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Handout #67 |
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The First Ecumenical Council , 325 A.D. |
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In effect, the most distinguished of God's ministers from all the churches which abounded in Europe, Libya and Asia were here assembled. And a single house of prayer, as though divinely enlarged, sufficed to contain at once Syrians and Cilicians, Phoenicians and Arabians, delegates from Palestine, and others from Egypt; The bans and Libyans, with those who came from the region of Mesopotomia. A Persian bishop too was present at this conference, nor was even a Scythian found wanting to the number. Pontus, Galatia and Pamphylia, Cappadocia, Asia and Phrygia, furnished their most distinguished prelates, while those who dwelt in the remotest districts of Thrace and Macedonia, of Achaea and Epirus, were notwithstanding in attendance. Even from Spain itself one whose fame was widely spread (Hosius) took his seat as an individual in the great assembly. The prelate of the imperial city (Rome) was prevented from attending by extreme old age, but he was represented by the presbyters of his church. The bishops entered the great hall of the palace and sat down according to their rank on the seats that had been prepared for them ... And now, all rising at the signal which indicated the emperor's entrance, at last he himself proceeded through the midst of the assembly, like some heavenly messenger of God, clothed in raiment which glittered as it were with rays of light, reflecting the glowing radiance of a purple robe, and adorned with the brilliant splendor of gold and precious stones ... (Towards the end of the Council) the emperor completed the twentieth year of his reign. On this occasion public festivals were celebrated by the people of the provinces generally, but the emperor himself invited and feasted with those ministers of God whom he had reconciled. Not one of the bishops was wanting at the imperial banquet, the circumstances of which were splendid beyond description. Detachments of the bodyguard and other troops surrounded the entrance to the palace with drawn swords, and through the midst of these the men of God proceeded without fear into the innermost of the imperial apartments, in which some were the emperor's own companions at table, while others reclined on couches arranged on either side. One might have thought that a picture of Christ's kingdom was thus shadowed forth, and a dream rather than reality. After the celebration of this brilliant festival the emperor courteously received all his guests, and generously added to the favors he had already bestowed by personally presenting gifts to each individual according to his rank. Eusebius, Life of Constantine, III, 71,10,15,16. |
