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On the ground of such charges as these, they proposed another bishop
for the Alexandrian church, and first indeed Eusebius surnamed
Emisenus. Who this person was, George, bishop of Laodicea, who
was present on this occasion, informs us. For he says in the book
which he has composed on his life, that Eusebius was descended from
the nobility of Edessa in Mesopotamia, and that from a child he had
studied the holy Scriptures; that he was afterwards instructed in
Greek literature by a master resident at Edessa; and finally that the
sacred books were expounded to him by Patrophilus and Eusebius, of
whom the latter presided over the church at Caesarea, and the former
over that at Scythopolis. Afterwards when he dwelt in Antioch, it
happened that Eustathius was deposed on the accusation of Cyrus of
Beroea for holding the tenets of Sabellius. Then again he associated
with Euphronius, successor of Eustathius, and avoiding a bishopric,
he retired to Alexandria, and there devoted himself to the study of
philosophy. On his return to Antioch he formed an intimate
acquaintance with Placitus [or Flacciltus], the successor of
Euphronius. At length he was ordained bishop of Alexandria, by
Eusebius, bishop of Constantinople; but did not go thither in
consequence of the attachment of the people of that city to
Athanasius, and was therefore sent to Emisa. As the inhabitants of
Emisa excited a sedition on account of his appointment,-- for he was
commonly charged with the study and practice of judicial astrology,
-he fled and came to Laodicea, to George, who has given so many
historical details of him. George having taken him to Antioch,
procured his being again brought back to Emisa by Placitus and
Narcissus; but he was afterwards charged with holding the Sabellian
views. George more elaborately describes the circumstances of his
ordination and adds at the close that the emperor took him with him in
his expedition against the barbarians, and that miracles were wrought
by his hand. The information given by George concerning Eusebius of
Emisa may be considered reproduced at sufficient length by me here.
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