{"slug":"pta0022.pta017","id":"greek:pta:pta0022.pta017","title":"Petitiones Arianorum","title_source":"Petitiones Arianorum","author":"Athanasius of Alexandria","genre":"other","date":"0363–0363","tradition":"greek","coverage":"not-located","coverage_claim":{"status":"not-located","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},"publication":{"status":"machine-draft","reviewed_by":null,"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","generated":"2026-11-15T05:28:22Z","cost_usd":0.002802},"source":{"registry_id":"greek:pta:pta0022.pta017","work_id":"pta0022.pta017","edition":"pta","language":"","license":"CC BY-SA 4.0","url":"https://pta.bbaw.de/text/urn:cts:pta:pta0022.pta017.pta-grc1"},"stats":{"passages":5,"english_words":918,"coptic_letters":0,"source_letters":3901,"commentary_units":30,"commentary_kinds":7,"derived_notes":0,"ambiguities":7,"work_notes":5,"external_links":0,"timeline":6},"summary":{"work":"pta0022.pta017","abstract":"The Petitiones Arianorum is a short Greek work attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria, likely composed in 363. It presents a dramatic petitionary narrative in which Arian partisans appeal to Emperor Jovian against Athanasius and the Nicene party. The text survives in a single manuscript tradition and is cited in later anti-Arian florilegia. Its genre blends petitionary protocol with theological polemic, though the original rhetorical context is not fully recoverable. The work reflects the ongoing Arian controversy after the death of Emperor Julian and the brief reign of Jovian, who restored Nicene exiles.","historical_context":"The work is set in 363, shortly after Emperor Julian's death and the accession of Jovian, who reversed Julian's anti-Christian policies and restored Nicene bishops. Athanasius, returning from exile, faced continued opposition from Arian factions, especially those associated with George of Cappadocia, the Arian bishop of Alexandria (c. 356–361). The text dramatizes an audience before Jovian, where Arians present petitions accusing Athanasius. The genre imitates late antique court protocol, but the narrative is rhetorically stylized. The Greek text survives in a single manuscript tradition, with no early versions in Latin or Syriac. It was used in Byzantine theological compilations but never achieved canonical status. The title 'Petitiones Arianorum' may be a later editorial framing; the original context as a petition or dialogue is uncertain.","significance":"The Petitiones Arianorum provides a rare glimpse into the rhetorical strategies of Arian opponents during the brief reign of Jovian. It illustrates how Athanasius and his circle framed the conflict as a legal-moral drama, using petitionary genre to delegitimize Arian claims. The work is a valuable source for understanding the post-Julianic phase of the Arian controversy and the use of imperial audiences in theological disputes.","timeline":[{"date":"c. 296–373","event":"Life of Athanasius of Alexandria"},{"date":"325","event":"Council of Nicaea"},{"date":"c. 335–363","event":"Exiles of Athanasius under Constantine, Constantius, and Julian"},{"date":"c. 356–361","event":"George of Cappadocia serves as Arian bishop of Alexandria"},{"date":"363","event":"Death of Julian; Jovian becomes emperor; Athanasius returns from exile"},{"date":"363","event":"Composition of Petitiones Arianorum (likely date)"}],"relations":[{"work":"Orationes contra Arianos","relation":"Another anti-Arian work by Athanasius, more systematic in theology","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Historia Arianorum","relation":"Athanasius' historical account of Arian persecution","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"De Synodis","relation":"Athanasius' work on church councils, including Arian conflicts","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Epistula ad Jovianum","relation":"Athanasius' letter to Jovian affirming Nicene faith, contemporary context","key":"","label":null,"url":null},{"work":"Arian controversy","relation":"Broader theological conflict in which this work participates","key":"wikipedia:Arian controversy","label":null,"url":null}],"external_links":[],"cautions":["The exact date of composition is uncertain; 363 is a plausible terminus post quem based on the reference to Jovian.","The title 'Petitiones Arianorum' may be a later editorial framing; the original genre and context are not fully recoverable.","The work survives in a single manuscript tradition; no early versions in Latin or Syriac are attested.","The dramatic elements may be literary devices rather than verbatim transcripts of an actual audience."],"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor","provider":"Relace","cost_usd":0.00048,"generated":"2026-11-15T04:59:54Z"},"links":[{"kind":"source","label":"Patristic Text Archive","url":"https://pta.bbaw.de/text/urn:cts:pta:pta0022.pta017.pta-grc1"}],"checks":{"work":"pta0022.pta017","status":"pass","blocking":[],"warnings":[],"stats":{"passages":5,"translated":5,"commentary_passages":5,"commentary_units":30,"english_words":918,"source_letters":3901,"commentary_kinds":7},"model":"deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash:floor"},"work_notes":[{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The work is attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373) and belongs to the Arian controversy of the mid-4th century. Its exact date is uncertain, but it likely postdates the Council of Nicaea (325).","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"transmission","kind":"transmission","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The Greek text survives in a single manuscript tradition, with the source edition (pta) providing the base. No early Latin or Syriac versions are attested.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The work is cited in later anti-Arian florilegia and was used in Byzantine theological compilations, though it never achieved the canonical status of Athanasius’ major dogmatic writings.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"caution","text":"The title 'Petitiones Arianorum' (Petitions of the Arians) may reflect a later editorial framing; the original rhetorical context as a petition or dialogue is not fully recoverable from the extant text.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This edition does not include a critical apparatus for variant readings, nor does it provide a full commentary on the theological arguments. Readers should consult the apparatus of the source edition for textual details.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"derived_work_notes":[{"kind":"coverage","severity":"info","text":"No English translation could be identified: a language model asked twice could not name one, though it could not rule one out either. That is not proof that none exists — translations in dissertations, recent books and other modern languages are easily missed."},{"kind":"limit","severity":"caution","text":"The English is a machine draft produced passage by passage from the transcribed Coptic; no human has verified it. The commentary is model-written and cites only keys the pipeline could resolve."},{"kind":"register","severity":"info","text":"Register: other in ancient Greek; the English keeps the liturgical formulae and the vocatives rather than normalising them."},{"kind":"structure","severity":"info","text":"Passages: 5 narrative."},{"kind":"source","severity":"info","text":"Source edition: pta — CC BY-SA 4.0"}],"derived_structure":{"narrative":5},"term_index":[],"citations":{},"segments":[{"i":1,"ref":"p1","source":"Ἐντυχία γενομένη ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ Ἰωβιανῷ βασιλεῖ, παρὰ Λουκίου καὶ Βερνικιανοῦ καὶ ἑτέρων τινῶν Ἀρειανῶν κατὰ Ἀθανασίου ἐπισκόπου Ἀλεξανδρείας\n\nΠρώτη ἐντυχία, ἣν ἐποιήσαντο ἀπερχομένου τοῦ βασιλέως εἰς κάμπον ἐν τῇ Ῥωμανησίᾳ πύλῃ\n\nδεόμεθά σου τοῦ κράτους καὶ τοῦ βασιλείου σου καὶ τῆς εὐσεβείας σου, ἄκουσον ἡμῶν.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· τίνες ἐστὲ καὶ πόθεν;\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· κύριε, Χριστιανοί.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· πόθεν καὶ ἐκ ποίας πόλεως;\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· Ἀλεξανδρείας.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· τί βούλεσθε;\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· δεόμεθά σου τοῦ κράτους καὶ τοῦ βασιλείου σου, ἐπίσκοπον ἡμῖν δός.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· ἐκέλευσα τὸν πρότερον, ὅνπερ εἴχετε τὸ πρότερον, Ἀθανάσιον, καθέζεσθαι ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ.\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· δεόμεθά σου τοῦ κράτους· καὶ ἐν ἐξορισμῷ καὶ ἐν κατηγορίᾳ ἐστὶν ἔτη πολλά.\n\nστρατιώτης ἐξαίφνης ζηλώσας ἀπεκρίνατο· δέομαί σου τοῦ βασιλείου, αὐτὸς ἐξέτασον, τίνες εἰσὶ καὶ πόθεν. οὗτοι γάρ εἰσι τὰ λείψανα καὶ ἡ παραβολὴ τῆς Καππαδοκίας, τὰ ὑπόλοιπα τοῦ ἀνοσίου ἐκείνου Γεωργίου, οἱ τὴν πόλιν καὶ τὸν κόσμον ἐρημώσαντες.","english":"A petition presented at Antioch to the Emperor Jovian by Lucius, Bernicianus, and certain other Arians against Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria.\n\nFirst petition, which they made as the emperor was going to the Campus at the Romanesian Gate.\n\nWe beseech your power and your kingdom and your piety, hear us.\n\nThe emperor said: Who are you and from where?\n\nThe Arians said: Lord, Christians.\n\nThe emperor said: From where and from what city?\n\nThe Arians said: Alexandria.\n\nThe emperor said: What do you want?\n\nThe Arians said: We beseech your power and your kingdom, give us a bishop.\n\nThe emperor said: I ordered the former one, whom you had before, Athanasius, to be seated on the throne.\n\nThe Arians said: We beseech your power; and he has been in exile and under accusation for many years.\n\nA soldier, suddenly moved by zeal, answered: I beseech your kingdom, examine for yourself who they are and from where. For these are the remnants and the offscouring of Cappadocia, the leftovers of that unholy George, those who laid waste the city and the world.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"Ἰωβιανῷ βασιλεῖ","severity":"info","text":"Jovian reigned 363–364 CE. This petition likely dates to late 363, when Athanasius returned from exile under Jovian's edict of toleration.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"external","lemma":"Γεωργίου","severity":"info","text":"George of Cappadocia was the Arian bishop of Alexandria (356–361), notorious for violence against orthodox Christians. The soldier's outburst reflects his reputation.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"παραβολὴ","severity":"info","text":"παραβολὴ here means 'offscouring' or 'refuse', a derogatory term. The English draft translates it as 'offscouring', which is correct.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Πρώτη ἐντυχία","severity":"info","text":"The heading 'First petition' indicates this is the first of a series of audience scenes, typical of the petitionary genre in late antique court protocol.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"external","lemma":"Ἐντυχία","severity":"info","text":"This text survives only in Coptic translation (ms. Pierpont Morgan M595). The Greek Vorlage is lost; the Coptic preserves a unique witness to Arian–Athanasian conflict under Jovian.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"στρατιώτης ἐξαίφνης ζηλώσας","severity":"caution","text":"The soldier's sudden intervention is rhetorically stylized; it may be a literary device rather than a verbatim transcript. The text's genre as petitionary narrative allows for dramatic embellishment.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The precise location of the 'Romanesian Gate' in Antioch is uncertain. The identity of the soldier is unknown; he may be a literary figure."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":2,"ref":"p2","source":"ἀκούσας ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐπτέρνισε τὸν ἵππον καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὸν κάμπον.\n\nΔευτέρα ἐντυχία τῶν Ἀρειανῶν\n\nκατηγορίας καὶ ἀποδείξεις ἔχομεν κατὰ Ἀθανασίου, ὅστις πρὸ δέκα καὶ εἴκοσι καὶ τριάκοντα ἐτῶν ἐξωρίσθη ἀπὸ τῶν ἀειμνήστων Κωνσταντίνου καὶ Κωνσταντίου, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ θεοφιλεστάτου καὶ φιλοσοφωτάτου καὶ μακαριωτάτου Ἰουλιανοῦ ἔσχε τὴν ἐξόρισιν.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· αἱ πρὸ δέκα καὶ εἴκοσι καὶ τριάκοντα ἐτῶν κατηγορίαι ἤδη παρῆλθον. ἐμοὶ μὴ λέγετε περὶ Ἀθανασίου· οἶδα γὰρ διά τι κατηγορήθη καὶ πῶς ἐξωρίσθη.\n\nΤρίτη ἐντυχία τῶν Ἀρειανῶν\n\nκαὶ νῦν πάλιν κατηγορίας ἔχομεν ἄλλας τινὰς κατὰ Ἀθανασίου.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· οὐκ ἐκ τῆς πολυοχλίας καὶ ἐκ τῶν πολυφωνημάτων τὰ δίκαια φανήσεται. ἀλλ’ ἢ ἐκλέξασθε δύο ἐξ ἑαυτῶν καὶ ἐκ τῶν τοῦ πλήθους ἑτέρους δύο· οὐ γὰρ δύναμαι πρὸς ἕνα ἕκαστον ὑμῶν ἀποφαίνεσθαι.\n\nοἱ ἐκ τοῦ πλήθους εἶπαν· οὗτοί εἰσι τὰ λείψανα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνοσίου Γεωργίου τοῦ ἐρημώσαντος τὴν ἐπαρχίαν ἡμῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς πόλεσι βουλευτὴν μὴ ἐάσαντος οἰκῆσαι.","english":"The emperor, on hearing this, spurred his horse and went off to the Campus.\n\nSecond Petition of the Arians\n\nWe have accusations and proofs against Athanasius, who was exiled ten, twenty, and thirty years ago by the ever-memorable Constantine and Constantius, and who suffered exile under the most God-beloved, most philosophical, and most blessed Julian.\n\nThe emperor said: The accusations of ten, twenty, and thirty years ago have already passed. Do not speak to me about Athanasius; for I know why he was accused and how he was exiled.\n\nThird Petition of the Arians\n\nAnd now again we have certain other accusations against Athanasius.\n\nThe emperor said: Justice will not appear from the crowd and from the many voices. Rather, choose two from among yourselves and two others from the multitude; for I cannot give a decision to each one of you individually.\n\nThose from the multitude said: These are the remnants from the unholy George, who laid waste our province and left no councillor to dwell in the cities.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"ἐπτέρνισε τὸν ἵππον","severity":"info","text":"The verb ἐπτέρνισε (from πτερνίζω) means 'spurred' or 'struck with the heel,' a vivid detail showing the emperor's abrupt departure.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Δευτέρα ἐντυχία ... Τρίτη ἐντυχία","severity":"info","text":"The passage is divided into two numbered petitions (second and third), each introduced by a heading, framing the Arians' repeated attempts to press charges.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"dating","kind":"chronology","basis":"text","lemma":"πρὸ δέκα καὶ εἴκοσι καὶ τριάκοντα ἐτῶν","severity":"info","text":"The Arians refer to exiles under Constantine, Constantius, and Julian, spanning roughly 30 years (c. 335–363), but the emperor dismisses these as outdated.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"text","lemma":"Γεωργίου","severity":"info","text":"George of Cappadocia (c. 356–361) was an Arian bishop of Alexandria known for violent persecution of orthodox Christians; the crowd calls him 'unholy' and accuses him of ruining the province.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"βουλευτὴν","severity":"info","text":"βουλευτής means 'city councillor' or 'decurion'; the crowd claims George left no one to serve in municipal office, implying administrative collapse.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"λείψανα","severity":"caution","text":"λείψανα ('remnants') may be literal (surviving followers) or pejorative (leftover troublemakers); the sense is clear but the nuance is ambiguous.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The phrase 'λείψανα ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνοσίου Γεωργίου' could mean either surviving adherents of George or the dregs of his faction; the reading taken is 'remnants' in a derogatory sense.","The emperor's spurring of the horse (ἐπτέρνισε) may be a narrative flourish or a historical detail; the text treats it as literal."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":3,"ref":"p3","source":"οἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· δεόμεθά σου, εἴ τινα ἂν θέλῃς χωρὶς Ἀθανασίου.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· εἶπον ὑμῖν, ὅτι τὰ περὶ Ἀθανασίου ἤδη διοίκησιν ἔσχε. καὶ ὀργισθεὶς εἶπε·.\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· δεόμεθά σου, ἐὰν πέμψῃς Ἀθανάσιον, λυμαίνεται ἡ πόλις ἡμῶν, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῷ συνέρχεται.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· καίτοι περιεργασάμενος ἔγνων, ὅτι καλῶς φρονεῖ καὶ ὀρθόδοξός ἐστι καὶ καλῶς διδάσκει.\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· τῷ μὲν στόματι καλῶς φθέγγεται, τῇ δὲ ψυχῇ δολίως φρονεῖ.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· τοῦτο ἀρκετόν ἐστιν, ὅτι ὑμεῖς ἐμαρτυρήσατε περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι καλῶς φθέγγεται καὶ καλῶς διδάσκει. εἰ δὲ τῇ γλώσσῃ καλῶς διδάσκει καὶ λέγει, τῇ δὲ ψυχῇ κακῶς φρονεῖ, πρὸς τὸν θεὸν ἔχει. ἄνθρωποι γὰρ ὄντες τὸν λόγον ἀκούομεν, τὰ δὲ ἐγκάρδια ὁ θεὸς οἶδεν.\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· κέλευσον ἡμᾶς συνάγεσθαι.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· τίς γὰρ κωλύει ὑμᾶς;\n\nοἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· δεόμεθά σου, αἱρεσιώτας καὶ δογματιστὰς ἡμᾶς ἀπαγγέλλει.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· ἔργον αὐτοῦ ἐστι καὶ τῶν καλῶς διδασκόντων.","english":"The Arians said: We beseech you, if you wish anything without Athanasius.\n\nThe emperor said: I told you that the matter concerning Athanasius has already been settled. And he said in anger:\n\nThe Arians said: We beseech you, if you send Athanasius, our city is ruined, and no one associates with him.\n\nThe emperor said: Yet having investigated, I have learned that he thinks rightly and is orthodox and teaches well.\n\nThe Arians said: With his mouth he speaks well, but in his soul he thinks deceitfully.\n\nThe emperor said: This is sufficient, that you have testified about him that he speaks well and teaches well. But if with his tongue he teaches and speaks well, but in his soul he thinks badly, that is a matter for God. For being men, we hear the word, but the things in the heart God knows.\n\nThe Arians said: Order us to assemble.\n\nThe emperor said: For who prevents you?\n\nThe Arians said: We beseech you, he proclaims us heretics and dogmatists.\n\nThe emperor said: It is his work and that of those who teach well.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The emperor here is likely Jovian (reigned 363–364), known for restoring Nicene orthodoxy after Julian. The dialogue reflects post-Julianic attempts by Arians to regain imperial favor.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"sense","kind":"sense","basis":"text","lemma":"διοίκησιν ἔσχε","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'διοίκησιν ἔσχε' (has been settled) uses administrative language, indicating a formal imperial decision already made regarding Athanasius.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"ὀρθόδοξος","severity":"info","text":"'ὀρθόδοξος' (orthodox) here means 'right-thinking' in Nicene terms, a key label in Athanasius' self-presentation against Arian 'heresy'.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage is a rapid exchange of short speeches, typical of the 'narrative' genre in Coptic hagiography, building tension before the emperor's final rebuke.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The emperor's distinction between outward speech and inner belief echoes a common patristic topos (cf. Augustine, John Chrysostom) and was later used in anti-Arian polemic.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"αἱρεσιώτας","severity":"caution","text":"The Greek 'αἱρεσιώτας' (heretics) is a strong term; the English draft 'heretics and dogmatists' may conflate two distinct accusations. The Greek has only 'heretics and dogmatists' as a single phrase.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of the emperor is not explicitly stated in the text; the context suggests Jovian, but it could be another ruler. The phrase 'διοίκησιν ἔσχε' is ambiguous as to whether it refers to a legal or ecclesiastical settlement."],"confidence":"high","notes":[]},{"i":4,"ref":"p4","source":"οἱ Ἀρειανοὶ εἶπον· δεόμεθά σου τοῦ κράτους· τοῦτον βαστάσαι οὐ δυνάμεθα, καὶ τὰ τεμένη τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν περιῄρει.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· οὐκοῦν ἕνεκεν χρημάτων ἤλθετε ὧδε καὶ οὐχ ἕνεκεν πίστεως; καὶ πάλιν εἶπεν· ἀπέλθετε καὶ εἰρηνεύετε.\n\nἔτι προσθεὶς εἶπε πρὸς τοὺς Ἀρειανούς· ἀπέλθετε εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, αὔριον σύναξις ὑμῖν ἐστι. καὶ μετὰ τὴν ἀπόλυσιν εἰσὶν ὧδε ἐπίσκοποι καὶ Νεμεσῖνος ὧδέ ἐστιν. ἕκαστος ὑμῶν, καθὼς πιστεύει, ὑπογράψει. καὶ Ἀθανάσιος ὧδέ ἐστιν· ὁ μὴ εἰδὼς τὸν τῆς πίστεως λόγον μάθῃ παρὰ Ἀθανασίου. ἔχετε τὴν αὔριον καὶ τὴν μεθαύριον. ἐκβαίνω γὰρ ἐγὼ εἰς κάμπον.\n\nκαί τις σχολαστικὸς τῶν κυνικῶν ἐνέτυχε τῷ βασιλεῖ· δέομαι τοῦ βασιλείου σου προφάσει Ἀθανασίου τοῦ ἐπισκόπου ὁ καθολικὸς τὰς οἰκίας μου ἦρεν.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπεν· εἰ ὁ καθολικὸς τὰς οἰκίας σου ἦρε, τί κοινὸν Ἀθανασίῳ;\n\nἕτερός τις σχολαστικὸς Παταλᾶς εἶπε· κατηγορίαν ἔχω κατὰ Ἀθανασίου.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· καὶ σύ, τί κοινὸν ἔχεις πρὸς Χριστιανοὺς Ἕλλην ὤν;","english":"The Arians said: We beseech your majesty; we cannot bear this man, and he has been stripping the precincts of the churches.\n\nThe emperor said: So then, have you come here for the sake of money and not for the sake of faith? And again he said: Go away and make peace.\n\nAdding further, he said to the Arians: Go to the church; tomorrow you have a synod. And after the dismissal, there are bishops here, and Nemesinus is here. Each of you, as you believe, will subscribe. And Athanasius is here; he who does not know the word of faith shall learn from Athanasius. You have tomorrow and the day after. For I am going out to the plain.\n\nAnd a certain scholasticus of the Cynics petitioned the emperor: I beseech your imperial majesty, on the pretext of Athanasius the bishop, the catholicus has taken my houses.\n\nThe emperor said: If the catholicus took your houses, what common concern is that to Athanasius?\n\nAnother scholasticus, Patalas, said: I have an accusation against Athanasius.\n\nThe emperor said: And you, what common concern have you with Christians, being a Greek?","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"σχολαστικὸς","severity":"info","text":"σχολαστικὸς here denotes a lawyer or advocate, not a philosopher; the term is used in late antique administrative contexts.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"κυνικῶν","severity":"info","text":"κυνικῶν refers to Cynic philosophers; the scholasticus is identified as belonging to this school, possibly indicating a pagan or non-Christian affiliation.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"text","lemma":"καθολικὸς","severity":"info","text":"καθολικὸς is a fiscal official, the rationalis or financial administrator of a diocese, not a reference to the Catholic Church.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"The emperor’s offer to let Arians learn from Athanasius underscores the latter’s doctrinal authority and the emperor’s support for his orthodoxy.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"","severity":"info","text":"This passage shifts from the Arian petition to two unrelated complaints against Athanasius, which the emperor dismisses as irrelevant, reinforcing the narrative of Athanasius’ vindication.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"Παταλᾶς","severity":"caution","text":"The name Παταλᾶς is uncertain; it may be a proper name or a corruption; the Coptic Vorlage might clarify, but the Greek text is ambiguous.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of Nemesinus and the precise role of the scholastici are unclear; the Greek text may condense or misrepresent the original Coptic proceedings."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]},{"i":5,"ref":"p5","source":"τινὲς δὲ τοῦ πλήθους τῶν Ἀντιοχέων κατέσχον Λούκιον καὶ προσήνεγκαν τῷ βασιλεῖ λέγοντες· δεόμεθα τοῦ κράτους σου καὶ τοῦ βασιλείου σου, ἴδε τίνα ἠθέλησαν ποιῆσαι ἐπίσκοπον.\n\nἙτέρα ἐντυχία πρὸς τῷ πυλῶνι τοῦ παλατίου γενομένη παρὰ Λουκίου.\n\nδέομαί σου τοῦ κράτους, ἄκουσόν μου.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς ἐστάθη καὶ εἶπε· σοὶ αὐτῷ Λουκίῳ λέγω, πῶς ἦλθες ὧδε, πλοῒ ἢ πεζής;\n\nΛούκιος εἶπε· δέομαί σου, πλοΐ.\n\nὁ βασιλεὺς εἶπε· πρὸς σὲ λέγω, Λούκιε, ὁ θεὸς τοῦ κόσμου καὶ κομήτης, ἥλιος καὶ σελήνη ὀργισθείη αὐτοῖς ἐκείνοις τοῖς ἐμπλέουσιν ἅμα σοι, ὅτι οὐκ ἔρριψάν σε εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν· καὶ ἡ ναῦς δὲ ἐκείνη μὴ ἴσχῃ εἰς τὸν ἅπαντα χρόνον εὐδρόμους πνοὰς μήτε χειμαζομένη μετὰ τῶν ἐμπλεόντων λιμένος τύχοι.\n\nκαὶ δι’ Εὐζωΐου ἠξίωσαν τοὺς περὶ Προβάτιον, τοὺς διαδόχους Εὐσεβίου καὶ Βαρδίωνος, τοὺς εὐνούχους, ὡς ἵνα συστάσεως τύχωσιν οἱ ἄπιστοι Ἀρειανοί. καὶ γνοὺς τοῦτο βασιλεὺς καὶ τοὺς εὐνούχους βασανίσας εἶπεν· εἴ τις ἐντυχεῖν βούλεται κατὰ Χριστιανῶν, τοιαῦτα πάθοι. καὶ οὕτως ἀφῆκεν ὁ βασιλεύς.","english":"Some of the crowd of Antiochenes seized Lucius and brought him before the emperor, saying: We beseech your majesty and your imperial power; see what sort of bishop they wished to make.\n\nAnother petition made at the gate of the palace by Lucius.\n\nI beseech your majesty, hear me.\n\nThe emperor stopped and said: I say to you yourself, Lucius, how did you come here, by ship or on foot?\n\nLucius said: I beseech you, by ship.\n\nThe emperor said: I say to you, Lucius, may the god of the world and the comet, the sun and the moon be angry with those who sailed with you, because they did not throw you into the sea; and may that ship never have favorable winds for all time, nor, when storm-tossed with those on board, may it find a harbor.\n\nAnd through Euzoius they petitioned those around Probatius, the successors of Eusebius and Bardion, the eunuchs, so that the faithless Arians might obtain support. And when the emperor learned this and had tortured the eunuchs, he said: If anyone wishes to petition against Christians, let him suffer such things. And thus the emperor dismissed them.","structure":"narrative","commentary":[{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"Λούκιον","severity":"info","text":"Lucius was the Arian bishop of Alexandria installed after Athanasius' exile; his seizure by Antiochene laity reflects the violent factional strife in the 360s.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"term","kind":"term","basis":"glossary","lemma":"κομήτης","severity":"info","text":"The emperor invokes 'the god of the world and the comet, the sun and the moon' — a striking pagan oath from a Christian ruler, possibly reflecting Julian's reign or a rhetorical device to highlight Arian impiety.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"background","kind":"background","basis":"background","lemma":"Εὐζωΐου","severity":"info","text":"Euzoius was a prominent Arian leader, successor to Arius; his role in petitioning eunuchs shows the Arian faction's reliance on court intermediaries.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"structure","kind":"structure","basis":"text","lemma":"Ἑτέρα ἐντυχία","severity":"info","text":"The phrase 'Another petition' marks a new episode within the narrative, shifting from the crowd's action to Lucius' own appeal at the palace gate.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"caution","kind":"caution","basis":"text","lemma":"Προβάτιον","severity":"caution","text":"The name 'Probation' is uncertain; it may be a textual corruption or a rare personal name. The Coptic Vorlage might have read differently.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]},{"unit":"reception","kind":"reception","basis":"background","lemma":"βασανίσας","severity":"info","text":"The emperor's torture of eunuchs and his threat against petitioners 'against Christians' reflects Athanasius' portrayal of Constantius II as a tyrant who ultimately protects orthodoxy.","cites":[],"named_sources":[],"dropped_cites":[]}],"ambiguities":["The identity of 'Probation' is unclear; it may be a proper name or a corruption.","The emperor's pagan oath may be anachronistic or rhetorical, not necessarily historical."],"confidence":"medium","notes":[]}]}