Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume II/Socrates/Book I/Chapter 10
Chapter X.—The Emperor also summons to the Synod Acesius, Bishop of the Novatians.
The emperor’s diligence induces me to mention another circumstance expressive of his mind, and serving to show how much he desired peace. For aiming at ecclesiastical harmony, he summoned to the council Acesius also, a bishop of the sect of Novatians. Now, when the declaration of faith had been written out and subscribed by the Synod, the emperor asked Acesius whether he would also agree to this creed to the settlement of the day on which Easter should be observed. He replied, ‘The Synod has determined nothing new, my prince: for thus heretofore, even from the beginning, from the times of the apostles, I traditionally received the definition of the faith, and the time of the celebration of Easter.’ When, therefore, the emperor further asked him, ‘For what reason then do you separate yourself from communion with the rest of the Church?’ he related what had taken place during the persecution under Decius; and referred to the rigidness of that austere canon which declares, that it is not right persons who after baptism have committed a sin, which the sacred Scriptures denominate ‘a sin unto death’[1]
to be considered worthy of participation in the sacraments:[2]
that they should indeed be exhorted to repentance, but were not to expect remission from the priest, but from God, who is able and has authority to forgive sins.[3]
When Acesius had thus spoken, the emperor said to him, ‘Place a ladder, Acesius, and climb alone into heaven.’[4]
Neither Eusebius Pamphilus nor any other has ever mentioned these
things: but I heard them from a man by no means prone to falsehood, who
was very old, and simply stated what had taken place in the council in
the course of a narrative. From which I conjecture that those who have
passed by this occurrence in
silence, were actuated by motives which have influenced many other
historians: for they frequently suppress important facts, either from
prejudice against some, or partiality towards others.