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Translated by Cardinal Newman.
St Athanasius the Great Resources Online and in Print
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56 Pages
Page 8
Councils of Ariminum and Seleucia.
Part I. THE COUNCILS.
Reason why two Councils were called. Inconsistency and folly of calling any; and of the style of the Arian formularies; occasion of the Nicene Council; proceedings at Ariminum; Letter of the Council to Constantius; its decree. Proceedings at Seleucia; reflections on the conduct of the Arians.
1. Perhaps news has reached even yourselves concerning the Council, which is at this time the subject of general conversation; for letters both from the Emperor and the Prefects [3450] were circulated far and wide for its convocation. However, you take that interest in the events which have occurred, that I have determined upon giving you an account of what I have seen myself, and accurately ascertained, which may save you from the suspense attendant on the reports of others; and this the more, because there are parties who are in the habit of misrepresenting what has happened. At Nicaea then, which had been fixed upon, the Council has not met, but a second edict was issued, convening the Western Bishops at Ariminum in Italy, and the Eastern at Seleucia the Rugged, as it is called, in Isauria. The professed reason of such a meeting was to treat of the faith touching our Lord Jesus Christ; and those who alleged it, were Ursacius, Valens, and one Germinius [3451] from Pannonia; and from Syria, Acacius, Eudoxius, and Patrophilus [3452] of Scythopolis. These men who had always been of the Arian party, and 'understood neither how they believe or whereof they affirm,' and were silently deceiving first one and then another, and scattering the second sowing [3453] of their heresy, influenced some who seemed to be somewhat, and the Emperor Constantius among them, being a heretic [3454] , on some pretence about the Faith, to call a Council; under the idea that they should be able to put into the shade the Nicene Council, and prevail upon all to turn round, and to establish irreligion everywhere instead of the Truth.
[3450] [On the Prefects, see Gibbon, ch. xvii., and Gwatkin, pp. 272-281.]
[3451] [Cf. Hist. Ar. 74, D.C.B. ii. 661.] At a later date he approached very nearly to Catholicism.
[3452] [See Prolegg. ch. ii. S:3 (1), and, on the Arian leaders at this time, S:8 (2).]
[3453] Cf. de Decr. S:2.
[3454] Infr. S:12, note.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/athanasius/councils.asp?pg=8
