Chapter II.—List of the Principal Bishops
Of the church of Rome at this period Silvester 245 held the reins. His predecessor in the see was Miltiades 246 , the successor of that Marcellinus 247 who had so nobly distinguished himself during the persecution.
In Antioch, after the death of Tyrannus 248 , when peace began to be restored to the churches, Vitalis 249 received the chief authority, and restored the church in the “Palæa 250 ” which had been destroyed by the tyrants. He was succeeded by Philogonius 251 , who completed all that was wanting in the work of restoration: he had, during the time of Licinius, signalised himself by his zeal for religion.
After the administration of Hermon 252 , the government of the church in Jerusalem was committed to Macarius 253 , a man whose character was equal to his name, and whose mind was adorned by every kind of virtue.
At this same period also, Alexander, illustrious for his apostolical gifts, governed the church of Constantinople 254 .
It was at this time that Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, perceiving that Arius, enslaved by the lust of power, was assembling those who had been taken captive by his blasphemous doctrines, and was holding private meetings, communicated an account of his heresy by letter to the rulers of the principal churches. That the authenticity of my history may not be suspected, I shall now insert in my narrative the letter which he wrote to his namesake, containing, as it does, a clear account of all the facts I have mentioned. I shall also subjoin the letter of Arius, together with the other letters which are necessary to the completeness of this narrative, that they may at once testify to the truth of my work, and make the course of events more clear.
The following letter was written by Alexander of Alexandria, to the bishop of the same name as himself.
Bp. of Rome, from Jan. 31, a.d. 314, to Dec. 31, a.d. 335.
34:246Otherwise Melchiades. July 2, a.d. 310, to Jan. 10, a.d. 314.
34:247Jan. 30, a.d. 296, to Oct. 25, a.d. 304. Accused of apostasy, under Diocletian.
34:248Bishop of Antioch during the persecution of Diocletian, καθ᾽ ὃν ἤκμασεν ἡ τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν πολιορκία. Eus. H.E. vii. 32.
34:24921st Bp. of Antioch, a.d. 312–a.d. 318.
34:250The ancient part of the city of Antioch.
34:251 34:252 34:253Macarius = Blessed. a.d. 311–?334. Vide Chapters iv. and xvii.
34:254