CHAPTER II

THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION OF JULIAN, AND HIS SUBSEQUENT APOSTASY

FROM his tenderest infancy Julian had been nourished with the milk of religious doctrines, as was also Gallus his brother. He adhered to this doctrine during his childhood and early youth. Intimidated by Constantius, who, apprehensive of usurpations, made away with his nearest relatives, Julian placed himself in the office of reader at the ecclesiastical assemblies, and read the sacred books to the people. He had an edifice erected in honour of the martyrs; but his liberality was not accepted by the martyrs, because they foresaw his apostasy. The foundations of this building were as unstable as the mind of their founder; and the whole structure fell down before it had been consecrated. Such were the events which occurred in his youth.