ANACEPHALAEOSIS VI

Here too are the contents of Section One of Volume Three, Section Six in our previously mentioned system of numeration. It contains seven Sects together with the Schisms, as follows: 70. A rebellion and schism, but not sect, of Audians. They are orderly in their behavior and way of living, hold the faith exactly as the catho- lic church does, and most of them live in monasteries. But they make an immoderate use of a number of apocryphal works. They do not pray with us because they find fault with our bishops, and call [some of] < them > “rich” and others, other things. They keep the Passover separately from the rest of us, on the Jewish date. Besides they have some ignorant, contentious ideas and interpret our creation in God’s image with extreme literalness. 71. Photinians. Photinus of , who is still alive and to this day has been wandering around; he held the same beliefs as Paul the Samo- satian. They are somewhat different from Paul but they too maintain that Christ’s existence dates from Mary. 72. Marcellians, < who > derive from in Galatia. Originally he was rumored to have views very close to Sabellius. And although he often appeared in his own defense, and explained himself in writing, he was accused by many of persisting in the same beliefs. But he has probably repented and corrected his errors, he perhaps, or his dis- ciples. For some orthodox authorities have more or less defended him and his disciples. 73. Semi-Arians, who confess Christ as a creature, but deceptively say that he is not a creature like any other. “We call him ‘the Son,’ ” they say, “but to avoid attributing suffering to the Father as the result of beget- ting, we say he is a creature.” They similarly state categorically of the Holy Spirit that he likewise is a creature, and they reject the Son’s homoousion but prefer to say “homoeousion.” Others of them, however, have rejected the homoeousion as well. 74. . These have proper views of Christ, but blaspheme the Holy Spirit by defining him as a creature and not of the Godhead but rather, illegitimately, as something created for an operation, and they say that he is only a sanctifying power. 75. Aerians. Aerius was from Pontus; he still survives as a trial to the world. He was a presbyter of the bishop Eustathius who was slanderously accused of . And because Aerius was not made bishop himself he 412 audians taught many doctrines contrary to those of the church and was a complete Arian in faith but carried it further. He says we must not make offerings for those who have fallen asleep before us, and forbids fasting on Wednes- day and Friday, and in Lent and Paschal time. He preaches renunciation but eats all sorts of meat and delicacies without hesitation. But he says that if one of his followers should wish to fast, this should not be on set days but when he wants to, “for you are not under the Law.” He says that a bishop is no different from a presbyter. 76. Aetians derive from Aetius of Cilicia, who was made a deacon by George, the Arian bishop of Alexandria. They are also called Anomoeans, but some call them Eunomians from one Eunomius, a disciple of Aetius who is still alive. Also allied with them was the Arianizer Eudoxius, but he separated himself from them supposedly for fear of the emperor Constan- tius, and only Aetius was exiled. Eudoxius continued to be an Arianizer, but not like Aetius. These Anomoeans, or Aetians, separate Christ and the Holy Spirit from God altogether, maintain that he is a creature, and deny that he has even a likeness to God. For they like to give proofs of God with Aristotelian and geometrical syllogisms, and by such methods < determine >, if you please, that Christ cannot be of God. The ones named Eunomians after Eunomius rebaptize all who come to them, not only [catholics] but < those who come > from the Arians as well. But they turn their candidates upside down to baptize them, or so it is widely reported. And they say that if one errs through fornication or another sin it does not matter; God requires only that one be in none other than this faith which they hold. These, too, are the seven sects of Section One of Volume Three, which is Section Six of the series.

 On the Schism of the Audians.1 50, but 70 of the Series

1,1 Audians, or Odians, are a body < of laity* >. They have withdrawn from the world and reside in monasteries—in deserts and, nearer the cities,

1 Audius is discussed at Theodore bar Khōni, Pognon pp. 194–196; Theod. H. E. 4.10.1; Haer. Fab. 4.10. Bar Khouni identifies Audius as the archdeacon of the church in Edessa. The Audians were on Cyprus for a time, and Epiphanius would have had ample oppor- tunity for contact with them. 1,5 and 6,2 contain quotations from Audian sources, and at 8,11 Epiphanius says specifically that he has been quoting them. It is uncertain, how- ever, whether he is using an Audian written source, or retailing scraps of conversation and debate.