CHAPTER XIV

THE ARIANS ORDAIN DEMOPHILUS AFTER THE DECEASE OF EUDOXIUS AT CONSTANTINOPLE; BUT THE ORTHODOX PARTY CONSTITUTE EVAGRIUS HIS SUCCESSOR

THE emperor Valens leaving Constantinople again set out towards Antioch; but on his arrival at Nicomedia his progress was arrested by the following circumstances. Eudoxius the Arian bishop, who had been in possession of the seat of the Constantinopolitan church for nineteen years, died soon after the emperor’s departure from that city, in the third consulate of Valentinian and Valens. The Arians therefore appointed Demophilus to succeed him; but the Homoousians considering that an opportunity was afforded them, elected Evagrius, a person who maintained their own principles, and caused him to be ordained by Eustathius, who after having been ejected from the see of Antioch, had been recalled from exile by Jovian. This prelate had privately come to Constantinople, for the purpose of confirming the adherents to the doctrine of Consubstantiality.