CHAPTER XV

OF FLAVIAN BISHOP OF ANTIOCH

ABOUT the same period, the following events took place at Antioch in Syria. After the death of Paulinus, the people who had been under his superintendence refused to submit to the authority of Flavian, but caused Evagrius to be ordained bishop of their own party. He not having long survived his ordination, Flavian had the address to prevent any other being constituted in his place: nevertheless those who disliked Flavian on account of his having violated his oath, held their assemblies apart. Meanwhile Flavian left no stone unturned, as the phrase is, to bring these also under his control; and this he soon after effected, when he had appeased the anger of Theophilus then bishop of Alexandria, by whose mediation he conciliated Damasus bishop of Rome also. For both these prelates had been greatly displeased with Flavian, as well for the perjury of which he had been guilty, as for the schism he had occasioned among the people who had been previously united. Theophilus therefore being pacified, sent Isidore a presbyter to Rome, and thus reconciled Damasus who was still offended; representing to him the propriety of overlooking Flavian’s misconduct, for the sake of producing concord among the people. Communion being in this way restored to Flavian, the people of Antioch were in the course of a little while induced to lay aside their opposition to him. Such was the conclusion of this affair at Antioch. But the Arians of that city being ejected from the churches, were accustomed to hold their meetings in the suburbs. Moreover Cyril bishop of Jerusalem having died about this time, was succeeded by John.