![[St. Pachomius Library]](title.gif)
Chapter XVI
Constantine, Having Heard of the Strife of the Bishops, and the Difference of Opinion Concerning the Passover, is Greatly Troubled and Sends Hosius, a Spaniard, Bishop of Cordova, to Alexandria, to Abolish the Dissension Among the Bishops, and to Settle the Dispute About the Passover.
After there had been many synods held in Egypt, and the
contest had still continued to increase in
violence, the report of the dissension reached the palace,
and Constantine was thereby greatly
troubled; for just at this period, when religion was
beginning to be more generally propagated, many
were deterred by the difference in doctrines from
embracing Christianity. The emperor openly
charged Arius and Alexander with having originated this
disturbance, and wrote to rebuke them for
having made a controversy public which it was in their
power to have concealed, and for having
contentiously agitated a question which ought never to
have been mooted, or upon which, at least,
their opinion ought to have been given quietly. He
told them that they ought not to have separated
from others on account of difference of sentiment
concerning certain points of doctrine.
For concerning the Divine Providence men ought
necessarily to hold one and the same belief; but
the minute researches in this province, especially
if they do not bring them to the one opinion, must
be retained in secret according to all reason. He
exhorted them to put away all loose talk about such
points, and to be of one mind; for he had been not a
little grieved, and on this account he had
renounced his intention of visiting the cities of the East.
It was in this strain that he wrote to
Alexander and to Arius, reproving and
exhorting them both.
Constantine was also deeply grieved at the diversity
of opinion which prevailed concerning the
celebration of the Passover; for some of the cities
in the East differed on this point, although they
did not withhold from communion with one another,
they kept the festival more according to the
manner of the Jews, and as was natural by this
divergence, detracted from the splendor of the
festal sacrifice. The emperor zealously endeavored
to remove both these causes of dissension from
the church; and thinking to be able to remove the
evil before it advanced to greater proportions, he
sent one who was honored for his faith, his virtuous
life, and most approved in those former times
for his confessions about this doctrine, to reconcile
those who were divided on account of doctrine
in Egypt, and those who in the East differed about the
Passover. This man was Hosius, bishop of
Cordova.
Have mercy, O Lord, upon Thy servant
the translator Chester, and on Caryn and Jeff.