grounds that he had made it because he wanted to avoid
unnecessary disturbances and bloodshed, and to maintain
peace along those people of' the city who so ardently
supported their beloved Pope.
When Valens received the governor's dispatch, he
was in a receptive mood. Hence not only did he give his
approval to the decision to leave Athanasius in peace, but
he even sent a letter to the venerable Pope entreating him
to remain at the head of his Church.
In consequence, a profound calmness enveloped
Alexandria. The people relaxed and went about their
daily business. The churches kept their doors always
open and were always full. Services were held in them
daily, and they continuously reverberated with the echoes
of the sacred chants.
Athanasius also relaxed and was pleased that the
Emperor's conciliatory message had restored peace and
harmony within his Church. He had learned from long
experience, however, that Emperors could be fickle. The
promises of Valens were good but there was no guarantee
that he would not suddenly change them. So in order to
avoid the consequences of such a possible change, one
day not long after, he quietly left Alexandria and retreated
again to his desert abode. Also he had been saddened to
hear that Apollinarius, Bishop of Laodicea and one of his
dear friends, had committed a new heresy, and he wanted
the time and freedom required for the task of refuting it.
- The heresy of Apollinarius was the opposite of that
of the Arians. He denied the humanity rather than the
divinity of the Christ, affirming that He had been a man in
appearance only but not in reality.
This heresy was just as unacceptable to Athanasius
as the Arian heresy for it was contrary to the teachings of