For perhaps accusations concerning these things have reached you, and perhaps they have tried to stir your ears, so that the things these slanderers say against the innocent might be believed, and they might hide the suspicion of their most troublesome heresy. But they were not permitted to accomplish these things for long; for there is the Lord, who affords protection to the churches, who endured death for these and for us all,
For formerly, when Eusebius, Maris, Theodorus, Diognitus, Ursacius and Valens wrote to Julius our fellow-priest, bishop of the Roman church, against our aforesaid fellow-bishops—we mean Athanasius and Marcellus—bishops from other places also wrote, to testify to the innocence of Athanasius our fellow-bishop; but the things done by Eusebius were nothing other than full of falsehood... and on account of those churches he gave to us all the ascent to the heavens. So formerly, when Eusebius, Maris, Theodorus, Theogenes wrote...
...to Ursacius, Valens, Minophantus and Stephanus wrote to Julius the fellow-priest, bishop of the Roman church, against our aforesaid fellow-ministers, that is, Athanasius bishop of Alexandria and Marcellus bishop of Ancyra in Galatia, and also Asclepas bishop of Gaza; and bishops from other regions also wrote, bearing witness to the sincerity of our fellow-minister Athanasius, while the deeds of Eusebius and his companions... [the Lord] who endured death for these and for us all and by himself gave the ascent into heaven to us all. 2.
...and were full of lying. For even from the fact that, when summoned by Julius the bishop, our dearest brother, they refused, it became clear that they were unwilling to come—as is evident from the very letters by which their lies were exposed;
For they would have come, had they had confidence in the things they had done against our fellow-bishops. Yet even from the things they did in this holy and great council they disclosed the more manifest fabrications of their falsehood. For they came even to the city of the Sardicans, and, seeing Athanasius and Marcellus, Asclepas and the others, they were afraid to come to judgment. And not once nor a second time, but the deeds of him and his associates were nothing other than full of lies and slanders.
And although, from the fact that when summoned by our beloved fellow-priest Julius they refused to appear, and from the things written by the same Julius, their slander has been made manifest—for they would have come, had they had confidence in their works and deeds against our brethren and fellow-ministers—yet from the things they did in this holy and great synod they displayed their faction still more manifestly. For, arriving at Sardica and seeing our brethren Athanasius, Marcellus and Asclepas, they were afraid to come to judgment, and, summoned not only once and twice but often, they did not respond.
And even though very greatly—both from their not answering when summoned by our beloved fellow-minister Julius, and from what was written by that same Julius—their calumny has been made manifest (for they would have come, had they been confident in what they did and have done against our fellow-ministers), nevertheless also from what they did in this holy and great synod they displayed their intrigue more manifestly. For, arriving at the city of the Sardicans and seeing our brethren Athanasius and Marcellus and Asclepas and the others, they were afraid to come to judgment.
And not once nor a second time, but often summoned, they scorned the invitation of the synod of all of us bishops who assembled, and especially of Ossius of venerable old age, who—both on account of his age and his confession and his faith proved over so long a time, and because at that age he bore so great a labour for the benefit of the Church—is held most worthy of all reverence.
While all were waiting and exhorting them to come to judgment, so that in person they might be able to prove all the things they had either said or written about our fellow-priests, they, being summoned, did not come, as we said before, thereby showing from these very things their falsehood, and not only the contrived fraud or the studied cunning which they wrought, betraying it through the summonses—namely, when the bishops had assembled, and especially Ossius of good old age, who on account of his years and his confession and so great a labour seems worthy of all reverence, and while the bishops were waiting and urging them to enter, so that the things they rumoured and wrote about the absent fellow-ministers they might prove in their presence.
But being summoned they did not come, as we have said, but thereby showing their slander, and they made not only plots and factions, crying out through their evasion...
But being summoned they did not come, as we foretold, showing even from these things their slander and well-nigh their plot and intrigue, which they contrived, crying out by way of excuse. For those who have confidence to prove the things they say when absent, these things they are ready to prove in their presence. But since they did not dare to come, we think that henceforth no one is unaware that, even if they should again wish to exercise their malice, they can prove nothing against our fellow-priests, whom they indeed accuse in their absence, but whose presence they flee.
For they fled, most beloved brethren, not only on account of these whom they falsely assailed, but also on account of those who had gathered from various places to convict these same men of many crimes. For men returning from exile brought forward iron and chains; and again... For those who trust their own words were able to be present for that very purpose. Since therefore they did not appear, we reckon that now no one is ignorant that, even if they should again wish to act craftily there, since, having nothing whereby to convict our fellow-ministers, they accuse these men in their absence but slip away from their presence. For they fled, most beloved brethren.
...not only on account of the slander which they were heaping upon those men, but also on account of those who assailed them with various charges, whom they saw had appeared. For chains and fetters were brought forward by men who had returned from exile, and by those who were still being held in exile.
For they fled, beloved brethren, not only because of the slander of these men, but also because they saw that those accusing them on various charges had arrived. For chains and irons were being brought forward by men who had returned from exile; and from those still detained in exile there were sent kinsmen and near relations, friends and brethren, who brought forward the complaints either of those who survive, or pursued the unworthy injury done to those who died in those very exiles. And—what is greatest—bishops were present, one of whom brought forth the iron and the chains which he had borne on his neck because of them, while others testified to the death that had been aimed at them by their false accusation.
For they burst forth into such desperation that they would even have killed bishops, had these not fled their bloody hands. For our fellow-bishop, the most blessed Theodulus, died while fleeing their harassment; for he had been ordered to die by their false accusation. For there came ministers, kinsmen and friends of those who died because of them. And—what is greater—bishops were present, and some brought forth the iron and chains they had borne because of them; others testified to a death aimed at them by their false accusations. For they had reached such savagery that they even dared to wish to kill bishops, and would have killed them, had these not escaped their hands. And so our fellow-minister, the blessed Theodulus, rose up, fleeing their false accusations:
...others displayed the marks of swords, the blows and the scars, while others complained that they had been tormented with hunger by these men. And these things were attested not by obscure men, but by chosen representatives from all the churches, on behalf of which they had assembled here, who set forth the things done: armed soldiers, mobs with clubs, threats of judges, the forging of false letters—for there were read letters forged by Theognitus, false, against our fellow-bishops Athanasius and Marcellus, so that the emperor too might be stirred up against them, and these things were proved by those who had then been the deacons of Theognitus himself—; besides these, the strippings of virgins, the burnings of churches, imprisonments against the ministers of God:
—all these things on account of the wicked and execrable heresy. Some implored attention to the fact that they had endured hunger at their hands. And these things men of no obscure rank attested; rather, they were whole churches, on behalf of which those who appeared and made their pleas set forth: soldiers with swords, mobs with clubs, threats of judges, the forging of false letters—for letters of Theognis were read against our fellow-ministers Athanasius, Marcellus and Asclepas, so that the emperors too might be moved against them, and these things were confirmed by those who were then deacons of Theognis—; and further the stripping of virgins, the burnings of churches, imprisonment against our fellow-ministers: and all these for no other cause than the infamous heresy of the Arians.
...while others complained that they had endured hunger at their hands. And these things not chance men attested, but whole churches there were, on behalf of which those who came and interceded set forth: sword-bearing soldiers, crowds with clubs, threats of judges, subornations of forged letters—for letters were read of Theognius and his party, forged against our fellow-ministers Athanasius and Marcellus and Asclepas, that they might also stir up the emperors against them, and these things those who were then deacons of Theognius refuted—besides these, strippings of virgins, burnings of churches, imprisonments against our fellow-ministers; and all these things for no other reason than the ill-named heresy of the Arian madmen.
For those who renounced communion with them were compelled to endure such things. Considering these things, therefore, they saw that they were held in a tight place; and being ashamed indeed to confess the things they had committed, yet unable any longer to hide them, they came at last to the city of Sardica, that by their presence they might seem to shut out the suspicion, as of an evil deed. For seeing those who had been oppressed by their false testimonies, and also those whom they had most violently attacked now as accusers on the other side, and having before their eyes the betrayers of their own crimes, being summoned they refused to come... For those who declined communion with them of necessity endured these things. 4.
Considering these things, therefore, they were brought to the ruin of their own will. For they were ashamed to confess their offences and, since these being disclosed to all could not be hidden, they came to Sardica, that by their arrival they might acquire a reputation for sincerity. And so, when they had seen those upon whom they had heaped their slanders, and those afflicted by them, and had beheld before their eyes the accusers and the witnesses, being summoned they could not come, while our fellow-ministers...
For they were ashamed indeed to confess what they had done, but since they could no longer hide these things, they came to the city of the Sardicans, that by their arrival they might seem to bear the appearance of not having transgressed. But seeing those whom they had slandered and those whom they had made to suffer, and having the accusers and the proofs before their eyes, being summoned they refused to come... they could not appear, chiefly disturbed by conscience toward our fellow-priests Athanasius, Marcellus and Asclepas, who both implored the judgment and challenged their accusers, so that they might not only convict them concerning the falsehoods they had fabricated against them, but also disclose the impious and nefarious things they had committed against the churches.
But they were seized by so great a fear that they took to flight, and through that very flight uncovered and laid bare their own falsehood. And yet not only from their earlier deeds but also from these their malice and falsehood is shown, so that not even from that flight may they find any occasion... while our brethren Athanasius, Marcellus and Asclepas, using much confidence, implored and pressed and challenged and even promised not only to refute their slander but moreover to demonstrate what offences they had committed in their churches. But they were struck by so great a fear of conscience that they even turned to flight, and through it demonstrated their own slander and confessed their offences.
And although from this—that they refused—and not only from their earlier but also from their present deeds their cunning has been proved, nevertheless, lest from their flight they gain some occasion... while our fellow-ministers Athanasius and Marcellus and Asclepas, using much frankness, lamenting and pressing and challenging them and promising not only to refute the slander but also to show how greatly they had transgressed against their churches—but they were held by so great a fear of conscience that they fled, and through their flight refuted their own slander and, by their running away, confessed the things they had done in common. 5.
Although, then, not only from their earlier deeds but also from these very things their perversity and slander is shown, nevertheless, lest from their flight they be able to find some pretext for another evil device, we determined that the things committed by them ought to be investigated according to truth and reason; and we found them to be liars in these matters too, and to have practised nothing other than an assault against our fellow-priests. For the man whom they said had been killed by Athanasius, one named Arsenius, is counted among the living; whence from this it became clear that the other things too, which were bandied about by them, were full of lies and falsehood.
And since they were saying certain things about a chalice broken by Macarius, a presbyter of Athanasius, those who were present from Alexandria, from that same place, testified that nothing of the kind had been done. But—lest they be able to find occasion for another wickedness—we resolved to sift, according to the standard of truth, the things committed by them. And having done so, we found them to be slanderers even from what had been enacted, and to have prepared nothing other than snares for our fellow-ministers. For the Arsenius whom they said had been slain by Athanasius is alive and abides among the living. From which it appears that those things also, which they babbled about others, were fabricated.
And since they made mention of a chalice broken by Macarius, a presbyter of Athanasius, those who came from the very places of Alexandria and the Mareotis gave testimony that nothing of the kind had been committed. The bishops too, writing from Egypt to Julius our fellow-priest... And the bishops writing from Egypt to Julius our fellow-priest amply affirmed that not even a suspicion of this kind had existed there. But they say that they even possess records against him. Yet the records they possess, it is agreed, were drawn up in the absence of the other party.
From this also the things babbled about the others by them appear to be fabrications. And since they also babbled about a cup as having been broken by Macarius the presbyter of Athanasius, those who came from Alexandria and the Mareotis and the remaining places testified that none of these things had been done. And the bishops writing from Egypt to Julius our fellow-priest amply affirmed that not even a suspicion of this kind had been there. But they say that they even have records against him. Yet those which they have, it is agreed, were drawn up while the other party was absent.
Yet at the same time, in those very records, pagans and catechumens were questioned, from among whom a catechumen, being questioned, said that he had been inside when Macarius made his sudden entry, and another, being questioned, said that that most notorious Ischyras had been lying sick in his cell—so that from this it appears that no mystery at all had been celebrated, since the catechumens were inside, whereas Ischyras was not inside. The bishops of Egypt sufficiently established to our fellow-priest Julius that there had not even been such a suspicion. Furthermore, the records which they said they held against him, it was agreed, had been drawn up by one party only; and in those very acts pagans and catechumens were questioned.
From among whom one catechumen, being questioned, said that he had been inside when Macarius came upon the place, and another, being questioned, said that the Ischyras of whom they speak had been lying sick in his cell—so that from this it appears that nothing of the mysteries had been celebrated, from the fact that the catechumens were standing inside, and that Ischyras had not been present, but was lying ill...
...but was lying ill. For Ischyras himself, that contriver of all malice, was saying that Athanasius had burned a certain book of the divine Scriptures. Convicted on this point, he began to confess that he had been sick when Macarius was present, so that even from this it might appear that he was a false witness.
Finally, as the reward of falsehood they gave to this same Ischyras the honour of the episcopate—to a man who had not even been a presbyter. For two presbyters, coming now to the council, who at that time had been with Melitius and were afterwards received by Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, a man of blessed memory, and now side with Athanasius, testified that this man had nowhere at all been a presbyter of Melitius, nor had Melitius ever had any church there... For that most wicked Ischyras himself, who lied in saying that Athanasius had burned certain divine codices, demonstrated his lie in this too. For he confessed that at the time when Macarius had arrived, he had been sick and lying down, so that even from this he might be shown to be a slanderer.
Hence, for this calumny, they bestowed on Ischyras himself, as his reward, the title of bishop — a man who is not even a presbyter. For two presbyters came forward, who had once been with Melitius but were afterwards received by the blessed Alexander, then bishop of Alexandria, and are now appointed together with Athanasius; and they bore witness that this same most wicked Ischyras, having falsely alleged that Athanasius had burned one of the sacred books and being convicted, confessed that even this was untrue — that Macarius had been present, and that Ischyras himself was lying sick in his cell — and that from this it was plain he was a false accuser. Assuredly, then, as the wage of this false accusation, they gave to Ischyras himself the title of a bishopric, though he had never even attained to the presbyterate.
For two presbyters came forward, who had once been with Melitius but were later received by the blessed Alexander, who became bishop of Alexandria, and now are together with Athanasius; and they testified that this man never held in any place a church in the Mareotis nor was a minister there. Yet nonetheless they now brought him forward as though a bishop — him who before was not even a presbyter — that under the name of the episcopate they might seem to cloak their falsehood before those who heard. Moreover, the book was read which our brother and fellow-bishop Marcellus wrote, and the cunning malice of Eusebius and of those who were with him was discovered. For the very things which Marcellus had set down as one propounding questions, these same they brought forward as though already proven, and represented them so.
Therefore those things that followed were read, and also those that had been set before the question, and his right faith was found sound; for neither from the holy [Virgin did he derive the beginning of the Word]. [The witnesses declared] that Ischyras had been a presbyter of Melitius, and that Melitius had absolutely no church or minister in the Mareotis. And yet him who was not even a presbyter they now brought forward in the place of a bishop, that by this name they might stupefy those who heard their calumnies. Moreover, the book of our fellow-minister Marcellus was read, and the contrivance of Eusebius was detected; for what Marcellus said by way of propounding a question, these things they feigned as though confessed by him. And so both these things and what followed and what had preceded the questions were read, and the man's right faith was found;
For neither from the holy [Virgin — the witnesses testified that Ischyras had been a presbyter of Melitius, and that Melitius never had in the Mareotis a church or minister; and yet him who was not even a presbyter they now brought as a bishop, that by the name they might overawe those who heard the calumny. And the writing of our fellow-minister Marcellus was read, and the malice of those about Eusebius was found; for what Marcellus said as one inquiring, these things they slanderously represented as agreed upon. So the things that followed were read, and those before the questions, and the man's faith was found upright. For neither from the] Virgin Mary, as they themselves feigned, did he give a beginning to God the Word, nor did he write that His kingdom has an end, but that it is without beginning and without end.
But Asclepius our fellow-bishop brought forward the acts which were drawn up at Antioch in the presence of the adversaries and of Eusebius of Caesarea, and from the sentences of the judging bishops he showed himself to be beyond reproach. Rightly, then, though frequently summoned, they did not dare to come; rightly they fled, driven headlong by the goad of their own conscience. For by their flight they confirmed their own falsehoods, and caused those things to be believed which their accusers, being present, spoke and demonstrated. What then? [They alleged that] Mary, as they themselves affirmed, gave a beginning to the Word of God and set no end to it in His kingdom; but he wrote that the Savior's dominion is without beginning and without end.
Asclepas too, our fellow-minister, brought forward the acts drawn up at Antioch in the presence of the accusers and of Eusebius of Caesarea, and from the sentences of the judging bishops showed himself to be innocent. Rightly then, most beloved brethren, though often summoned they did not answer; rightly they fled. For, constrained by conscience, through flight they confirmed their own calumnies and caused those things to be believed which their accusers, being present, spoke and demonstrated. [As for the charge that] from the holy Mary, as they asserted, he gave a beginning to the Word of God, and that His kingdom had no end — on the contrary, he wrote that His kingdom is without beginning and without end.