Valens Persecutes the Homoousians at Antioch

Of the two emperors, Valentinian quickly went to the western parts of the empire, since the state of affairs required him there. Meanwhile Valens stayed at Constantinople, and most of the bishops of the Macedonian heresy approached him with a request that another synod be called to correct the creed. The emperor, supposing that they agreed in their views with Eudoxius and Acacius, gave them permission, and so they made preparations to assemble in the city of Lampsacus. Valens, meanwhile, went with all possible speed toward Antioch in Syria. He was afraid that the Persians would break the thirty years’ treaty they had made in the reign of Jovian and invade Roman territory. The Persians, however, stayed quiet. Valens used this season of peace abroad to carry on a war of extermination against all who acknowledged the homoousion. Their bishop Paulinus he left alone, because of his outstanding piety. Meletius he punished with exile. All the rest, as many as refused to share communion with Euzoius, he drove out of the churches in Antioch and subjected to various losses and punishments. It is even said that he had many of them drowned in the Orontes, the river that flows past that city. [a]