imagined that the only way for establishing peace lay in
getting Athanasius out of the way. He, therefore decreed
to banish him to Traves, a town on the Franco-Belgian
border. This was the first exile Athanasius suffered and it
lasted for a little over two years-from Feb. 336 to May
338 A.D.
The journey of Abba Athanasius from
Constantinople to Treves was like unto the triumphant
march of a hero: wherever he passed, he was welcomed
with joy and honour. His sojourn in the Occident roused
the attention and the sympathy of the people towards
Church matters: it became the starting point of a more
active Church policy on the part of the West.^23
- Having obtained the banishment of the foremost
protagonist of the Nicean Creed, the pro-Arian faction
aimed at reinstating Arius. They succeeded in convincing
Emperor Constantine of the heretic's repentance.
Thereupon, an imperial order was sent to Alexander,
Bishop of Constantinople, to accept Arius into the
communion of the Church. Alexander was a peace-loving
man throughout his life, and now at ninety year of age, he
was ready to fight. For his loyalty to the Orthodox Faith
was still stronger than any other motive within him. He,
therefore, answered the imperial message by giving the
same argument as Athanasius that "Arius was deposed by
an ecumenical council, and only another such council can
reinstate him". The Emperor in another it of anger sent
an ultimatum to the aged Bishop, telling him that he must
allow Arius to officiate with him the following Sunday, or
he, too, would be banished. The effect of this ultimatum
was to charge the whole city with suspense. The aged
bishop was not ready to obey, yet the imperial order was
categorical. At that time, James, Bishop of Nisibis, was