III。InthestyleoftheOrientalChristians，theMonothelitesofeveryagearedescribedundertheappellationofMaronites，^133anamewhichhasbeeninsensiblytransferredfromahermittoamonastery，fromamonasterytoanation。Maron，asaintorsavageofthefifthcentury，displayedhisreligiousmadnessinSyria；therivalcitiesofApameaandEmesadisputedhisrelics，astatelychurchwaserectedonhistomb，andsixhundredofhisdisciplesunitedtheirsolitarycellsonthebanksoftheOrontes。InthecontroversiesoftheincarnationtheynicelythreadedtheorthodoxlinebetweenthesectsofNestoriansandEutyches；buttheunfortunatequestionofonewilloroperationinthetwonaturesofChrist，wasgeneratedbytheircuriousleisure。Theirproselyte，theemperorHeraclius，wasrejectedasaMaronitefromthewallsofEmesa，hefoundarefugeinthemonasteryofhisbrethren；andtheirtheologicallessonswererepaidwiththegiftaspaciousandwealthydomain。ThenameanddoctrineofthisvenerableschoolwerepropagatedamongtheGreeksandSyrians，andtheirzealisexpressedbyMacarius，patriarchofAntioch，whodeclaredbeforethesynodofConstantinople，thatsoonerthansubscribethetwowillsofChrist，hewouldsubmittobehewnpiecemealandcastintothesea。^134Asimilaroralesscruelmodeofpersecutionsoonconvertedtheunresistingsubjectsoftheplain，whiletheglorioustitleofMardaites，^135orrebels，wasbravelymaintainedbythehardynativesofMountLibanus。JohnMaron，oneofthemostlearnedandpopularofthemonks，assumedthecharacterofpatriarchofAntioch；hisnephew，Abraham，attheheadoftheMaronites，defendedtheircivilandreligiousfreedomagainstthetyrantsoftheEast。ThesonoftheorthodoxConstantinepursuedwithpioushatredapeopleofsoldiers，whomighthavestoodthebulwarkofhisempireagainstthecommonfoesofChristandofRome。AnarmyofGreeksinvadedSyria；themonasteryofSt。Maronwasdestroyedwithfire；thebravestchieftainswerebetrayedandmurdered，andtwelvethousandoftheirfollowersweretransplantedtothedistantfrontiersofArmeniaandThrace。YetthehumblenationoftheMaroniteshadsurvivedtheempireofConstantinople，andtheystillenjoy，undertheirTurkishmasters，afreereligionandamitigatedservitude。Theirdomesticgovernorsarechosenamongtheancientnobility:thepatriarch，inhismonasteryofCanobin，stillfancieshimselfonthethroneofAntioch:ninebishopscomposehissynod，andonehundredandfiftypriests，whoretainthelibertyofmarriage，areintrustedwiththecareofonehundredthousandsouls。TheircountryextendsfromtheridgeofMountLibanustotheshoresofTripoli；andthegradualdescentaffords，inanarrowspace，eachvarietyofsoilandclimate，fromtheHolyCedars，erectundertheweightofsnow，^136tothevine，themulberry，andtheolive—treesofthefruitfulvalley。
Inthetwelfthcentury，theMaronites，abjuringtheMonotheliteerrorwerereconciledtotheLatinchurchesofAntiochandRome，^137andthesamealliancehasbeenfrequentlyrenewedbytheambitionofthepopesandthedistressoftheSyrians。Butitmayreasonablybequestioned，whethertheirunionhaseverbeenperfectorsincere；andthelearnedMaronitesofthecollegeofRomehavevainlylaboredtoabsolvetheirancestorsfromtheguiltofheresyandschism。^138
[Footnote133:ThesynonymoususeofthetwowordsmaybeprovedfromEutychius，Annal。tom。ii。p。191，267，332，andmanysimilarpassageswhichmaybefoundinthemethodicaltableofPocock。HewasnotactuatedbyanyprejudiceagainsttheMaronitesofthexthcentury；andwemaybelieveaMelchite，whosetestimonyisconfirmedbytheJacobitesandLatins。]
[Footnote134:Concil。tom。vii。p。780。TheMonothelitecausewassupportedwithfirmnessandsubtiltybyConstantine，aSyrianpriestofApamea，p。1040，&c。]
[Footnote135:TheophanesChron。p。295，296，300，302，306andCedrenusp。437，440relatestheexploitsoftheMardaites:thenameMard，inSyriac，rebellavitisexplainedbyLaRoque，VoyagedelaSyrie，tom。ii。p。53；anddatesarefixedbyPagi，A。D。676，No。4—14，A。D。685，No。3，4；andeventheobscurestoryofthepatriarchJohnMaronAsseman。Bibliot。
Orient。tom。i。p。496—520illustratesfromtheyear686to707，thetroublesofMountLibanus。
Note:CompareontheMardaitesAnquetilduPerron，inthefiftiethvolumeoftheMem。del\'Acad。desInscriptions；andSchlosser，BildersturmendesKaiser，p。100。—M]
[Footnote136:Inthelastcenturytwentylargecedarsstillremained，VoyagedelaRoque，tom。i。p。68—76；atpresenttheyarereducedtofourorfive，Volney，tom。i。p。264。Thesetrees，sofamousinScripture，wereguardedbyexcommunication:
thewoodwassparinglyborrowedforsmallcrosses，&c。；anannualmasswaschantedundertheirshade；andtheywereendowedbytheSyrianswithasensitivepoweroferectingtheirbranchestorepelthesnow，towhichMountLibanusislessfaithfulthanitispaintedbyTacitus:interardoresopacumfidumquenivibus—adaringmetaphor，Hist。v。6。
Note:Oftheoldestandbestlookingtrees，Icountedelevenortwelvetwenty—fiveverylargeones；andaboutfiftyofmiddlingsize；andmorethanthreehundredsmallerandyoungones。Burckhardt\'sTravelsinSyriap。19。—M]
[Footnote137:TheevidenceofWilliamofTyreHist。inGestisDeiperFrancos，l。xxii。c。8，p。1022iscopiedorconfirmedbyJacquesdeVitra，Hist。Hierosolym。l。ii。c。77，p。1093，1094。ButthisunnaturalleagueexpiredwiththepoweroftheFranks；andAbulpharagiuswhodiedin1286considerstheMaronitesasasectofMonothelites，Bibliot。Orient。tom。ii。
p。292。]
[Footnote138:IfindadescriptionandhistoryoftheMaronitesintheVoyagedelaSyrieetduMontLibanparlaRoque，2vols。
in12mo。，Amsterdam，1723；particularlytom。i。p。42—47，p。
174—184，tom。ii。p。10—120。Intheancientpart，hecopiestheprejudicesofNaironandtheotherMaronitesofRome，whichAssemannusisafraidtorenounceandashamedtosupport。
Jablonski，Institut。Hist。Christ。tom。iii。p。186。Niebuhr，Voyagedel\'Arabie，&c。，tom。ii。p。346，370—381，and，aboveall，thejudiciousVolney，VoyageenEgypteetenSyrie，tom。
ii。p。8—31，Paris，1787，maybeconsulted。]
IV。SincetheageofConstantine，theArmenians^139hadsignalizedtheirattachmenttothereligionandempireoftheChristians。Thedisordersoftheircountry，andtheirignoranceoftheGreektongue，preventedtheirclergyfromassistingatthesynodofChalcedon，andtheyfloatedeighty—fouryears^140inastateofindifferenceorsuspense，tilltheirvacantfaithwasfinallyoccupiedbythemissionariesofJulianofHalicarnassus，^141whoinEgypt，theircommonexile，hadbeenvanquishedbytheargumentsortheinfluenceofhisrivalSeverus，theMonophysitepatriarchofAntioch。TheArmeniansalonearethepuredisciplesofEutyches，anunfortunateparent，whohasbeenrenouncedbythegreaterpartofhisspiritualprogeny。Theyalonepersevereintheopinion，thatthemanhoodofChristwascreated，orexistedwithoutcreation，ofadivineandincorruptiblesubstance。Theiradversariesreproachthemwiththeadorationofaphantom；andtheyretorttheaccusation，byderidingorexecratingtheblasphemyoftheJacobites，whoimputetotheGodheadthevileinfirmitiesoftheflesh，eventhenaturaleffectsofnutritionanddigestion。ThereligionofArmeniacouldnotderivemuchgloryfromthelearningorthepowerofitsinhabitants。Theroyaltyexpiredwiththeoriginoftheirschism；andtheirChristiankings，whoaroseandfellinthethirteenthcenturyontheconfinesofCilicia，weretheclientsoftheLatinsandthevassalsoftheTurkishsultanofIconium。Thehelplessnationhasseldombeenpermittedtoenjoythetranquillityofservitude。Fromtheearliestperiodtothepresenthour，Armeniahasbeenthetheatreofperpetualwar:thelandsbetweenTaurisandErivanweredispeopledbythecruelpolicyoftheSophis；andmyriadsofChristianfamiliesweretransplanted，toperishortopropagateinthedistantprovincesofPersia。Undertherodofoppression，thezealoftheArmeniansisferventandintrepid；theyhaveoftenpreferredthecrownofmartyrdomtothewhiteturbanofMahomet；theydevoutlyhatetheerrorandidolatryoftheGreeks；andtheirtransientunionwiththeLatinsisnotlessdevoidoftruth，thanthethousandbishops，whomtheirpatriarchofferedatthefeetoftheRomanpontiff。^142Thecatholic，orpatriarch，oftheArmeniansresidesinthemonasteryofEkmiasin，threeleaguesfromErivan。
Forty—sevenarchbishops，eachofwhommayclaimtheobedienceoffourorfivesuffragans，areconsecratedbyhishand；butthefargreaterpartareonlytitularprelates，whodignifywiththeirpresenceandservicethesimplicityofhiscourt。Assoonastheyhaveperformedtheliturgy，theycultivatethegarden；andourbishopswillhearwithsurprise，thattheausterityoftheirlifeincreasesinjustproportiontotheelevationoftheirrank。
Inthefourscorethousandtownsorvillagesofhisspiritualempire，thepatriarchreceivesasmallandvoluntarytaxfromeachpersonabovetheageoffifteen；buttheannualamountofsixhundredthousandcrownsisinsufficienttosupplytheincessantdemandsofcharityandtribute。Sincethebeginningofthelastcentury，theArmenianshaveobtainedalargeandlucrativeshareofthecommerceoftheEast:intheirreturnfromEurope，thecaravanusuallyhaltsintheneighborhoodofErivan，thealtarsareenrichedwiththefruitsoftheirpatientindustry；andthefaithofEutychesispreachedintheirrecentcongregationsofBarbaryandPoland。^143
[Footnote139:ThereligionoftheArmeniansisbrieflydescribedbyLaCroze，Hist。duChrist。del\'Ethiopieetdel\'Armenie，p。
269—402。HereferstothegreatArmenianHistoryofGalanus，3vols。infol。Rome，1650—1661，andcommendsthestateofArmeniaintheiiidvolumeoftheNouveauxMemoiresdesMissionsduLevant。TheworkofaJesuitmusthavesterlingmeritwhenitispraisedbyLaCroze。]
[Footnote*:Seevol。iii。ch。xx。p。271。—M。]
[Footnote140:TheschismoftheArmeniansisplaced84yearsafterthecouncilofChalcedon，Pagi，Critica，adA。D。535。Itwasconsummatedattheendofseventeenyears；anditisfromtheyearofChrist552thatwedatetheaeraoftheArmenians，L\'ArtdeverifierlesDates，p。xxxv。]
[Footnote141:ThesentimentsandsuccessofJulianofHalicarnassusmaybeseeninLiberatus，Brev。c。19，Renaudot，Hist。Patriarch。Alex。p。132，303，andAssemannus，Bibliot。
Orient。tom。ii。Dissertat。Monophysitis，l。viii。p。286。]
[Footnote142:SeearemarkablefactofthexiithcenturyintheHistoryofNicetasChoniates，p。258。Yetthreehundredyearsbefore，PhotiusEpistol。ii。p。49，edit。Montacut。hadgloriedintheconversionoftheArmenians。]
[Footnote143:ThetravellingArmeniansareinthewayofeverytraveller，andtheirmotherchurchisonthehighroadbetweenConstantinopleandIspahan；fortheirpresentstate，seeFabricius，LuxEvangelii，&c。，c。xxxviii。p。40—51，
Olearius，l。iv。c。40，Chardin，vol。ii。p。232，Teurnefort，lettrexx。，and，aboveall，Tavernier，tom。i。p。28—37，510
—518，thatramblingjeweller，whohadreadnothing，buthadseensomuchandsowell]
V。IntherestoftheRomanempire，thedespotismoftheprincemighteradicateorsilencethesectariesofanobnoxiouscreed。ButthestubborntemperoftheEgyptiansmaintainedtheiroppositiontothesynodofChalcedon，andthepolicyofJustiniancondescendedtoexpectandtoseizetheopportunityofdiscord。
TheMonophysitechurchofAlexandria^144wastornbythedisputesofthecorruptiblesandincorruptibles，andonthedeathofthepatriarch，thetwofactionsupheldtheirrespectivecandidates。^145GaianwasthediscipleofJulian，TheodosiushadbeenthepupilofSeverus:theclaimsoftheformerweresupportedbytheconsentofthemonksandsenators，thecityandtheprovince；thelatterdependedonthepriorityofhisordination，thefavoroftheempressTheodora，andthearmsoftheeunuchNarses，whichmighthavebeenusedinmorehonorablewarfare。TheexileofthepopularcandidatetoCarthageandSardiniainflamedthefermentofAlexandria；andafteraschismofonehundredandseventyyears，theGaianitesstillreveredthememoryanddoctrineoftheirfounder。Thestrengthofnumbersandofdisciplinewastriedinadesperateandbloodyconflict；
thestreetswerefilledwiththedeadbodiesofcitizensandsoldiers；thepiouswomen，ascendingtheroofsoftheirhouses，showereddowneverysharporponderousutensilontheheadsoftheenemy；andthefinalvictoryofNarseswasowingtotheflames，withwhichhewastedthethirdcapitaloftheRomanworld。ButthelieutenantofJustinianhadnotconqueredinthecauseofaheretic；Theodosiushimselfwasspeedily，thoughgently，removed；andPaulofTanis，anorthodoxmonk，wasraisedtothethroneofAthanasius。Thepowersofgovernmentwerestrainedinhissupport；hemightappointordisplacethedukesandtribunesofEgypt；theallowanceofbread，whichDiocletianhadgranted，wassuppressed，thechurcheswereshut，andanationofschismaticswasdeprivedatonceoftheirspiritualandcarnalfood。Inhisturn，thetyrantwasexcommunicatedbythezealandrevengeofthepeople:andnoneexcepthisservileMelchiteswouldsalutehimasaman，aChristian，orabishop。Yetsuchistheblindnessofambition，that，whenPaulwasexpelledonachargeofmurder，hesolicited，withabribeofsevenhundredpoundsofgold，hisrestorationtothesamestationofhatredandignominy。HissuccessorApollinarisenteredthehostilecityinmilitaryarray，alikequalifiedforprayerorforbattle。Histroops，underarms，weredistributedthroughthestreets；thegatesofthecathedralwereguarded，andachosenbandwasstationedinthechoir，todefendthepersonoftheirchief。Hestooderectonhisthrone，and，throwingasidetheuppergarmentofawarrior，suddenlyappearedbeforetheeyesofthemultitudeintherobesofpatriarchofAlexandria。Astonishmentheldthemmute；butnosoonerhadApollinarisbeguntoreadthetomeofSt。
Leo，thanavolleyofcurses，andinvectives，andstones，assaultedtheodiousministeroftheemperorandthesynod。A
chargewasinstantlysoundedbythesuccessoroftheapostles；
thesoldierswadedtotheirkneesinblood；andtwohundredthousandChristiansaresaidtohavefallenbythesword:anincredibleaccount，evenifitbeextendedfromtheslaughterofadaytotheeighteenyearsofthereignofApollinaris。Twosucceedingpatriarchs，Eulogius^146andJohn，^147laboredintheconversionofheretics，witharmsandargumentsmoreworthyoftheirevangelicalprofession。ThetheologicalknowledgeofEulogiuswasdisplayedinmanyavolume，whichmagnifiedtheerrorsofEutychesandSeverus，andattemptedtoreconciletheambiguouslanguageofSt。CyrilwiththeorthodoxcreedofPopeLeoandthefathersofChalcedon。ThebounteousalmsofJohntheeleemosynaryweredictatedbysuperstition，orbenevolence，orpolicy。Seventhousandfivehundredpoorweremaintainedathisexpense；onhisaccessionhefoundeightthousandpoundsofgoldinthetreasuryofthechurch；hecollectedtenthousandfromtheliberalityofthefaithful；yettheprimatecouldboastinhistestament，thatheleftbehindhimnomorethanthethirdpartofthesmallestofthesilvercoins。ThechurchesofAlexandriaweredeliveredtotheCatholics，thereligionoftheMonophysiteswasproscribedinEgypt，andalawwasrevivedwhichexcludedthenativesfromthehonorsandemolumentsofthestate。
[Footnote144:ThehistoryoftheAlexandrianpatriarchs，fromDioscorustoBenjamin，istakenfromRenaudot，p。114—164，
andthesecondtomeoftheAnnalsofEutychius。]
[Footnote145:Liberat。Brev。c。20，23。Victor。Chron。p。329
330。Procop。Anecdot。c。26，27。]
[Footnote146:Eulogius，whohadbeenamonkofAntioch，wasmoreconspicuousforsubtiltythaneloquence。Heprovesthattheenemiesofthefaith，theGaianitesandTheodosians，oughtnottobereconciled；thatthesamepropositionmaybeorthodoxinthemouthofSt。Cyril，hereticalinthatofSeverus；thattheoppositeassertionsofSt。Leoareequallytrue，&c。HiswritingsarenolongerextantexceptintheExtractsofPhotius，whohadperusedthemwithcareandsatisfaction，ccviii。ccxxv。
ccxxvi。ccxxvii。ccxxx。cclxxx。]
[Footnote147:SeetheLifeofJohntheeleemosynarybyhiscontemporaryLeontius，bishopofNeapolisinCyrus，whoseGreektext，eitherlostorhidden，isreflectedintheLatinversionofBaronius，A。D。610，No。9，A。D。620，No。8。PagiCritica，tom。
ii。p。763andFabriciusl。vc。11，tom。vii。p。454havemadesomecriticalobservations]
ChapterXLVII:EcclesiasticalDiscord。
PartV。
Amoreimportantconqueststillremained，ofthepatriarch，theoracleandleaderoftheEgyptianchurch。TheodosiushadresistedthethreatsandpromisesofJustinianwiththespiritofanapostleoranenthusiast。\"Such，\"repliedthepatriarch，\"weretheoffersofthetempterwhenheshowedthekingdomsoftheearth。Butmysoulisfardearertomethanlifeordominion。
Thechurchesareinthehandsofaprincewhocankillthebody；
butmyconscienceismyown；andinexile，poverty，orchains，I
willsteadfastlyadheretothefaithofmyholypredecessors，Athanasius，Cyril，andDioscorus。AnathematothetomeofLeoandthesynodofChalcedon!Anathematoallwhoembracetheircreed!
Anathematothemnowandforevermore!NakedcameIoutofmymother\'swomb，nakedshallIdescendintothegrave。LetthosewholoveGodfollowmeandseektheirsalvation。\"Aftercomfortinghisbrethren，heembarkedforConstantinople，andsustained，insixsuccessiveinterviews，thealmostirresistibleweightoftheroyalpresence。Hisopinionswerefavorablyentertainedinthepalaceandthecity；theinfluenceofTheodoraassuredhimasafeconductandhonorabledismission；andheendedhisdays，thoughnotonthethrone，yetinthebosom，ofhisnativecountry。Onthenewsofhisdeath，Apollinarisindecentlyfeastedthenoblesandtheclergy；buthisjoywascheckedbytheintelligenceofanewelection；andwhileheenjoyedthewealthofAlexandria，hisrivalsreignedinthemonasteriesofThebais，andweremaintainedbythevoluntaryoblationsofthepeople。A
perpetualsuccessionofpatriarchsarosefromtheashesofTheodosius；andtheMonophysitechurchesofSyriaandEgyptwereunitedbythenameofJacobitesandthecommunionofthefaith。
Butthesamefaith，whichhasbeenconfinedtoanarrowsectoftheSyrians，wasdiffusedoverthemassoftheEgyptianorCopticnation；who，almostunanimously，rejectedthedecreesofthesynodofChalcedon。AthousandyearswerenowelapsedsinceEgypthadceasedtobeakingdom，sincetheconquerorsofAsiaandEuropehadtrampledonthereadynecksofapeople，whoseancientwisdomandpowerascendbeyondtherecordsofhistory。