CHAPTER IX

THE BODY OF PAUL BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE IS HONOURABLY TRANSFERRED FROM HIS PLACE OF EXILE. DEATH OF MELETIUS

A SHORT time afterwards, the emperor caused to be removed from the city of Ancyra, the body of the bishop Paul, whom Philip the præfect of the Prætorium had banished at the instigation of Macedonius, and ordered to be strangled at Cucusus a town of Armenia, as I have already mentioned. His remains were therefore received by Theodosius with great reverence and honour, and deposited in the church which now takes its name from him; which the Macedonian party were formerly in possession of while they remained separate from the Arians, but were expelled from by the emperor, on their refusal to adopt his sentiments. About this period Meletius bishop of Antioch, fell sick and died: in whose praise Gregory, the brother of Basil, pronounced a funeral oration. The body of the deceased prelate was by his friends conveyed to Antioch; where those who had identified themselves with his interests, again refused subjection to Paulinus, but caused Flavian to be substituted in the place of Meletius. Thus a fresh division arose among the people, rending the Antiochian church into rival factions, not grounded on any difference of faith, but simply on a preference of bishops.