port of Eusebius Pamphilus, continues the description thus:—
"There were, among the bishops, two of extraordinary celebrity—Paphnutius, bishop of Upper Thebes, and Spyridon, bishop of Cyprus. The former was reputed to possess power to perform miracles. He had lost his right eye in time of persecution, through his adherence to the Christian faith. The emperor honored him exceedingly, and often kissed the part where the eye had been torn out. The latter was a shepherd, and continued to feed his sheep during his prelacy. He was reputed to have miraculous power, and even to be able to raise the dead and restore them to life."
Many of the laity were also present, who were practised in the art of reasoning, and each prepared to advocate the cause of his own party.[1] Eusebius,
- ↑ There seems to have been three distinct parties at this Council—first, the strictly Arian; secondly, the radical Orthodox, and thirdly, the conservative, who occupied a middle ground between the two principal parties. It was the Orthodox party that introduced the word "consubstantial" to describe the oneness of Christ and God, which prevailed and has ever been retained among the great Christian-Church doctrines. Some of the chief Arians were Eusebius, of Nicomedia, and Theognis (both personal friends to Arius, himself), Secundus and Theonas. Some of the leading Orthodox were Hosius, Eustathius, Alexander, and Athanasius. The first of the conservatives was Eusebius, of Cæsarea, that is, Pamphilus, the historian, who originated what has been called semi-Arianism. This distinguished man—born at Cæsarea, in Palestine, A. D. 270—was surnamed for his ever intimate friend and companion. Pamphylus, or Pamphilus, the martyr of Cæsarea, whose extensive library became the source whence Eusebius drew deep draughts of learning. After the martyrdom of his friend, in 309, he fled, first to Tyre and thence to Egypt, where he resided till the persecution subsided. On returning to Cæsarea, about 314, he was ordained bishop of his native city. He died about A. D. 340. His works are very numerous, but many of them are now lost. Among those extant, the more important are his "Chronicon," "Ecclesiastical History," "Apology for Origen," "Life of Constantine the Great," "Evangelical Preparation," &c.
