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Chapter XXVII
Paul of Samosata, and the Heresy Introduced by Him at Antioch.
1 After Xystus had presided over the church of Rome for
eleven years [actually eleven months, according to Roman
records], Dionysius, namesake
of him of Alexandria, succeeded him. About the same time
Demetrianus died in Antioch, and
Paul of Samosata received that episcopate.
2 As he held, contrary to the teaching of the Church, low and
degraded views of Christ, namely,
that in his nature he was a common man, Dionysius
of Alexandria was entreated to come to the
synod. But being unable to come on account of age
and physical weakness, he gave his opinion
on the subject under consideration by letter. But all the other
pastors of the churches from all
directions, made haste to assemble at Antioch, as against a
despoiler of the flock of Christ.
Chapter XXVIII
The Illustrious Bishops of that Time.
1 Of these, the most eminent were Firmilianus, bishop of
Cæsarea in Cappadocia; the brothers
Gregory [Thaumaturgus] and Athenodorus, pastors of the
churches in Pontus; Helenus of the parish of Tarsus,
and Nicomas of Iconium moreover, Hymenæus,
of the church of Jerusalem, and
Theotecnus of the neighboring church of Cæsarea;
and besides these Maximus, who presided
in a distinguished manner over the brethren in Bostra.
If any should count them up he could not fail
to note a great many others, besides presbyters and
deacons, who were at that time assembled for
the same cause in the above-mentioned city. But these
were the most illustrious.
2 When all of these assembled at different times and
frequently to consider these matters, the
arguments and questions were discussed at every meeting;
the adherents of the Samosatian
endeavoring to cover and conceal his heterodoxy,
and the others striving zealously to lay bare and
make manifest his heresy and blasphemy against Christ.
3 Meanwhile, Dionysius died in the twelfth year of the
reign of Gallienus, having held the
episcopate of Alexandria for seventeen years, and
Maximus succeeded him.
4 Gallienus after a reign of fifteen years was succeeded by
Claudius, who in two years
delivered the government to Aurelian.
Chapter XXIX
Paul, Having Been Refuted by Malchion, a Presbyter
from the Sophists, Was Excommunicated.
1 During his reign a final synod composed of a great many
bishops was held, and the leader of
heresy in Antioch [i.e. Paul] was detected, and his false
doctrine clearly shown before all, and he was
excommunicated from the Catholic Church under heaven.
2 Malchion especially drew him out of his hiding-place
and refuted him. He was a man learned in
other respects, and principal of the sophist school of
Grecian learning in Antioch; yet on account of
the superior nobility of his faith in Christ he had been
made a presbyter of that parish. This man,
having conducted a discussion with him, which was
taken down by stenographers and which we
know is still extant, was alone able to detect the man
who dissembled and deceived the others.
Have mercy, O Lord, upon Thy servant
the translator Arthur and on Daniel.