At that season, at Alexandria Alexander, at Jerusalem Maximus the confessor, and at Constantinople likewise Alexander, as we learn from the writings of Athanasius, were exercising the priesthood. But Eusebius who was at Nicomedia—of whose dissimulation in subscribing we spoke above—having gained ample occasion of time and become familiar with the prince through the presbyter, contrived to overturn all things and to revoke into nothing the acts of the Council. He had Arius, who was lingering vainly at Alexandria, come, and by imperial edicts had a council again convened at Constantinople.
There assembled chiefly those who followed Arius and Eusebius, and who, having often met with Alexander to make him receive Arius, yet accomplishing nothing, refrained at least from doing him injuries. At last, appointing him a fixed day, they gave notice that he must either himself receive Arius, or, if he resisted, he should know that, being driven from the Church and thrust into exile, Arius would be received by another. Then he, on the night which preceded the appointed day, lying beneath the altar and passing the whole night watchful in prayer and tears, commended the cause of the Church to the Lord.
And when the light had risen, and yet Alexander did not cease from prayer, Eusebius with all his men, like a standard-bearer of heretical war, ascended at morning to the house of Arius, and bade him follow quickly to the Church, protesting that Alexander, unless he should there and then acquiesce, would be expelled and yield his place.