CHAPTER VI

GREGORY OF NAZIANZEN IS TRANSLATED TO THE SEE OF CONSTANTINOPLE. THE EMPEROR THEODOSIUS FALLING SICK AT THESSALONICA, IS THERE BAPTIZED BY ASCHOLIUS THE BISHOP

BY the common suffrage of many prelates, Gregory was at this time translated from the see of Nazianzeh to that of Constantinople in the manner before described. And about the same time the emperors Gratian and Theodosius each obtained a victory over the barbarians. Immediately after this Gratian set out for the Gallias, because the Alemanni were ravaging those provinces: but Theodosius, after erecting a trophy, hastened towards Constantinople, and arrived at Thessalonica, where he was taken dangerously ill, and expressed a desire to receive Christian baptism. Now he had been instructed in Christian principles by his ancestors, and professed the Homoousian faith. Becoming increasingly anxious to be baptized therefore, as his malady grew worse, he sent for the bishop of Thessalonica, and first asked him what doctrinal views he held? The bishop replied, that the opinion of Arius had not yet invaded the provinces of Illyricum, nor had the novelty to which that heretic had given birth begun to prey upon the churches in those countries; but they continued to preserve unshaken that faith which from the beginning was delivered by the apostles, and had been confirmed in the Nicene Synod. On hearing this, the emperor was most gladly baptized by the bishop Ascholius; and having recovered from his disease not many days after, he came to Constantinople on the twenty-fourth of November, in the fifth consulate of Gratian, and the first of his own.