Chapter XXXV
.—
The
Synod not having come to the Emperor, the Partisans of Eusebius accuse
Athanasius of having threatened to divert the Corn supplied to
Constantinople from Alexandria: the Emperor being exasperated at this
banishes Athanasius into Gaul.
252
This
letter rendered those who
constituted the Synod very fearful, wherefore most of them returned to
their respective cities. But Eusebius, Theognis, Maris, Patrophilus,
Ursacius, and Valens, having gone to Constantinople, would not permit
any further enquiry to be instituted concerning the broken cup, the
overturned communion table, and the murder of Arsenius; but they had
recourse to another calumny, informing the emperor that Athanasius had
threatened to prohibit the sending of corn which was usually conveyed
from Alexandria to Constantinople. They affirmed also that these
menaces were heard from the lips of Athanasius by the bishops
Adamantius, Anubion, Arbathion and Peter, for slander is most prevalent
when of the assertor of it appears to be a person worthy of credit.
Hence the emperor being deceived, and excited to indignation against
Athanasius by this charge, at once condemned him to exile, ordering him
to reside in the Gauls. Now some affirm that the emperor came to this
decision with a view to the establishment of unity in the church, since
Athanasius was inexorable in his refusal to hold any communion with
Arius and his adherents. He accordingly took up his abode at Treves, a
city of Gaul.
252
Cf. Theodoret,
H. E.
I. 31. The ancient
Gallia or Gaul included the modern France, Belgium, Lombardy, and
Sardinia.