CHAPTER XXXV

THE SYNOD NOT HAVING COME TO THE EMPEROR, THE PARTISANS OF EUSEBIUS ACCUSE ATHANASIUS OF HAVING THREATENED TO WITHHOLD THE CORN WHICH IS SUPPLIED TO CONSTANTINOPLE FROM ALEXANDRIA: ON WHICH ACCOUNT THE EMPEROR BEING EXASPERATED, SENDS ATHANASIUS AWAY INTO EXILE, ORDERING HIM TO REMAIN IN THE GALLIAS

THIS letter created so much alarm in the minds of those who constituted the Synod, that most of them instead of obeying the emperor returned to their respective cities. But Eusebius, Theognis, Maris, Patrophilus, Ursacius, and Valens, having gone to Constantinople, would not permit any further enquiry to be instituted concerning the broken cup, the overturned Communion Table, and the murder of Arsenius; but they had recourse to another calumny, informing the emperor that Athanasius had threatened to prohibit the sending of the corn which was usually conveyed from Alexandria to Constantinople. They affirmed also that these menaces were uttered by Athanasius in the hearing of the bishops Adamantius, Anubion, Arbathion and Peter: for slander is most prevalent when the assertor of it appears to be a person worthy of credit. The emperor being deceived, and excited to indignation against Athanasius by this charge, at once condemned him to exile, ordering him to reside in the Gallias. Some affirm that the emperor came to this decision with a view to the establishment of unity in the church, since Athanasius was inexorable in his refusal to hold any communion with Arius and his adherents. He accordingly took up his abode at Treves, a city of Gaul.