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WHILE Theodosius was making preparations for a war against
Maximus, his son Honorius was born. On the completion of these
warlike preparations, he left his son Arcadius to govern at
Constantinople, and proceeded to Thessalonica, where he received
Valentinian. He refused either to dismiss openly, or to give
audience to the embassy sent by Maximus, but continued his journey at
the head of his troops towards Italy.
About this period, Agelius, bishop of the Novatians at
Constantinople, feeling his end approaching, nominated Sisinius,
one of the presbyters of his church, as his successor. The people,
however, murmured that the preference had not rather been given to
Marcian, who was noted on account of his piety, and Agelius
therefore ordained him, and addressed the people who were assembled in
the church in the following words: "After me you shall have Marclan
for your bishop, and after him, Sisinius." Agelius died soon after
he had uttered these words. He had governed his church forty years
with the greatest approbation from his own heretical party; and some
assert that during the times of Pagan persecution, he had openly
confessed the name of Christ.
Not long after Timothy and Cyril died; Theophilus succeeded to the
see of Alexandria, and John to that of Jerusalem. Demophilus,
leader of the Arians at Constantinople, likewise died and was
succeeded by Marinus of Thrace; but he was superseded by Dorotheus,
who soon after arrived from Antioch in Syria, and who was considered
by his sect to be better qualified for the office than Marinus.
Theodosius, having in the meantime entered Italy, various
conflicting reports were spread as to the success of his arms. It was
rumored among the Arians that the greater part of his army had been cut
to pieces in battle, and that he himself had been captured by the
tyrant; and assuming this report to be true, these sectarians became
bold and ran to the house of Nectarius and set it on fire, from
indignation at the power which the bishop had obtained over the
churches. The emperor, however, carried out his purpose in the war,
for the soldiers of Maximus, impelled by fear of the preparations
against them, or treachery, seized and slew the tyrant.
Andragathius, the murderer of Gratian, no sooner heard of the death
of Maximus, than he leaped into the river with his armor, and
perished. The war having been thus terminated, and the death of
Gratian avenged, Theodosius, accompanied by Valentinian,
celebrated a triumph in Rome, and restored order in the churches of
Italy, for the Empress Justina was dead.
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