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Maximian, having peacefully governed the church during two years and
five months, died Ion 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 day of the week
was Thursday. Then the Emperor Theodosius wishing to prevent the
disturbances in the church which usually attend the election of a
bishop, made a wise provision for this affair; for in order that there
might be no dispute again about the choice of a bishop and tumult thus
arise, without delaying, before the body of Maximian was interred,
he directed the bishops. who were then in the city to place Proclus in
the episcopal chair. For he had received already letters from
Caelestinus 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 assured them 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
Maximian: but it is now time briefly to give some account of him
also.
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