CHAPTER VI

AFTER THE TYRANT’S DEATH, VALENS CONSTRAINS THOSE WHO COMPOSED THE SYNOD, AND ALL CHRISTIANS, TO PROFESS ARIAN TENETS

THE emperor having thus successfully terminated the conflict, immediately began to disquiet the Christians, with the design of inducing all persons to acknowledge Arian sentiments. But he was especially incensed against those who had composed the Synod at Lampsacus, not only on account of their deposition of the Arian bishops, but because they had anathematized the creed published at Rimini. On arriving therefore at Nicomedia in Bithynia, he sent for Eleusis bishop of Cyzicum, who, as I have before said, closely adhered to the opinions of Macedonius; and having convened a council of Arian bishops, he commanded Eleusis to give his assent to their faith. At first he refused to do so, but on being terrified with threats of banishment and confiscation of property, he reluctantly submitted. Immediately afterwards he repented; and returning to Cyzicum, bitterly complained in presence of all the people of the violence which had been used to extort an insincere acquiescence. He then exhorted them to seek another bishop for themselves, since he had been compelled to renounce his own opinion. But the inhabitants of Cyzicum loved and venerated him too much to think of losing him; they therefore refused to be subject to any other bishop, nor would they permit him to retire from his own church: and thus continuing under his oversight, they remained steadfast in their own heresy.