CHAPTER II

RETURN OF THE BISHOPS

GRATIAN immediately manifested the piety with which he was imbued, and consecrated the first-fruits of his empire to God. He enacted a law enjoining that the pastors who had been banished should be restored to their flocks, and that the churches should be given up to those who held communion with Damasis, who was the bishop of Rome, and highly celebrated on account of the sanctity of his life; for he was ready to say and to do everything in defence of the apostolical doctrines. He had succeeded Liberius in the government of the church. Gratian sent Sapor, a renowned military chief, to carry this law into execution, to drive away from the churches, as wild beasts, those who preached the blasphemies of Arius, and to restore the church to the faithful pastors, and to the holy flocks. This law was executed in all the provinces without any opposition. In Antioch, however, which is the metropolis of the East, many disputes arose in consequence.