§3. Outrages which took place at the time of Gregory’s arrival.
Thus was this notable appointment of Gregory
brought about by the Arians, and such was the beginning of it. And what
outrages he committed on his entry into Alexandria, and of what great
evils that event has been the cause, you may learn both from our
letters, and by enquiry of those who are sojourning among you. While
the people were offended at such an unusual proceeding, and in
consequence assembled in the churches, in order to prevent the impiety
of the Arians from mingling itself with the faith of the Church, Philagrius, who has long been a persecutor of the Church and her virgins, and is now Prefect of Egypt, an apostate already, and a fellow-countryman of Gregory, a man too of no respectable character, and moreover supported by Eusebius and his fellows, and therefore full of zeal against the Church; this person, by means of promises which he afterwards fulfilled, succeeded in gaining over the heathen multitude, with the Jews and disorderly persons, and having excited their passions, sent them in a body with swords and clubs into the churches to attack the people.
What followed upon this it is
by no means easy to describe: indeed it is not possible to set before
you a just representation of the circumstances, nor even could one
recount a small part of them without tears and lamentations. Have such
deeds as these ever been made the subjects of tragedy among the
ancients? or has the like ever happened before in time of persecution
or of war? The church and the holy Baptistery were set on fire, and
straightway groans, shrieks, and lamentations, were heard through the
city; while the citizens in their indignation at these enormities, cried shame upon the governor, and protested against the violence used to them. For holy and undefiled virgins were being stripped naked, and suffering treatment which is not to be named and if they resisted, they were in danger of their lives. Monks were being trampled under foot and perishing; some were being hurled headlong; others were being destroyed with swords and clubs; others were being wounded and beaten. And oh! what deeds of impiety and iniquity have been committed upon the Holy Table! They were offering birds and pine cones in sacrifice, singing the praises of their idols, and blaspheming even in the very churches our Lord and Saviour Jesus-Christ, the Son of the living God. They were burning the books of Holy Scripture which they found in the church; and the Jews, the murderers of our Lord, and the godless heathen entering irreverently (O strange boldness!) the holy Baptistery, were stripping themselves naked, and acting such a disgraceful part, both by word and deed, as one is ashamed even to relate. Certain impious men also, following the examples set them in the bitterest persecutions, were seizing upon the virgins and ascetics by the hands and dragging them along, and as they were haling them, endeavoured to make them blaspheme and deny the Lord; and when they refused to do so, were beating them violently and trampling them under foot.