CHAPTER VIII

EUSEBIUS HAVING CONVENED ANOTHER SYNOD AT ANTIOCH IN SYRIA, CAUSES A NEW FORM OF FAITH TO BE PROMULGATED

EUSEBIUS however could by no means remain quiet, but as the saying is, left no stone unturned, in order to effect the purpose he had in view. He therefore causes a Synod to be convened at Antioch in Syria, under pretence of dedicating a church which Constantine the father of the Augusti had commenced, and which had been completed by his son Constantius in the tenth year after its foundations were laid: but his real motive was the subversion of the doctrine of consubstantiality. There were present at this Synod ninety bishops from various cities. Nevertheless Maximus bishop of Jerusalem, who had succeeded Macarius, declined attending there, from the recollection of the fraudulent means by which he had been induced to subscribe the deposition of Athanasius. Neither was Julius, bishop of Ancient Rome there, nor did he indeed send a representative; although the ecclesiastical canon expressly commands that the churches shall not make any ordinances, without the sanction of the bishop of Rome. This Synod assembled at Antioch, in the consulate of Marcellus and Probinus, which was the fifth year after the death of Constantine, father of the Augusti, the emperor Constantius being present. Plaeitus, otherwise called Flaccillus, successor to Euphronius, at that time presided over the church at Antioch. The confederates of Eusebius were chiefly intent on calumniating Athanasius; accusing him in the first place of having acted contrary to a canon which they then constituted, in resuming his episcopal authority without the licence of a general council of bishops, inasmuch as on his return from exile he had on his own responsibility taken possession of the church. In the next place that a tumult having been excited on his entrance, many were killed in the riot: and that some had been scourged by him, and others brought before the tribunals. Besides they failed not to bring forward what had been determined against Athanasius at Tyre.