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

3. Now let those who charge me with unsound doctrine tell me in what way the men
whose deposition they refused to accept were heretical. Let them tell me in what way those
promoted by them, and holding the same views as their fathers, are orthodox. If Euippius
was orthodox, how can Eustathius, whom he deposed, be other than a layman? If Euippius
was a heretic, how can any one ordained by him be in communion with Eustathius now?
But all this conduct, this trying to accuse men and set them up again, is child’s play, got up
against the Churches of God, for their own gain.
When Eustathius was travelling through Paphlagonia, he overthrew the altars 3105 of
Basilides of Paphlagonia, 3106 and used to perform divine service on his own tables. 3107
Now he is begging Basilides to be admitted to communion. He refused to communicate
with our reverend brother Elpidius, because of his alliance with the Amasenes; 3108 and now
he comes as a suppliant to the Amasenes, petitioning for alliance with them. Even ye
yourselves know how shocking were his public utterances against Euippius: now he glorifies
the holders of Euippius’s opinions for their orthodoxy, if only they will cooperate in promoting
his restitution. And I am all the while being calumniated, not because I am doing any
wrong, but because they have imagined that they will thus be recommended to the party at
Antioch. The character of those whom they sent for last year from Galatia, as being likely
by their means to recover the free exercise of their episcopal powers, is only too well known
to all who have lived even for a short time with them. I pray that the Lord may never allow
me leisure to recount all their proceedings. I will only say that they have passed through
the whole country, with the honour and attendance of bishops, escorted by their most
honourable bodyguard and sympathizers; and have made a grand entry into the city, and
held an assembly with all authority. The people have been given over to them. The altar
has been given over to them. How they went to Nicopolis, and could do nothing there of
all that they had promised, and how they came, and what appearance they presented on
their return, is known to those who were on the spot. They are obviously taking every single
step for their own gain and profit. If they say that they have repented, let them shew their
repentance in writing; let them anathematize the Creed of Constantinople; let them separate
from the heretics; and let them no longer trick the simple-minded. So much for them and
theirs.
4. I, however, brethren beloved, small and insignificant as I am, but remaining ever by
God’s grace the same, have never changed with the changes of the world. My creed has not
3105 θυσιαστήρια .
3106 i.e.Basilides, bishop of Gangra. cf. Letter ccxxvi. p. 268.
3107 τραπεζῶν .
3108 i.e.the Arian bishop of Amasia, who was intruded into the place of Eulalius. On the state of the Amasene
church at his time, cf. Soz. vii. 2.
To the people of Evæsæ.
801
292