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BY the common suffrage of many bishops, Gregory was at this time
translated from the see of Nazianzus to that of Constantinople, and
this happened in the manner before described. About the same time the
emperors Gratian and Theodosius each obtained a victory over the
barbarians. And Gratian immediately set out for Gaul, because the
Alemanni were ravaging those provinces: but Theodosius, after
erecting a trophy, hastened towards Constantinople, and arrived at
Thessalonica. There he was taken dangerously ill, and expressed a
desire to receive Christian baptism. Now he had been instructed in
Christian principles by his ancestors, and professed the
'homoousian' faith. Becoming increasingly anxious to be baptized
therefore, as his malady grew worse, he sent for the bishop of
Thessalonica, and first asked him what doctrinal views he held. The
bishop having replied, 'that the opinion of Arius had not yet invaded
the provinces of Illyricum, nor had the novelty to which that heretic
had given birth begun to prey upon the churches in those countries; but
they continued to preserve unshaken that faith which from the beginning
was delivered by the apostles, and had been confirmed in the Nicene
Synod,' the emperor was most gladly baptized by the bishop
Ascholius; and having recovered from his disease not many days after,
he came to Constantinople on the twenty-fourth of November, in the
fifth consulate of Gratian, and the first of his own.
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