Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

majesty of demeanour. From all this I counted him among men most illustrious for high
character.
However, towards the close of his life (I will not conceal the truth) I, together with many
of them that in our country 2181 feared the Lord, sorrowed over him with sorrow unendurable,
because he signed the creed brought from Constantinople by George. 2182 Afterwards, full
of kindness and gentleness as he was, and willing out of the fulness of his fatherly heart to
give satisfaction to everyone, when he had already fallen sick of the disease of which he died,
he sent for me, and, calling the Lord to witness, said that in the simplicity of his heart he
had agreed to the document sent from Constantinople, but had had no idea of rejecting the
creed put forth by the holy Fathers at Nicæa, nor had had any other disposition of heart
than from the beginning he had always had. He prayed, moreover, that he might not be cut
off from the lot of those blessed three hundred and eighteen bishops who had announced
the pious decree 2183 to the world. In consequence of this satisfactory statement I dismissed
all anxiety and doubt, and, as you are aware, communicated with him, and gave over
grieving. Such have been my relations with Dianius. If anyone avers that he is privy to any
vile slander on my part against Dianius, do not let him buzz it slave-wise in a corner; let
him come boldly out and convict me in the light of day.
2181 Here Cæsarea appears to be called πατρίς. cf. Ep. viii. Vide Proleg.
2182 i.e.the Homœan creed of Ariminum, as revised at Nike and accepted at the Acacian Synod of Con-
stantinople in 360. George is presumably the George bp. of Laodicea, who at Seleucia opposed the Acacians,
but appears afterwards to have become reconciled to that party, and to have joined them in persecuting the
Catholics at Constantinople. cf. Basil, Ep. ccli.
2183 κήρυγμα. cf. p. 41.
To Bishop Bosporius.
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