CHAPTER XL

PROCLUS SUCCEEDS MAXIMIAN BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE

MAXIMIAN having peacefully governed the church during two years and five months, died on the 12th of April, in the consulate of Areobindus and Aspar. This happened to be on the fifth day of the week of fasts which immediately precedes Easter. The emperor Theodosius wishing to prevent the disturbances. in the church which usually attend the election of a bishop, had made a wise provision for this affair; so that before the body of Maximian was interred, he directed the bishops who were then in the city to place Proclus in the episcopal chair without delay. For he had received already letters from Cælestinus bishop of Rome approving of this election, which he had forwarded to Cyril of Alexandria, John of Antioch, and Rufus of Thessalonica; in which he was assured that there was no impediment to the translation to another See, of a person who had been nominated and really was the bishop of some one church. Proclus being thus invested with the bishopric, performed the funeral obsequies of his predecessor: but it is now time to give some account of him.