Written in the early fifth century, Ecclesiastical History by Socrates of Constantinople is one of the essential sources for understanding the formative centuries of Christianity. Picking up where Eusebius of Caesarea left off, Socrates narrates the story of the Church from the reign of Constantine the Great (beginning in 305 AD) through the seventeenth consulship of Theodosius II in 439. His seven-book chronicle preserves accounts of the Arian controversy, the policies of Emperor Julian the Apostate, the persecution of Christians under Valens, and even the tragic death of the philosopher Hypatia in Alexandria.
 
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Socrates wrote with a spirit of fairness and restraint, deliberately avoiding panegyrics and seeking instead to provide a sober, honest record. His sympathy toward minority groups such as the Novatians, his respectful treatment of pagans, and his attention to church customs like Easter observance, baptism, and fasting make his history uniquely valuable. With a plain, accessible style, Socrates offers readers not only a record of theological disputes but also an enduring meditation on the pursuit of peace and unity within the Church.