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Now at that time Gregory of Nazianzus, after his translation to
Constantinople, held his assemblies within the city in a small
oratory, adjoining to which the emperors afterwards built a magnificent
church, and named it Anastasia. But Gregory, who far excelled in
eloquence and piety all those of the age in which he lived,
understanding that some murmured at his preferment because he was a
stranger, after expressing his joy at the emperor's arrival, resigned
the bishopric of Constantinople. When the emperor found the church in
this state, he began to consider by what means he could make peace,
effect a union, and enlarge the churches. Immediately, therefore,
he intimated his desire to Demophilus, who presided over the Arian
party; and enquired whether he was willing to assent to the Nicene
Creed, and thus reunite the people, and establish peace. Upon
Demophilus' declining to accede to this proposal, the emperor said to
him, 'Since you reject peace and harmony, I order you to quit the
churches.' When Demophilus heard this, weighing with himself the
difficulty of contending against superior power, he convoked his
followers in the church, and standing in the midst of them, thus
spoke: 'Brethren, it is written in the Gospel, "If they
persecute you in one city, flee ye into another." Since therefore
the emperor needs the churches, take notice that we will henceforth
hold our assemblies without the city.' Having said this he departed;
not however as rightly apprehending the meaning of that expression in
the Evangelist, for the real import of the sacred oracle is that such
as would avoid the course of this world must seek the heavenly
Jerusalem. He therefore went outside the city gates, and there in
future held his assemblies. With him also Lucius went out, who being
ejected from Alexandria, as we have before related, had made his
escape to Constantinople, and there abode. Thus the Arians, after
having been in possession of the churches for forty years, were in
consequence of their opposition to the peace proposed by the emperor
Theodosius, driven out of the city, in Gratian's fifth consulate,
and the first of Theodosius Angustus, on the 26th of November.
The adherents of the 'homoousian' faith in this manner regained
possession of the churches.
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