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A CERTAIN Theodosius was bishop of Synada in Phrygia
Pacata; he violently persecuted the heretics in that province--and
there was a great number of them--and especially those of the
Macedonian sect; he drove them out not only from the city, but also
out of the country. This course he pursued not from any precedent in
the orthodox church, nor from the desire of propagating the true
faith; but being enslaved by the love of filthy lucre, he was impelled
by the avaricious motive of amassing money, by extorting it from the
heretics. To this end he made all sorts of attempts upon the
Macedonians, putting arms into the hands of his clergy; and employing
innumerable stratagems against them; nor did he refrain from delivering
them up to the secular tribunals. But he especially annoyed their
bishop whose name was Agapetus: and finding the governors of the
province were not invested with sufficient authority to punish heretics
according to his wish, he went to Constantinople and petitioned for
edicts of a more stringent nature from the Praetorian prefect. While
Theodosius was absent on this business, Agapetus who, as I have
said, presided over the Macedonian sect, came to a wise and prudent
conclusion. Communicating with his clergy, he called all the people
under his guidance together, and persuaded them to embrace the
'homoousian' faith. On their acquiescing in this proposition, he
proceeded immediately to the church attended not merely by his own
adherents, but by the whole body of the people. There having offered
prayer, he took possession of the episcopal chair in which Theodosius
was accustomed to seat himself; and preaching thenceforth the doctrine
of con-substantiality, he reunited the people, and made himself
master of the churches in the diocese of Synada. Soon after these
transactions, Theodosius returned to Synada, bringing with him
extended powers from the prefect, and knowing nothing of what had taken
place, he proceeded to the church just as he was. Being forthwith
unanimously expelled, he again betook himself to Constantinople; upon
his arrival at that place he complained to Atticus, the: bishop, of
the treatment he had met with, and the manner in which he had been
deprived of his bishopric. Atticus perceiving that this movement had
resulted advantageously to the church, consoled Theodosius as well as
he could; recommending him to embrace with a contented mind a retired
life, and thus sacrifice his own private interests to the public good.
He then wrote to Agapetus authorizing him to retain the episcopate,
and bidding him be under no apprehension of being molested in
consequence of Theodosius' grievance.
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