His Earnest Prayer, and the Honor He Paid to the Feast of Easter

The emperor himself, as one who shared in the holy mysteries of our religion, would shut himself away every day at a set hour in the innermost rooms of his palace. There, alone with his God, he would kneel in humble prayer and ask for the blessings he needed. But at the saving feast of Easter above all, his devotion was doubled. He carried out, as it were, the duties of a hierophant with all the energy of his mind and body, and outdid everyone else in the zeal with which he celebrated this feast. He also turned the holy night vigil into a brightness like that of day, by having tall wax candles lit throughout the city. Besides these, torches everywhere spread their light, giving this mystic vigil a splendor brighter than day itself. As soon as day itself returned, imitating the gracious acts of our Savior, he opened a generous hand to his subjects of every nation, province, and people, and lavished abundant gifts on them all. [a]