The Dedication of the Church at Jerusalem, and the Banishment of Athanasius

The emperor ordered all the bishops who had been at the Council of Tyre, together with others from every quarter, to go on to Aelia to consecrate the churches he had built there. He also sent a number of officials of the kindest disposition, men known for their piety and faithfulness, and ordered them to provide plenty of food, not only for the bishops and those with them but for the vast crowds who streamed to Jerusalem from everywhere. The holy altar was adorned with imperial hangings and with golden vessels set with jewels. When the splendid festival was over, each bishop went home to his own diocese. The emperor was delighted when he heard how splendid and magnificent the ceremony had been, and he blessed the Author of all good for granting his prayer. [a]

Athanasius complained that he had been condemned unjustly, so the emperor ordered the bishops he was complaining about to appear at court. When they arrived, they dropped all their earlier slanders, because they knew how clearly those could be disproved. Instead they made it appear that Athanasius had threatened to stop the export of grain. The emperor believed them and banished him to a city of Gaul called Trier. This happened in the thirtieth year of the emperor’s reign. [b]