Image: Martyrdom of Anthimus of Nicomedia and others, Miniature from the Menologion of Basil II, c. AD 1,000.
This is an occasional series of readings from and brief notes
and commentary upon Eusebius of Caesarea’s The
Ecclesiastical History: Book 8, chapter 13.
Notes and Commentary:
This chapter begins by listing the
various rulers of the churches who became martyrs during the Diocletian persecution.
First in the list is Anthimus, bishop
of Nicomedia, who was beheaded.
Others include the presbyter Lucian
of Antioch;
Tyrannion, bishop of Tyre;
Zenobius, presbyter of Sidon;
Silvanus, bishop of Emesa;
Silvanus, bishop of Gaza, beheaded
at the copper mines at Phaeno, one of 39 martyrs there;
Peleus and Nilus, bishops of Egypt;
Pamphylius, presbyter of Caesarea,
whom Eusebius describes as “the most marvelous man of our day”;
Peter, bishop of Alexandria;
Phileas, Hesychius, Pachymius, and
Theodore, bishops of Egypt.
To these could be added “countless
other famous persons as well.” Eusebius promises to write more in another work.
The chapter then turns to discuss
the Roman government. This is typical of Eusebius, to parallel descriptions of
church and imperial leaders.
He notes that before the time of
persecution, the Christians had enjoyed peace and prosperity.
Reference is made to the so-called
Tetrarchy, set up by Diocletian, in which power was shared between Diocletian
and Maximin, as emperors, and Galerius and Constantius Chlorus, as Caesars.
It was under the Tetrarchy that the
persecution had begun in 303, and which would last a decade till 313.
Eusebius notes that Diocletian fell
under a “fateful disease” and became “deranged”, and this resulted in him
resuming life as a private citizen in 306.
According to Eusebius, of the
Tetrarchs, only Constantius (father of Constantine) lived “in a manner worthy
of his high office” and did not persecute the Christians or tear down their
churches, but even protected them.
His son Constantine was made emperor
(one of the Tetrarch) after his death “by God Himself, the King Supreme.”
The chapter closes with reference
to the later struggle for power between Constantine, Licinius, and Maximin,
which resulted in the deposition and death of Maximin and the removal of his
public monuments and memorials.
Conclusion:
In this chapter Eusebius honors the
church leaders who died as martyrs during the Diocletian persecution (303-313).
He also describes the rise of Constantine to imperial power, providing a
perhaps overly positive portrayal of Constantine’s father Constantius, and
noting the rise of Constantine as divinely orchestrated.
JTR
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