Written in the fifth century by the Palestinian-born historian Sozomen, The Ecclesiastical History is one of the great treasures of early Christian letters. Continuing the story where Eusebius of Caesarea left off, Sozomen chronicles more than a century of the Church's life—from the Emperor Constantine's triumph and the Council of Nicaea, through the long Arian controversies, the brief pagan revival of Julian the Apostate, and the age of the great bishops such as Athanasius, John Chrysostom, and Gregory of Nazianzus. He writes with a historian's care and an unusually generous spirit, recording both the Church's conflicts and the quiet holiness of monks, martyrs, and ordinary believers. This new edition renders Sozomen's narrative in clear, inviting modern English while remaining faithful to the meaning and spirit of the original. A glossary of names and a guide to reading help today's reader enter the world of the early Church with ease. Part of The World Scriptures Library.