Ecclesiastical History

THE EPISTLE. ##

...testifies that [he] came to the Gauls, and there preached the Gospel. If we contemplate the holiness and doctrine of the Bishops, he presents to us Pothinus and Irenaeus, the Bishops of Lyon. Of whom the former, having ruled his church for a very long time with the best examples and teachings, finally ended his life in illustrious martyrdom at over ninety years of age. The latter Irenaeus of Lyon (c. 130–202 AD), a Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christian communities in what is now the south of France and for his influential work Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies)., indeed a most powerful champion of the Christian faith, fought against all heresies with most brilliant books. Now, if you desire the fortitude of the Martyrs and the sincere Acts of their passion, certainly no Church in this matter is to be preferred to our Gaul. For we shall immediately present the Epistle of the people of Vienne and Lyon A famous letter preserved by Eusebius in Book 5 of his Ecclesiastical History, describing the brutal persecution of Christians in Gaul in 177 AD under Marcus Aurelius., which is the most beautiful and ancient monument of the entire Church in this genre. Although much has already been said in its praise by many, yet no one has spoken so far in accordance with its dignity. Indeed, the merit and weight of that Epistle so far exceed all power of speech. And whoever reads it more often will admit this. For the more it is read, the more excellent it always seems to be.

Indeed, we must credit this so remarkable monument of your Church to Eusebius alone. Unless he had woven it into the books of his histories, we might perhaps now be lacking such a great treasure of ecclesiastical antiquity. But if the sincerity and simplicity of faith be sought, Eusebius especially commends our Gauls in these books on this account; when he says that the persecution of Diocletian The Diocletianic Persecution (303–313 AD) was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. The author notes that it was less intense in Gaul, which was then under the Caesar Constantius Chlorus. in the regions of the West, and especially in Gaul, was quickly suppressed, God more kindly indulging them because of the sincerity of their faith.

Now indeed—which is no small praise of the Gallican Church—one may detect in these books of Eusebius, more than once, its perpetual agreement with the Roman See from the earliest times. First, indeed, in the Epistle of the martyrs of Lyon, which they wrote while still placed in prison to Eleutherus Pope Eleutherus (reigned c. 174–189 AD)., then Bishop of the city of Rome. For when the Asians, in letters sent to the brothers of the Church of Lyon, had consulted them on what should be thought regarding the "new prophecy" original: nova prophetia — a reference to Montanism, a prophetic and rigorous Christian movement that began in Phrygia and caused significant controversy regarding church authority and spiritual gifts., which had then recently arisen in Phrygia and had stirred up the gravest tumults throughout all Asia, the Gallican