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IT is probable that a severe persecution might have ensued at this
juncture, had not Procopius commenced a civil war. As he began to
play the tyrant at Constantinople, he soon collected a large army,
and marched against Valens.
The latter quitted Syria, and met Procopius near Nacolia, a city
of Phrygia, and captured him alive through the treachery of Agelon
and Gomarius, two of his generals.
Valens put him and his betrayers to a cruel death; and although it is
said that he had sworn to show favor to the two generals, he caused
them to be sawn asunder.
He commanded Procopius to be fastened by the legs to two trees which
had been bent to the ground, and he allowed these to spring up; when
the trees were left to resume their natural position, the victim was
torn in twain.
On the termination of this war, Valens retired to Nicaea, and
finding himself in possession of profound tranquillity, he again began
to molest those who differed from him in opinion concerning the Divine
nature.
His anger was unbounded against the bishops of the council of
Lampsacus, because they had condemned the Arian bishops and the
formulary of faith set forth at Ariminum.
While under the influence of these resentful feelings, he summoned
Eleusius from Syria, and having called together a Synod of bishops
who held his own sentiments, he endeavored to compel him to assent to
their doctrines. Eleusius at first manfully refused compliance. But
afterwards, from the dread of exile and deprivation of his property,
as was threatened by the emperor, he yielded to the mandate. He soon
repented of his weakness, and on his return to Cyzicus he made a
public confession of his fault in the church, and urged the people to
choose another bishop, for he said that he could not discharge the
duties of a priesthood after having been a traitor to his own doctrine.
The citizens respected his conduct and were especially well-disposed
to him, so that they did not choose to have another bishop.
Eudoxius, president of the Arians in Constantinople, however,
ordained Eunomius as bishop of Cyzicus; for he expected that by his
great powers of eloquence Eunomius would easily draw the people of
Cyzicus over to his own sentiments. On his arrival at that city he
expelled Eleusius, for he was furnished with an imperial edict to that
effect, and took possession of the churches himself.
The followers of Eleusius built a house of prayer without the walls of
the city, and here they held their assemblies. I shall soon again
have occasion to revert to Eunomius and the heresy which bears his
name.
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