Maximus Succeeds Macarius at Jerusalem

About this time Mark, who had succeeded Silvester and had held the office of bishop for only a short time, died, and Julius was raised to the see of Rome. Maximus succeeded Macarius in the bishopric of Jerusalem. It is said that Macarius had ordained him bishop over the church of Diospolis, but that the members of the church of Jerusalem insisted on his staying among them. For since he was a confessor, and excellent in other ways as well, the people had secretly chosen him beforehand, with their approval, to be their bishop once Macarius should die. Fear of offending the people and stirring up an uprising led to the election of another bishop for Diospolis. Maximus stayed in Jerusalem and carried out the priestly duties together with Macarius, and after Macarius died he governed that church. [a]

It is well known, however, to those who are closely acquainted with these matters, that Macarius agreed with the people in their wish to keep Maximus. For it is said that he regretted having ordained Maximus, and thought that he ought by all means to have been kept for his own succession, because of his right views about God and his confession, which had made him so dear to the people. He was also afraid that at his death the followers of Eusebius and Patrophilus, who had embraced Arianism, would seize the opportunity to put one of their own views in his see. For even while Macarius was living they had tried to bring in some innovations; but since they were to be kept apart from him, they kept quiet for that reason.