the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and was called "The
Church of the Mother-of God".^5
- Then, in the year 292 AD, Diocletian was declared
Emperor in Nicomedis, while Achilleus assumed the purple
in Alexandria. Diocletian marched against him and besieged
the city-a siege that lasted for six months. When he finally
triumphed, the city walls had been levelled to the ground.
Aclhilleus and all who were suspected of helping him were
put to death. Severe punishment was meted out on many an
innocent. - When Diocletian settled in Alexandria, peace was
restored for some months. A Greek copy of an epistle
written by Abba Theonas during this period, and addressed
to Lucian, a Christian and the chief of the gentlemen of the
bedchamber of the palace, is still existent. The prudence and
piety which characterise it, make us deplore the loss of his
other writings all the more. It says thus:
"The peace which the Church enjoys is granted to
this end; that the good works of the Christians may shine
out before the unbelievers, and that through them, our Father
which is in Heaven may be glorified. This should be our
chief end and aim, if we would be Christians in deed and not
in words only. For if we seek our own glory, we desire a
vain, perishable thing. But the Glory of the Father and of the
Son – Who for us was nailed to the cross, saves us with an
everlasting redemption, that great expectation of all
Christians. I neither think, therefore, nor wish, my dear
Lucian, that you should boast, because many in the court
have come by your means to the knowledge of the Truth.
You should rather give thanks to God, Who hath chosen you
as a good instrument to a good result, and hath given you
favour in the sight of the prince, to the end that you spread