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THE emperor at once gave plain indications of his adherence to true
religion, and offered the first fruits of his kingdom to the Lord of
all, by publishing an edict commanding the exiled shepherds to return,
and to be restored to their flocks, and ordering the sacred buildings
to be delivered to congregations adopting communion with Damasus.
This Damasus, the successor of Liberius in the see of Rome, was a
man of most praiseworthy life and by his own choice alike in word and
deed a champion of Apostolic doctrines. To put his edict in force
Gratianus sent Sapor the general, a very famous character at that
time, with orders to expel the preachers of the blasphemies of Arius
like wild beasts from the sacred folds, and to effect the restoration
of the excellent shepherds to God's flocks.
In every instance this was effected without dispute except in
Antioch, the Eastern capital, where a quarrel was kindled which I
shall proceed to describe.
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