| 1. Porphyry, In Augustine, De Civ.Dei, None (3rd cent. CE - 3rd cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •hierocles, advises the imperial conference of Found in books: Simmons(1995) 41 |
2. Eusebius of Caesarea, Ecclesiastical History, 8.4.2-8.4.5 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •hierocles, advises the imperial conference of Found in books: Simmons(1995) 41 | 8.4.2. For though he who had received power was seemingly aroused now as from a deep sleep, yet from the time after Decius and Valerian, he had been plotting secretly and without notice against the churches. He did not wage war against all of us at once, but made trial at first only of those in the army. For he supposed that the others could be taken easily if he should first attack and subdue these. Thereupon many of the soldiers were seen most cheerfully embracing private life, so that they might not deny their piety toward the Creator of the universe. 8.4.3. For when the commander, whoever he was, began to persecute the soldiers, separating into tribes and purging those who were enrolled in the army, giving them the choice either by obeying to receive the honor which belonged to them, or on the other hand to be deprived of it if they disobeyed the command, a great many soldiers of Christ's kingdom, without hesitation, instantly preferred the confession of him to the seeming glory and prosperity which they were enjoying. 8.4.4. And one and another of them occasionally received in exchange, for their pious constancy, not only the loss of position, but death. But as yet the instigator of this plot proceeded with moderation, and ventured so far as blood only in some instances; for the multitude of believers, as it is likely, made him afraid, and deterred him from waging war at once against all. 8.4.5. But when he made the attack more boldly, it is impossible to relate how many and what sort of martyrs of God could be seen, among the inhabitants of all the cities and countries. |
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| 3. Eusebius of Caesarea, Preparation For The Gospel, 5.1.10 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •hierocles, advises the imperial conference of Found in books: Simmons(1995) 41 |
4. Eusebius of Caesarea, Life of Constantine, 2.5, 4.32 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •hierocles, advises the imperial conference of Found in books: Simmons(1995) 41 | 2.5. And when he was now ready to engage, he desired the most approved of his bodyguard and his most valued friends to meet him in one of the places which they consider sacred. It was a well-watered and shady grove, and in it were several marble statues of those whom he accounted to be gods. After lighting tapers and performing the usual sacrifices in honor of these, he is said to have delivered the following speech: Friends and fellow-soldiers! These are our country's gods, and these we honor with a worship derived from our remotest ancestors. But he who leads the army now opposed to us has proved false to the religion of his forefathers, and adopted atheistic sentiments, honoring in his infatuation some strange and unheard-of Deity, with whose despicable standard he now disgraces his army, and confiding in whose aid he has taken up arms, and is now advancing, not so much against us as against those very gods whom he has forsaken. However, the present occasion shall prove which of us is mistaken in his judgment, and shall decide between our gods and those whom our adversaries profess to honor. For either it will declare the victory to be ours, and so most justly evince that our gods are the true saviours and helpers; or else, if this God of Constantine's, who comes we know not whence, shall prove superior to our deities (who are many, and in point of numbers, at least, have the advantage), let no one henceforth doubt which god he ought to worship, but attach himself at once to the superior power, and ascribe to him the honors of the victory. Suppose, then, this strange God, whom we now regard with ridicule, should really prove victorious; then indeed we must acknowledge and give him honor, and so bid a long farewell to those for whom we light our tapers in vain. But if our own gods triumph (as they undoubtedly will), then, as soon as we have secured the present victory, let us prosecute the war without delay against these despisers of the gods. Such were the words he addressed to those then present, as reported not long after to the writer of this history by some who heard them spoken. And as soon as he had concluded his speech, he gave orders to his forces to commence the attack. 4.32. The emperor was in the habit of composing his orations in the Latin tongue, from which they were translated into Greek by interpreters appointed for this special service. One of the discourses thus translated I intend to annex, by way of specimen, to this present work, that one, I mean, which he inscribed To the assembly of the saints, and dedicated to the Church of God, that no one may have ground for deeming my testimony on this head mere empty praise. |
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| 5. Lactantius, Deaths of The Persecutors, 2.7-2.8, 10.2-10.4, 16.4 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •nan Found in books: Simmons(1995) 41 |
| 6. Lactantius, Divine Institutes, 4.27.4-4.27.5, 5.2.13 (3rd cent. CE - 4th cent. CE) Tagged with subjects: •hierocles, advises the imperial conference of Found in books: Simmons(1995) 41 |
