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Alexandria and, moreover, Jovian saw fit to answer that concern. Jovian replied that
he had investigated Athanasius and had found him to be orthodox and to teach and
think correctly. The Arian petitioners continued and complained that what
Athanasius said was right but that there was deceit in his heart. Jovian replied that
only God was capable of seeing into a man’s heart.
The Arians then changed tactics somewhat and asked Jovian to order them to
attend a religious service. Jovian asked who prevented them; the Arians replied that
Athanasius described them as heretics and dogmatics. According to the emperor, that
was the duty of persons who “teach rightly.” The Arians again and for the last time
asked that Athanasius be replaced. Jovial replied that they should leave and learn the
faith from Athanasius; the emperor himself would be leaving in two days and that
seems to have been Jovian’s method of drawing this hearing, and the whole affair, to
an end.
Jovian’s imminent departure did not discourage the Arians from trying one last
time to swing the proceedings their way. The same Lucius who made the first petition
presented the fourth and final petition to Jovian as he was leaving the Palace in
Antioch, possibly on his last day there. This time, before Lucius could even indicate
what his petition was about, Jovian wished God’s curses on the companions with
whom Lucius had travelled because they had not thrown him into the sea; Jovian also
extended his curses to the ship in which Lucius had travelled. According to
Athanasius’ record of events, even after the emperor had left Antioch the Arians tried
to gain a hearing through one of the court eunuchs. When he heard of this further
attempt the emperor apparently had the eunuch tortured in order to discourage other
petitions against “the Christians.” It should be noted that Jovian did not take any
action against the Arians themselves beyond cursing their means of travel. The torture
of the court eunuch may indicate Jovian’s desire to see an end to the discussion and to
4 Coleman-Norton (1966) 298 n13
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