The history of the church from our Lords incarnation, to the twelth year of the Emperour Maricius Tiberius, or the Year of Christ 594 / as it was written in Greek, by Eusebius Pamphilius ..., Socrates Scholasticus, and Evagrius Scholasticus ... ; made English from that edition of these historians, which Valesius published at Paris in the years 1659, 1668, and 1673 ; also, The life of Constantine in four books, written by Eusibius Pamphilus, with Constantine's Oration to the convention of the saints, and Eusebius's Speech in praise of Constantine, spoken at his tricennalia ; Valesius's annotations on these authors, are done into English, and set at their proper places in the margin, as likewise a translation of his account of their lives and writings ; with two index's, the one, of the principal matters that occur in the text, the other, of those contained in the notes.

CHAP. XXV. Concerning Atticus's Government of the Churches; and that he ordered Johannes's name to be writ∣ten into the Dypticks of the Church; and that he foreknew his own death.

[IN the interim] Atticus the Bishop in a wonderfull manner enlarged the affairs of the Church; administring all things with a sin∣gular prudence, and by his Sermons inciting the people to Virtue. Perceiving that the Church was divided, in regard the * 1.1 Johannitae held † 1.2 separate Assemblies, he ordered, that mention should be made of Johannes in the prayers, ac∣cording as it was usuall for other Bishops, who were dead to be mentioned; on which account he hoped many would return to the Church. Moreover, he was so liberall, that he made pro∣vision not only for the poor of his own Chur∣ches, but sent money also to the neighbou∣ring Cities towards the relief and comfort of the necessitous. For he sent three hundred Crowns to Calliopius a Presbyter of the Church of Ni∣caea, to whom he wrote this Letter.

Atticus to Calliopius, health in the Lord.

I understand, that in your City there are an in∣finite company of persons oppressed with hunger, who stand in need of the compassion of pious men. By terming them an infinite company, I mean a multi∣tude, not an accurate and determinate number. In regard therefore I have received a sum of money from him who with a liberall hand giveth to good Stewards, and [whereas] it happens that some are oppressed with want, to the end that those who have wherewithall might be tried, but do not give to the indigent; take (dear friend!) these three hundred Crowns, and bestow them as you shall think good. But give them to those who are wholly ashamed to beg, not to them that throughout their whole lives have declared their belly to be their trade. Moreover, when you give, have no respect to any Sect or Religion whatever in this particu∣lar act; mind this one thing only, to feed the hungry, but not to difference or distinguish those who embrace not our Religion.

After this manner Atticus took care even of the indigent that were at a distance from him * 1.3. Moreover, he made it his business to extirpate the superstitions of some men. For having one time received information, that those who separated from the Novatianists on ac∣count of the Jewish pass∣over, had translated the body of Sabbatius from Rodes, (for he had been banished into that Island, where he ended his life) and buried it, and did usu∣ally pray at his grave: he sent some persons by night, to whom he gave order to [dig up] Sab∣batius's body, and * 1.4 bury it in some other Sepulchre. But the persons who usually went thither, when they found the grave dug up, in future left off worshipping † 1.5 that place. Besides, he was very elegant and happy in imposing names [upon places.] A ‖ 1.6 Sea-Port situate in the mouth of the Euxine-Sea (which had antiently been called * 1.7 Pharmaceus, he named † 1.8 Therapeia, least at his holding religious assemblies there, he should call that place by an infamous name. Another place near adjacent to Constantinople he named ‖ 1.9 Argy∣ropolis, for this reason. * 1.10 Chrysopolis is an an∣cient Sea-Port situate in the head of the Bospho∣rus: many of the ancient Writers make men∣tion of it, especially Strabo, Nicolaus Dama∣scenus, and the admirably eloquent Xenophon in his sixth Book concerning the expedition of Cyrus; and the same Authour in his first Book concerning the Grecian affairs, speaks to this effect concerning this City, [viz.] that Alcibiades, when he had built a wall round it, set up a Toll therein which consisted of a pay∣ment of the tenth peny. For those who fail out of Pontus were compelled to pay the tenth peny there. Atticus therefore perceiving this place, which was situate over against Chrysopolis, to be pleasant and delightfull, said it was fit and agree∣able it should be termed Argyropolis. Which saying of his † 1.11 put that name upon the place immediately. When some persons spoke to him, that the Novatianists ought not to hold their as∣semblies within the Cities; his answer was, you know not how much they suffered together with us when we were persecuted in the Reignes of Constantius and Valens. And besides (said he) they have been * 1.12 Assertours of our Faith. For though they made a separation long since from the Church, yet no innovation about the Faith hath been introduced by them. Being ar∣rived on a time at Nicaea upon account of an Ordination, and seeing Asclepiades, a very aged

person, Bishop of the Novatianists there, he asked him, how many years have you been a Bi∣shop? When he made answer [that he had been a Bishop] fifty years, You are happy, O man, (said he) in regard you have been diligent about so good a work for such a long time! He spake these words to the same Asclepiades, I do indeed commend Novatus; but the Novatianists I can in no wise approve of. Asclepiades amazed at this strange expression, replied, how can you say this, O Bishop? To whom Atticus made this answer; I commend Novatus, because he refused to communicate with those persons who had sacri∣ficed. For I my self would have done the same. But I do not in any wise praise the Novatianists, in regard they exclude the Laïcks from commu∣nion on account of very light and triviall offen∣ces. To which Asclepiades made this return; there are, besides sacrificing, many other sins unto death, (as the Scriptures term them,) on account whereof b 1.13 you exclude Ecclesiasticks, but we Laïcks also from communion, leaving to God alone a power of pardoning them. Further, Atticus c 1.14 foreknew even the time of his own death. For at his departure from Nicaea, he spake these words to Calliopius a Presbyter of that place: Hasten to Constantinople before Autumn, if you are desirous of seeing me agai•• alive. For, if you delay, you will not find me living. Upon his saying whereof, he mistook not. For in the twenty first year of his Episcopate, on the tenth of October, he died, in Theodosius's eleventh and Valentinianus Caesar's first Consulate. Moreover, the Emperour Theodosius being then in his re∣turn from Thessalonica, was not at his Funerall. For Atticus was interred the day before the Em∣perour's Entry into Constantinople. Not long after Valentinianus Junior was d 1.15 Declared Augu∣stus, about the twenty third of that same October.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See book 6. chap. 18.
• † 1.2

  Or, as∣semblies without the Church.
• * 1.3

  After these words, there was a whole line and something more wanting; which we have made up from the incomparable Florent. and Sfortian M. SS. after this manner: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Moreover, be made it his business to extirpate the super∣stitions of some men. Which words were in that copy also, which E∣piphan. Scholasticus made use of, as 'tis apparent from his Version. For thus he renders it; sed & superstitionem quorundam studebat abscindere, moreover be endeavou∣red to cut off the superstition of some men. But, that Christophor∣son had consulted no M. S. Co∣ples of Socrates, 'tis evident both from this place and also from many others. Vales.
• * 1.4

  Or, Hid it.
• † 1.5

  Or, That Sepulchre.
• ‖ 1.6

  Or, A Station for Ships.
• * 1.7

  That is, Venomous, or, full of poyson.
• † 1.8

  That is, A medicine, or, cure.
• ‖ 1.9

  That is, The Silver-City.
• * 1.10

  The Gol∣den-City.
• † 1.11

  Or, Con∣firmed that name to the place.
• * 1.12

  Or, Wit∣nesses.
• b 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The preposition 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 must be expun∣ged; which neither Ni∣cephorus, nor Epiphan▪ Scholasticus, nor the other Translatours do ac∣knowledge. Unless, instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, any one has a mind to sub∣stitute 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and read thus; You in a certain manner exclude Ecclesi∣asticks. But, this place wants not difficulty. For, it may seem to be concluded from hence, that Ecclesiasticks in the Catholick Church, who had been excommunicated for more enormous crimes, were cut off from the Church without all hope of pardon; but Laïcks not so. Which may be thus explained. Laïcks, who had been separated from communion on account of publick crimes, recovered peace and communion again by the remedy of penitency, at least once. But to Ecclesiasticks who had been excommunicated, the door of peni∣tency was shut. For they were not admitted to publick penitency. They continued therefore for ever excommunicated. For which reason Ecclesiasticks were very rarely excommunicated: but were either deposed, or suspended from their Office for some time, or at least reduced to a Laïck-communion. But, the first Canon of the Neo∣caesarian Synod does gainsay this; wherein the Ecclesiasticks who had committed Fornication or Adultery, are driven from communion, and brought to penitency. This passage may be explained otherwise also. For, from such time as Nectarius abolished the Penitenti∣ary, all Laïcks had a free power of communicating left them; nor was any one removed from communion on account of a deadly crime, except Ecclesiasticks only. Vales.
• c 1.14

  Atticus did not only foreknow the day of his own death, but long before his death, he built himself a Sepulchre, as I am informed from an old Epigram; which because 'tis not yet extant in Print, I will here annex:

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. i. e.

  Paulus Silentiarius's Composure on the Tomb of one Atticus.

  Atticus, whilest he was living, (in whose mind a Fortitude not to be daunted (shin'd,) Dug me his Grave, in common hope of Fate untractable and incompassionate.

  Such were his Virtuous Actions, that Death's fear, and Frightfull Terrours by him slighted were. But, by the Sun, to late posterity his Sun-like wisedom shall recorded be.

  This Epigram is extant in Constantinus Cephalas's Anthologia, not yet Printed. 'Tis my sentiment, that Atticus Bishop of Constantinople is meant hereby. For I know no other Atticus, to whom this Elogy of Wisdom and Virtue can be agreeable. Notwithstanding, this is contradicted by Paulus Silentiarius's being inscribed the Authour of this Epigram, who (as 'tis manifest from Agathias's testimony,) flourished long after Atticus, in Justinian's times. Wherefore, either the inscription of the Epigram, or our conjecture, must of necessity be false. Vales.
• d 1.15

  The Au∣thour of the Alexan∣drian Chro∣nicle understood this passage in Socrates amiss. For he thought, that Va∣lentinianus Junior Placidia's Son, had been stiled Augustus on the 23^d of October: but Socrates says not so; he relates only, that Va∣lentinianus's having been Proclaimed Augustus was published at Con∣stantinople on the twenty third of October. Which two things are vastly different. Sigonius (Book 11▪ De Occidentali Imperio) relates that Valentinianus was created Augustus at Ravenna on the Ides (that is, the fifteenth) of October, in Theodosius Augustus's eleventh and Valentinianus's own first Consulate. 'Tis certain, on the eighth of October in the same Consulate, Valentinianus was as yet but Caesar▪ as we are informed from the 47^th Law in the Theodosian Code de Episc. Eccles. & Clericis, dated at Aquileia. By which place Sigonius was chiefly induced, to place Valentinianus's being proclaimed Au∣gustus on the Ides of October, and to relate it to have been made at Ravenna. For in regard it was published at Constantinople on the twenty fifth of that same month, it could not have been done later. Onufriu•• (in his Fasti) has followed Sigonius's opinion. Further Marcellinus and Jordaines (in his book De Successione Regnorum) do mention this Declaration to have been made at Ravenna: but Olympiodorus and Idatius (in his Chronicon) say 'twas done at Rome. Vales.