The Ecclesiastical History of Evagrius Scholasticus - Coptic ...

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directing a¡airs, proper preparations were made and a grand invasion led
by the arrogant Khusro was repulsed so decisively that the Persian king
‘was distraught and helpless and submerged by the ebb and £ow of
anguish’ (v.14^15, p. 211:31^3): here was another ruler who was unable
to cope with the changes of fortune. The fact that Evagrius’ report of the
Roman victory is probably a substantial exaggeration of a limited defensive
success merely underlines his purpose: Tiberius was a good ruler,
and his initiatives had to be rewarded with success.
Divine favour was demonstrated by the presence of saints, which
might be interpreted, like Euphemia’s e¡usions, as a reward for good
leadership or serve as a reminder that God had not forgotten the world
even if the current ruler was imperfect. Though Symeon Stylites the
Elder is given prominence, Evagrius is more concerned with sixthcentury
saints. This is, in part, a result of the availability of information,
since Gregory of Antioch could have provided a fund of stories about
recent monastic stars, but it also re£ects the function of such stories in
Evagrius’ text. Under Justin and Justinian, God’s favour to the Romans
had to be emphasized to o¡set the impression of divine hostility which
repeated natural disasters and military problems might have created,
problems which might have been attributed to the misdeeds of the
emperor, Justinian in particular. Under Tiberius and Maurice, miracles
reinforced the positive presentation of these rulers. Thus the records of
saints and miracles form a bridge between the ecclesiastical and secular
elements in the narrative: they are part of the standard fare of ecclesiastical
historiography, but also a demonstration of the concern of Divine
Providence with current worldly matters.
Causation
EVAGRIUS
Granted Evagrius’ providential view of history, it is not surprising that his
comments on causation focus on the operation of God in this world:
indeed, the review of the contents of his History in the preface does not
include causation as a separate element, in marked contrast to the
professed interestsof secular classicizing historians inthe mould of Procopius.
The relevant knowledge rests with God: ‘And what will follow is
to foreshadow the deformed condition of the state. For Evagrius it may have indicated that
the emperor was about to acquire a colleague.