Alexander, who had become illustrious by his apostolic gilts, governed the church of Constantinople.
It was at this period, that Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, perceiving that many were deluded by the doctrines of Arius, communicated an account of his heresy, by letter, to the rulers of the principal churches. The following is the letter written by Alexander, bishop of Alexandria,[1] to his namesake, of Constantinople.
LETTER OF ALEXANDER, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA, TO ALEXANDER, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, CONCERNING ARIUS AND THE ARIANS.
"Alexander sendeth greeting in the Lord to Alexander, the honored and beloved brother.
"Impelled by avarice and ambition, some evil-minded individuals have formed designs to obtain the highest ecclesiastical preferments. Under various pretexts, they trample upon the religion of the church; and, being instigated by Satanic agency, they abandon all circumspection, and throw off the fear of God's judgments. Having been made to suffer by them in my own diocese, I write to arouse your caution, that you may be on your guard against them, lest they, or any of their party, should presume to enter your diocese. They are skilful in deception, and circulate false and specious letters, calculated to delude the simple and unwary.
"Arius and Achillas[2] have lately formed a con-
- ↑ It was the custom, both at Alexandria and Rome, that all the churches should be under one bishop, but that each presbyter should have his own church, in which to assemble the people. So says Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis, in Cyprus, A.D. 367.—See the edition of his writings by Dionysus Petavius.
- ↑ This is the same Achillas, or Achilles, who was some time ruler of the church at Alexandria, and who was succeeded by Alexander, the author of this epistle.
