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ALTHOUGH at the beginning of his reign the Emperor Julian
conducted himself mildly toward all men; but as he went on he did not
continue to show the same equanimity. He most readily indeed acceded
to the requests of the Christians, when they tended in any way to cast
odium on the memory of Constantius; but when this inducement did not
exist, he made no effort to conceal the rancorous feelings which he
entertained towards Christians in general. Accordingly he soon
ordered that the church of the Novatians at Cyzicus, which Euzoius
had totally demolished, should be rebuilt, imposing a very heavy
penalty upon Eleusius bishop of that city, if he failed to complete
that structure at his own expense within the space of two months.
Moreover, he favored the pagan superstitions with the whole weight of
his authority: and the temples of the heathen were opened, as we have
before stated; but he himself also publicly offered sacrifices to
Fortune, goddess of Constantinople, in the cathedral, where her
image was erected.
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