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AT this time the Ishmaelites were devastating the country in the
neighbourhood of the Roman frontier. They were led by Mavia, a
princess who regarded not the sex which nature had given her, and
displayed the spirit and courage of a man. After many engagements she
made a truce, and, on receiving the light of divine knowledge, begged
that to the dignity of high priest of her tribe might be advanced one,
Moses by name, who dwelt on the confines of Egypt and Palestine.
This request Valens granted, and ordered the holy man to be conveyed
to Alexandria, and there, as the most convenient place in the
neighbourhood, to receive episcopal grace. When he had arrived and
saw Lucius endeavouring to lay hands on him, "God forbid" said he
"that I should be ordained by thine hand: the grace of the Spirit
visits us not at thy calling." "Whence," said Lucius, "are you
led to conjecture this?" He rejoined "I am not speaking of
conjecture but of clear knowledge; for thou tightest against the
apostolic decrees, and speakest words against them, and for thy
blasphemous utterances thy lawless deeds are a match. For what impious
man has not on thy account mocked the meetings of the Church? What
excellent man has not been exiled? What barbarous savagery is not
thrown into the shade by thy daily deeds?" So the brave man said,
and the murderer heard him and desired to slay him, but was afraid of
kindling once again the war which had come to an end. Wherefore he
ordered other bishops to be produced whom Moses had requested. After
receiving the episcopal grace of the right worthy faith Moses returned
to the people who had asked for him, and by his apostolic teaching and
miracles led them in the way that leads to truth.
These then were the deeds done by Lucius in Alexandria under the
dispensation of the providence of God.
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