Ecclesiastical History

Page 8.

...thought" 1 has no independent significance since we have the original source before us.

Michael the Syrian Michael the Great (1126–1199) was a Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church and a famous chronicler. mentions him in two places, first when providing the names of historians at the beginning of his book:

"Zosimus and Socrates and Theodoret the heretic Theodoret of Cyrus was often labeled a heretic in Oriental Orthodox traditions due to his opposition to Cyril of Alexandria during the Nestorian controversy., beginning from Constantine until Theodosius the Younger Theodosius II (r. 402–450 AD)., have written" 2,

thus he knows the true content of Socrates’ history independently of Asoghik A 10th-century Armenian historian mentioned on the previous page., without any additions. However, his second mention could lead us to assume that Michael the Syrian actually made use of the Small Socrates The "Small Socrates" was a popular, shortened Armenian version of the Ecclesiastical History that often included legendary material like the Life of Silvester.. Concerning Constantine’s father, Constas Constantius Chlorus (c. 250–306 AD)., he relates:

"John of Asia Also known as John of Ephesus, a 6th-century Syriac historian. says: that the father of Constantine turned to the worship of God, and Silvester Pope Sylvester I. healed the father from leprosy; and Peter and Paul appeared to Constas and instructed him to call Silvester to baptize him. To this Socrates the Roman Socrates Scholasticus was a Greek-speaking lawyer from Constantinople, but here Michael the Syrian refers to him as "the Roman." bears witness" 3.

The history described here is found only in the Life of Silvester, with the sole difference being that what John of Asia attributes to Constas, the author of the Life of Silvester relates about his son, Constantine the Great. The question arises: since Michael the Syrian had already mentioned the source of the event he narrated, what need did he have to immediately provide the name of a second historian who tells the event quite differently? And second...

1. Samuel Anetsi A 12th-century Armenian chronicler. edition, published by Father Mik[ayel], Vagharshapat 1895, pages 2, 3.
2. Michael the Syrian edition, Jerusalem 1871, page 2.
3. Michael the Syrian, page 126. See also Socrates, Life of Silvester, page 737, note 1.