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The emperor at that time caused to be removed from the city of
Ancyra, the body of the bishop Paul, whom Philip the prefect of the
Praetorium had banished at the instigation of Macedonius, and ordered
to be strangled at Cucusus a town of Armenia, as I have already
mentioned. He therefore received the remains with great reverence and
honor, and deposited in the church which now takes its name from him;
which the Macedonian party were formerly in possession of while they
remained separate from the Arians, but were expelled at that time by
the emperor, because they refused to adopt his sentiments. About this
period Melitius, bishop of Antioch, fell sick and died: in whose
praise Gregory, the brother of Basil, pronounced a funeral oration.
The body of the deceased bishop was by his friends conveyed to
Antioch; where those who had identified themselves with his interests
again refused subjection to Paulinus, but caused Flavian to be
substituted in the place of Melitius, and the people began to quarrel
anew. Thus again the Antiochian church was divided into rival
factions, not grounded on any difference of faith, but simply on a
preference of bishops.
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