Ecclesiastical History, Books 6–10

Book Nine

BOOK NINE Chapter 1 nHE IMPERIAL EDICT of recantation presented abovel was promulgated everywhere in Asia and in all the neighboring provinces. When this had been done in this manner, Maximin, the tyrant of the East, a most impious man if there ever was one, who had been most hostile to the religion of the God of the universe, being by no means pleased with what had been written, instead of promulgating the document gave verbal orders to the officials under him to relax the war against us. Since it was not possible for him otherwise to oppose the decision of his superiors, placing in a corner the law which had been promulgated, and taking thought on how it might not be brought into sight within the districts under him, by an unwritten order he ordered the officials under him to relax the war against us. They pointed out the content of the order to each other in writing. For example, Sabinus,2 whom they had honored 1 Galerius' edict of toleration; cf. 8.17. 2 All that is known of Sabinus is ·contained in this passage. He was probably Maximin's prime minister or praetorian prefect. Cf. 9.9, where a letter of Maximin addressed to him is quoted. 207 208 SAINT EUSEBIUS with the rank of most excellent prefect, made clear to the provincial governors the mind of the emperor by means of a letter in Latin. A translation of this original is as follows: 'With a most brilliant and a devoted zeal, the Divinity of our most divine masters, the emperors,3 has already for a long time decided to guide the thoughts of all men into holy and straight paths of life, so that those also who seem to follow a way of life foreign to that of the Romans may perform the acts of worship due to the immortal gods. But the obstinacy and the most unyielding will of some reached such a point that they could not withdraw from their own purpose because of just reasoning of the command nor did the impending punishment intimidate them. Since, therefore, it has come to pass that many by such conduct cast themselves in the face of danger, the Divinity of our masters, the most powerful emperors, in accord with the noble piety which they possess, considering it foreign to the purpose of their Divinity to cast men into such danger for such a reason, have ordered through my Devotedness to write to your Wisdom that, if any of the Christians should be discovered following the religion of his own people, you should set him free from the annoyances directed against him and from danger, nor should you think that anyone should be visited with punishment on this pretext, since with the passage of so long a time it has been established that they cannot be persuaded in any way to abandon such stubbornness. Therefore, your Solicitude should write to the curators and duumvirs and the magistrates of the district of every city, that they may 3 The epistle is equally stil ted throughout. It was clearly dictated or inspired by Maximin himself. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 209 know that it is not proper for them to give any further consideration to this letter.'4 Thereupon, the rulers of the provinces, having come to the conclusion that they had substantiated the purpose of what had been written to them, made known by letter the imperial mind to the curators and duumvirs and those in charge of the rural districts; and these matters went forward not only through writing, but even much more by action, so that, as if they might bring the imperial will to accomplishment , as many as they held confined in prison for confession of the Deity, they brought into the open and freed, releasing some of those very persons who had been consigned to the mines for punishment, for they were deceived in supposing that the emperor had truly decided upon this. When these matters had thus been carried out, it was possible to see, like a light shining suddenly forth out of a dark night,5 churches being put together in every city, and crowded assemblies, and rites being performed at these according to custom. And every one of the unbelieving heathen was struck not a little at these things, marveling at the wonder of so great a change, and proclaiming the God...