Honorius, a Lover of God, and the Peace of the East

This is not the right place to go into the details of how the usurpers died. But I thought it necessary to mention it, in order to show that to keep imperial power secure it is enough for an emperor to serve God with reverence, as Honorius did. His sister Galla Placidia, born of the same father, lived with him, and she too was known for her real zeal in upholding religion and the churches. After Constantius, a brave and able general, had destroyed the usurper Constantine, the emperor rewarded him by giving him his sister in marriage. He also gave him the ermine and the purple and admitted him to a share in the government. Constantius did not long survive this promotion. He died soon afterward, leaving two children: Valentinian, who succeeded Honorius, and Honoria. Meanwhile the Eastern Empire was free from wars, and against all expectation its affairs were conducted in very good order, for its ruler was still a youth. It seems that God openly showed his favor toward the present emperor, not only by settling the business of war in unexpected ways, but also by revealing the holy bodies of many people who long ago were most distinguished for godliness. Among other relics, those of Zechariah, the very ancient prophet, and of Stephen, who was ordained deacon by the apostles, were found. It seems my duty to describe how this happened, since the finding of each was wonderful and divine. [a]