CHAPTER XIII

DEMOPHILUS ELECTED BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE BY THE ARIANS, AND EVAGRIUS BY THE ORTHODOX. ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTION WHICH ENSUED

ABOUT this time the Emperor Valens went to Antioch; and during his absence Eudoxius died, after having governed the church of Constantinople during the space of eleven years. Demophilus was immediately ordained as his successor by the Arian bishops. The followers of the Nicene doctrines, believing that the course of events was in their power, elected Evagrius as their bishop. He had been ordained by Eustathius, who had formerly governed the church of Antioch in Syria, and who, having been recalled from banishment by Jovian, lived in a private manner at Constantinople, and devoted himself to the instruction of those who held his sentiments, exhorting them to perseverance. The Arians were deeply incensed at this ordination, and commenced a violent persecution against those by whom it had been effected. The Emperor Valens, who was then at Nicomedia, on being apprised of the occurrences that had taken place in Constantinople since the death of Eudoxius, was fearful lest an insurrection should arise in the city, and therefore sent thither as many troops as he thought requisite to preserve tranquillity. Eustathius was arrested by his command and banished to Bizia, a city of Thrace, and Evagrius was exiled to some other region.