Church History 8.13.1–9.6.4
Greek text: Dindorf, Eusebii Opera 4 (Greek text: W. Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Leipzig: Teubner, 1871), digitized by the First Thousand Years of Greek project (Open Greek and Latin), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0). Compare: Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1 (1890).
Church 8, chapter 13
8.13.1Dindorf 4:368
τῶν δὲ κατὰ τὰς ἐπισήμους πόλεις μαρτυρησάντων ἐκκλησιαστικῶν ἀρχόντων πρῶτος ἡμῖν ἐν εὐσεβῶν στήλαις τῆς Χριστοῦ βασιλείας ἀναγορευέσθω μάρτυς ἐπίσκοπος τῆς Νικομηδέων πόλεως, τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποτμηθεὶς, Ἄνθιμος.
tōn de kata tas episēmous poleis martyrēsantōn ekklēsiastikōn archontōn prōtos hēmin en eusebōn stēlais tēs Christou basileias anagoreuesthō martys episkopos tēs Nikomēdeōn poleōs, tēn kephalēn apotmētheis, Anthimos.
but of the church rulers who suffered martyrdom in the illustrious cities, let the first proclaimed by us on the monuments of the pious as a martyr of the kingdom of Christ be the bishop of the city of the Nicomedians, Anthimus, who was beheaded.
Notes and citation
Summary: Among martyred bishops of the great cities, the first is Anthimus of Nicomedia, who was beheaded.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.1 (Dindorf 4:368; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.2Dindorf 4:368–369
τῶν δʼ ἐπʼ Ἀντιοχείας μαρτύρων τὸν πάντα βίον ἄριστος πρεσβύτερος τῆς αὐτόθι παροικίας Λουκιανὸς, ἐν τῇ Νικομηδείᾳ καὶ αὐτὸς, βασιλέως ἐπιπαρόντος, τὴν οὐράνιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ βασιλείαν λόγῳ πρότερον διʼ ἀπολογίας, εἶτα δὲ καὶ ἔργοις ἀνακηρύξας.
tōn dʼ epʼ Antiocheias martyrōn ton panta bion aristos presbyteros tēs autothi paroikias Loukianos, en tę̄ Nikomēdeią kai autos, basileōs epiparontos, tēn ouranion tou Christou basileian logǭ proteron diʼ apologias, eita de kai ergois anakēryxas.
Of the martyrs of Antioch, Lucian, a presbyter of that diocese, excellent throughout his life, who at Nicomedia too, in the presence of the emperor, proclaimed the heavenly kingdom of Christ, first in word through an apology and then also in deeds.
Notes and citation
Summary: Lucian, presbyter of Antioch, made a defense before the emperor at Nicomedia and died a martyr.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (line-break hyphen left in the digital text): ἐπι- παρόντος → ἐπιπαρόντος.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.2 (Dindorf 4:368–369; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.3Dindorf 4:369
τῶν δʼ ἐπὶ Φοινίκης μαρτύρων γένοιντʼ ἂν ἐπισημότατοι τὰ πάντα θεοφιλεῖς τῶν λογικῶν Χριστοῦ θρεμμάτων ποιμένες, Τυραννίων ἐπίσκοπος τῆς κατὰ Τυρὸν ἐκκλησίας, πρεσβύτερός τε τῆς κατὰ Σιδῶνα Ζηνόβιος, καὶ ἔτι Σιλβανὸς τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν Ἔμισαν ἐκκλησιῶν ἐπίσκοπος.
tōn dʼ epi Phoinikēs martyrōn genointʼ an episēmotatoi ta panta theophileis tōn logikōn Christou thremmatōn poimenes, Tyranniōn episkopos tēs kata Tyron ekklēsias, presbyteros te tēs kata Sidōna Zēnobios, kai eti Silbanos tōn amphi tēn Emisan ekklēsiōn episkopos.
Of the martyrs in Phoenicia, the most distinguished would be those shepherds of Christ's rational flocks, dear to God in every way: Tyrannion, bishop of the church at Tyre; Zenobius, a presbyter of the church at Sidon; and also Silvanus, bishop of the churches around Emesa.
Notes and citation
Summary: The most famous martyrs of Phoenicia were Bishop Tyrannion of Tyre, the presbyter Zenobius of Sidon, and Bishop Silvanus of Emesa.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.3 (Dindorf 4:369; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.4Dindorf 4:369
ἀλλʼ οὗτος μὲν θηρίων βορὰ μεθʼ ἑτέρων ἐπʼ αὐτῆς Ἐμίσης γενόμενος χοροῖς ἀνελήφθη μαρτύρων, τῶν δʼ ἐπʼ Ἀντιοχείας ἄμφω τὸν τοῦ θεοῦ λόγον διὰ τῆς εἰς θάνατον ὑπομονῆς ἐδοξασάτην, ὁ μὲν θαλαττίοις παραδοθεὶς βυθοῖς, ὁ ἐπίσκοπος, ὁ δὲ ἰατρῶν ἄριστος Ζηνόβιος ταῖς κατὰ τῶν πλευρῶν ἐπιτεθείσαις αὐτῷ καρτερῶς ἐναποθανὼν βασάνοις.
allʼ houtos men thēriōn bora methʼ heterōn epʼ autēs Emisēs genomenos chorois anelēphthē martyrōn, tōn dʼ epʼ Antiocheias amphō ton tou theou logon dia tēs eis thanaton hypomonēs edoxasatēn, ho men thalattiois paradotheis bythois, ho episkopos, ho de iatrōn aristos Zēnobios tais kata tōn pleurōn epitetheisais autǭ karterōs enapothanōn basanois.
Silvanus became food for wild beasts with others at Emesa itself and was received into the choirs of martyrs; the other two glorified the word of God at Antioch by their endurance unto death: the bishop was given over to the depths of the sea, while Zenobius, the most excellent of physicians, died bravely under the tortures applied to his sides.
Notes and citation
Summary: Silvanus was thrown to beasts at Emesa; at Antioch Tyrannion was drowned and the physician Zenobius died under torture.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (missing capital and breathing on the place name in the digital text): ἐπʼ αὐτῆς ἐμίσης → ἐπʼ αὐτῆς Ἐμίσης.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.4 (Dindorf 4:369; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.5Dindorf 4:369
τῶν δʼ ἐπὶ Παλαιστίνης μαρτύρων Σιλβανὸς, ἐπίσκοπος τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν Γάζαν ἐκκλησιῶν, κατὰ τὰ ἐν Φαίνοι χαλκοῦ μέταλλα σὺν ἑτέροις ἑνὸς δέουσι τὸν ἀριθμὸν τεσσαράκοντα τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται, Αἰγύπτιοί τε αὐτόθι Πήλευς καὶ Νεῖλος ἐπίσκοποι μεθʼ ἑτέρων τὴν διὰ πυρὸς ὑπέμειναν τελευτήν.
tōn dʼ epi Palaistinēs martyrōn Silbanos, episkopos tōn amphi tēn Gazan ekklēsiōn, kata ta en Phainoi chalkou metalla syn heterois henos deousi ton arithmon tessarakonta tēn kephalēn apotemnetai, Aigyptioi te autothi Pēleus kai Neilos episkopoi methʼ heterōn tēn dia pyros hypemeinan teleutēn.
Of the martyrs in Palestine, Silvanus, bishop of the churches around Gaza, was beheaded at the copper mines of Phaeno with others, thirty-nine in number; and the Egyptian bishops Peleus and Nilus, with others, endured death by fire there.
Notes and citation
Summary: In Palestine Bishop Silvanus of Gaza was beheaded with thirty-nine others at the Phaeno mines, and the Egyptian bishops Peleus and Nilus were burned.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.5 (Dindorf 4:369; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.6Dindorf 4:369
καὶ τὸ μέγα δὲ κλέος τῆς Καισαρέων παροικίας ἐν τούτοις ἡμῖν μνημονευέσθω Πάμφιλος πρεσβύτερος, τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς θαυμασιώτατος, οὗ τῶν ἀνδραγαθημάτων τὴν ἀρετὴν κατὰ τὸν δέοντα καιρὸν ἀνεγράψαμεν.
kai to mega de kleos tēs Kaisareōn paroikias en toutois hēmin mnēmoneuesthō Pamphilos presbyteros, tōn kathʼ hēmas thaumasiōtatos, hou tōn andragathēmatōn tēn aretēn kata ton deonta kairon anegrapsamen.
And among these let us also remember the great glory of the church of Caesarea, Pamphilus the presbyter, the most wonderful man of our time, the excellence of whose brave deeds we have recorded at the proper place.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius remembers his teacher Pamphilus, presbyter of Caesarea, whose deeds he recorded elsewhere.
- Eusebius wrote a Life of Pamphilus (lost) and describes his martyrdom in the Martyrs of Palestine 11.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.6 (Dindorf 4:369; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.7Dindorf 4:369–370
τῶν δʼ ἐπʼ Ἀλεξανδρείας καθʼ ὅλης τε Αἰγύπτου καὶ Θηβαΐδος διαπρεπῶς τελειωθέντων πρῶτος Πέτρος, αὐτῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας ἐπίσκοπος, θεῖόν τι χρῆμα διδασκάλων τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ θεοσεβείας, ἀναγεγράφθω, καὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ πρεσβυτέρων Φαῦστος καὶ Δῖος καὶ Ἀμμώνιος, τέλειοι Χριστοῦ μάρτυρες, Φιλέας τε καὶ Ἡσύχιος καὶ Παχύμιος καὶ Θεόδωρος, τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν Αἴγυπτον ἐκκλησιῶν ἐπίσκοποι, μυρίοι τε ἐπὶ τούτοις ἄλλοι διαφανεῖς, οἱ πρὸς τῶν κατὰ χώραν καὶ τόπον παροικιῶν μνημονεύονται, ὧν ἀνὰ τὴν πᾶσαν οἰκουμένην ὑπὲρ τῆς εἰς τὸ θεῖον εὐσεβείας ἠγωνισμένων γραφῇ παραδιδόναι τοὺς ἄθλους, ἐπʼ ἀκριβές τε ἕκαστα τῶν περὶ αὐτοὺς συμβεβηκότων ἱστορεῖν, οὐχ ἡμέτερον, τῶν δʼ ὄψει τὰ πράγματα παρειληφότων ἴδιον ἂν γένοιτο. οἷς γε μὴν αὐτὸς παρεγενόμην, τούτους καὶ τοῖς μεθʼ ἡμᾶς γνωρίμους διʼ ἑτέρας ποιήσομαι γραφής.
tōn dʼ epʼ Alexandreias kathʼ holēs te Aigyptou kai Thēbaïdos diaprepōs teleiōthentōn prōtos Petros, autēs Alexandreias episkopos, theion ti chrēma didaskalōn tēs en Christǭ theosebeias, anagegraphthō, kai tōn syn autǭ presbyterōn Phaustos kai Dios kai Ammōnios, teleioi Christou martyres, Phileas te kai Hēsychios kai Pachymios kai Theodōros, tōn amphi tēn Aigypton ekklēsiōn episkopoi, myrioi te epi toutois alloi diaphaneis, hoi pros tōn kata chōran kai topon paroikiōn mnēmoneuontai, hōn ana tēn pasan oikoumenēn hyper tēs eis to theion eusebeias ēgōnismenōn graphę̄ paradidonai tous athlous, epʼ akribes te hekasta tōn peri autous symbebēkotōn historein, ouch hēmeteron, tōn dʼ opsei ta pragmata pareilēphotōn idion an genoito. hois ge mēn autos paregenomēn, toutous kai tois methʼ hēmas gnōrimous diʼ heteras poiēsomai graphēs.
Of those who were gloriously perfected at Alexandria and throughout all Egypt and the Thebaid, let first be recorded Peter, bishop of Alexandria itself, a divine example among teachers of godliness in Christ, and of the presbyters with him Faustus, Dius, and Ammonius, perfect martyrs of Christ; and Phileas, Hesychius, Pachymius, and Theodore, bishops of the churches in Egypt; and besides these countless other illustrious men, who are remembered by the churches of their own country and region. To commit to writing the contests of those who strove throughout the whole world for piety toward God, and to relate accurately each thing that befell them, would not be our task but the proper work of those who saw the events with their own eyes. Those, however, at whose trials I was myself present I shall make known to those after us in another writing.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius names Peter of Alexandria and other Egyptian martyrs, leaves the full record to eyewitnesses, and promises a separate work on the martyrs he saw himself.
- The other writing is Eusebius's Martyrs of Palestine.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.7 (Dindorf 4:369–370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.8Dindorf 4:370
κατά γε μὴν τὸν παρόντα λόγον τὴν παλινῳδίαν τῶν περὶ ἡμὰς εἰργασμένων τοῖς εἰρημένοις ἐπισυνάψω, τά τε ἐξ ἀρχῆς τοῦ διωγμοῦ συμβεβηκότα, χρησιμώτατα τυγχάνοντα τοῖς ἐντευξομένοις.
kata ge mēn ton paronta logon tēn palinǭdian tōn peri hēmas eirgasmenōn tois eirēmenois episynapsō, ta te ex archēs tou diōgmou symbebēkota, chrēsimōtata tynchanonta tois enteuxomenois.
In the present account, however, I shall add to what has been said the recantation of what was done against us, and the things that happened from the beginning of the persecution, which will be most useful to those who read them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius announces that he will next tell of the rulers' recantation and the course of the persecution.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.8 (Dindorf 4:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.9Dindorf 4:370
τὰ μὲν οὖν πρὸ τοῦ καθʼ ἡμῶν πολέμου τῆς Ῥωμαίων ἡγεμονίας, ἐν ὅσοις δὴ χρόνοις τὰ τῶν ἀρχόντων φίλιά τε ἡμῖν ἦν καὶ εἰρηναῖα, ὁπόσης ἀγαθῶν εὐφορίας καὶ εὐετηρίας ἠξίωτο, τίς ἂν ἐξαρκέσειε λόγος διηγήσασθαι; ὁπότε καὶ οἱ μάλιστα τῆς καθόλου κρατοῦντες ἀρχῆς, δεκαετηρίδας καὶ εἰκοσαετηρίδας τῆς βασιλείας ἐκπλήσαντες, ἐν ἑορταῖς καὶ πανηγύρεσι, φαιδροτάταις τε θαλίαις καὶ εὐφροσύναις μετὰ πάσης εὐσταθοῦς διετέλουν εἰρήνης.
ta men oun pro tou kathʼ hēmōn polemou tēs Rhōmaiōn hēgemonias, en hosois dē chronois ta tōn archontōn philia te hēmin ēn kai eirēnaia, hoposēs agathōn euphorias kai euetērias ēxiōto, tis an exarkeseie logos diēgēsasthai? hopote kai hoi malista tēs katholou kratountes archēs, dekaetēridas kai eikosaetēridas tēs basileias ekplēsantes, en heortais kai panēgyresi, phaidrotatais te thaliais kai euphrosynais meta pasēs eustathous dieteloun eirēnēs.
What account could suffice to describe the abundance of good things and prosperity that the Roman government enjoyed before the war against us, in all the time that the rulers were friendly and peaceful toward us? Then even those who held supreme power over the whole empire completed their tenth and twentieth years of reign in festivals and public celebrations, in brilliant feasts and rejoicings, with complete and settled peace.
Notes and citation
Summary: Before the persecution the empire prospered in peace, and the emperors celebrated their ten- and twenty-year jubilees in festivity.
- The twentieth anniversary (vicennalia) of Diocletian and Maximian was celebrated in 303.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.9 (Dindorf 4:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.10Dindorf 4:370
οὕτω δʼ αὐτοῖς ἀπαραποδίστως αὐξούσης καὶ ἐπὶ μέγα ὁσημέραι προιούσης τῆς ἐξουσίας, ἀθρόως τῆς πρὸς ἡμὰς εἰρήνης μεταθέμενοι, πόλεμον ἄσπονδον ἐγείρουσιν, οὔπω δʼ αὐτοῖς τῆς τοιασδὶ κινήσεως δεύτερον ἔτος πεπλήρωτο, καί τι περὶ τὴν ὅλην ἀρχὴν νεώτερον γεγονὸς τὰ πάντα πράγματα ἀνατρέπει.
houtō dʼ autois aparapodistōs auxousēs kai epi mega hosēmerai proiousēs tēs exousias, athroōs tēs pros hēmas eirēnēs metathemenoi, polemon aspondon egeirousin, oupō dʼ autois tēs toiasdi kinēseōs deuteron etos peplērōto, kai ti peri tēn holēn archēn neōteron gegonos ta panta pragmata anatrepei.
But while their power was thus growing without hindrance and advancing greatly day by day, they suddenly changed their peaceful attitude toward us and stirred up a war without truce. Yet the second year of this movement was not yet complete when something new happened in the whole government and overturned everything.
Notes and citation
Summary: At the height of their power the emperors suddenly made war on the Christians, and within two years the government itself was overturned.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.10 (Dindorf 4:370; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.11Dindorf 4:370–371
νόσου γὰρ οὐκ αἰσίας τῷ πρωτοστάτῃ τῶν εἰρημένων ἐπισκηψάσης, ὑφʼ ἧς δὴ καὶ τὰ τῆς διανοίας εἰς ἔκστασιν αὐτῷ παρήγετο, σὺν τῷ μετʼ αὐτὸν δευτερείοις τετιμημένῳ τὸν δημώδη καὶ ἰδιωτικὸν ἀπολαμβάνει βίον· οὔπω δὲ ταὐτʼ αὐτῷ οὕτω πέπρακτο, καὶ διχῆ τὰ πάντα τῆς ἀρχῆς διαιρεῖται, πρᾶγμα μηδʼ ἄλλοτέ πω πάλαι γεγονὸς μνήμῃ παραδεδομένον.
nosou gar ouk aisias tǭ prōtostatę̄ tōn eirēmenōn episkēpsasēs, hyphʼ hēs dē kai ta tēs dianoias eis ekstasin autǭ parēgeto, syn tǭ metʼ auton deutereiois tetimēmenǭ ton dēmōdē kai idiōtikon apolambanei bion; oupō de tautʼ autǭ houtō peprakto, kai dichē ta panta tēs archēs diaireitai, pragma mēdʼ allote pō palai gegonos mnēmę̄ paradedomenon.
For an ill-omened sickness fell upon the chief of those we have mentioned, by which his mind too was driven to derangement, and together with the one honored with the second place after him he took up the ordinary life of a private citizen. Scarcely had he done this when the whole empire was divided in two, a thing never recorded to have happened before.
Notes and citation
Summary: Diocletian fell ill, lost his reason, and abdicated with Maximian, after which the empire was divided in two.
- The chief emperor is Diocletian, the second Maximian; both abdicated on 1 May 305.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.11 (Dindorf 4:370–371; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.12Dindorf 4:371
χρόνου δʼ οὐ πλείστου μεταξὺ γενομένου βασιλεὺς Κωνστάντιος, τὸν πάντα βίον πραότατα καὶ τοῖς ὑπηκόοις εὐνοικώτατα, τῷ τε θείῳ λόγῳ προσφιλέστατα διαθέμενος, παῖδα γνήσιον Κωνσταντῖνον αὐτοκράτορα καὶ σεβαστὸν ἀνθʼ ἑαυτοῦ καταλιπὼν, κοινῷ φύσεως νόμῳ τελευτᾷ τὸν βίον, πρῶτός τε ἐν θεοῖς ἀνηγορεύετο παρʼ αὐτοῖς, ἁπάσης μετὰ θάνατον, ὅση βασιλεῖ τις ἂν ὠφείλετο, τιμῆς ἠξιωμένος, χρηστότατος καὶ ἠπιώτατος βασιλέων,
chronou dʼ ou pleistou metaxy genomenou basileus Kōnstantios, ton panta bion praotata kai tois hypēkoois eunoikōtata, tǭ te theiǭ logǭ prosphilestata diathemenos, paida gnēsion Kōnstantinon autokratora kai sebaston anthʼ heautou katalipōn, koinǭ physeōs nomǭ teleutą ton bion, prōtos te en theois anēgoreueto parʼ autois, hapasēs meta thanaton, hosē basilei tis an ōpheileto, timēs ēxiōmenos, chrēstotatos kai ēpiōtatos basileōn,
Not long afterward the emperor Constantius, who throughout his life had been most gentle, most kindly toward his subjects, and most friendly to the divine word, died by the common law of nature, leaving his own son Constantine as emperor and Augustus in his place. He was the first to be proclaimed among the gods by them, being granted after death every honor that could be owed to an emperor, the kindest and mildest of emperors,
Notes and citation
Summary: Constantius, a gentle ruler friendly to Christians, died and left his son Constantine as emperor, and was deified by the pagans.
- Constantius Chlorus died at York in 306.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.12 (Dindorf 4:371; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-12).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.13Dindorf 4:371
ὃς δὴ καὶ μόνος τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἐπαξίως τῆς ἡγεμονίας τὸν πάντα τῆς ἀρχῆς διατελέσας χρόνον, καὶ τἄλλα τοῖς πᾶσι δεξιώτατον καὶ εὐεργετικώτατον παρασχὼν ἑαυτὸν, τοῦ δὲ καθʼ ἡμῶν πολέμου μηδαμῶς ἐπικοινωνήσας, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοὺς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν θεοσεβεῖς ἀβλαβεῖς καὶ ἀνεπηρεάστους φυλάξας, καὶ μήτε τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν τοὺς οἴκους καθελὼν, μήθʼ ἕτερόν τι καθʼ ἡμῶν καινουργήσας, τέλος εὐδόκιμον καὶ τρισμακάριον ἀπείληφε τοῦ βίου, μόνος ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ βασιλείας εὐμενῶς καὶ ἐπιδόξως ἐπὶ διαδόχῳ γνησίῳ παιδὶ, πάντα σωφρονεστάτῳ τε καὶ εὐσεβεστάτῳ, τελευτήσας.
hos dē kai monos tōn kathʼ hēmas epaxiōs tēs hēgemonias ton panta tēs archēs diatelesas chronon, kai talla tois pasi dexiōtaton kai euergetikōtaton paraschōn heauton, tou de kathʼ hēmōn polemou mēdamōs epikoinōnēsas, alla kai tous hypʼ auton theosebeis ablabeis kai anepēreastous phylaxas, kai mēte tōn ekklēsiōn tous oikous kathelōn, mēthʼ heteron ti kathʼ hēmōn kainourgēsas, telos eudokimon kai trismakarion apeilēphe tou biou, monos epi tēs autou basileias eumenōs kai epidoxōs epi diadochǭ gnēsiǭ paidi, panta sōphronestatǭ te kai eusebestatǭ, teleutēsas.
who alone of those in our time spent the whole period of his rule worthily of his office. In all else he showed himself most gracious and beneficent to all; he took no part at all in the war against us, but kept the godly under him unharmed and unmolested, neither pulling down the church buildings nor contriving anything else new against us. He received a glorious and thrice-blessed end of life, being the only one who died in his own reign in favor and honor, with a true-born son, in all things most prudent and most pious, as his successor.
Notes and citation
Summary: Constantius alone ruled worthily, did not persecute or tear down churches, and died honored with his son succeeding him.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.13 (Dindorf 4:371; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-13).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.14Dindorf 4:371–372
τούτου παῖς Κωνσταντῖνος εὐθὺς ἀρχόμενος, βασιλεὺς τελεώτατος καὶ σεβαστός πρὸς τῶν στρατοπέδων, καὶ ἔτι πολὺ τούτων πρότερον πρὸς αὐτοῦ τοῦ παμβασιλέως θεοῦ ἀναγορευθεὶς, ζηλωτὴν ἑαυτὸν τῆς πατρικῆς περὶ τὸν ἡμέτερον λόγον εὐσεβείας κατεστήσατο. καὶ οὗτος μὲν τοιοῦτος. Λικίννιος δὲ ἐπὶ τούτοις ὑπὸ κοινῆς ψήφου τῶν κρατούντων αὐτοκράτωρ καὶ σεβαστὸς ἀναπέφηνε.
toutou pais Kōnstantinos euthys archomenos, basileus teleōtatos kai sebastos pros tōn stratopedōn, kai eti poly toutōn proteron pros autou tou pambasileōs theou anagoreutheis, zēlōtēn heauton tēs patrikēs peri ton hēmeteron logon eusebeias katestēsato. kai houtos men toioutos. Likinnios de epi toutois hypo koinēs psēphou tōn kratountōn autokratōr kai sebastos anapephēne.
His son Constantine, from the very beginning proclaimed most perfect emperor and Augustus by the armies, and long before this by God himself, the King of all, made himself an imitator of his father's piety toward our faith. Such was he. After these, Licinius was declared emperor and Augustus by common vote of the rulers.
Notes and citation
Summary: Constantine, proclaimed by the army and by God, followed his father's piety, and Licinius was then made emperor by common vote.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (line-break hyphen left in the digital text): τοι- οὗτος → τοιοῦτος.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.14 (Dindorf 4:371–372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-14).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.13.15Dindorf 4:372
ταῦτα Μαξιμῖνον δεινῶς ἐλύπει, μόνον Καίσαρα παρὰ πάντας εἰσέτι τότε χρηματίζοντα, ὃς δὴ οὖν τὰ μάλιστα τυραννικὸς ὢν, παραρπάσας ἑαυτῷ τὴν ἀξίαν, σεβαστὸς ἦν, αὐτὸς ὑφʼ ἑαυτοῦ γεγονώς· ἐντούτῳ δὲ Κωνσταντίνῳ μηχανὴν θανάτου συρράπτων ἁλοὺς ὁ μετὰ τὴν ἀπόθεσιν ἐπανῃρῆσθαι δεδηλωμένος, αἰσχίστῳ καταστρέφει θανάτῳ. πρώτου δὲ τούτου τὰς ἐπὶ τιμῇ γραφὰς, ἀνδριάντας τε καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα ἐπʼ ἀναθέσει νενόμισται, ὡς ἀνοσίου καὶ δυσσεβεστάτου καθῄρουν.
tauta Maximinon deinōs elypei, monon Kaisara para pantas eiseti tote chrēmatizonta, hos dē oun ta malista tyrannikos ōn, pararpasas heautǭ tēn axian, sebastos ēn, autos hyphʼ heautou gegonōs; entoutǭ de Kōnstantinǭ mēchanēn thanatou syrraptōn halous ho meta tēn apothesin epanę̄rēsthai dedēlōmenos, aischistǭ katastrephei thanatǭ. prōtou de toutou tas epi timę̄ graphas, andriantas te kai hosa toiauta epʼ anathesei nenomistai, hōs anosiou kai dyssebestatou kathę̄roun.
This grieved Maximin terribly, since up to that time he alone was still styled Caesar by all. Being therefore extremely tyrannical, he seized the dignity for himself and became Augustus, made so by himself. Meanwhile, the man who, as we have shown, had resumed office after his abdication was caught contriving a plot for Constantine's death and perished by a most shameful death. He was the first whose honorific inscriptions, statues, and all such things customarily set up in dedication were pulled down, as belonging to an impious and most ungodly man.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin made himself Augustus, and Maximian, caught plotting against Constantine, died shamefully and his statues were destroyed.
- The man who resumed office after abdicating is Maximian (d. 310).
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread and divided word in the digital text; missing letter in the digital text): μόνο Καίσαρα → μόνον Καίσαρα; πρῴ του δὲ → πρώτου δὲ; ἀνδριάντας τʼ καὶ → ἀνδριάντας τε καὶ; ὡς ἀνοσίο καὶ → ὡς ἀνοσίου καὶ; ὃ δὴ οὖν τὰ μάλιστα → ὃς δὴ οὖν τὰ μάλιστα.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.13.15 (Dindorf 4:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-13-15).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 8, chapter 14
8.14.1Dindorf 4:372
Τούτου παῖς Μαξέντιος, ὁ τὴν ἐπὶ Ῥῴμης τυραννίδα συστησάμενος, ἀρχόμενος μὲν τὴν καθʼ ἡμᾶς πίστιν ἐπʼ ἀρεσκείᾳ καὶ κολακείᾳ τοῦ δήμου Ῥωμαίων καθυπεκρίνατο, ταύτῃ τε τοῖς ὑπηκόοις τὸν κατὰ Χριστιανῶν ἀνεῖναι προστάττει διωγμὸν, εὐσέβειαν ἐπιμορφάζων, ὡς ἂν δεξιὸς καὶ πολὺ πρᾶος παρὰ τοὺς προτέρους φανείη·
Toutou pais Maxentios, ho tēn epi Rhǭmēs tyrannida systēsamenos, archomenos men tēn kathʼ hēmas pistin epʼ areskeią kai kolakeią tou dēmou Rhōmaiōn kathypekrinato, tautę̄ te tois hypēkoois ton kata Christianōn aneinai prostattei diōgmon, eusebeian epimorphazōn, hōs an dexios kai poly praos para tous proterous phaneiē;
His son Maxentius, who established the tyranny at Rome, at first feigned our faith to please and flatter the Roman people. Accordingly he ordered his subjects to relax the persecution against the Christians, putting on a show of piety so that he might appear gracious and far milder than his predecessors.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maxentius, tyrant at Rome, at first pretended favor to the Christian faith and halted persecution to win popularity.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (Latin letters and a misread vowel in the digital text): Ma ξίντιος → Μαξέντιος.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.1 (Dindorf 4:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.2Dindorf 4:372
οὐ μὴν οἶος ἔσεσθαι ἠλπίσθη, τοιοῦτος ἔργοις ἀναπέφηνεν, εἰς πάσας δʼ ἀνοσιουργίας ὀκείλας οὐδὲν ὅ τι μιαρίας ἔργον καὶ ἀκολασίας παραλέλοιπε, μοιχείας τε καὶ παντοίας ἐπιτελῶν φθοράς· διαζευγνύς γε τοι τῶν ἀνδρῶν τὰς κατὰ νόμον γαμετὰς, ταύτας ἐνυβρίζων, ἀτιμότατα τοῖς ἀνδράσιν αὖθις ἀπέπεμπε, καὶ ταῦτʼ οὐκ ἀσήμοις οὐδʼ ἀφανέσιν ἐγχειρῶν ἐπετήδευεν, ἀλλʼ αὐτῶν δὴ μάλιστα τῶν τὰ πρῶτα τῆς Ῥωμαίων συγκλήτου ἀπενηνεγμένων ἐμπαροινῶν τοῖς ἐξοχωτάτοις.
ou mēn oios esesthai ēlpisthē, toioutos ergois anapephēnen, eis pasas dʼ anosiourgias okeilas ouden ho ti miarias ergon kai akolasias paraleloipe, moicheias te kai pantoias epitelōn phthoras; diazeugnys ge toi tōn andrōn tas kata nomon gametas, tautas enybrizōn, atimotata tois andrasin authis apepempe, kai tautʼ ouk asēmois oudʼ aphanesin encheirōn epetēdeuen, allʼ autōn dē malista tōn ta prōta tēs Rhōmaiōn synklētou apenēnegmenōn emparoinōn tois exochōtatois.
Yet in his deeds he did not prove to be such as he was hoped to be. Running aground into every kind of impiety, he left no deed of foulness and licentiousness undone, committing adulteries and every sort of corruption. He would separate lawful wives from their husbands, outrage them, and send them back to their husbands in the deepest dishonor; and he practiced this not on obscure or unknown persons but insulted above all the most eminent of those who held the first rank in the Roman senate.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maxentius turned to every vice, taking senators' wives from their husbands, abusing them, and sending them back.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.2 (Dindorf 4:372; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.3Dindorf 4:372–373
οἱ πάντες δʼ αὐτὸν ὑποπεπτηχότες δῆμοι καὶ ἄρχοντες, ἔνδοξοί τε καὶ ἄδοξοι, δεινῇ κατετρύχοντο τυραννίδι. καὶ οὐδʼ ἠρεμούντων καὶ τὴν πικρὰν φερόντων δουλείαν, ἀπαλλαγή τις ὅμως ἦν τῆς τοῦ τυράννου φονώσης ὠμότητος· ἐπὶ σμικρᾷ γοῦν ἤδη ποτὲ προφάσει τὸν δῆμον εἰς φόνον τοῖς ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν δορυφόροις ἐκδίδωσι, καὶ ἐκτείνετο μυρία τοῦ δήμου Ῥωμαίων πλήθη ἐπὶ μέσης τῆς πόλεως, οὐ Σκυθῶν οὐδὲ βαρβάρων, ἀλλʼ αὐτῶν τῶν οἰκείων δόρασι καὶ πανοπλίαις.
hoi pantes dʼ auton hypopeptēchotes dēmoi kai archontes, endoxoi te kai adoxoi, deinę̄ katetrychonto tyrannidi. kai oudʼ ēremountōn kai tēn pikran pherontōn douleian, apallagē tis homōs ēn tēs tou tyrannou phonōsēs ōmotētos; epi smikrą goun ēdē pote prophasei ton dēmon eis phonon tois amphʼ auton doryphorois ekdidōsi, kai ekteineto myria tou dēmou Rhōmaiōn plēthē epi mesēs tēs poleōs, ou Skythōn oude barbarōn, allʼ autōn tōn oikeiōn dorasi kai panopliais.
All the people and magistrates, noble and common, cowered before him and were worn down by the terrible tyranny. Even when they kept quiet and bore the bitter slavery, there was still no release from the tyrant's murderous cruelty: once, on a trivial pretext, he gave the people over to slaughter by his bodyguards, and countless numbers of the Roman people were killed in the middle of the city, not by the spears and arms of Scythians or barbarians but by those of their own countrymen.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maxentius terrorized Rome and once had his guards massacre great numbers of Roman citizens in the city.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.3 (Dindorf 4:372–373; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.4Dindorf 4:373
συγκλητικῶν γε μὴν φόνος ὁπόσος διʼ ἐπιβουλὴν ἐνηργεῖτο τῆς οὐσίας οὐδʼ ἐξαριθμήσασθαι δυνατὸν ἄλλοτε ἄλλαις πεπλασμέναις αἰτίαις μυρίων ἀναιρουμένων.
synklētikōn ge mēn phonos hoposos diʼ epiboulēn enērgeito tēs ousias oudʼ exarithmēsasthai dynaton allote allais peplasmenais aitiais myriōn anairoumenōn.
As for the slaughter of senators carried out to get their property, it is impossible even to count it, since countless were put to death on one invented charge or another.
Notes and citation
Summary: He killed innumerable senators on false charges to seize their wealth.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.4 (Dindorf 4:373; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.5Dindorf 4:373
ἡ δὲ τῶν κακῶν τῷ τυράννῳ κορωνὶς ἐπὶ γοητείαν ἤλαυνε, μαγικαῖς ἐπινοίαις τοτὲ μὲν γυναῖκας ἐγκύμονας ἀνασχίζοντος, τοτὲ δὲ νεογνῶν σπλάγχνα βρεφῶν διερευνωμένου, λέοντάς τε κατασφάττοντος, καί τινας ἀρρητοποιίας ἐπὶ δαιμόνων προκλήσεις καὶ ἀποτροπιασμὸν τοῦ πολέμου συνισταμένου· διὰ τούτων γὰρ αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς νίκης κατορθωθήσεσθαι ἡ πᾶσα ἐτύγχανεν ἐλπίς.
hē de tōn kakōn tǭ tyrannǭ korōnis epi goēteian ēlaune, magikais epinoiais tote men gynaikas enkymonas anaschizontos, tote de neognōn splanchna brephōn diereunōmenou, leontas te katasphattontos, kai tinas arrētopoiias epi daimonōn proklēseis kai apotropiasmon tou polemou synistamenou; dia toutōn gar autǭ ta tēs nikēs katorthōthēsesthai hē pasa etynchanen elpis.
The crowning point of the tyrant's evils drove him to sorcery: by magical devices he would now rip open pregnant women, now search the entrails of newborn infants; he slaughtered lions and performed certain unspeakable rites to invoke demons and to avert the war. For his whole hope was that by these means victory would be secured for him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maxentius practiced cruel magic, including the murder of pregnant women and infants, hoping to win victory by it.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.5 (Dindorf 4:373; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.6Dindorf 4:373
οὗτος μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης τυραννῶν οὐδʼ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν οἷα δρῶν τοὺς ὑπηκόους κατεδουλοῦτο, ὡς ἤδη καὶ τῶν ἀναγκαίων τροφῶν ἐν ἐσχάτῃ σπάνει καὶ ἀπορίᾳ καταστῆναι, ὅσην ἐπὶ Ῥώμης οὐδʼ ἄλλοτε οἶ καθʼ ἡμᾶς γενέσθαι μνημονεύουσιν.
houtos men oun epi Rhōmēs tyrannōn oudʼ estin eipein hoia drōn tous hypēkoous katedoulouto, hōs ēdē kai tōn anankaiōn trophōn en eschatę̄ spanei kai aporią katastēnai, hosēn epi Rhōmēs oudʼ allote oi kathʼ hēmas genesthai mnēmoneuousin.
It is not possible to say what this tyrant at Rome did to enslave his subjects, so that they were reduced to the most extreme scarcity and want even of necessary food, such as our contemporaries remember never having happened at Rome at any other time.
Notes and citation
Summary: His tyranny brought Rome to an unprecedented famine.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.6 (Dindorf 4:373; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.7Dindorf 4:373
ὁ δʼ ἐπʼ ἀνατολῆς τύραννος Μαξιμῖνος, ὡσὰν πρὸς ἀδελφὸν τὴν κακίαν πρὸς τὸν ἐπὶ Ῥώμης φιλίαν κρύβδην σπενδόμενος, ἐπὶ πλεῖστον χρόνον λανθάνειν ἐφρόντιζε, φωραθείς γέ τοι ὕστερον δίκην τίννυσι τὴν ἀξίαν.
ho dʼ epʼ anatolēs tyrannos Maximinos, hōsan pros adelphon tēn kakian pros ton epi Rhōmēs philian krybdēn spendomenos, epi pleiston chronon lanthanein ephrontize, phōratheis ge toi hysteron dikēn tinnysi tēn axian.
The tyrant in the East, Maximin, secretly made a pact of friendship with the one at Rome, as with a brother in wickedness, and took care for a very long time to keep it hidden; but when he was later found out, he paid the just penalty.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin in the East secretly allied himself with Maxentius and was later punished for it.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.7 (Dindorf 4:373; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.8Dindorf 4:373–374
ἦν δὲ θαυμάσαι ὅπως καὶ οὗτος τὰ συγγενῆ καὶ ἀδελφὰ μᾶλλον δὲ κακίας τὰ πρῶτα καὶ τὰ νικητήρια τῆς τοῦ κατὰ Ῥώμην τυράννου κακοτροπίας ἀπενηνεγμένος. γοήτων τε γὰρ καὶ μάγων οἱ πρῶτοι τῆς ἀνωτάτω παρʼ αὐτῷ τιμῆς ἠξίωντο, ψοφοδεοῦς εἰς τὰ μάλιστα καὶ δεισιδαιμονεστάτου καθεστῶτος, τήν τε περὶ τὰ εἴδωλα καὶ τοὺς δαίμονας περὶ πολλοῦ τιθεμένου πλάνην. μαντειῶν γοῦν δίχα καὶ χρησμῶν οὐδὲ μέχρις ὄνυχος, ὡς εἰπεῖν, τολμᾶν τι κινεῖν οἷός τε ἦν.
ēn de thaumasai hopōs kai houtos ta syngenē kai adelpha mallon de kakias ta prōta kai ta nikētēria tēs tou kata Rhōmēn tyrannou kakotropias apenēnegmenos. goētōn te gar kai magōn hoi prōtoi tēs anōtatō parʼ autǭ timēs ēxiōnto, psophodeous eis ta malista kai deisidaimonestatou kathestōtos, tēn te peri ta eidōla kai tous daimonas peri pollou tithemenou planēn. manteiōn goun dicha kai chrēsmōn oude mechris onychos, hōs eipein, tolman ti kinein hoios te ēn.
It was astonishing how he too carried off the things akin and brotherly to, or rather the first prizes and trophies of, the wickedness of the tyrant at Rome. For the leading sorcerers and magicians were thought worthy by him of the highest honor, since he was extremely timid and most superstitious and set great store by the error concerning idols and demons. Indeed without soothsaying and oracles he dared not move so much as a fingernail, so to speak.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin outdid Maxentius in wickedness, honoring magicians and doing nothing without oracles.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (missing iota subscript in the digital text; stray number in the digital text): ἀδελφὰ 5 μᾶλλον → ἀδελφὰ μᾶλλον; παρʼ αὐτῶ τιμῆς → παρʼ αὐτῷ τιμῆς.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.8 (Dindorf 4:373–374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.9Dindorf 4:374
οὗ χάριν καὶ τῷ καθʼ ἡμῶν σφοδρότερον ἤ οἱ πρόσθεν καὶ πυκνότερον ἐπετίθετο διωγμῷ, νεὼς κατὰ πάσαν πόλιν ἐγείρειν, καὶ τὰ χρόνου μήκει καθῃρημένα τεμένη διὰ σπουδῆς ἀνανεοῦσθαι προστάττων, ἱερέας τε εἰδώλων κατὰ πάντα τόπον καὶ πόλιν· καὶ ἐπὶ τούτων ἑκάστης ἐπαρχίας ἀρχιερέα, τῶν ἐν πολιτείαις ἕνα γέ τινα τὸν μάλιστα ἐμφανῶς διὰ πάσης ἐμπρέψαντα λειτουργίας, μετὰ στρατιωτικοῦ στίφους καὶ δορυφορίας ἐκτάσσων, ἀνέδην τε πάσι γόησιν, ὡσὰν εὐσεβέσι καὶ θεῶν προσφιλέσιν, ἡγεμονίας καὶ τὰς μεγίστας προνομίας δωρούμενος.
hou charin kai tǭ kathʼ hēmōn sphodroteron ē hoi prosthen kai pyknoteron epetitheto diōgmǭ, neōs kata pasan polin egeirein, kai ta chronou mēkei kathę̄rēmena temenē dia spoudēs ananeousthai prostattōn, hiereas te eidōlōn kata panta topon kai polin; kai epi toutōn hekastēs eparchias archierea, tōn en politeiais hena ge tina ton malista emphanōs dia pasēs emprepsanta leitourgias, meta stratiōtikou stiphous kai doryphorias ektassōn, anedēn te pasi goēsin, hōsan eusebesi kai theōn prosphilesin, hēgemonias kai tas megistas pronomias dōroumenos.
For this reason he pressed the persecution against us more violently and more continuously than those before him. He ordered temples to be raised in every city and the sacred precincts destroyed by length of time to be speedily restored, and he appointed priests of idols in every place and city, and over them in each province a high priest, one of those in public life who had been especially distinguished in every public office, with a military escort and bodyguard; and he freely granted governorships and the greatest privileges to all sorcerers, as though they were pious and dear to the gods.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin persecuted more harshly, rebuilt temples, organized a pagan priesthood with provincial high priests, and rewarded sorcerers.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): μέτα στρατιωτικοῦ → μετὰ στρατιωτικοῦ.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.9 (Dindorf 4:374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.10Dindorf 4:374
ἐκ δὴ τούτων ὁρμώμενος πόλιν μὲν οὐ μίαν οὐδὲ χώραν, ὅλας δὲ ἄρδην τὰς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἐπαρχίας χρυσοῦ καὶ ἀργύρου καὶ χρημάτων ἀμυθήτων εἰσπράξεσιν, ἐπισκήψεσί τε βαρυτάταις καὶ ἄλλοτε ἄλλαις καταδίκαις ἠνία καὶ κατεπίεζε. τῶν γε μὴν εὐπόρων τὰς ἐκ προγόνων περιποιηθείσας οὐσίας ἀφαιρούμενος, πλούτους ἀθρόως καὶ σωροὺς χρημάτων τοῖς ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν κόλαξιν ἐδωρεῖτο.
ek dē toutōn hormōmenos polin men ou mian oude chōran, holas de ardēn tas hypʼ auton eparchias chrysou kai argyrou kai chrēmatōn amythētōn eispraxesin, episkēpsesi te barytatais kai allote allais katadikais ēnia kai katepieze. tōn ge mēn euporōn tas ek progonōn peripoiētheisas ousias aphairoumenos, ploutous athroōs kai sōrous chrēmatōn tois amphʼ auton kolaxin edōreito.
Setting out from these measures, he harassed and oppressed not one city or region but all the provinces under him entirely, with exactions of gold and silver and untold sums of money, with the heaviest levies and with one penalty after another. Taking from the wealthy the property acquired from their ancestors, he presented riches and heaps of money all at once to the flatterers around him.
Notes and citation
Summary: He crushed the provinces with exactions and confiscations and gave the proceeds to his flatterers.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.10 (Dindorf 4:374; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.11Dindorf 4:374–375
παροινίας γε μὴν καὶ μέθης εἰς τοσαύτην ἠνέχθη φορὰν ὡς ἐν τοῖς πότοις παρακόπτειν καὶ τῶν φρενῶν παρεξίστασθαι, τοιαῦτά τε μεθύοντα προστάττειν οἷα ἀνανήψαντα αὐτὸν τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ εἰς μετάμελον ἄγειν· κραιπάλης δὲ καὶ ἀσωτίας μηδενὶ καταλιπὼν ὑπερβολὴν, κακίας διδάσκαλον τοῖς ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἄρχουσί τε καὶ ἀρχομένοις ἑαυτὸν καθίστη, θρύπτεσθαι μὲν τὸ στρατιωτικὸν διὰ πάσης τρυφῆς τε καὶ ἀκολασίας ἐνάγων, ἡγεμόνας δὲ καὶ στρατοπεδάρχας διʼ ἁρπαγῶν καὶ πλεονεξίας χωρεῖν κατὰ τῶν ὑπηκόων, μονονουχὶ συντυραννοῦντας αὐτῷ, προκαλούμενος.
paroinias ge mēn kai methēs eis tosautēn ēnechthē phoran hōs en tois potois parakoptein kai tōn phrenōn parexistasthai, toiauta te methyonta prostattein hoia ananēpsanta auton tę̄ hysteraią eis metamelon agein; kraipalēs de kai asōtias mēdeni katalipōn hyperbolēn, kakias didaskalon tois amphʼ auton archousi te kai archomenois heauton kathistē, thryptesthai men to stratiōtikon dia pasēs tryphēs te kai akolasias enagōn, hēgemonas de kai stratopedarchas diʼ harpagōn kai pleonexias chōrein kata tōn hypēkoōn, mononouchi syntyrannountas autǭ, prokaloumenos.
He was carried to such excess of drunken violence and intoxication that at his drinking bouts he became deranged and out of his mind, and when drunk gave orders that he repented of the next day when sober. Leaving to no one any possibility of surpassing him in debauchery and profligacy, he made himself a teacher of wickedness to rulers and subjects alike around him: he led the army to grow soft through every luxury and licentiousness, and he encouraged governors and generals to proceed against their subjects with plunder and greed, as almost fellow tyrants with him.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin's drunkenness and debauchery corrupted his army and officials, whom he encouraged to plunder their subjects.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.11 (Dindorf 4:374–375; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.12Dindorf 4:375
τί δεῖ τὰς ἐμπαθεῖς τἀνδρὸς αἰσχρουργίας μνημονεύειν; ἢ τῶν πρὸς αὐτοῦ μεμοιχευμένων ἀπαριθμεῖσθαι τὴν πληθύν; οὐκ ἦν γέ τοι πόλιν αὐτὸν παρελθεῖν, μὴ οὐχὶ ἐκ παντὸς φθορὰς γυναικῶν παρθένων τε ἁρπαγὰς εἰργασμένον.
ti dei tas empatheis tandros aischrourgias mnēmoneuein? ē tōn pros autou memoicheumenōn aparithmeisthai tēn plēthyn? ouk ēn ge toi polin auton parelthein, mē ouchi ek pantos phthoras gynaikōn parthenōn te harpagas eirgasmenon.
Why need we mention the man's shameful passions, or count the multitude of those with whom he committed adultery? He could not pass through a city without everywhere seducing wives and carrying off virgins.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin seduced women and carried off virgins in every city he passed through.
Topics: Ethics
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.12 (Dindorf 4:375; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-12).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.13Dindorf 4:375
κατὰ πάντων γέ τοι αὐτῷ ταῦτα προυχώρει, μὴ ὅτι μόνων Χριστιανῶν, οἴ θανάτου καταφρονήσαντες παρʼ οὐδὲν αὐτοῦ τὴν τοσαύτην ἔθεντο τυραννίδα. οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἄνδρες ἀνατλάντες πῦρ καὶ σίδηρον καὶ προσηλώσεις, θῆράς τε ἀγρίους καὶ θαλάττης βυθοὺς, ἀποτομάς τε μελῶν καὶ καυτῆρας, καὶ ὀφθαλμῶν κεντήσεις τε καὶ ἐξορύξεις, καὶ τοῦ παντὸς σώματος ἀκρωτηριασμοὺς, λιμόν τε ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ μέταλλα καὶ δεσμὰ, ἐπὶ πάντων μᾶλλον ὑπομονὴν τὴν ὑπὲρ εὐσεβείας ἐνεδείξαντο ἢ τὸ σέβας τὸ εἰς θεὸν εἰδώλοις ἀντικατηλλάξαντο.
kata pantōn ge toi autǭ tauta prouchōrei, mē hoti monōn Christianōn, oi thanatou kataphronēsantes parʼ ouden autou tēn tosautēn ethento tyrannida. hoi men gar andres anatlantes pyr kai sidēron kai prosēlōseis, thēras te agrious kai thalattēs bythous, apotomas te melōn kai kautēras, kai ophthalmōn kentēseis te kai exoryxeis, kai tou pantos sōmatos akrōtēriasmous, limon te epi toutois kai metalla kai desma, epi pantōn mallon hypomonēn tēn hyper eusebeias enedeixanto ē to sebas to eis theon eidōlois antikatēllaxanto.
In all this he succeeded against everyone except the Christians alone, who, despising death, set his great tyranny at nothing. For the men endured fire and sword and nailing, wild beasts and the depths of the sea, the cutting off of limbs and branding, the pricking and gouging out of eyes and the mutilation of the whole body, and besides these hunger, mines, and chains; in all things they showed endurance for the sake of piety rather than exchange the worship of God for idols.
Notes and citation
Summary: Only the Christians resisted Maximin: the men endured every torture rather than trade God's worship for idols.
Topics: Martyrdom, Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.13 (Dindorf 4:375; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-13).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.14Dindorf 4:375
αἶ δʼ αὖ γυναῖκες οὐχ ἧττον τῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ τῆς τοῦ θείου λόγου διδασκαλίας ἠρρενωμέναι, αἶ μὲν τοὺς αὐτοὺς τοῖς ἀνδράσιν ἀγῶνας ὑποστᾶσαι ἴσα τῆς Ἀρετῆς ἀπηνέγκαντο βραβεῖα, αἱ δὲ ἐπὶ φθορὰν ἑλκόμεναι θᾶττον τὴν ψυχὴν θανάτῳ ἢ τὸ σῶμα τῇ φθορᾷ παραδεδώκασι.
ai dʼ au gynaikes ouch hētton tōn andrōn hypo tēs tou theiou logou didaskalias ērrenōmenai, ai men tous autous tois andrasin agōnas hypostasai isa tēs Aretēs apēnenkanto brabeia, hai de epi phthoran helkomenai thatton tēn psychēn thanatǭ ē to sōma tę̄ phthorą paradedōkasi.
And the women, no less than the men, were made manly by the teaching of the divine word: some underwent the same contests as the men and carried off equal prizes of virtue, while others, when they were being dragged away to be defiled, gave up their souls to death rather than their bodies to defilement.
Notes and citation
Summary: Christian women, strengthened by God's word, endured the same trials as men, and some chose death over rape.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.14 (Dindorf 4:375; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-14).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.15Dindorf 4:375–376
μόνη γοῦν τῶν ἄλλων ὑπὸ τοῦ τυράννου μεμοιχευμένων Χριστιανὴ τῶν ἐπʼ Ἀλεξανδρείας ἐπισημοτάτη τε καὶ λαμπροτάτη τὴν ἐμπαθῆ καὶ ἀκόλαστον Μαξιμίνου ψυχὴν διʼ ἀνδρειοτάτου παραστήματος ὑπερεξενίκησεν, ἔνδοξος μὲν τἄλλα πλούτῳ τε καὶ γένει καὶ παιδείᾳ, πάντα γε μὴν δεύτερα σωφροσύνης τεθειμένη, ἣν καὶ πολλὰ λιπαρήσας κτεῖναι μὲν ἑτοίμως θνήσκειν ἔχουσαν οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν, τῆς ἐπιθυμίας μᾶλλον τοῦ θυμοῦ κατακρατούσης αὐτοῦ, φυγῇ δὲ ζημιώσας πάσης ἀφείλετο τῆς οὐσίας.
monē goun tōn allōn hypo tou tyrannou memoicheumenōn Christianē tōn epʼ Alexandreias episēmotatē te kai lamprotatē tēn empathē kai akolaston Maximinou psychēn diʼ andreiotatou parastēmatos hyperexenikēsen, endoxos men talla ploutǭ te kai genei kai paideią, panta ge mēn deutera sōphrosynēs tetheimenē, hēn kai polla liparēsas kteinai men hetoimōs thnēskein echousan ouch hoios te ēn, tēs epithymias mallon tou thymou katakratousēs autou, phygę̄ de zēmiōsas pasēs apheileto tēs ousias.
Of the others whom the tyrant tried to seduce, one Christian woman alone, among the most distinguished and illustrious women of Alexandria, overcame the passionate and licentious soul of Maximin by a most courageous steadfastness. She was renowned in other respects for wealth, family, and education, but she placed everything second to chastity. Though he pressed her often, he could not bring himself to kill her, ready as she was to die, for his lust overpowered his anger; so he punished her with exile and took away all her property.
Notes and citation
Summary: A noble Christian woman of Alexandria resisted Maximin's advances; unwilling to kill her, he exiled her and seized her property.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (line-break hyphen left in the digital text; wrong breathing in the digital text): ὐπερεξενίκησεν → ὑπερεξενίκησεν; ἔνδο- ξος → ἔνδοξος.
Topics: Persecution, Ethics
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.15 (Dindorf 4:375–376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-15).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.16Dindorf 4:376
μυρίαι δʼ ἄλλαι πρὸς τῶν κατʼ ἔθνος ἀρχόντων πορνείας ἀπειλὴν μηδʼ ἀκοῦσαι δεδυνημέναι πᾶν εἶδος βασάνων καὶ στρεβλώσεων καὶ θανατηφόρου κολάσεως ὑπέστησαν. θαυμασταὶ μὲν οὖν καὶ αὗται, ὑπερφυῶς γε μὴν θαυμασιωτάτη ἡ ἐπὶ Ῥώμης εὐγενεστάτη τῷ ὄντι καὶ σωφρονεστάτη γυνὴ πασῶν, αἷς ἐμπαροινεῖν ὁ ἐκεῖσε τύραννος Μαξέντιος τὰ ὅμοια Μαξιμίνῳ δρῶν ἐπειρᾶτο.
myriai dʼ allai pros tōn katʼ ethnos archontōn porneias apeilēn mēdʼ akousai dedynēmenai pan eidos basanōn kai streblōseōn kai thanatēphorou kolaseōs hypestēsan. thaumastai men oun kai hautai, hyperphyōs ge mēn thaumasiōtatē hē epi Rhōmēs eugenestatē tǭ onti kai sōphronestatē gynē pasōn, hais emparoinein ho ekeise tyrannos Maxentios ta homoia Maximinǭ drōn epeirato.
Countless other women, unable even to hear a threat of sexual violation from the provincial governors, underwent every kind of torture, racking, and deadly punishment. These too are admirable; but most surpassingly admirable was the woman at Rome, truly the noblest and most chaste of all those whom Maxentius, the tyrant there, acting like Maximin, attempted to abuse.
Notes and citation
Summary: Many women endured torture rather than be violated, but the most admirable was a noble woman at Rome whom Maxentius tried to abuse.
- πορνεία here means the forced violation threatened by the governors.
Topics: Persecution, Ethics
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.16 (Dindorf 4:376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-16).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.17Dindorf 4:376
ὡς γὰρ ἐπιστάντας τῷ οἴκῳ τοὺς τὰ τοιαῦτα τῷ τυράννῳ διακονουμένους ἐπύθετο, Χριστιανὴ δὲ καὶ αὕτη ἦν), τόν τε ἄνδρα τὸν αὐτῆς, καὶ ταῦτα Ῥωμαίων ὄντα ἔπαρχον, τοῦ δέους ἕνεκα λαβόντας ἄγειν αὐτὴν ἐπιτρέψαντα, εἰς βραχὺν ὑποπαραιτησαμένη, ὡς ἂν δὴ κατακοσμηθείη τὸ σῶμα, εἴσεισιν ἐπὶ τοῦ ταμιείου, καὶ μονωθεῖσα ξίφος καθʼ ἑαυτῆς πήγνυσι, θανοῦσά τε παραχρῆμα τὸν μὲν νεκρὸν τοῖς προαγωγοῖς καταλιμπάνει, ἔργοις δʼ αὐτοῖς ἁπάσης φωνῆς γεγωνοτέροις, ὅτι μόνον χρημάτων ἀήττητόν τε καὶ ἀνώλεθρον ἡ παρὰ Χριστιανοῖς ἀρετὴ πέφυκεν, εἰς πάντας ἀνθρώπους τούς τε νῦν ὄντας καὶ τοὺς μετὰ ταῦτα γενησομένους ἐξέφηνε.
hōs gar epistantas tǭ oikǭ tous ta toiauta tǭ tyrannǭ diakonoumenous epytheto, Christianē de kai hautē ēn), ton te andra ton autēs, kai tauta Rhōmaiōn onta eparchon, tou deous heneka labontas agein autēn epitrepsanta, eis brachyn hypoparaitēsamenē, hōs an dē katakosmētheiē to sōma, eiseisin epi tou tamieiou, kai monōtheisa xiphos kathʼ heautēs pēgnysi, thanousa te parachrēma ton men nekron tois proagōgois katalimpanei, ergois dʼ autois hapasēs phōnēs gegōnoterois, hoti monon chrēmatōn aēttēton te kai anōlethron hē para Christianois aretē pephyken, eis pantas anthrōpous tous te nyn ontas kai tous meta tauta genēsomenous exephēne.
For when she learned that those who served the tyrant in such matters were at the house (she too was a Christian), and that her husband, though he was prefect of Rome, had allowed them out of fear to take her and lead her away, she asked to be excused for a short time, as if to adorn her body, went into her chamber, and, alone, drove a sword into herself. Dying at once, she left her corpse to the procurers; but by deeds louder than any voice she showed to all people, both those now living and those yet to be, that the virtue found among Christians is the only thing unconquerable and indestructible.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Roman woman, whose husband the prefect let the tyrant's agents take her, killed herself with a sword rather than submit.
- The digital text lacks the opening parenthesis before “she too was a Christian”. Eusebius praises her act as courage; he does not discuss the morality of suicide.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (repeated syllable in the digital text): Χριστιανοῖς νοῖς ἀρετὴ → Χριστιανοῖς ἀρετὴ.
Topics: Persecution, Ethics
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.17 (Dindorf 4:376; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-17).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.14.18Dindorf 4:376–377
τοσαύτη δῆτα κακίας φορὰ ὑφʼ ἔνα καὶ τὸν αὐτὸν συνηνέχθη καιρὸν, πρὸς τῶν δύο τυράννων ἀνατολὴν καὶ δύσιν διειληφότων κατεργασθεῖσα. τίς δʼ ἂν τὴν τῶν τοσούτων διερευνώμενος αἰτίαν διστάξαι μὴ οὐχὶ τὸν καθʼ ἡμῶν διωγμὸν ἀποφήνασθαι; ὅτε γε ἁλιστὰ οὐ πρότερον τὰ τῆς τοσῆσδε πέπαυτο συγχύσεως ἢ Χριστιανοὺς τὰ τῆς παρρησίας ἀπολαβεῖν.
tosautē dēta kakias phora hyphʼ ena kai ton auton synēnechthē kairon, pros tōn dyo tyrannōn anatolēn kai dysin dieilēphotōn katergastheisa. tis dʼ an tēn tōn tosoutōn diereunōmenos aitian distaxai mē ouchi ton kathʼ hēmōn diōgmon apophēnasthai? hote ge halista ou proteron ta tēs tosēsde pepauto synchyseōs ē Christianous ta tēs parrēsias apolabein.
Such a flood of wickedness, then, came together at one and the same time, wrought by the two tyrants who had divided East and West between them. Who, searching for the cause of such things, would hesitate to declare it to be the persecution against us? For indeed this great confusion did not cease until the Christians had recovered their freedom.
Textual problem in this passage: see the notes.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius traces the evils of the two tyrants to the persecution, which ended only when the Christians regained their freedom.
- ἁλιστὰ in the digital text is probably a corruption (perhaps of μάλιστα); translated “indeed”.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.14.18 (Dindorf 4:376–377; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-14-18).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 8, chapter 15
8.15.1Dindorf 4:377
Διὰ παντός γέ τοι τοῦ κατὰ τὸν διωγμὸν δεκαέτους χρόνου τῶν εἰς ἐπιβουλὴν καὶ πόλεμον τὸν κατʼ ἀλλήλων οὐδὲν αὐτοὺς διαλέλοιπεν. ἄπλωτα μὲν γὰρ τὰ κατὰ θάλατταν ἦν, οὐδʼ ἐξῆν ποθὲν καταπλεύσαντας μὴ οὐχὶ πάσαις αἰκίαις ὑπάγεσθαι, στρεβλουμένους καὶ τὰς πλευρὰς καταξαινομένους, βασάνοις τε παντοίαις, μὴ ἄρα παρὰ τῶν διʼ ἐναντίας ἐχθρῶν ἥκοιεν, ἀνακρινομένους, καὶ τέλος σταυροῖς ἢ τῇ διὰ πυρὸς ὑπαγομένους κολάσει.
Dia pantos ge toi tou kata ton diōgmon dekaetous chronou tōn eis epiboulēn kai polemon ton katʼ allēlōn ouden autous dialeloipen. aplōta men gar ta kata thalattan ēn, oudʼ exēn pothen katapleusantas mē ouchi pasais aikiais hypagesthai, strebloumenous kai tas pleuras kataxainomenous, basanois te pantoiais, mē ara para tōn diʼ enantias echthrōn hēkoien, anakrinomenous, kai telos staurois ē tę̄ dia pyros hypagomenous kolasei.
Throughout the whole ten years of the persecution they never stopped plotting and making war against one another. The sea could not be sailed, and those who put in from anywhere could not escape every kind of abuse: they were racked, their sides were torn, they were examined under all sorts of tortures in case they had come from the enemy on the other side, and finally they were subjected to crucifixion or punishment by fire.
Notes and citation
Summary: During the ten years of persecution the rulers fought each other; seafarers were tortured as suspected spies and killed.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.15.1 (Dindorf 4:377; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-15-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.15.2Dindorf 4:377
ἀσπίδων ἐπὶ τούτοις καὶ θωράκων παρασκευαὶ, βελῶν τε καὶ δοράτων καὶ τῆς ἄλλης πολεμικῆς παρατάξεως ἑτοιμασίαι, τριήρων τε καὶ τῶν κατὰ ναυμαχίαν ὅπλων, κατὰ πάντα συνεκροτοῦντο τόπον, οὐδʼ ἦν ἄλλο τι παντί τῳ προσδοκᾶν ἢ πολεμίων κατὰ πᾶσαν ἔφοδον ἡμέραν. τούτοις καὶ ὁ μετὰ ταῦτα λιμός τε καὶ λοιμὸς ἐγκατασκήπτει, περὶ ὧν κατὰ καιρὸν ἱστορήσομεν τὰ δέοντα.
aspidōn epi toutois kai thōrakōn paraskeuai, belōn te kai doratōn kai tēs allēs polemikēs parataxeōs hetoimasiai, triērōn te kai tōn kata naumachian hoplōn, kata panta synekrotounto topon, oudʼ ēn allo ti panti tǭ prosdokan ē polemiōn kata pasan ephodon hēmeran. toutois kai ho meta tauta limos te kai loimos enkataskēptei, peri hōn kata kairon historēsomen ta deonta.
Besides this, preparations of shields and breastplates, provisions of arrows and spears and all other warlike equipment, of triremes and arms for sea battles, were being assembled everywhere, and no one could expect anything but an attack of enemies every day. After this famine and plague also fell upon them, about which we shall relate what is needed at the proper time.
Notes and citation
Summary: Everywhere arms were being prepared for war, and later famine and plague struck as well.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread accent in the digital text; misread letter in the digital text): πατὰ ναυμαχίαν → κατὰ ναυμαχίαν; ταʼ δέοντα → τὰ δέοντα.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.15.2 (Dindorf 4:377; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-15-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 8, chapter 16
8.16.1Dindorf 4:377
Τοιαῦτʼ ἦν τὰ διὰ παντὸς τοῦ διωγμοῦ παρατετακότα, δεκάτῳ μὲν ἔτει σὺν θεοῦ χάριτι παντελῶς πεπαυμένου, λωφᾶν γε μὴν μετʼ ὄγδοον ἔτος ἐναρξαμένου. ὡς γὰρ τὴν εἰς ἡμᾶς ἐπισκοπὴν εὐμενῆ καὶ ἵλεων ἡ θεία καὶ οὐράνιος χάρις ἐνεδείκνυτο, τότε δὴ καὶ οἱ καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἄρχοντες, αὐτοὶ δὴ ἐκεῖνοι διʼ ὧν πάλαι τὰ τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἐνηργεῖτο πολέμων, παραδοξότατα μεταθέμενοι τὴν γνώμην παλινῳδίαν ᾖδον, χρηστοῖς περὶ ἡμῶν προγράμμασι καὶ διατάγμασιν ἡμερωτάτοις τὴν ἐπὶ μέγα ἁφθεῖσαν τοῦ διωγμοῦ πυρκαϊὰν σβεννύντες.
Toiautʼ ēn ta dia pantos tou diōgmou paratetakota, dekatǭ men etei syn theou chariti pantelōs pepaumenou, lōphan ge mēn metʼ ogdoon etos enarxamenou. hōs gar tēn eis hēmas episkopēn eumenē kai hileōn hē theia kai ouranios charis enedeiknyto, tote dē kai hoi kathʼ hēmas archontes, autoi dē ekeinoi diʼ hōn palai ta tōn kathʼ hēmas enērgeito polemōn, paradoxotata metathemenoi tēn gnōmēn palinǭdian ę̄don, chrēstois peri hēmōn programmasi kai diatagmasin hēmerōtatois tēn epi mega haphtheisan tou diōgmou pyrkaïan sbennyntes.
Such were the things that continued throughout the whole persecution. By the grace of God it ceased entirely in the tenth year, but it had begun to slacken after the eighth. For when divine and heavenly grace showed its kind and gracious oversight of us, then indeed our rulers, the very men through whom the wars against us had long been waged, most unexpectedly changed their minds and sang a recantation, quenching the fire of persecution that had been kindled so high by favorable proclamations and most humane edicts concerning us.
Notes and citation
Summary: The persecution eased after eight years and ended in the tenth, when the rulers reversed themselves by kindly edicts.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread accent in the digital text): τὰ διαʼ παντὸς → τὰ διὰ παντὸς.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.16.1 (Dindorf 4:377; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-16-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.16.2Dindorf 4:377–378
οὐκ ἀνθρώπινον δέ τι τούτου κατέστη αἴτιον, οὐδʼ οἶκτος, ὡς ἂν φαίη τις, ἤ φιλανθρωπία τῶν ἀρχόντων· πολλοῦ δεῖ· πλείω γὰρ ὁσημέραι καὶ χαλεπώτερα ἀρχῆθεν εἰς ἐκεῖνο τοῦ καιροῦ τὰ καθʼ ἡμῶν αὐτοῖς ἐπενοεῖτο, ποικιλωτέραις μηχαναῖς ἄλλοτε ἄλλως τὰς καθʼ ἡμῶν αἰκίας ἐπικαινουργούντων· ἀλλʼ αὐτῆς γε τῆς θείας προνοίας ἐμφανὴς ἡ ἐπίσκεψις, τῷ μὲν αὐτῆς καταλλαττομένης λαῷ, τῷ δʼ αὐθέντῃ τῶν κακῶν ἐπεξιούσης καὶ πρωτοστάτῃ τῆς τοῦ παντὸς διωγμοῦ κακίας ἐπιχολουμένης.
ouk anthrōpinon de ti toutou katestē aition, oudʼ oiktos, hōs an phaiē tis, ē philanthrōpia tōn archontōn; pollou dei; pleiō gar hosēmerai kai chalepōtera archēthen eis ekeino tou kairou ta kathʼ hēmōn autois epenoeito, poikilōterais mēchanais allote allōs tas kathʼ hēmōn aikias epikainourgountōn; allʼ autēs ge tēs theias pronoias emphanēs hē episkepsis, tǭ men autēs katallattomenēs laǭ, tǭ dʼ authentę̄ tōn kakōn epexiousēs kai prōtostatę̄ tēs tou pantos diōgmou kakias epicholoumenēs.
Nothing human was the cause of this, nor pity, as one might say, or the humanity of the rulers; far from it. For from the beginning up to that time they devised more and harsher measures against us every day, inventing new tortures against us with ever more varied contrivances. But plainly it was the visitation of divine providence itself, reconciled to its own people, but attacking the author of the evils and angry at the ringleader of the whole wickedness of the persecution.
Notes and citation
Summary: Not the rulers' mercy but divine providence ended the persecution, reconciled to God's people and angry at its chief author.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (line-break hyphen and wrong accent in the digital text): κατέ- στῆ → κατέστη.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.16.2 (Dindorf 4:377–378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-16-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.16.3Dindorf 4:378
καὶ γὰρ εἴ τι ταῦτʼ ἐχρῆν κατὰ θείαν γενέσθαι κρίσιν, ἀλλὰ οὐαὶ, φησὶν ὁ λόγος, διʼ οὗ τὸ σκάνδαλον ἔρχεται. μέτεισι γοῦν αὐτὸν θεήλατος κόλασις, ἐξ αὐτῆς αὐτοῦ καταρξαμένη σαρκὸς, καὶ μέχρι τῆς ψυχῆς προελθοῦσα.
kai gar ei ti tautʼ echrēn kata theian genesthai krisin, alla ouai, phēsin ho logos, diʼ hou to skandalon erchetai. meteisi goun auton theēlatos kolasis, ex autēs autou katarxamenē sarkos, kai mechri tēs psychēs proelthousa.
For even if these things had to happen by divine judgment, yet, as the word says, “woe to him through whom the offense comes.” So a punishment sent by God pursued him, beginning in his very flesh and advancing even to his soul.
Matt 18:7 (quotation, high confidence) · Luke 17:1 (echo, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Though persecution came by God's judgment, woe fell on its author: divine punishment seized Galerius in body and soul.
- The quotation is Matt 18:7 (compare Luke 17:1). The ringleader is Galerius.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.16.3 (Dindorf 4:378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-16-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.16.4Dindorf 4:378
ἀθρόα μὲν γὰρ περὶ τὰ μέσα τῶν ἀπορρήτων τοῦ σώματος ἀπόστασις γίνεται αὐτῷ, εἶθʼ ἕλκος ἐν βάθει συριγγῶδες, καὶ τούτων ἀνίατος νομὴ κατὰ τῶν ἐνδοτάτω σπλάγχνων, ἀφʼ ὧν ἄλεκτόν τι πλῆθος σκωλήκων βρύειν, θανατώδη τε ὀδμὴν ἀποπνέειν, τοῦ παντὸς ὄγκου τῶν σωμάτων ἐκ πολυτροφίας αὐτῷ καὶ πρὸ τῆς νόσου εἰς ὑπερβολὴν πλήθους πιμελῆς μεταβεβληκότος, ἣν τότε κατασαπεῖσαν ἀφόρητον καὶ φρικτοτάτην τοῖς πλησιάζουσι παρέχειν τὴν θέαν.
athroa men gar peri ta mesa tōn aporrētōn tou sōmatos apostasis ginetai autǭ, eithʼ helkos en bathei syringōdes, kai toutōn aniatos nomē kata tōn endotatō splanchnōn, aphʼ hōn alekton ti plēthos skōlēkōn bryein, thanatōdē te odmēn apopneein, tou pantos onkou tōn sōmatōn ek polytrophias autǭ kai pro tēs nosou eis hyperbolēn plēthous pimelēs metabeblēkotos, hēn tote katasapeisan aphorēton kai phriktotatēn tois plēsiazousi parechein tēn thean.
For suddenly an abscess appeared in the middle of his secret parts, then a deep fistulous ulcer, and from these an incurable spreading into his innermost bowels, from which an unspeakable multitude of worms swarmed and a deadly stench was given off; for even before the illness the whole bulk of his body had turned, through gluttony, into an excessive mass of fat, which then putrefied and presented a sight unbearable and most horrible to those who came near.
Notes and citation
Summary: Galerius was struck with a rotting, worm-filled ulcer in his genitals that made his obese body horrible to see.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.16.4 (Dindorf 4:378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-16-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.16.5Dindorf 4:378
ἰατρῶν δʼ οὖν οἱ μὲν οὐδʼ ὅλως ὑπομεῖναι τὴν τοῦ δυσώδους ὑπερβάλλουσαν ἀτοπίαν οἷοί τε κατεσφάττοντο, οἱ δὲ διῳδηκότος τοῦ παντὸς ὄγκου καὶ εἰς ἀνέλπιστον σωτηρίας ἀποπεπτωκότος μηδὲν ἐπικουρεῖν δυνάμενοι ἀνηλεῶς ἐκτείνοντο.
iatrōn dʼ oun hoi men oudʼ holōs hypomeinai tēn tou dysōdous hyperballousan atopian hoioi te katesphattonto, hoi de diǭdēkotos tou pantos onkou kai eis anelpiston sōtērias apopeptōkotos mēden epikourein dynamenoi anēleōs ekteinonto.
Of the physicians, some, wholly unable to bear the surpassing foulness of the stench, were put to death; others, since the whole mass had swollen and fallen into a state beyond hope of recovery, and they could give no help, were killed without mercy.
Notes and citation
Summary: Physicians who could not bear the stench or could not cure him were put to death.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.16.5 (Dindorf 4:378; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-16-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 8, chapter 17
8.17.1Dindorf 4:378–379
τοσούτοις παλαίων κακοῖς συναίσθησιν τῶν κατὰ τῶν θεοσεβῶν αὐτῷ τετολμημένων ἴσχει. συναγαγὼν δʼ οὖν εἰς ἑαυτὸν τὴν διάνοιαν πρῶτα μὲν ἀνθωμολογεῖτο τῷ τῶν ὅλων θεῷ, εἶτα τοὺς ἀμφʼ αὐτὸν ἀνακαλέσας, μηδὲν ὑπερθεμένους τὸν κατὰ ἀποπαῦσαι διωγμὸν, νόμῳ τε καὶ δόγματι βασιλικῷ τὰς ἐκκλησίας αὐτῶν οἰκοδομεῖν ἐπισπέρχειν τε καὶ τὰ συνήθη διαπράττεσθαι, εὐχὰς ὑπὲρ τοῦ βασιλείου ποιουμένους, προστάττει.
tosoutois palaiōn kakois synaisthēsin tōn kata tōn theosebōn autǭ tetolmēmenōn ischei. synagagōn dʼ oun eis heauton tēn dianoian prōta men anthōmologeito tǭ tōn holōn theǭ, eita tous amphʼ auton anakalesas, mēden hyperthemenous ton kata apopausai diōgmon, nomǭ te kai dogmati basilikǭ tas ekklēsias autōn oikodomein episperchein te kai ta synēthē diaprattesthai, euchas hyper tou basileiou poioumenous, prostattei.
Wrestling with such evils, he came to a sense of what he had dared against the godly. Collecting his thoughts, he first made confession to the God of the universe, then called those around him and ordered them without delay to stop the persecution against the Christians, and by law and imperial decree to urge them on to build their churches and to perform their customary rites, offering prayers for the emperor.
Notes and citation
Summary: In his agony Galerius confessed to God and ordered the persecution stopped and the Christians allowed to rebuild churches and pray for the emperor.
- The digital text reads τὸν κατὰ ἀποπαῦσαι διωγμόν, which lacks a word after κατά (presumably “the Christians”).
Topics: Persecution, Prayer
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.1 (Dindorf 4:378–379; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.2Dindorf 4:379
αὐτίκα γοῦν ἔργου τῷ λόγῳ παρηκολουθηκότος ἥπλωτο κατὰ πόλεις βασιλικὰ διατάγματα, τὴν παλινῳδίαν τῶν καθʼ ἡμᾶς τοῦτον περιέχοντα τὸν τρόπον· “
autika goun ergou tǭ logǭ parēkolouthēkotos hēplōto kata poleis basilika diatagmata, tēn palinǭdian tōn kathʼ hēmas touton periechonta ton tropon; “
Immediately, deed following word, imperial edicts were published in the cities, containing the recantation concerning us in the following manner:
Notes and citation
Summary: Imperial edicts reversing the persecution were published in the cities, as follows.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.2 (Dindorf 4:379; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.3Dindorf 4:379
Αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Γαλέριος Οὐαλέριος Μαξιμῖνος, ἀνίκητος, σεβαστὸς, ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος, Γερμανικὸς μέγιστος, Αἰγυπτιακὸς μέγιστος, Θηβαι·κὸς μέγιστος, Σαρματι- “κὸς μέγιστος πεντάκις, Περσῶν μέγιστος δὶς, Καρ- “πῶν μέγιστος ἑξάκις, Ἀρμενίων μέγιστος, Μηδῶν μέγιστος, Ἀδιαβηνῶν μέγιστος, δημαρχικῆς ἐξου- “σίας τὸ εἰκοστὸν, αὐτοκράτωρ τὸ ἐννεακαιδέκατον “ὕπατος τὸ ὄγδοον, πατὴρ πατρίδος, ἀνθύπατος· “
Autokratōr Kaisar Galerios Oualerios Maximinos, anikētos, sebastos, archiereus megistos, Germanikos megistos, Aigyptiakos megistos, Thēbai;kos megistos, Sarmati- “kos megistos pentakis, Persōn megistos dis, Kar- “pōn megistos hexakis, Armeniōn megistos, Mēdōn megistos, Adiabēnōn megistos, dēmarchikēs exou- “sias to eikoston, autokratōr to enneakaidekaton “hypatos to ogdoon, patēr patridos, anthypatos; “
[Edict of Galerius:] “The Emperor Caesar Galerius Valerius Maximinus, Invincible, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, greatest conqueror of the Germans, greatest conqueror of the Egyptians, greatest conqueror of the Thebans, five times greatest conqueror of the Sarmatians, twice greatest conqueror of the Persians, six times greatest conqueror of the Carpi, greatest conqueror of the Armenians, greatest conqueror of the Medes, greatest conqueror of the Adiabenians, holding the tribunician power for the twentieth time, acclaimed imperator for the nineteenth time, consul for the eighth time, father of the fatherland, proconsul;
Notes and citation
Summary: The edict opens with the titles of the emperor Galerius.
- The edict of toleration was issued by Galerius in April 311; Eusebius gives a Greek translation of the Latin (compare Lactantius, On the Deaths of the Persecutors 34). The name Maximinus in this text stands for Galerius's name Maximianus.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (repeated words in the digital text): Αἰγυπτιακὸς μέγιστος, Αἰγυπτιακὸς μέγιστος, → Αἰγυπτιακὸς μέγιστος,.
Extrabiblical texts: Lactantius, Mort. 34 (On the Deaths of the Persecutors; echo)
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.3 (Dindorf 4:379; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.4Dindorf 4:379
καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ Φλάουιος Κωνσταντῖνος, εὐσεβὴς, εὐτυχὴς, ἀνίκητος, σεβαστὸς, ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος, δημαρχικῆς ἐξουσίας “τὸ πέμπτον, αὐτοκράτωρ τὸ πέμπτον, ὕπατος, πατὴρ ‘πατρίδος, ἀνθύπατος·
kai autokratōr Kaisar Phlaouios Kōnstantinos, eusebēs, eutychēs, anikētos, sebastos, archiereus megistos, dēmarchikēs exousias “to pempton, autokratōr to pempton, hypatos, patēr ‘patridos, anthypatos;
and the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantinus, Pious, Fortunate, Invincible, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunician power for the fifth time, acclaimed imperator for the fifth time, consul, father of the fatherland, proconsul;
Notes and citation
Summary: The edict continues with the titles of Constantine.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.4 (Dindorf 4:379; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.5Dindorf 4:379
καὶ αὐτοκράτωρ Καῖσαρ “Οὐαλέριος Λικιννιανὸς, εὐσεβὴς, εὐτυχὴς, ἀνίκη- “τος, σεβαστὸς, ἀρχιερεὺς μέγιστος, δημαρχικῆς ἐξου- “σίας τὸ τέταρτον, αὐτοκράτωρ τὸ τρίτον, ὕπατος, ‘πατὴρ πατρίδος, ἀνθύπατος, ἐπαρχιώταις ἰδίοις “χαίρειν.
kai autokratōr Kaisar “Oualerios Likinnianos, eusebēs, eutychēs, anikē- “tos, sebastos, archiereus megistos, dēmarchikēs exou- “sias to tetarton, autokratōr to triton, hypatos, ‘patēr patridos, anthypatos, eparchiōtais idiois “chairein.
and the Emperor Caesar Valerius Licinianus, Pious, Fortunate, Invincible, Augustus, Pontifex Maximus, holding the tribunician power for the fourth time, acclaimed imperator for the third time, consul, father of the fatherland, proconsul: to the people of their provinces, greeting.
Notes and citation
Summary: The edict continues with the titles of Licinius and greets the provincials.
- Maximin Daia's name is absent from the heading as preserved here; Eusebius probably removed it after his fall.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.5 (Dindorf 4:379; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.6Dindorf 4:379–380
μεταξὺ τῶν λοιπῶν, ἅπερ ὑπὲρ τοῦ “χρησίμου καὶ λυσιτελοῦς τοῖς δημοσίοις διατυπού- “μεθα, ἡμεῖς μὲν βεβουλήμεθα πρότερον κατὰ τοὺς “ἀρχαίους νόμους καὶ τὴν δημοσίαν ἐπιστήμην τὴν “τῶν ἅπαντα ἐπανορθώσασθαι, καὶ τού- “του πρόνοιαν ποιήσασθαι, ἵνα καὶ οἱ Χριστιανοὶ, “οἵτινες τῶν γονέων τῶν ἑαυτῶν καταλελοίπασι τὴν “αἵρεσιν, εἰς ἀγαθὴν πρόθεσιν ἐπανέλθοιεν·
metaxy tōn loipōn, haper hyper tou “chrēsimou kai lysitelous tois dēmosiois diatypou- “metha, hēmeis men beboulēmetha proteron kata tous “archaious nomous kai tēn dēmosian epistēmēn tēn “tōn hapanta epanorthōsasthai, kai tou- “tou pronoian poiēsasthai, hina kai hoi Christianoi, “hoitines tōn goneōn tōn heautōn kataleloipasi tēn “hairesin, eis agathēn prothesin epanelthoien;
“Among the other measures that we are enacting for the advantage and profit of the public, we had earlier wished to set everything right in accordance with the ancient laws and the public discipline of the Romans, and to make provision that the Christians too, who had abandoned the way of their own ancestors, should return to a good disposition.
Notes and citation
Summary: The edict explains that the emperors had wished to restore the ancient Roman order and bring the Christians back to their ancestors' ways.
- A word (presumably “of the Romans”) seems to be missing after τὴν τῶν in the digital text; supplied in the translation from the sense. αἵρεσις here means “way” or “sect” in a neutral sense.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread letters in the digital text): ἔνα καὶ οἶ Χριστιανοὶ → ἵνα καὶ οἱ Χριστιανοὶ.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.6 (Dindorf 4:379–380; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.7Dindorf 4:380
ἐπεί- “περ τινὶ λογισμῷ τοσαύτη αὐτοὺς πλεονεξία κατε- “σχήκει καὶ ἄνοια κατειλήφει ὡς μὴ ἕπεσθαι τοῖς “ὑπὸ τῶν πάλαι καταδειχθεῖσιν, ἅπερ ἴσως πρότερον “καὶ οἶ γονεῖς αὐτῶν ἦσαν καταστήσαντες, ἀλλὰ “κατὰ τὴν αὐτῶν πρόθεσιν καὶ ὡς ἕκαστος ἐβού- “λετο, οὕτως ἑαυτοῖς καὶ νόμους ποιῆσαι, καὶ τού- “τους παραφυλάττειν, καὶ ἐν διαφόροις διάφορα “πλήθη συνάγειν.
epei- “per tini logismǭ tosautē autous pleonexia kate- “schēkei kai anoia kateilēphei hōs mē hepesthai tois “hypo tōn palai katadeichtheisin, haper isōs proteron “kai oi goneis autōn ēsan katastēsantes, alla “kata tēn autōn prothesin kai hōs hekastos ebou- “leto, houtōs heautois kai nomous poiēsai, kai tou- “tous paraphylattein, kai en diaphorois diaphora “plēthē synagein.
For by some reasoning such self-will had seized them and such folly had taken hold of them that they did not follow what had been instituted by the ancients, which perhaps their own ancestors had first established, but according to their own purpose and as each wished, so they made laws for themselves and observed them, and gathered various multitudes in various places.
Notes and citation
Summary: The Christians, the edict says, had willfully abandoned ancestral institutions and made their own laws and assemblies.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (repeated syllable in the digital text): ἐπεί- “περ περ τινὶ → ἐπεί- “περ τινὶ.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.7 (Dindorf 4:380; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.8Dindorf 4:380
τοιγαροῦν τοιούτου ὑφʼ ἡμῶν “προστάγματος παρακολουθήσαντος, ὥστε ἐπὶ τὰ “ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρχαίων κατασταθέντα ἑαυτοὺς μεταστήσαιεν, πλεῖστοι μὲν κινδύνῳ ὑποβληθέντες, πλεῖ- “στοι δὲ ταραχθέντες παντοίους θανάτους ὑπέφερον· “
toigaroun toioutou hyphʼ hēmōn “prostagmatos parakolouthēsantos, hōste epi ta “hypo tōn archaiōn katastathenta heautous metastēsaien, pleistoi men kindynǭ hypoblēthentes, plei- “stoi de tarachthentes pantoious thanatous hypepheron; “
Accordingly, when such an order had been issued by us, that they should return to what had been established by the ancients, very many were subjected to danger, and very many, being harassed, endured every kind of death.
Notes and citation
Summary: When ordered back to the old religion, many Christians were endangered and suffered death.
Topics: Persecution, Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.8 (Dindorf 4:380; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.9Dindorf 4:380
καὶ ἐπειδὴ τῶν πολλῶν τῇ αὐτῇ ἀπονοίᾳ διαμε- “νόντων ἑωρῶμεν μήτε τοῖς θεοῖς τοῖς ἐπουρανίοις “τὴν ὀφειλομένην θρησκείαν προσάγειν αὐτοὺς, μήτε “τῷ τῶν Χριστιανῶν προσέχειν, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὴν ‘ἡμετέραν φιλανθρωπίαν καὶ τὴν διηνεκῆ συνήθειαν, “διʼ ἧς εἰώθαμεν ἅπασιν ἀνθρώποις συγγνώμην “ἀπονέμειν, προθυμότατα καὶ ἐν τούτῳ τὴν συγχώ- “ρησιν τὴν ἡμετέραν ἐπεκτεῖναι δεῖν ἐνομίσαμεν, ἵνα “αὖθις ὦσι Χριστιανοὶ, καὶ τοὺς οἴκους, ἐν οἷς συν- “ήγοντο, συνθῶσιν οὕτως ὥστε μηδὲν ὑπεναντίον τῆς ἐπιστήμης αὐτοὺς πράττειν· διʼ ἑτέρας δὲ ἐπι- “στολῆς τοῖς δικασταῖς δηλώσομεν τί αὐτοὺς παρα- “φυλάξασθαι δεήσει.
kai epeidē tōn pollōn tę̄ autę̄ aponoią diame- “nontōn heōrōmen mēte tois theois tois epouraniois “tēn opheilomenēn thrēskeian prosagein autous, mēte “tǭ tōn Christianōn prosechein, aphorōntes eis tēn ‘hēmeteran philanthrōpian kai tēn diēnekē synētheian, “diʼ hēs eiōthamen hapasin anthrōpois syngnōmēn “aponemein, prothymotata kai en toutǭ tēn synchō- “rēsin tēn hēmeteran epekteinai dein enomisamen, hina “authis ōsi Christianoi, kai tous oikous, en hois syn- “ēgonto, synthōsin houtōs hōste mēden hypenantion tēs epistēmēs autous prattein; diʼ heteras de epi- “stolēs tois dikastais dēlōsomen ti autous para- “phylaxasthai deēsei.
And since, as most persisted in the same madness, we saw that they neither offered the worship owed to the heavenly gods nor gave heed to the God of the Christians, looking to our own humanity and our constant custom, by which we are accustomed to grant pardon to all people, we thought that in this case too we ought most readily to extend our indulgence, so that they may be Christians again and may put together the houses in which they used to assemble, on condition that they do nothing contrary to discipline. By another letter we shall make known to the judges what they will have to observe.
Notes and citation
Summary: Since the Christians still would not worship the gods, the emperors pardon them, allowing them to be Christians and rebuild their meeting houses, provided they keep order.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (repeated syllable in the digital text): συγχώ- “ρησιν ῥῆσιν τὴν → συγχώ- “ρησιν τὴν.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.9 (Dindorf 4:380; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.10Dindorf 4:380–381
ὅθεν κατὰ ταύτην τὴν “συγχώρησιν τὴν ἡμετέραν ὀφείλουσι τὸν ἑαυτῶν “θεὸν ἱκετεύειν περὶ τῆς σωτηρίας τῆς ἡμετέρας καὶ “τῶν δημοσίων καὶ τῆς ἑαυτῶν, ἵνα κατὰ πάντα τρόπον καὶ τὰ δημόσια παρασχεθῇ ὑγιῆ, καὶ ἀμέ- “ριμνοι ζῆν ἐν τῇ ἑαυτῶν ἑστίᾳ δυνηθῶσι.”
hothen kata tautēn tēn “synchōrēsin tēn hēmeteran opheilousi ton heautōn “theon hiketeuein peri tēs sōtērias tēs hēmeteras kai “tōn dēmosiōn kai tēs heautōn, hina kata panta tropon kai ta dēmosia paraschethę̄ hygiē, kai ame- “rimnoi zēn en tę̄ heautōn hestią dynēthōsi.”
“Wherefore, in accordance with this our indulgence, they ought to entreat their own God for our safety and that of the public and their own, so that in every way the public welfare may be preserved unharmed and they may be able to live without anxiety in their own homes.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The edict ends by asking the Christians to pray to their God for the emperors, the state, and themselves.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread letters in the digital text): ἔνα κατὰ πάντα → ἵνα κατὰ πάντα.
Topics: Persecution, Prayer
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.10 (Dindorf 4:380–381; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
8.17.11Dindorf 4:381
ταῦτα κατὰ τὴν τῶν Ῥωμαιων φωνὴν ἐπὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα γλῶτταν κατὰ τὸ δυνατὸν μεταληφθέντα τοῦτον ἔχει τὸν τρόπον. τί δὴ οὖν ἐπὶ τούτοις γίνεται ἐπιθεωρῆσαι καιρός.
tauta kata tēn tōn Rhōmaiōn phōnēn epi tēn Hellada glōttan kata to dynaton metalēphthenta touton echei ton tropon. ti dē oun epi toutois ginetai epitheōrēsai kairos.
Such is this edict, translated as well as possible from the language of the Romans into the Greek tongue. It is time now to consider what happened after these things.
Notes and citation
Summary: Eusebius notes that he has translated the edict from Latin and turns to what followed.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 8.17.11 (Dindorf 4:381; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-8-17-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 9, chapter 1
9.1.1Dindorf 4:382
Τὰ μὲν δὴ τῆς παλινῳδίας τοῦ προτεθέντος βασιλικοῦ νεύματος ἥπλωτο τῆς Ἀσίας πάντη καὶ πανταχοῦ, κατά τε τὰς ἀμφὶ ταύτην ἐπαρχίας· ὧν τοῦτον ἐπιτελεσθέντων τὸν τρόπον Μαξιμῖνος ὁ ἐπʼ ἀνατολῆς τύραννος, δυσσεβέστατος εἰ καί τις ἄλλος, καὶ τῆς εἰς τὸν τῶν ὅλων θεὸν εὐσεβείας πολεμιώτατος γεγονὼς, οὐδαμῶς τοῖς γραφεῖσιν ἀρεσθεὶς, ἀντὶ τοῦ προτεθέντος γράμματος λόγῳ προστάττει τοῖς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἄρχουσι τὸν καθʼ ἡμῶν ἀνεῖναι πόλεμον. ἐπεὶ γὰρ αὐτῷ μὴ ἐξῆν ἄλλως τῇ τῶν κρειττόνων ἀντιλέγειν κρίσει, τὸν προεκτεθέντα νόμον ἐν παραβύστῳ θεὶς, καὶ ὅπως ἐν τοῖς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν μέρεσι μὴ εἰς προὖπτον ἀχθείη φροντίσας, ἀγράφῳ προστάγματι τοῖς ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἄρχουσι τὸν καθʼ ἡμῶν διωγμὸν ἀνεῖναι προστάττει. οἱ δὲ τὰ τῆς παρακελεύσεως ἀλλήλοις διὰ γραφῆς ὑποσημαίνουσιν.
Ta men dē tēs palinǭdias tou protethentos basilikou neumatos hēplōto tēs Asias pantē kai pantachou, kata te tas amphi tautēn eparchias; hōn touton epitelesthentōn ton tropon Maximinos ho epʼ anatolēs tyrannos, dyssebestatos ei kai tis allos, kai tēs eis ton tōn holōn theon eusebeias polemiōtatos gegonōs, oudamōs tois grapheisin arestheis, anti tou protethentos grammatos logǭ prostattei tois hypʼ auton archousi ton kathʼ hēmōn aneinai polemon. epei gar autǭ mē exēn allōs tę̄ tōn kreittonōn antilegein krisei, ton proektethenta nomon en parabystǭ theis, kai hopōs en tois hypʼ auton meresi mē eis proupton achtheiē phrontisas, agraphǭ prostagmati tois hypʼ auton archousi ton kathʼ hēmōn diōgmon aneinai prostattei. hoi de ta tēs parakeleuseōs allēlois dia graphēs hyposēmainousin.
The recantation contained in the imperial decree set out above was published everywhere throughout Asia and in the provinces around it. When this had been done in this way, Maximin, the tyrant in the East, the most impious of men if ever there was one and the bitterest enemy of piety toward the God of the universe, being in no way pleased with what had been written, instead of publishing the document gave an oral order to the governors under him to relax the war against us. Since he could not otherwise contradict the judgment of his superiors, he put the law set out above out of sight, and, taking care that it should not come to light in the regions under him, by an unwritten order he commanded the governors under him to relax the persecution against us. They communicated the instruction to one another in writing.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin suppressed Galerius's edict in his territories but orally ordered his governors to ease the persecution.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.1 (Dindorf 4:382; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.2Dindorf 4:382
ὁ γοῦν παρʼ αὐτοῖς τῷ τῶν ἐξοχωτάτων ἐπάρχων ἀξιώματι τετιμημένος Σαβῖνος πρὸς τοὺς κατʼ ἔθνος ἡγουμένους τὴν βασιλέως ἐμφαίνει γνώμην διὰ Ῥωμαϊκῆς ἐπιστολῆς, ἧς καὶ αὐτῆς ἡ ἑρμηνεία τοῦτον περιέχει τὸν τρόπον
ho goun parʼ autois tǭ tōn exochōtatōn eparchōn axiōmati tetimēmenos Sabinos pros tous katʼ ethnos hēgoumenous tēn basileōs emphainei gnōmēn dia Rhōmaïkēs epistolēs, hēs kai autēs hē hermēneia touton periechei ton tropon
Sabinus, for example, who among them was honored with the rank of the most eminent prefects, made the emperor's will known to the provincial governors by a Latin letter, whose translation runs as follows:
Notes and citation
Summary: The prefect Sabinus conveyed the emperor's will to the governors in a letter, translated as follows.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.2 (Dindorf 4:382; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.3Dindorf 4:382
‟Λιπαρωτάτῃ καὶ καθωσιωμένῃ σπουδῇ ἡ θειότης τῶν δεσποτῶν ἡμῶν θειοτάτων αὐτοκρατόρων πάντων τῶν ἀνθρώπων τὰς διανοίας πρὸς τὴν ὁσίαν καὶ ὀρθὴν τοῦ ζῆν ὁδὸν περιαγαγεῖν ἔτι πάλαι ὥρισεν, ὅπως καὶ οἶ ἀλλοτρίᾳ Ῥωμαίων συνηθείᾳ ἀκολουθεῖν δοκοῦντες τὰς ὀφειλομένας θρησκείας τοῖς ἀθανάτοις θεοῖς ἐπιτελοῖεν.
‟Liparōtatę̄ kai kathōsiōmenę̄ spoudę̄ hē theiotēs tōn despotōn hēmōn theiotatōn autokratorōn pantōn tōn anthrōpōn tas dianoias pros tēn hosian kai orthēn tou zēn hodon periagagein eti palai hōrisen, hopōs kai oi allotrią Rhōmaiōn synētheią akolouthein dokountes tas opheilomenas thrēskeias tois athanatois theois epiteloien.
[Letter of Sabinus:] “With most earnest and devoted zeal the divinity of our masters, the most divine emperors, long ago determined to lead the minds of all people to the holy and right way of life, so that even those who seemed to follow a custom foreign to the Romans should perform the worship due to the immortal gods.
Notes and citation
Summary: Sabinus's letter says the emperors had sought to lead all, including those of foreign custom, to worship the gods.
- Sabinus was Maximin's praetorian prefect; the letter dates from 311.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.3 (Dindorf 4:382; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.4Dindorf 4:382–420
ἀλλʼ ἡ τινῶν ἔνστασις καὶ τραχυτάτη βουλὴ εἰς τοσοῦτον περιέστη ὡς μήτε λογισμῷ δικαίῳ τῆς κελεύσεως δύνα- ‟σθαι ἐκ τῆς ἰδίας προθέσεως ἀναχωρεῖν, μήτε τὴν ‟ἐπικειμένην τιμωρίαν αὐτοὺς ἐκφοβεῖν.
allʼ hē tinōn enstasis kai trachytatē boulē eis tosouton periestē hōs mēte logismǭ dikaiǭ tēs keleuseōs dyna- ‟sthai ek tēs idias protheseōs anachōrein, mēte tēn ‟epikeimenēn timōrian autous ekphobein.
But the obstinacy and most stubborn resolve of some went so far that they could neither be drawn back from their own purpose by the just reasoning of the command nor be frightened by the punishment that threatened them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Some, the letter says, would neither be persuaded nor frightened from their purpose.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.4 (Dindorf 4:382–420; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.5Dindorf 4:420
ἐπειδὴ “τοίνυν συνέβαινεν ἐκ τοῦ τοιούτου τρόπου πολλοὺς ‟εἰς κίνδυνον ἑαυτοὺς περιβάλλειν, κατὰ τὴν προσ- ‟οῦσαν εὐγένειαν τῆς εὐσεβείας ἡ θειότης τῶν δε- ‟σποτῶν ἡμῶν τῶν δυνατωτάτων αὐτοκρατόρων, ‟ἀλλότριον εἶναι τῆς προθέσεως τῆς θειοτάτης τῆς ‟ἰδίας δοκιμάζουσα τὸ ἐκ τῆς τοιαύτης αἰτίας εῖς ‟τοσοῦτον κίνδυνον τοὺς ἀνθρώπους περιβάλλειν, ‟ἐκέλευσε διὰ τῆς ἐμῆς καθοσιώσεως τῇ σῇ ἀγχινοίᾳ διαχαράξαι, ἵνʼ εἴ τις τῶν Χριστιανῶν τοῦ ἰδίου ‟ἔθνους τὴν θρησκείαν μετιὼν εὑρεθείη, τῆς κατʼ αὐτοῦ ἐνοχλήσεως καὶ τοῦ κινδύνου αὐτὸν ἀποστήσειας, καὶ μή τινα ἐκ ταύτης τῆς προφάσεως τιμω- ‟ρίᾳ κολαστέον νομίσειας, ὁπότε τῇ τοσούτου χρόνου ‟συνελεύσει συνέστη, αὐτοὺς μηδενὶ τρόπῳ πεπεῖσθαι ‟δεδυνῆσθαι, ὅπως ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων ἐνστάσεων ‟ἀναχωρήσαιεν.
epeidē “toinyn synebainen ek tou toioutou tropou pollous ‟eis kindynon heautous periballein, kata tēn pros- ‟ousan eugeneian tēs eusebeias hē theiotēs tōn de- ‟spotōn hēmōn tōn dynatōtatōn autokratorōn, ‟allotrion einai tēs protheseōs tēs theiotatēs tēs ‟idias dokimazousa to ek tēs toiautēs aitias eis ‟tosouton kindynon tous anthrōpous periballein, ‟ekeleuse dia tēs emēs kathosiōseōs tę̄ sę̄ anchinoią diacharaxai, hinʼ ei tis tōn Christianōn tou idiou ‟ethnous tēn thrēskeian metiōn heuretheiē, tēs katʼ autou enochlēseōs kai tou kindynou auton apostēseias, kai mē tina ek tautēs tēs prophaseōs timō- ‟rią kolasteon nomiseias, hopote tę̄ tosoutou chronou ‟syneleusei synestē, autous mēdeni tropǭ pepeisthai ‟dedynēsthai, hopōs apo tōn toioutōn enstaseōn ‟anachōrēsaien.
Since, therefore, it happened that in this way many were bringing themselves into danger, the divinity of our masters, the most mighty emperors, in accordance with the nobility of piety that belongs to them, judging it foreign to their own most divine purpose that people should be brought into such danger for such a cause, has commanded me in my devotion to write to your wisdom that, if any Christian be found practicing the worship of his own people, you should remove him from molestation and danger, and should not think that anyone is to be punished on this pretext, since it has been established in so long a time that they could in no way be persuaded to depart from such obstinacy.
Notes and citation
Summary: The emperors now order that Christians practicing their religion are not to be harassed or punished, since they cannot be persuaded.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.5 (Dindorf 4:420; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-5).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.6Dindorf 4:420
ἐγγράψαι τοιγαροῦν πρὸς τοὺς ‟λογιστὰς καὶ τοὺς στρατηγοὺς καὶ τοὺς πραιπωσί- ‟τους τοῦ πάγου ἑκάστης πόλεως ἡ σὴ ἐπιστρέφεια “ὀφείλει, ἵνα γνοῖεν περαιτέρω αὐτοῖς τούτου γράμματος φροντίδα ποιεῖσθαι μὴ προσήκειν.”
engrapsai toigaroun pros tous ‟logistas kai tous stratēgous kai tous praipōsi- ‟tous tou pagou hekastēs poleōs hē sē epistrepheia “opheilei, hina gnoien peraiterō autois toutou grammatos phrontida poieisthai mē prosēkein.”
Your diligence ought therefore to write to the curators, the magistrates, and the overseers of the district of each city, so that they may know that it is not fitting for them to take further concern about this matter.”
Notes and citation
Summary: The governors are to tell local officials to take no further action against Christians.
- The officials are the curatores, the duoviri or magistrates (στρατηγοί), and the praepositi pagi.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.6 (Dindorf 4:420; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-6).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.7Dindorf 4:420–421
ἐπὶ τούτοις οἱ κατʼ ἐπαρχίαν, τὴν τῶν γραφέντων αὐτοῖς ἐπαληθεύειν προαίρεσιν νενομικότες, λογισταῖς καὶ στρατηγοῖς καὶ τοῖς κατʼ ἀγροὺς ἐπιτεταγμένοις τὴν βασιλικὴν διὰ γραμμάτων ἐμφανῆ καθιστῶσι γνώμην· οὐ μόνον δʼ αὐτοῖς διὰ γραφῆς ταῦτα προυχώρει, καὶ ἔργοις δὲ πολὺ πρότερον, ὡσὰν νεῦμα βασιλικὸν εἰς πέρας ἄγοντες, οὑς εἶχον ἐν δεσμωτηρίοις καθειργμένους διὰ τὴν εἰς τὸ θεῖον ὁμολογίαν, εἰς φανερὸν προάγοντες ἠλευθέρουν, ἀνιέντες τούτων δὴ αὐτῶν τοὺς ἐν μετάλλοις ἐπὶ τιμωρίᾳ δεδομένους· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐπʼ ἀληθείας βασιλεῖ δοκεῖν ὑπειλήφασιν ἠπατημένοι.
epi toutois hoi katʼ eparchian, tēn tōn graphentōn autois epalētheuein proairesin nenomikotes, logistais kai stratēgois kai tois katʼ agrous epitetagmenois tēn basilikēn dia grammatōn emphanē kathistōsi gnōmēn; ou monon dʼ autois dia graphēs tauta prouchōrei, kai ergois de poly proteron, hōsan neuma basilikon eis peras agontes, hous eichon en desmōtēriois katheirgmenous dia tēn eis to theion homologian, eis phaneron proagontes ēleutheroun, anientes toutōn dē autōn tous en metallois epi timōrią dedomenous; touto gar epʼ alētheias basilei dokein hypeilēphasin ēpatēmenoi.
Thereupon the provincial governors, thinking that the intention of what had been written to them was sincere, made the imperial will known by letters to the curators, magistrates, and those in charge of the country districts. Nor did they proceed in this only by writing, but much earlier by deeds, as though carrying an imperial decree into effect: those whom they held shut up in prisons for their confession of the divine, they brought out into the open and set free, releasing also those among them who had been sent to the mines as punishment. For they supposed, deceived as they were, that this was truly the emperor's will.
Notes and citation
Summary: The governors, believing the order sincere, freed imprisoned confessors and those condemned to the mines.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.7 (Dindorf 4:420–421; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-7).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.8Dindorf 4:421
καὶ δὴ τούτων οὕτως ἐπιτελεσθέντων, ἀθρόως οἷόν τι φῶς ἐκ ζοφερᾶς νυκτὸς ἐκλάμψαν κατὰ πᾶσαν πόλιν συγκροτουμένας παρῆν ὁρᾶν ἐκκλησίας, συνόδους τε παμπληθεῖς, καὶ τὰς ἐπὶ τούτων ἐξ ἔθους ἐπιτελουμένας συναγωγὰς, καταπέπληκτο δʼ ἐπὶ τούτοις οὐ σμικρῶς πᾶς τις τῶν ἀπίστων ἐθνῶν, τῆς τοσαύτης μεταβολῆς τὸ παράδοξον ἀποθαυμάζων, μέγαν τε καὶ μόνον ἀληθῆ τὸν Χριστιανῶν θεὸν ἐπιβοώμενος.
kai dē toutōn houtōs epitelesthentōn, athroōs hoion ti phōs ek zopheras nyktos eklampsan kata pasan polin synkrotoumenas parēn horan ekklēsias, synodous te pamplētheis, kai tas epi toutōn ex ethous epiteloumenas synagōgas, katapeplēkto dʼ epi toutois ou smikrōs pas tis tōn apistōn ethnōn, tēs tosautēs metabolēs to paradoxon apothaumazōn, megan te kai monon alēthē ton Christianōn theon epiboōmenos.
When this had been done, suddenly, like a light shining out of a dark night, one could see churches being assembled in every city, crowded gatherings, and the meetings customarily held in them. And every one of the unbelieving Gentiles was not a little astonished at these things, marveling at the unexpectedness of so great a change and proclaiming the God of the Christians great and alone true.
Notes and citation
Summary: Churches reassembled everywhere, and astonished pagans hailed the Christians' God as great and alone true.
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.8 (Dindorf 4:421; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-8).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.9Dindorf 4:421
τῶν δʼ ἡμετέρων οἱ μὲν τὸν τῶν διωγμῶν ἀγῶνα πιστῶς καὶ ἀνδρείως διηθληκότες τὴν πρὸς ἅπαντας αὖθις ἀπελάμβανον παρρησίαν, ὅσοι δὲ τὰ τῆς πίστεως νενοσηκότες τὰς ψυχὰς ἐτύγχανον κεχειμασμένοι, ἀσμένως περὶ τὴν σφῶν θεραπείαν ἔσπευδον, ἀντιβολοῦντες καὶ σωτηρίας δεξιὰν τοὺς ἐρρωμένους αἰτούμενοι, τόν τε θεὸν ἐλέων αὐτοῖς γενέσθαι καθικετεύοντες.
tōn dʼ hēmeterōn hoi men ton tōn diōgmōn agōna pistōs kai andreiōs diēthlēkotes tēn pros hapantas authis apelambanon parrēsian, hosoi de ta tēs pisteōs nenosēkotes tas psychas etynchanon kecheimasmenoi, asmenōs peri tēn sphōn therapeian espeudon, antibolountes kai sōtērias dexian tous errōmenous aitoumenoi, ton te theon eleōn autois genesthai kathiketeuontes.
Of our own people, those who had fought the contest of the persecutions faithfully and bravely received back their freedom of speech before all; but those who had been sick in faith and whose souls had been storm-tossed eagerly hastened to their own healing, pleading and begging the strong for a hand of salvation, and entreating God to be merciful to them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Faithful confessors regained their freedom, while those who had lapsed sought healing, begging the steadfast for help and God for mercy.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.9 (Dindorf 4:421; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-9).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.10Dindorf 4:421
εἶτα δὲ καὶ οἱ γενναῖοι τῆς θεοσεβείας ἀθληταὶ, τῆς εἰς τὰ μέταλλα κακοπαθείας ἐλευθερούμενοι, ἐπὶ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ἐστέλλοντο, γαῦροι καὶ φαιδροὶ διὰ πάσης ἰόντες πόλεως, εὐφροσύνης τε ἀλέκτου καὶ ἣν οὐδὲ λόγῳ δυνατὸν ἑρμηνεῦσαι παρρησίας ἔμπλεοι.
eita de kai hoi gennaioi tēs theosebeias athlētai, tēs eis ta metalla kakopatheias eleutheroumenoi, epi tas heautōn estellonto, gauroi kai phaidroi dia pasēs iontes poleōs, euphrosynēs te alektou kai hēn oude logǭ dynaton hermēneusai parrēsias empleoi.
Then the noble athletes of godliness, set free from their hardships in the mines, set out for their own homes, going through every city proud and radiant, full of unspeakable joy and of a boldness that no words can express.
Notes and citation
Summary: Freed confessors returned home from the mines through the cities with great joy.
Topics: Martyrdom
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.10 (Dindorf 4:421; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-10).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.1.11Dindorf 4:421
στίφη δʼ οὖν πολυάνθρωπα κατὰ μέσας λεωφόρους καὶ ἀγορὰς, ᾠδαῖς καὶ ψαλμοῖς τὸν θεὸν ἀνυμνοῦντα, τὰ τῆς πορείας ἤνυε. καὶ τοὺς μετὰ τιμωρίας ἀπηνεστάτης μικρῷ πρόσθεν δεσμίους τῶν πατρίδων ἀπεληλαμένους εἶδες ἂν ἱλαροῖς καὶ γεγηθόσι προσώποις τὰς αὐτῶν ἑστίας ἀπολαμβάνοντας, ὡς καὶ τοὺς πρότερον καθʼ ἡμῶν φονῶντας, τὸ θαῦμα παρὰ πᾶσαν ὁρῶντας ἐλπίδα, συγχαίρειν τοῖς γεγενημένοις.
stiphē dʼ oun polyanthrōpa kata mesas leōphorous kai agoras, ǭdais kai psalmois ton theon anymnounta, ta tēs poreias ēnye. kai tous meta timōrias apēnestatēs mikrǭ prosthen desmious tōn patridōn apelēlamenous eides an hilarois kai gegēthosi prosōpois tas autōn hestias apolambanontas, hōs kai tous proteron kathʼ hēmōn phonōntas, to thauma para pasan horōntas elpida, synchairein tois gegenēmenois.
Great crowds made their way along the middle of the highways and marketplaces, praising God with odes and psalms. And you would have seen those who a little before had been driven in chains from their homelands under most cruel punishment receiving back their own hearths with bright and joyful faces, so that even those who had formerly thirsted for our blood, seeing the wonder beyond all hope, rejoiced with them at what had happened.
Notes and citation
Summary: Crowds sang psalms in the streets, exiles returned joyfully, and even former persecutors rejoiced with them.
Topics: Prayer
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.1.11 (Dindorf 4:421; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-1-11).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 9, chapter 2
9.2.1Dindorf 4:421–422
Ταῦτα δʼ οὐκέτι οἷός τε φέρειν ὁ τύραννος, μισόκαλος ἐς τὰ μάλιστα καὶ πάντων ἀγαθῶν ἐπίβουλος ὑπάρχων, ὃν ἔφαμεν τῶν ἐπʼ ἀνατολῆς ἄρχειν μερῶν, οὐδʼ ὅλους ἐπὶ μῆνας ἓξ τοῦτον ἐπιτελεῖσθαι τὸν τρόπον ἠνέσχετο· ὅσα δʼ οὖν πρὸς ἀνατροπὴν τῆς εἰρήνης μηχανώμενος πρῶτον μὲν εἴργειν ἡμᾶς τῆς ἐν τοῖς κοιμητηρίοις συνόδου διὰ προφάσεως πειρᾶται, εἶτα διά τινων πονηρῶν ἀνδρῶν αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ καθʼ ἡμῶν πρεσβεύεται, τοὺς Ἀντιοχέων πολίτας παρορμήσας ἐπὶ τὸ μηδαμῶς τινα Χριστιανῶν τὴν αὐτῶν οἰκεῖν ἐπιτρέπεσθαι πατρίδα ὡς ἐν μεγίστῃ δωρεᾷ παρʼ αὐτοῦ τυχεῖν ἀξιῶσαι, καὶ ἑτέρους δὲ ταὐτὸ ὑποβαλεῖν διαπράξασθαι· ὧν πάντων ἀρχηγὸς ἐπʼ αὐτῆς Ἀντιοχείας ἐπιφύεται Θεότεκνος, δεινὸς καὶ γόης καὶ πονηρὸς ἀνὴρ, καὶ τῆς προσωνυμίας ἀλλότριος· ἐδόκει δὲ λογιστεύειν τὰ κατὰ τὴν πόλιν.
Tauta dʼ ouketi hoios te pherein ho tyrannos, misokalos es ta malista kai pantōn agathōn epiboulos hyparchōn, hon ephamen tōn epʼ anatolēs archein merōn, oudʼ holous epi mēnas hex touton epiteleisthai ton tropon ēnescheto; hosa dʼ oun pros anatropēn tēs eirēnēs mēchanōmenos prōton men eirgein hēmas tēs en tois koimētēriois synodou dia prophaseōs peiratai, eita dia tinōn ponērōn andrōn autos heautǭ kathʼ hēmōn presbeuetai, tous Antiocheōn politas parormēsas epi to mēdamōs tina Christianōn tēn autōn oikein epitrepesthai patrida hōs en megistę̄ dōreą parʼ autou tychein axiōsai, kai heterous de tauto hypobalein diapraxasthai; hōn pantōn archēgos epʼ autēs Antiocheias epiphyetai Theoteknos, deinos kai goēs kai ponēros anēr, kai tēs prosōnymias allotrios; edokei de logisteuein ta kata tēn polin.
But the tyrant, who, as we said, ruled the eastern regions, being a hater of good in the highest degree and a plotter against everything good, could no longer bear this, and did not allow things to go on in this way for even six whole months. Devising every means to overthrow the peace, he first tried on some pretext to keep us from meeting in the cemeteries; then through certain wicked men he sent embassies to himself against us, urging the citizens of Antioch to ask of him as a very great favor that no Christian at all be permitted to live in their city, and arranging for others to make the same suggestion. The ringleader of all these sprang up at Antioch itself: Theotecnus, a violent man, a sorcerer and a scoundrel, and a stranger to his name; he appeared to hold the office of curator of the city.
Notes and citation
Summary: Within six months Maximin undermined the peace, banning meetings in cemeteries and prompting Antioch, led by Theotecnus, to petition for the Christians' expulsion.
- The name Theotecnus means “child of God”.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.2.1 (Dindorf 4:421–422; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-2-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 9, chapter 3
9.3.1Dindorf 4:422–423
Πλεῖστα δʼ οὗτος καθʼ ἡμῶν στρατευσάμενος, καὶ πάντα τρόπον τοὺς ἡμετέρους, ὥσπερ τινὰς φῶρας ἀνοσίους, ἐκ μυχῶν θηρεῦσαι διὰ σπουδῆς πεποιημένος, πάντα τε ἐπὶ διαβολῇ καὶ κατηγορίᾳ τῇ καθʼ ἡμῶν μεμηχανημένος, καὶ θανάτου αἴτιος μυρίοις ὅσοις γεγονὼς τελευτῶν εἴδωλόν τι Διὸς φιλίου μαγγανείαις τισὶ καὶ γοητείαις ἱδρύεται, τελετάς τε ἀνάγνους αὐτῷ καὶ μυήσεις ἀκαλλιερήτους, ἐξαγίστους τε καθαρμοὺς ἐπινοήσας, μέχρι καὶ βασιλέως τὴν τερατείαν διʼ ὧν ἐδόκει χρησμῶν ἐκτελεῖν ἐπεδείκνυτο· καὶ δὴ καὶ οὗτος κολακείᾳ τῇ καθʼ ἡδονὴν τοῦ κρατοῦντος ἐπεγείρει κατὰ Χριστιανῶν τὸν δαίμονα, καὶ τὸν θεὸν δὴ κελεῦσαί φησιν, ὑπερορίους τῆς πόλεως καὶ τῶν ἀμφὶ τὴν πόλιν ἀγρῶν ὡσὰν ἐχθροὺς αὐτῷ Χριστιανοὺς ἀπελάσαι.
Pleista dʼ houtos kathʼ hēmōn strateusamenos, kai panta tropon tous hēmeterous, hōsper tinas phōras anosious, ek mychōn thēreusai dia spoudēs pepoiēmenos, panta te epi diabolę̄ kai katēgorią tę̄ kathʼ hēmōn memēchanēmenos, kai thanatou aitios myriois hosois gegonōs teleutōn eidōlon ti Dios philiou manganeiais tisi kai goēteiais hidryetai, teletas te anagnous autǭ kai myēseis akallierētous, exagistous te katharmous epinoēsas, mechri kai basileōs tēn terateian diʼ hōn edokei chrēsmōn ektelein epedeiknyto; kai dē kai houtos kolakeią tę̄ kathʼ hēdonēn tou kratountos epegeirei kata Christianōn ton daimona, kai ton theon dē keleusai phēsin, hyperorious tēs poleōs kai tōn amphi tēn polin agrōn hōsan echthrous autǭ Christianous apelasai.
This man, having waged war against us in every possible way and zealously hunted our people out of their hiding places like unholy thieves, and having contrived everything for slander and accusation against us, and having caused the death of countless people, at last set up by certain tricks and sorceries an image of Zeus the Friend. He devised impure rites for it, ill-omened initiations, and abominable purifications, and displayed his wonder-working even to the emperor by oracles that he pretended to deliver. This man too, flattering the ruler's pleasure, stirred up the demon against the Christians, and said that the god had ordered the Christians to be driven out beyond the borders of the city and its surrounding country, as being his enemies.
Notes and citation
Summary: Theotecnus set up a cult image of Zeus Philios at Antioch and claimed its oracle ordered the Christians expelled.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.3.1 (Dindorf 4:422–423; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-3-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 9, chapter 4
9.4.1Dindorf 4:423
Τούτῳ δὲ πρώτῳ κατὰ γνώμην πράξαντι πάντες οἶ λοιποὶ τῶν ἐν τέλει τὰς ὑπὸ τὴν αὐτὴν ἀρχὴν πόλεις οἰκοῦντες τὴν ὁμοίαν ὡρμῶντο ψῆφον ποιήσασθαι, προσφιλὲς δʼ εἶναι τοῦτο βασιλεῖ τῶν κατʼ ἐπαρχίαν ἡγεμόνων συνεωρακότων, καὶ τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ διαπράξασθαι τοῖς ὑπηκόοις ὑποβεβληκότων.
Toutǭ de prōtǭ kata gnōmēn praxanti pantes oi loipoi tōn en telei tas hypo tēn autēn archēn poleis oikountes tēn homoian hōrmōnto psēphon poiēsasthai, prosphiles dʼ einai touto basilei tōn katʼ eparchian hēgemonōn syneōrakotōn, kai toutʼ auto diapraxasthai tois hypēkoois hypobeblēkotōn.
Since this man had been the first to act as he wished, all the other officials living in the cities under the same government hastened to pass a similar resolution, the provincial governors having perceived that this was pleasing to the emperor and having suggested to their subjects that they do this very thing.
Notes and citation
Summary: Other cities, prompted by the governors, followed Antioch in petitioning against the Christians.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (editor's apparatus leaked into the digital text): Κω. H. E. VII, 25] → .
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.4.1 (Dindorf 4:423; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-4-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.4.2Dindorf 4:423
ὧν δὴ καὶ αὐτῶν τοῖς ψηφίσμασι διʼ ἀντιγραφῆς ἀσμενέστατα ἐπινεύσαντος τοῦ τυράννου, αὖθις ἐξ ὑπαρχῆς ὁ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἀνεφλέγετο διωγμός. ἱερεῖς δῆτα κατὰ πόλιν τῶν ξοάνων, καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις ἀρχιερεῖς πρὸς αὐτοῦ Μαξιμίνου οἱ μάλιστα ταῖς πολιτείαις διαπρέψαντες καὶ διὰ πασῶν ἔνδοξοι γενόμενοι καθίσταντο, οἷς καὶ πολλή τις εἰσήγετο σπουδὴ περὶ τὴν τῶν θεραπευομένων πρὸς αὐτῶν θρησκείαν.
hōn dē kai autōn tois psēphismasi diʼ antigraphēs asmenestata epineusantos tou tyrannou, authis ex hyparchēs ho kathʼ hēmōn anephlegeto diōgmos. hiereis dēta kata polin tōn xoanōn, kai epi toutois archiereis pros autou Maximinou hoi malista tais politeiais diaprepsantes kai dia pasōn endoxoi genomenoi kathistanto, hois kai pollē tis eisēgeto spoudē peri tēn tōn therapeuomenōn pros autōn thrēskeian.
When the tyrant very gladly approved their resolutions by rescript, the persecution against us was kindled again from the beginning. Priests of the images were appointed in each city, and over them high priests, by Maximin himself, men who had been especially distinguished in public life and had become famous in every office; and these brought great zeal to the worship of the gods they served.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin approved the petitions, renewed persecution, and appointed prominent men as pagan priests and high priests.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.4.2 (Dindorf 4:423; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-4-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.4.3Dindorf 4:423
ἡ γοῦν ἔκτοπος τοῦ κρατοῦντος δεισιδαιμονία, συνελόντι φάναι, πάντας τοὺς ὗπʼ αὐτὸν ἄρχοντάς τε καὶ ἀρχομένους εἰς τὴν αὐτοῦ χάριν πάντα πράττειν καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐνῆγε, ταύτην αὐτῷ χάριν μεγίστην ἀνθʼ ὧν ἐνόμιζον πρὸς αὐτοῦ τεύξεσθαι εὐεργεσιῶν ἀντιδωρουμένων, τὸ καθʼ ἡμῶν φονᾶν καί τινας εἰς ἡμᾶς καινοτέρας κακοηθείας ἐνδείκνυσθαι.
hē goun ektopos tou kratountos deisidaimonia, synelonti phanai, pantas tous hypʼ auton archontas te kai archomenous eis tēn autou charin panta prattein kathʼ hēmōn enēge, tautēn autǭ charin megistēn anthʼ hōn enomizon pros autou teuxesthai euergesiōn antidōroumenōn, to kathʼ hēmōn phonan kai tinas eis hēmas kainoteras kakoētheias endeiknysthai.
In short, the ruler's extraordinary superstition led all those under him, rulers and subjects alike, to do everything against us to please him, repaying him with this, the greatest favor, in return for the benefits they expected to receive from him: to thirst for our blood and to display some new malice against us.
Notes and citation
Summary: To win Maximin's favor, officials and subjects vied in cruelty toward the Christians.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.4.3 (Dindorf 4:423; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-4-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 9, chapter 5
9.5.1Dindorf 4:423
Πλασάμενοι δῆτα Πιλάτου καὶ τοῦ σωτῆρος ἡμῶν ὑπομνήματα, πάσης ἔμπλεα κατὰ τοῦ Χριστοῦ βλασφημίας, γνώμῃ τοῦ μείζονος ἐπὶ πᾶσαν διαπέμπονται τὴν ὑπʼ αὐτὸν ἀρχὴν, διὰ γραμμάτων παρακελευόμενοι, κατὰ πάντα τόπον, ἀγρούς τε καὶ πόλεις, ἐν ἐκφανεῖ ταῦτα τοῖς πᾶσιν ἐκθεῖναι, τοῖς τε παισὶ τοὺς γραμματοδιδασκάλους ἀντὶ μαθημάτων ταῦτα μελετᾶν καὶ διὰ μνήμης κατέχειν παραδιδόναι.
Plasamenoi dēta Pilatou kai tou sōtēros hēmōn hypomnēmata, pasēs emplea kata tou Christou blasphēmias, gnōmę̄ tou meizonos epi pasan diapempontai tēn hypʼ auton archēn, dia grammatōn parakeleuomenoi, kata panta topon, agrous te kai poleis, en ekphanei tauta tois pasin ektheinai, tois te paisi tous grammatodidaskalous anti mathēmatōn tauta meletan kai dia mnēmēs katechein paradidonai.
They forged Acts of Pilate and of our Savior, full of every blasphemy against Christ, and with the approval of their chief sent them throughout his whole dominion, ordering by letters that they be displayed openly for all in every place, country and city, and that the schoolmasters give them to the children to study and learn by heart instead of their lessons.
Notes and citation
Summary: Forged, blasphemous Acts of Pilate were published everywhere and made required memorization in schools.
- These pagan Acts of Pilate are distinct from the later Christian work of the same name; compare 1.9.3 and 1.11.9.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.5.1 (Dindorf 4:423; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-5-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.5.2Dindorf 4:423–424
ὧν τοῦτον ἐπιτελουμένων τὸν τρόπον ἕτερος στρατοπεδάρχης, ὃν δοῦκα Ῥωμαῖοι προσαγορεύουσιν, ἀνὰ τὴν Δαμασκὸν τῆς Φοινίκης ἐπίρρητά τινα γυναικάρια ἐξ ἀγορᾶς ἀνάρπαστα ποιήσας, βασάνους αὐταῖς ἐπιθήσειν ἠπείλει, λέγειν ἐγγράφως ἐπαναγκάζων, ὡς δὴ εἴησάν ποτε χριστιαναὶ, συνειδεῖέν τε αὐτοῖς ἀθεμιτουργίας, ἐν αὐτοῖς τε τοῖς κυριακοῖς πράττειν αὐτοὺς τὰ ἀκόλαστα, καὶ ὅσα ἄλλα λέγειν αὐτὰς ἐπὶ διαβολῇ τοῦ δόγματος ἤθελεν· ὧν καὶ οὗτος ἐν ὑπομνήμασι τὰς φωνὰς ἐντεθείσας βασιλεῖ κοινοῦται. καὶ δὴ προστάξαντος εἰς πάντα τόπον καὶ πόλιν καὶ ταῦτα δημοσιοῦται τὰ γράμματα.
hōn touton epiteloumenōn ton tropon heteros stratopedarchēs, hon douka Rhōmaioi prosagoreuousin, ana tēn Damaskon tēs Phoinikēs epirrēta tina gynaikaria ex agoras anarpasta poiēsas, basanous autais epithēsein ēpeilei, legein engraphōs epanankazōn, hōs dē eiēsan pote christianai, syneideien te autois athemitourgias, en autois te tois kyriakois prattein autous ta akolasta, kai hosa alla legein autas epi diabolę̄ tou dogmatos ēthelen; hōn kai houtos en hypomnēmasi tas phōnas entetheisas basilei koinoutai. kai dē prostaxantos eis panta topon kai polin kai tauta dēmosioutai ta grammata.
While this was being done in this way, another commander, whom the Romans call a dux, at Damascus in Phoenicia had certain notorious women snatched from the marketplace and threatened to torture them, compelling them to state in writing that they had once been Christians and knew of unlawful deeds among them, and that the Christians committed licentious acts in the very churches, and whatever else he wished them to say to slander the faith. He recorded their words in official minutes and communicated them to the emperor, and at his command these documents too were published in every place and city.
Notes and citation
Summary: At Damascus a military commander forced prostitutes to testify falsely to Christian immorality, and the testimony was published everywhere.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (wrong accent in the digital text): ἐξ ἀγορὰς → ἐξ ἀγορᾶς.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.5.2 (Dindorf 4:423–424; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-5-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
Church 9, chapter 6
9.6.1Dindorf 4:424
Ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὐκ εἰς μακρὸν αὐτόχειρ ἑαυτοῦ γεγονὼς ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης δίκην τίννυσι τῆς κακοτροπίας. ἡμῶν δʼ αὖ φυγαὶ πάλιν ἀνεκινοῦντο καὶ διωγμοὶ χαλεποὶ, τῶν τε κατὰ πάσας ἐπαρχίας ἡγουμένων αὖθις δειναὶ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐπαναστάσεις, ὡς καί τινας ἁλόντας τῶν περὶ τὸν θεῖον λόγον ἐπιφανῶν ἀπαραίτητον τὴν ἐπὶ θανάτῳ ψῆφον καταδέξασθαι, ὧν τρεῖς ἐν Ἐμίσῃ τῇ πόλει τῆς Φοινίκης, Χριστιανοὺς σφας ὁμολογήσαντες, θηρίων βορᾷ παραδίδονται· ἐπίσκοπος ἦν ἐν τούτοις Σιλβανὸς, τὴν ἡλικίαν ὑπέργηρως, ἐν ὅλοις ἔτεσι τεσσαράκοντα τὴν λειτουργίαν διηνυκώς.
Allʼ ho men ouk eis makron autocheir heautou gegonōs ho stratopedarchēs dikēn tinnysi tēs kakotropias. hēmōn dʼ au phygai palin anekinounto kai diōgmoi chalepoi, tōn te kata pasas eparchias hēgoumenōn authis deinai kathʼ hēmōn epanastaseis, hōs kai tinas halontas tōn peri ton theion logon epiphanōn aparaitēton tēn epi thanatǭ psēphon katadexasthai, hōn treis en Emisę̄ tę̄ polei tēs Phoinikēs, Christianous sphas homologēsantes, thēriōn borą paradidontai; episkopos ēn en toutois Silbanos, tēn hēlikian hypergērōs, en holois etesi tessarakonta tēn leitourgian diēnykōs.
But not long afterward the commander became his own executioner and paid the penalty for his wickedness. For us, however, banishments and severe persecutions were stirred up again, and once more the governors in all the provinces rose terribly against us, so that some who were prominent in the divine word were seized and received the inexorable sentence of death. Of these, three in Emesa, a city of Phoenicia, confessed themselves Christians and were given as food to wild beasts. Among them was a bishop, Silvanus, very old, who had fulfilled his ministry for forty full years.
Notes and citation
Summary: The commander killed himself, but persecution resumed; at Emesa the aged bishop Silvanus and two others were thrown to beasts.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (editor's apparatus leaked into the digital text): Κα. H. E. VII, 27] → .
Topics: Persecution, Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.6.1 (Dindorf 4:424; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-6-1).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.6.2Dindorf 4:424
κατὰ δὲ τὸν αὐτὸν χρόνον καὶ Πέτρος τῶν κατʼ Ἀλεξάνδρειαν παροικιῶν προστὰς ἐπιφανέστατα, θεῖον ἐπισκόπων χρῆμα, βίου τε ἀρετῆς ἕνεκα καὶ τῆς τῶν ἱερῶν λόγων συνασκήσεως, ἐξ οὐδεμιᾶς ἀνάρπαστος γεγονὼς αἰτίας, μηδεμιᾶς προλαβούσης προσδοκίας, ἀθρόως οὕτω καὶ ἀλόγως, ὡσὰν Μαξιμίνου τὴν κεφαλὴν ἀποτέμνεται, σὺν αὐτῷ δὲ καὶ τῶν κατʼ Αἴγυπτον ἐπισκόπων ἄλλοι πλείους ταὐτὸν ὑπομένουσι·
kata de ton auton chronon kai Petros tōn katʼ Alexandreian paroikiōn prostas epiphanestata, theion episkopōn chrēma, biou te aretēs heneka kai tēs tōn hierōn logōn synaskēseōs, ex oudemias anarpastos gegonōs aitias, mēdemias prolabousēs prosdokias, athroōs houtō kai alogōs, hōsan Maximinou tēn kephalēn apotemnetai, syn autǭ de kai tōn katʼ Aigypton episkopōn alloi pleious tauton hypomenousi;
At the same time Peter too, who presided most illustriously over the churches of Alexandria, a divine example among bishops for the excellence of his life and his study of the sacred Scriptures, was seized for no cause at all and without any expectation beforehand, and so, suddenly and without reason, as if on Maximin's order, he was beheaded; and with him many other bishops of Egypt suffered the same.
Notes and citation
Summary: Bishop Peter of Alexandria was suddenly seized and beheaded, with many other Egyptian bishops.
- The digital text reads ὡσὰν Μαξιμίνου with no verb; “as if on Maximin's order” is supplied from the sense.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misread word in the digital text): δὲ αἰ τῶν → δὲ καὶ τῶν.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.6.2 (Dindorf 4:424; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-6-2).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.6.3Dindorf 4:424–425
Λουκιανός τε, ἀνὴρ τὰ πάντα ἄριστος, βίῳ τε ἐγκρατὴς καὶ τοῖς ἱεροῖς μαθήμασι συγκεκροτημένος, τῆς κατʼ Ἀντιόχειαν παροικίας πρεσβύτερος, ἀχθεὶς ἐπὶ τῆς Νικομηδέων πόλεως, ἔνθα τηνικαῦτα βασιλεὺς διατρίβων ἐτύγχανε, παρασχών τε ἐπὶ τοῦ ἄρχοντος τὴν ὑπὲρ ἧς προΐστατο διδασκαλίας ἀπολογίαν, δεσμωτηρίῳ παραδοθεὶς κτίννυται.
Loukianos te, anēr ta panta aristos, biǭ te enkratēs kai tois hierois mathēmasi synkekrotēmenos, tēs katʼ Antiocheian paroikias presbyteros, achtheis epi tēs Nikomēdeōn poleōs, entha tēnikauta basileus diatribōn etynchane, paraschōn te epi tou archontos tēn hyper hēs proïstato didaskalias apologian, desmōtēriǭ paradotheis ktinnytai.
And Lucian, a man excellent in all things, self-controlled in life and well trained in sacred learning, presbyter of the church at Antioch, was brought to the city of Nicomedia, where the emperor happened to be staying at the time; and after making before the ruler a defense of the teaching he championed, he was committed to prison and put to death.
Notes and citation
Summary: Lucian, a learned presbyter of Antioch, defended the faith at Nicomedia and was killed in prison.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (misplaced diaeresis in the digital text): προί·στατο → προΐστατο.
Topics: Martyrdom, Church office
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.6.3 (Dindorf 4:424–425; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-6-3).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.
9.6.4Dindorf 4:425
τοσαῦτα δῆτα ἐν βραχεῖ τῷ μισοκάλῳ Μαξιμίνῳ καθʼ ἡμῶν συνεσκεύαστο, ὡς τοῦ προτέρου δοκεῖν πολλῷ χαλεπώτερον τοῦτον ἡμῖν ἐπεγηγέρθαι διωγμόν.
tosauta dēta en brachei tǭ misokalǭ Maximinǭ kathʼ hēmōn syneskeuasto, hōs tou proterou dokein pollǭ chalepōteron touton hēmin epegēgerthai diōgmon.
So much, then, was contrived against us in a short time by Maximin, the hater of good, that this persecution stirred up against us seemed far harsher than the earlier one.
Notes and citation
Summary: Maximin's renewed persecution seemed worse than the first.
Topics: Persecution
Cite (SBL): Eusebius, Hist. eccl. 9.6.4 (Dindorf 4:425; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/eusebius-historia/8-13-1/#p-9-6-4).
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Greek text of Dindorf, Eusebii Caesariensis Opera 4 (Teubner, 1871); made independently of existing English translations.