The Church History: Serapion on the Heresy of the Phrygians

1. Serapion, who, as report says, succeeded Maximinus at that time as bishop of the church of Antioch, mentions the works of Apolinarius against the above-mentioned heresy. And he alludes to him in a private letter to Caricus and Pontius, in which he himself exposes the same heresy, and adds the following words:

2. “That you may see that the doings of this lying band of the new prophecy, so called, are an abomination to all the brotherhood throughout the world, I have sent you writings of the most blessed Claudius Apolinarius, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia.”

3. In the same letter of Serapion the signatures of several bishops are found, one of whom subscribes himself as follows:

“I, Aurelius Cyrenius, a witness, pray for your health.”

And another in this manner:

“Ælius Publius Julius, bishop of Debeltum, a colony of Thrace. As God liveth in the heavens, the blessed Sotas in Anchialus desired to cast the demon out of Priscilla, but the hypocrites did not permit him.”

4. And the autograph signatures of many other bishops who agreed with them are contained in the same letter.

So much for these persons.

3. In the same letter of Serapion the signatures of several bishops are found, one of whom subscribes himself as follows:

“I, Aurelius Cyrenius, a witness, pray for your health.”

And another in this manner:

4. And the autograph signatures of many other bishops who agreed with them are contained in the same letter.

So much for these persons.