was the pressure laid upon him, that he was eventually compelled
to summon the Council of Nicea, which, to dispose of the
conflict, set forth a formulary or creed, and attached to it this
anathema: "The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes
those who say that there was a time when the Son of God was not,
and that, before he was begotten, he was not, and that he was
made out of nothing, or out of another substance or essence, and
is created, or changeable, or alterable." Constantine at once
enforced the decision of the council by the civil power.

A few years subsequently the Emperor Theodosius prohibited
sacrifices, made the inspection of the entrails of animals a
capital offense, and forbade any one entering a temple. He
instituted Inquisitors of Faith, and ordained that all who did
not accord with the belief of Damasus, the Bishop of Rome, and
Peter, the Bishop of Alexandria, should be driven into exile, and
deprived of civil rights. Those who presumed to celebrate Easter
on the same day as the Jews, he condemned to death. The Greek
language was now ceasing to be known in the West, and true
learning was becoming extinct.

At this time the bishopric of Alexandria was held by one
Theophilus. An ancient temple of Osiris having been given to the
Christians of the city for the site of a church, it happened
that, in digging the foundation for the new edifice, the obscene
symbols of the former worship chanced to be found. These, with
more zeal than modesty, Theophilus exhibited in the market-place
to public derision. With less forbearance than the Christian
party showed when it was insulted in the theatre during the
Trinitarian dispute, the pagans resorted to violence, and a riot