CHAPTER XXIV

CRIMES PERPETRATED AT CONSTANTINOPLE

THE Arians of Constantinople, after having made the pious presbyters embark on board an unballasted ship, sent them out to sea. They desired men of their sect, who sailed in another vessel, to set fire to that in which the presbyters were embarked. When this order was executed, the presbyters, having to contend against flames and billows, found a grave in the deep, and obtained the crown of martyrdom. Valens remained during a long period at Antioch, and gave permission to the Greeks, to the Jews, and to those of all other religions, as also to those who assumed the name of Christians, to preach anything they pleased contrary to the evangelical doctrines. The Greeks celebrated those superstitious ceremonies from which they had formerly been reclaimed, and restored the worship of demons, which had been abolished by Jovian after the death of Julian. The festivals of Jupiter, Bacchus, and Ceres, were no longer celebrated by stealth, in secret places, as ought to be the case under the reign of a religious emperor; but they were held in the centre of the market place. Valens was only opposed to those who preached the doctrines of the apostles. He first drove them from their churches, although Julian had presented them with newly erected churches: when they afterwards assembled at the foot of a mountain to hear the word of God and sing his praise, although they had to contend with the inclemency of the weather, and were exposed to rain, snow, and frost, they were not permitted to enjoy even this privilege, obtained as it was at the cost of much labour; for Valens sent his soldiers to drive them away.