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ABOUT this time a serious contest was excited at Antioch in
Syria, on account of Melitius. We have already observed that
Paulinus, bishop of that city, because of his eminent piety was not
sent into exile: and that Melitius after being restored by Julian,
was again banished by Valens, and at length recalled in Gratian's
reign. On his return to Antioch, he found Paulinus greatly
enfeebled by old age; his partisans therefore immediately used their
utmost endeavors to get him associated with that bishop in the episcopal
office. And when Paulinus declared that 'it was contrary to the
canons to take as a coadjutor one who had been ordained by the
Arians,' the people had recourse to violence, and caused him to be
consecrated in one of the churches without the city. When this was
done, a great disturbance arose; but afterwards the people were
brought to unite on the following stipulations. Having assembled such
of the clergy as might be considered worthy candidates for the
bishopric, they found them six in number, of whom Flavian was one.
All these they bound by an oat, not to use any effort to get
themselves ordained, when either of the two bishops should die, but to
permit the survivor to retain undisturbed possession of the see of the
deceased. Thus pledges were given, and the people had peace and so no
longer quarreled with one another. The Luciferians, however,
separated themselves from the rest, because Melitius who had been
ordained by the Arians was admitted to the episcopate. In this state
of the Antiochian church, Melitius was under the necessity of going
to Constantinople.
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