Letter to the Church of Alexandria from Sardica

Athanasius, to all the presbyters and deacons of the holy catholic church at Alexandria and Parembole, most beloved brothers: greetings. [a]

In writing this, most beloved brothers, I must begin my letter by giving thanks to Christ. And now it is especially fitting, since the Lord has done many great things that deserve our thanks, and those who believe in him ought not to be ungrateful for his many benefits. So we thank the Lord, who always makes us known to all in the faith, and who at this time also has done many wonderful things for the church. For what the heretical party of Eusebius and the heirs of Arius have maintained and spread abroad, all the bishops who assembled have pronounced false and made up. And the very men whom many think terrible, like those called giants, were counted as nothing, and rightly so. For just as darkness is lit up when light comes, so wickedness is unveiled when the just arrive, and when the good are present, the worthless are exposed. [b]

For you yourselves, beloved, are not unaware of what the successors of Eusebius’s ill-named heresy have done: Theodore, Narcissus, Valens, Ursacius, and the worst of them all, George, Stephen, Acacius, Menophantus, and their colleagues. Their madness is plain to all, and what they committed against the Churches has not escaped your notice. For you were the first they injured; yours was the first church they tried to corrupt. But these men who did so many great things, and who were, as I said above, terrible in everyone’s eyes, have been frightened beyond all imagining. Not only did they fear the Roman synod, and excuse themselves when invited to it; but now, having come to Sardica, they were so stricken in conscience that when they saw the judges they were astonished. So their courage failed them. Truly one might say to them, “Death, where is your sting? Death, where is your victory?” For things did not go as they wished; they could not give judgment as they pleased; this time they could not outwit whomever they wanted. Instead they saw faithful men who cared for justice. Or rather, they saw our Lord himself among them, like the demons of old from the tombs; for being sons of falsehood, they could not bear to see the truth. So Theodore, Narcissus and Ursacius, with their friends, spoke like this: “Stop! What have we to do with you, men of Christ? We know that you are true, and we are afraid of being convicted. We shrink from confessing our slanders to your face. We have nothing to do with you; for you are Christians, while we are enemies of Christ; and while with you the truth is strong, we have learned to outwit. We thought our deeds were hidden. We did not think that we were now coming to judgment. Why do you expose our deeds before their time, and torment us by exposing us before the day?” And although they are of the worst character and walk in darkness, they have learned at last that there is no agreement between light and darkness, and no harmony between Christ and Belial. So, beloved brothers, since they knew what they had done, and saw those who had suffered at their hands ready to accuse them, and the witnesses before their eyes, they followed the example of Cain and fled like him. In this they went far astray; for they imitated his flight, and so have received his condemnation. For the holy council knows their works. It has heard our blood crying out, and heard the voices of the wounded from the wounded themselves. All the bishops know how they have sinned, and how many things they have done against our Churches and others; and so they have driven these men out of the Churches, like Cain. For who did not weep when your letter was read? Who did not groan to see the people those men had exiled? Who did not count your troubles as his own? Most beloved brothers, you suffered in the past when they were doing evil to you, and perhaps it is not long since the war ended. Now, however, all the bishops who assembled and heard what you have suffered grieved and lamented just as you did when you suffered the injuries, and they shared your grief at that time. [c]

Because of these deeds, then, and all the others they have committed against the Churches, the holy general council has deposed them all. It has not only judged them strangers to the church, but has held them unworthy to be called Christians. For how can men who deny Christ be called Christians? And how can men who do evil against the Churches be admitted to church? So the holy council has written to the Churches everywhere, so that these men may be marked out among all, and those they deceived may now return to full assurance and to the truth. So do not lose heart, beloved brothers. As servants of God, and people who profess the faith of Christ, be tested in the Lord. Do not let trouble cast you down, and do not let the hardships caused by the heretics who plot against you make you sad. For you have the sympathy of the whole world in your grief, and what is more, the whole world keeps you all in mind. Now I think that those they deceived will, when they see the severe sentence of the council, turn away from them and reject their impiety. If, however, even after this their hand is raised against you, do not be astonished, and do not be afraid if they rage; but pray, and lift up your hands to God, and be sure that the Lord will not delay, but will do everything according to your will. I would indeed like to write you a longer letter with a full account of what has taken place. But since the presbyters and deacons are able to tell you in person all they have seen, I have held back from writing much. One thing only I charge you, since I consider it necessary: keep the fear of the Lord before your eyes, put him first, and carry on everything with your usual harmony, as people of wisdom and understanding. Pray for us, and keep in mind the needs of the widows, especially since the enemies of the truth have taken away what belongs to them. But let your love overcome the malice of the heretics. For we believe that, in answer to your prayers, the Lord will be gracious and allow me to see you soon. Meanwhile you will learn the proceedings of the synod from what all the bishops have written to you, and from the attached letter you will see the deposition of Theodore, Narcissus, Stephen, Acacius, George, Menophantus, Ursacius and Valens. As for Gregory, they did not wish to mention him, since they thought it needless to name a man who lacked the very name of bishop. Yet for the sake of those he deceived they have mentioned his name: not that his name was worth mentioning, but so that those he deceived may learn his disgrace and blush at the sort of man they have been in communion with. I pray that you may be kept safe in the Lord, brothers most beloved and longed for. [i]