Alexander Names Paul or Macedonius to Succeed Him

About the same time another disturbance, besides those we have recorded, arose at Constantinople, for the following reason. Alexander, who had presided over the churches in that city and had strongly opposed Arius, departed this life. He had held the office of bishop for twenty-three years and had lived ninety-eight years in all, and he had not ordained anyone to succeed him. But he had instructed the proper persons to choose one of two men whom he named. If they wanted someone able to teach and of outstanding godliness, they should elect Paul, whom he himself had ordained presbyter, a man young in years but advanced in understanding and good sense. But if they wanted a man of venerable appearance, with only the outward show of holiness, they might appoint Macedonius, who had long been a deacon among them and was old. [a]

From this arose a great contest over the choice of a bishop, which troubled the church greatly. Ever since the people had divided into two parties, one favoring the teachings of Arius and the other holding what the Council of Nicaea had defined, those who held that the Son is of one substance with the Father had always had the upper hand while Alexander lived, because the Arians disagreed among themselves and were constantly at odds in their opinions. But after that bishop died, the outcome of the struggle became uncertain. The defenders of the orthodox faith insisted on ordaining Paul, and the whole Arian party took up the cause of Macedonius. So Paul was ordained bishop in the church called Irene, which stands near the great church of Sophia. His election seemed to agree better with the wishes of the bishop who had died.