CHAPTER XXXIII

THE SYNOD PROCEED FROM TYRE TO JERUSALEM, AND HAVING KEPT THE FEAST OF DEDICATION OF THE “NEW JERUSALEM,” RECEIVE ARIUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS AGAIN INTO COMMUNION

LETTERS in the meantime were brought from the emperor directing those who composed the Synod to hasten to the New Jerusalem: having therefore immediately left Tyre, they set forward with all despatch thither, where, after completing the ceremony of the consecration of the place, they readmitted Arius and his adherents into communion, in obedience as they said, to the wishes of the emperor, who had signified in his communication to them, that he was fully satisfied respecting the faith of Arius and Euzoïus. They moreover wrote to the church at Alexandria, stating that all envy being now banished, the affairs of the church were established in peace: and that since Arius had by his recantation acknowledged the truth, it was but just that he should henceforward be received by them as a member of the church. No other allusion was made to the deposition of Athanasius, than what was obscurely couched in their assurance that all envy was now banished. At the same time they sent information of what had been done to the emperor, in terms nearly to the same effect. But whilst the bishops were engaged in these transactions, other letters came most unexpectedly from the emperor, intimating that Athanasius had fled to him for protection; and that it was necessary for them on his account to come to Constantinople. This unanticipated communication from the emperor was as follows.