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EULALIUS was first consecrated in place of Eustathius. But
Eulalius surviving his elevation only a short period, it was intended
that Eusebius of Palestine should be translated to this bishopric.
Eusebius, however, refused the appointment, and the emperor forbade
its being conferred on him. Next Euphronius was put forward, who
also dying, after a lapse of only one year and a few months, the see
was conferred on Flaccillus . All these bishops secretly clung to the
Arian heresy. Hence it was that most of those individuals, whether
of the clergy or of the laity, who valued the true religion, left the
churches and formed assemblies among themselves. They were called
Eustathians, since it was after the banishment of Eustathius that
they began to hold their meetings. The wretched woman above mentioned
was soon after attacked by a severe and protracted illness, and then
avowed the imposture in which she had been engaged, and made known the
whole plot, not only to two or three, but to a very large number of
priests. She confessed that she had been bribed to bring this false
and impudent charge, but yet that her oath was not altogether false,
as a certain Eustathius, a coppersmith, was the father of the babe.
Such were some of the crimes perpetrated in Antioch by this most
excellent faction.
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