Persecution at Constantinople and Antioch

At Constantinople the Arians filled a boat with godly presbyters and sent it out to sea without ballast. They put some of their own men on another vessel, with orders to set the presbyters’ boat on fire. So, fighting against the sea and the flames at the same time, they were at last given up to the deep, and won the martyrs’ crown.

Valens spent a long time at Antioch. He gave complete freedom to all who preached doctrines contrary to those of the gospel, whether under cover of the Christian name or as pagans, Jews and the rest. The slaves of this error even went so far as to perform pagan rites. So the deceitful fire that Jovian had put out after Julian was now lit again with the permission of Valens. The rites of the Jews, of Dionysus and of Demeter were no longer performed in a corner, as they would be under a godly reign, but by revelers running wild in the forum. Valens was an enemy to no one except those who held the apostolic teaching. First he drove them out of their churches, the newly built church included, which the illustrious Jovian had also given them. Then they gathered close up against the mountain cliff to honor their Master with hymns and to enjoy the word of God, putting up with every assault of the weather, now rain, now snow and cold, and now fierce heat. But they were not allowed even this poor shelter, and troops were sent to scatter them far and wide. [a]