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AT the period that Eudoxius obtained the government of the church of
Constantinople, there were many aspirants to the see of Antioch; and
as is frequently the case under such circumstances, contentions and
seditions divided the clergy and the people of that church.
Each party was anxious to commit the government of the church to a
bishop of its own persuasion; for interminable disputes concerning
doctrine were rampant among them, and they could not agree as to the
mode of singing psalms; and, as has been before stated, psalms were
sung by each individual, in conformity with his own peculiar creed.
Such being the state of the church at Antioch, the partisans of
Eudoxius thought it would be well to intrust the bishopric of that city
to Meletius, then bishop of Sebaste, he being possessed of great and
persuasive eloquence, of excellent life, and all, as they imagined,
being of like opinions with themselves. They believed that his
reputation would attract the inhabitants of Antioch and of the
neighboring cities to conform to their heresy, particularly those
called Eustathians, who had adhered invariably to the Nicene
doctrines. But their expectations were utterly frustrated. It is
said that on his first arrival in Antioch, an immense multitude,
composed of Arians, and of those who were in communion with
Paulinus, flocked around him. Some wished to see the man because his
fame was great, even before his coming; others were anxious to hear
what he had to say, and to ascertain the nature of his opinions; for a
report had been spread abroad which was afterwards proved to be true,
that he maintained the doctrines of those convened at Nicaea. In his
first discourses he confined himself to instructing the people in what
we call ethics; afterwards, however, he openly declared that the Son
is of the same substance as the Father. It is said that at these
words, the arch deacon of the church, who was then one of the clergy
there, stretched out his hand, and covered the mouth of the preacher;
but that he continued to explain his sentiments more clearly by means of
his fingers than he could by language. He extended three fingers only
towards the people, closed them, and then allowed only one finger to
remain extended, and thus expressed by signs what he was prevented from
uttering. As the archdeacon, in his embarrassment, seized the hand,
he released the mouth; the tongue was free, and Meletius declared his
opinion still more clearly and with a loud voice, and exhorted his
auditors to adhere to the tenets of the council of Nicaea, and he
testified to his hearers that those who held other views deviated from
the truth. As he persisted in the enunciation of the same sentiments,
either by word of mouth or by means of signs, when the archdeacon
closed his mouth, a contention between both sides occurred, not unlike
that of the pancratium; the followers of Eustathius shouted aloud and
rejoiced and leaped, while the Arians were cast down. Eudoxius and
his partisans were transported with indignation at this discourse, and
contrived by their machinations to expel Meletius from Antioch. Soon
afterwards, however, they recalled him, for they fancied he had
renounced his former sentiments and had espoused theirs. As,
however, it soon became apparent that his devotion to the Nicene
doctrines was firm and unalterable, he was ejected from the church,
and banished by order of the emperor; and the see of Antioch was
conferred on Euzoius, who had formerly been banished with Arius.
The followers of Meletius separated themselves from the Arians, and
held their assemblies apart, for those who had from the beginning
maintained that the Son is consubstantial with the Father refused to
admit them into communion, because Meletius had been ordained by
Arian bishops, and because his followers had been baptized by Arian
priests. For this reason they were separated, although holding the
same views.
The emperor having been informed that an Insurrection was about to
arise in Persia, repaired to Antioch.
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