Letter 46

To Ecdicius, Prefect of Egypt. Even if you do not write to me about other matters, you ought at least to have written about that enemy of the gods, Athanasius [Bishop of Alexandria] — especially since you have known my perfectly just decrees for a long time now. I swear by mighty Serapis: if Athanasius does not leave that city — or rather, all of Egypt — before the first of December, I will fine the cohort under your command one hundred pounds of gold. You know that while I am slow to condemn, I am even slower to relent once I have condemned. It is an outrage that under my rule this wretched man dares to baptize prominent Greek families into the pestilent Galilean cult [Christianity]. Find him and expel him.

To Ecdicius, Prefect of Egypt [362, About October, from Antioch] Even though you do not write to me6 on other matters, you ought at least to have written about that enemy of the gods, Athanasius,1 especially since, for a long time past, you have known my just decrees. I swear by mighty Serapis that, if Athanasius the enemy of the gods does not depart from that city, or rather from all Egypt, before the December Kalends, I shall fine the cohort which you command a hundred pounds 2 of gold. And you know that, though I am slow to condemn, I am even much slower to remit when I have once condemned. Added with his own hand.3 It vexes me greatly that my orders are neglected. By all the gods there is nothing I should be so glad to see, or rather hear reported as achieved by you, as that Athanasius has been expelled beyond the frontiers of Egypt. Infamous man! He has had the audacity to baptise Greek women of rank 4 during my reign! Let him be driven forth! 5 6 Egypt was the peculiar property of the Roman Emperors and reports were made by the prefect to them. 1 Athanasius had disregarded the order to leave Alexandria, but he now, on October 24th, went into exile in Upper Egypt; Socrates 3. 14; Sozomen 5. 15; see p. 75. 2 The Greek word used is the equivalent of the Latin libra = 12 ounces. 3 For similar postscripts see pp. 15, 19. 4 Or "wives of distinguished men." 5 In the Neapolitanus MS. the following has been added by a Christian: "This man is a blessed saint, O vile dog of an apostate, thrice accursed and thrice miserable! "