Valens Forces Eleusius to Sign

Having ended the conflict successfully in this way, the emperor at once began to move against the Christians, intending to bring every sect over to Arianism. He was especially angry with those who had made up the synod at Lampsacus, not only because they had deposed the Arian bishops, but because they had anathematized the creed published at Ariminum. So when he arrived at Nicomedia in Bithynia, he sent for Eleusius, bishop of Cyzicus, who, as I said before, held closely to the opinions of Macedonius. The emperor called together a council of Arian bishops and commanded Eleusius to agree to their faith. At first he refused. But when he was terrified with threats of banishment and confiscation of his property, he gave way and agreed to the Arian belief. Immediately afterward, however, he repented. He went back to Cyzicus and complained bitterly before all the people, declaring that he had given in to force and not by his own choice. Then he urged them to look for another bishop, since he had been compelled to renounce his own opinion. But the people of Cyzicus loved and revered him too much to think of losing him. They refused to be subject to any other bishop and would not let him withdraw from his church. And so, continuing under his oversight, they remained steadfast in their own heresy.