Euthymius Zigabenus, Panoplia Dogmatica; Theodoretus, Historia Religiosa

and even after the one who was reigning in such a way, having been roused toward imitation, he considered very intelligently to leave behind, for them as well as for all his subjects, the training of dogmatic weapons. And with fixed engines of war, and with rational machines, just as those who have arranged the animals that fit, not usurping the work of the bishops; but he sketched out for them as well, through himself, every piece of advice. And especially providing an alliance; for it is irrevocable; so that whenever anyone who has the authority to resolve falls into this, he can lay hold of even something of the word. And not even to mention the most pious emperor; who grants authority to the dogmas of the bishops through his own inclination and intelligence, but also the simply faithful man; and one knowing and capable of speech; I mean also the one who took away the man-bearing beast likely a reference to a tyrant or a specific heretical adversary, might someone accuse him because even as a prisoner, he removed the common ruin from the midst; and he delivered the people from the harm in this. And indeed, the dogmas of the blessed fathers and champions of the correct faith, having selected them through the common and complex men of the present time, and having put them together, he entrusted the composition of these to me; and he called it, to assign order to these, and a distinguished harmony; and a calculated management. Since it was not possible to back out, thereafter, it was fitting for the well-established constitution of the words; through which hands are also taught for battle; and fingers writing; to prepare the war against the heresies; we must go now toward the undertaking; and we must construct, or rather must compile, a panoply for those who wish to fight for piety; and to clash with its enemies; of all things, the most venerable; the sharpest; the most timely; and in sum, the unassailable; and