Übersetzung ausblenden
Defence of his flight

6. Outrages of George upon the Alexandrians.

After this they again fastened themselves upon Alexandria, seeking anew to put us to death: and their proceedings were now worse than before. For on a sudden the Church P. 257 was surrounded by soldiers, and sounds of war took the place of prayers. Then George ¹ of Cappadocia who was sent by them, having arrived during the season of Lent ², brought an increase of evils which they had taught him. For after Easter week, Virgins were thrown into prison; Bishops were led away in chains by soldiers; houses of orphans and widows were plundered, and their loaves taken away; attacks were made upon houses, and Christians thrust forth in the night, and their dwellings sealed up: brothers of clergymen were in danger of their lives on account of their brethren. These outrages were sufficiently dreadful, but more dreadful than these followed. For on the week that succeeded the Holy Pentecost [May 11], when the people after their fast had gone out to the cemetery to pray, because that all refused communion with George, that abandoned person, on learning this, stirred up against them the commander Sebastian, a Manichee; who straightway with a multitude of soldiers with arms, drawn swords, bows, and spears, proceeded to attack the people, though it was the Lord’s day ³: and finding a few praying (for the greater part had already retired on account of the lateness of the hour) , he committed such outrages as became a disciple of these men. Having lighted a pile, he placed certain virgins near the fire, and endeavoured to force them to say that they were of the Arian faith: and when he saw that they were getting the mastery, and cared not for the fire, he immediately stripped them naked, and beat them in the face in such a manner, that for some time they could hardly be recognised.

Übersetzung ausblenden
Apologie de Saint Athanase sur sa fuite

6.

Une seconde fois ils envahirent Alexandrie, me cherchant pour me tuer, et ce fut une guerre plus cruelle que la première. Tout à coup des soldats cernèrent l’église, et, au lieu des prières, on entendait le bruit des armes. Puis, pendant le carême, arrive leur émissaire, Georges de Cappadoce, qui, instruit par de tels maîtres, ajoute à tant de maux. Après la semaine de Pâques, des vierges étaient jetées en prison, des évêques emmenés dans les chaînes par des soldats; on pillait les demeures et le pain des veuves et des orphelins; on faisait des descentes dans les maisons, on transportait la nuit les chrétiens, on mettait les scellés, les frères des clercs étaient en danger pour leurs frères. Suivirent de plus affreuses audaces. La semaine de la sainte Pentecôte, le peuple, après avoir jeûné, s’était rendu au cimetière pour prier; tous avaient horreur de la communion de Georges. A cette nouvelle, ce profond scélérat excite le chef militaire Sébastien, un manichéen et celui-ci, avec une troupe de soldats portant des armes, des épées nues, des arcs et des traits, se précipite en plein dimanche sur les peuples. Il ne trouve plus que quelques fidèles en prière: car la plupart s’étaient retirés à cause de l’heure; et alors furent commis les crimes qu’on devait attendre d’un agent des ariens. Il allume un bûcher, place des vierges près du feu et les force de dire qu’elles ont la foi d’Arius; les voyant victorieuses, sans souci des flammes, il les fait dépouiller et battre au visage, au point de les rendre méconnaissables.