Ecclesiastical History — Book V

St. Jerome

  1. 1. Of the piety of the emperor Gratianus
  2. 2. Of the return of the bishops
  3. 3. — Of the dissension caused by Paulinus; of the innovation by Apollinarius of Laodicea, and of the philosophy of Meletius
  4. 4. Of Eusebius Bishop of Samosata
  5. 5. Of the campaign of Theodosius
  6. 6. Of the reign of Theodosius and of his dream
  7. 7. Of famous leaders of the Arianfaction.
  8. 8. The council assembled at Constantinople
  9. 9. Synodical letter from the council at Constantinople
  10. 10. — Synodical letter of Damasus bishop of Rome against Apollinarius and Timotheus.
  11. 11. A confession of the Catholic faithwhich Pope Damasus sent to Bishop Paulinus in Macedonia when he was at Thessalonica
  12. 12. Of the death of Gratianus and the sovereignty of Maximus
  13. 13. Of Justina, the wife of Valentinianus, and of her plot against Ambrosius.
  14. 14. Of the information given by Maximus the tyrant to Valentinianus
  15. 15. Of the Letter written by the Emperor Theodosius concerning the same
  16. 16. Of Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium
  17. 17. Of the massacre of Thessalonica; the boldness of Bishop Ambrosius, and the piety of the Emperor
  18. 18. Of the Empress Placilla.
  19. 19. Of the sedition of Antioch.
  20. 20. Of the destruction of the temples all over the Empire.
  21. 21. Of Marcellus, bishop of Apamea, and the idols' temples destroyed by him.
  22. 22. Of Theophilus, bishop of Alexandria, and what happened at the demolition of the idols in that city
  23. 23. Of Flavianus bishop of Antioch and of the sedition which arose in the western Church on account of Paulinus
  24. 24. Of the tyranny of Eugenius and the victory won through faithby the Emperor Theodosius
  25. 25. Of the death of the Emperor Theodosius.
  26. 26. Of Honorius the emperor and Telemachus the monk
  27. 27. Of the piety of the emperor Arcadius and the ordination of John Chrysostom.
  28. 28. Of John's boldness for God
  29. 29. Of the idol temples which were destroyed by John in Phœnicia
  30. 30. Of the church of the Goths
  31. 31. Of his care for the Scythians and his zealagainst the Marcionists
  32. 32. Of the demand made by Gainas and of John Chrysostom's reply
  33. 33. Of the ambassage of Chrysostom to Gainas
  34. 34. Of the events which happened on account of Chrysostom
  35. 35. Of Alexander, bishop of Antioch
  36. 36. Of the removal of the remains of John and of the faith of Theodosius and his sisters
  37. 37. Of Theodotus bishop of Antioch
  38. 38. Of the persecutions in Persia and of them that were martyredthere.
  39. 39. Of Theodorus, bishop of Mopsuestia

How the Lord God is long suffering towards those who rage against him, and chastises those who abuse his patience, is plainly taught by the acts and by the fate of Valens. For the loving Lord uses mercy and justice like weights and scales; whenever he sees any one by the greatness of his errors over-stepping the bounds of loving kindness, by just punishment He hinders him from being carried to further extremes.

Now Gratianus, the son of Valentinianus, and nephew of Valens, acquired the whole Roman Empire. He had already assumed the sceptre of Europe on the death of his father, in whose life-time he had shared the throne. On the death of Valens without issue he acquired in addition Asia, and the portions of Libya.