hat as
nothing could be more insolent than they had shown themselves when
backed by the temporal power, so nothing was more cringing and
submissive, when they were deprived of that protection. For the emperor
warmly embracing the Nicene faith, following in all ecclesiastical
matters the advice of St. Athanasius, and expressing a particular regard
for St. Meletius; the moderate Arians, with Acacius of Caesarea, in
Palestine, at their head, went to Antioch, where our saint held a
council of twenty-seven bishops, and there subscribed an orthodox
profession of faith. Jovian dying, after a reign of eight months, Valens
became emperor of the East, who was at first very orthodox, but
afterwards, seduced by the persuasions of his wife, he espoused the
Arian heresy, and received baptism from Eudoxus, bishop of
Constantinople, who made him promise upon oath to promote the cause of
that sect. The cruel persecution which this prince raised against that
church, and the favor which he showed not only to the Arians, but also
to Pagans, Jews, and all that were not Catholics, deterred not St.
Meletius from exerting his zeal in defence of the orthodox faith. This
prince coming from Caesarea, where he had been vanquished by the
constancy of St. Basil, arrived at Antioch in April, 372, where he left
nothing unattempted {403} to draw Meletius over to the interest of his
sect; but meeting with no success, ordered him a third time into
banishment. The people rose tumultuously to detain him among them, and
threw stones at the governor, who was carrying him off, so that he only
escaped with his life by our saint's stepping between him and the mob,
and covering him with his cloak. It is only to this manner that the
disciples of Jesus Christ revenge injuries, as St. Chrysostom
observes.[3] Hermant and Fleury suppose this to have happened at his
first banishment. By the order of Valens, he was conducted into Lesser
Armenia, where he made his own estate at Getasus, near Nicopolis, the
place of his residence. His flock at Antioch, by copying his humility,
modesty, and patience, amid the persecution which fell upon them, showed
themselves the worthy disciples of so great a master. They were driven
out of the city, and from the neighboring mountains, and the banks of
the river, where they attempted to hold their assemblies; some expired
under torments, others were thrown into the Orontes. In the mean time,
Valens allowed the pagans to renew their sacri