But Eusebius, when he had returned to Antioch and found there a bishop ordained by Lucifer against the agreement, compelled at once by shame and indignation, withdrew, relaxing his communion to neither party, because on departing thence he had promised that he would act in the Council so that such a bishop should be ordained for them from whom neither party would secede. For that people who had followed Meletius, lately driven from the Church, as though for the right faith, had not joined itself to the former catholics—that is, those who had been with Eustathius and Bishop Eusebius (among whom was also Paulinus)—but held their own headship and their own conventicle.
When, therefore, Eusebius had wished to recall these into one, and yet (being forestalled by Lucifer) had not been able, he withdrew. Then Meletius, having returned from exile, since the more numerous people was with him, held the churches; and from then on he had his own synod with the rest of the Eastern bishops, yet he was not joined to Athanasius. Meanwhile Lucifer, grieving at the injury that Eusebius had not received at Antioch the bishop ordained by him, did not himself think to receive the decrees of the Alexandrian council, but was bound by the chain of his own legate, who had subscribed in the council by his authority. For he could not reject one who held his own authority; but if he had received them, he saw that all his undertaking must be frustrated.
Long, therefore, and much deliberating about this, since he was hemmed in on both sides, he chose that, his legate being received, he should hold toward the rest an opinion that differed, yet was pleasing to himself. Thus, having returned to the regions of Sardinia, whether because, forestalled by an early death, he had no time to change his opinion (for things rashly begun are wont to be corrected by an interval of time), or whether he had settled in this mind immovably, I would but feebly affirm. From him meanwhile the schism of the Luciferians took its beginning, which, though it is rolled on still through but a few, took its origin thence. But Eusebius, going about the East and Italy, discharged the office at once of physician and of priest.
He recalled the several churches, infidelity being abjured, to the soundness of the right faith—the more so because he found Hilary (whom we have recorded as having long since been thrust into exile with the other bishops), now returned and stationed in Italy, laboring at these same things toward the restoring of the churches and the repairing of the faith of the fathers.