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As Gaul was about this period infested by, the incursions of the
Alemanni, Gratian returned to his paternal dominions, which he had
reserved for himself and his brother, when he bestowed the government
of Illyria and of the Eastern provinces upon Theodosius. He
effected his purpose with regard to the barbarians; and Theodosius was
equally successful against the tribes from the banks of the Ister; he
defeated them, compelled them to sue for peace, and, after accepting
hostages from them, proceeded to Thessalonica. He fell ill while in
this city, and after receiving instruction from Ascholius, the
bishop, he was initiated, and was soon after restored to health. The
parents of Theodosius were Christians, and were attached to the
Nicene doctrines; he was pleased with Ascholius, who maintained the
same doctrines, and was, in a word, endowed with every virtue of the
priesthood. He also rejoiced at finding that the Arian heresy had not
been participated in by Illyria. He inquired concerning the religious
sentiments which were prevalent in the other provinces, and ascertained
that, as far as Macedonia, all the churches were like minded, and
all held that equal homage ought to be rendered to God the Word, and
to the Holy Ghost, as to God the Father; but that towards the
East, and particularly at Constantinople, the people were divided
into many different heresies. Reflecting that it would be better to
propound his own religious views to his subjects, so as not to appear
to be using force by commanding the unwilling subject to worship
contrary to his judgment, Theodosius enacted a law at Thessalonica,
which he caused to be published at Constantinople, well knowing that
the rescript would speedily become public to all the other cities, if
issued from that city, which is as a citadel of the whole empire. He
made known by this law his intention of leading all his subjects to the
reception of that faith which Peter, the chief of the apostles, had,
from the beginning, preached to the Romans, and which was professed
by Damasus, bishop of Rome, and by Peter, bishop of Alexandria.
He enacted that the title of "Catholic Church" should be
exclusively confined to those who rendered equal homage to the Three
Persons of the Trinity, and that those individuals who entertained
opposite opinions should be treated as heretics, regarded with
contempt, and delivered over to punishment.
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