of the sacred Praetorium: from the presbyters and deacons of the Mareotis, a district of the catholic church under the most reverend Bishop Athanasius. We address this testimony through those whose names are written below. Theognis, Maris, Macedonius, Theodore, Ursacius and Valens came into our diocese as if sent by all the bishops who had gathered at Tyre, claiming that they had received orders to investigate certain church affairs. Among these they spoke of the breaking of a cup of the Lord. Their information came from Ischyras, whom they brought with them, and who says he is a presbyter, although he is not. For he was ordained by the presbyter Colluthus, who laid claim to the office of bishop, and Colluthus was afterward ordered by a whole council, by Hosius and the bishops with him, to take the place of a presbyter, as he had been before. Accordingly all who had been ordained by Colluthus went back to the same rank they had held before, and so Ischyras himself turned out to be a layman. And the church he says he has was never a church at all, but a very small private house belonging to an orphan boy named Ision. For this reason we have offered this testimony, and we charge you by Almighty God, and by our lords Constantine Augustus and the most illustrious Caesars his sons, to bring these things to the knowledge of Their Piety. For he is not a presbyter of the catholic church, he has no church, and no cup has ever been broken. The whole story is false and invented. Dated in the consulship of Julius Constantius, the most illustrious patrician, brother of the most religious emperor Constantine Augustus, and of Rufinus Albinus, most illustrious men, on the tenth day of the month Thoth. These were the letters of the presbyters. [o]

The following are also the letters and protests of the bishops who came with us to Tyre, when they became aware of the plot and conspiracy. To the bishops gathered at Tyre, most honored lords: those of the catholic church who have come from Egypt with Athanasius send greeting in the Lord. We suppose that the plot formed against us by Eusebius, Theognis, Maris, Narcissus, Theodore, Patrophilus and their party is no longer in doubt. From the very beginning, through our fellow minister Athanasius, we all objected to holding the inquiry in their presence. We knew that the presence of even one enemy, much more of many, can disturb and damage the hearing of a case. And you yourselves know the hostility they hold not only toward us but toward all the orthodox: for the sake of the madness of Arius and his ungodly teaching they direct their attacks and form plots against everyone. And when, confident in the truth, we wanted to show up the falsehood the Melitians had used against the church, Eusebius and his party tried by one means or another to interrupt our statements. They strove hard to set aside our testimony, threatening those who judged honestly and insulting others, for the sole purpose of carrying out the design they had against us. Your godly piety, most honored lords, was probably unaware of their plot, but we suppose it has now been made plain. They have disclosed it plainly themselves. They wanted to send to the Mareotis those of their party whom we suspect, so that while we were absent and remained here, they might disturb the people and accomplish what they wanted. They knew that the Arian madmen, the Colluthians and the Melitians were enemies of the catholic church, and that is why they were eager to send them, so that in the presence of our enemies they might devise whatever schemes they pleased against us. And the Melitians who are here, as much as four days beforehand (since they knew that this inquiry was about to take place), sent off certain of their party at evening as couriers. Their purpose was to gather Melitians out of Egypt into the Mareotis, because there were none there at all, along with Colluthians and Arian madmen from other parts, and to prepare them to speak against us. For you also know that Ischyras himself confessed before you that he had no more than seven people in his congregation. So when we heard that, after making whatever preparations against us they pleased and sending these suspected men, they were going around to each of you and asking for your signatures, so that it might look as if this had been done with the consent of all of you, we hurried for this reason to write to you and to present this testimony of ours. We declare that we are the objects of a plot from which we are suffering by them and through them. And we demand that, with the fear of God in your minds, you condemn their conduct in sending whomever they pleased without our consent, and refuse your signatures, so that they cannot pretend that you are doing what they alone are contriving among themselves. Surely it is fitting for those who are in Christ not to look to human motives, but to put the truth before everything. Do not be afraid of their threats, which they use against everyone, or of their plots, but rather fear God. If it was at all necessary for people to be sent to the Mareotis, we too should have been there with them, so that we might convict the enemies of the church, point out those who were outsiders, and see that the investigation was impartial. For you know that Eusebius and his party arranged for a letter to be presented as coming from the Colluthians, the Melitians and the Arians, directed against us. But it is plain that these enemies of the catholic church say nothing true about us, but say everything against us. And the law of God forbids an enemy to be either a witness or a judge. So, since you will have to give an account on the day of judgment, receive this testimony. Recognize the plot that has been framed against us, and if they ask you, beware of doing anything against us or taking part in the designs of Eusebius and his party. For you know, as we said before, that they are our enemies, and you know why Eusebius of Caesarea became one last year. We pray for your health, greatly beloved lords. [s]

To the most illustrious Count Flavius Dionysius: from the bishops of the catholic church in Egypt who have come to Tyre. We suppose that the plot formed against us by Eusebius, Theognis, Maris, Narcissus, Theodore, Patrophilus and their party is no longer in doubt. From the very beginning, through our fellow minister Athanasius, we all objected to holding the inquiry in their presence. We knew that the presence of even one enemy, much more of many, can disturb and damage the hearing of a case. For the hostility they hold not only toward us but also toward all the orthodox is plain, because they direct their attacks and form plots against everyone. And when, confident in the truth, we wanted to show up the falsehood the Melitians had used against the church, Eusebius and his party tried by one means or another to interrupt our statements. They strove hard to set aside our testimony, threatening those who judged honestly and insulting others, for the sole purpose of carrying out the design they had against us. Your Goodness was probably unaware of the plot they have formed against us, but we suppose it has now been made plain. They have disclosed it plainly themselves. They wanted to send to the Mareotis those of their party whom we suspect, so that while we were absent and remained here, they might disturb the people and accomplish what they wanted. They knew that Arian madmen, Colluthians and Melitians were enemies of the church, and that is why they were eager to send them, so that in the presence of our enemies they might devise whatever schemes they pleased against us. And the Melitians who are here, as much as four days beforehand (since they knew that this inquiry was about to take place), sent off two men of their own party at evening as couriers. Their purpose was to gather Melitians out of Egypt into the Mareotis, because there were none there at all, along with Colluthians and Arian madmen from other parts, and to prepare them to speak against us. And Your Goodness knows that he himself confessed before you that he had no more than seven people in his congregation. So when we heard that, after making whatever preparations against us they pleased and sending these suspected men, they were going around to each of the bishops and asking for their signatures, so that it might look as if this was done with the consent of all of them, we hurried for this reason to refer the matter to Your Honor and to present this testimony of ours. We declare that we are the objects of a plot from which we are suffering by them and through them. And we demand of you that, keeping in mind the fear of God and the pious commands of our most religious emperor, you tolerate these men no longer, but condemn their conduct in sending whomever they pleased without our consent. I, Adamantius, bishop, have signed this letter; and Ischyras, Ammon, Peter, Ammonianus, Tyrannus, Taurinus, Sarapammon, Aelurion, Harpocration, Moses, Optatus, Anubion, Saprion, Apollonius, Ischyrion, Arbaethion, Potamon, Paphnutius, Heraclides, Theodorus, Agathammon, Gaius, Pistus, Athas, Nicon, Pelagius, Theon, Paninuthius, Nonnus, Ariston, Theodorus, Irenaeus, Blastammon, Philippus, Apollos, Dioscorus, Timotheus of Diospolis, Macarius, Heraclammon, Cronius, Myis, Jacobus, Ariston, Artemidorus, Phinees, Psais and Heraclides. Another letter from the same bishops. [u]

The bishops of the catholic church who have come from Egypt to Tyre, to the most illustrious Count Flavius Dionysius. We see that many plots and schemes are being formed against us through the machinations of Eusebius, Narcissus, Placitus, Theognis, Maris, Theodore, Patrophilus and their party. We wished at first to lodge an objection against them, but were not permitted, and so we are forced to turn to the present appeal. We observe also that great zeal is being spent on behalf of the Melitians, and that a plot is being laid against the catholic church in Egypt in our persons. So we present this letter to you, begging you to bear in mind the almighty power of God, who defends the reign of our most religious and godly emperor Constantine, and to reserve the hearing of the affairs that concern us for the most religious emperor himself. For it is only reasonable, since you were commissioned by His Majesty, that you should reserve the matter for him when we appeal to His Piety. We can no longer endure being the objects of the treacherous designs of Eusebius and his party, whom we have named, and therefore we demand that the case be reserved for the most religious and God-beloved emperor, before whom we will be able to set out our own just claims and the church’s. And we are convinced that when His Piety has heard our case, he will not condemn us. So we charge you again by Almighty God, and by our most religious emperor, who together with His Piety’s children has always been victorious and prosperous these many years, to proceed no further, and not to let yourself take any step at all in the council concerning our affairs, but to reserve the hearing of them for His Piety. We have made the same representations to my lords the orthodox bishops as well. [v]

When Alexander, bishop of Thessalonica, received these letters, he wrote to Count Dionysius as follows. Bishop Alexander to my master Dionysius. I see that a plot has plainly been formed against Athanasius. They have decided, on what grounds I do not know, to send all the men he has objected to, without telling us anything, although it was agreed that we should consider together who ought to be sent. So take care that nothing is done rashly, or they may get ahead of us and concoct whatever schemes they please. (For they have come to me in great alarm, saying that the wild beasts have already roused themselves and are about to rush upon them; they had heard it reported that John had sent certain men.) For you know that the Colluthians, who are enemies of the church, and the Arians and the Melitians are all leagued together, and are able to do much harm. So consider what is best to be done, so that no mischief arises and we are not open to blame for not having judged the matter fairly. There are also strong suspicions about these men: that, being devoted to the Melitians, they may go through the churches whose bishops are here, raise alarm among them, and so throw the whole of Egypt into disorder. For they see that this is already happening to a great extent. Accordingly Count Dionysius wrote to Eusebius and his party as follows. [w]