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APOLLINARIUS after thus failing to get the government of the
churches, continued, for the future, openly to preach his new fangled
doctrine, and constituted himself leader of the heresy. He resided
for the most part at Laodicea; but at Antioch he had already ordained
Vitalius, a man of excellent character, brought up in the apostolic
doctrines, but afterwards tainted with the heresy. Diodorus, whom I
have already mentioned, who in the great storm had saved the ship of
the church from sinking, had been appointed by the divine Meletius,
bishop of Tarsus, and had received the charge of the Cilicians. The
see of Apamea Meletius entrusted to John, a man of illustrious
birth, more distinguished for his own high qualities than for those of
his forefathers, for he was conspicuous alike for the beauty of his
teaching and of his life. In the time of the tempest he piloted the
assembly of his fellows in the faith supported by the worthy
Stephanus. The latter was however translated by the divine Meletius
to carry on another contest, for on the arrival of intelligence that
Germanicia had been contaminated by the Eudoxian pest he was sent
thither as a physician to ward off the disease, thoroughly trained as
he had been in a complete heathen education as well as nurtured in the
Divine doctrines. He did not disappoint the expectations formed of
him, for by the power of his spiritual instruction he turned the wolves
into sheep.
On the return of the great Eusebius from exile he ordained Acacius
whose fame is great at Beroea. and at Hierapolis Theodotus, whose
ascetic life is to this clay in all men's mouths. Eusebius was
moreover appointed to the see of Chalcis, and Isidorus to our own
city of Cyrus; both admirable men, conspicuous for their divine
zeal.
Meletius is also reported to have ordained to the pastorate of
Edessa, where the godly Barses had already departed this life,
Eulogius, the well known champion of apostolic doctrines, who bad
been sent to Antinone with Protogenes. Eulogius gave Protogenes,
his companion in hard service, the charge of Carrae, a healing
physician for a sick city.
Lastly the divine Eusebius ordained Maris, Bishop of Doliche, a
little city at that time infected with the Arian plague. With the
intention of enthroning this Maris, a right worthy man, illustrious
for various virtues, in the episcopal chair, the great Eusebius came
to Doliche. As he was entering into the town a woman thoroughly
infected with the Arian plague let fall a tile from the roof, which
crushed in his head and so wounded him that not long after he departed
to the better life. As he lay a-dying he charged the bystanders not
to exact the slightest penalty from the woman who had done the deed,
and bound them trader oaths to obey him. Thus he imitated his own
Lord, who of them that crucified Him said "Father forgive them for
they know not what they do."
Thus, too, he followed the example of Stephanus, his fellow slave,
who, after the stones had stormed upon him, cried aloud, "Lord lay
not this sin to their charge." So died the great Eusebius after many
and various struggles. He had escaped the barbarians in Thrace, but
he did not escape the violence of impious heretics, and by their means
won the martyr's crown.
These events happened after the return of the bishops, and now
Gratian learnt that Thrace was being laid waste by the barbarians who
had burnt Valens, so he left Italy and proceeded to Pannonia.
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