The Tombs of Habakkuk and Micah; the Death of Theodosius

While the church everywhere was governed by these eminent men, the clergy and people were stirred to imitate their virtue and zeal. Nor was the church of this time made famous only by these shining examples of godliness, for the relics of the early prophets Habakkuk and, a little later, Micah came to light about this time. As I understand it, God made known the place where both these bodies lay by a divine vision in a dream to Zebennus, who was then serving as bishop of the church of Eleutheropolis. The relics of Habakkuk were found at Cela, a city formerly called Ceila. The tomb of Micah was found about a mile and a quarter from Cela, at a place called Berathsatia. The people of the country, not knowing what it was, called this tomb “the tomb of the faithful,” or in their own language, Nephsameemana. These events, which took place during the reign of Theodosius, were enough to bring good repute to the Christian religion. [a]

After his victory over Eugenius, the emperor Theodosius stayed for some time at Milan, and there he was struck by a serious illness. He remembered the prediction of the monk John and guessed that this sickness would be his death. He sent in haste to Constantinople for his son Honorius, and when he saw him at his side he seemed to be better, so that he was able to attend the games of the hippodrome. After dinner, however, he suddenly grew worse and sent word asking his son to preside over the spectacle. He died the following night. This took place in the consulship of the brothers Olybrius and Probinus. [c]