Paul, Bishop of Constantinople

Paul, bishop of Constantinople, who faithfully held to orthodox doctrine, was accused by the unsound Arians of stirring up riots, and of the other crimes they usually charged against all who preached true piety. The people feared the schemes of his enemies and would not let him go to Sardica. The Arians took advantage of the emperor’s weakness and obtained from him an order banishing Paul, who was accordingly sent to Cucusus, a small town that was formerly counted part of Cappadocia but is now in Lesser Armenia. But these disturbers of the public peace were not satisfied with having driven the admirable Paul into a desert. They sent the agents of their cruelty to put him to a violent death. Saint Athanasius bears witness to this in the defense he wrote of his own flight. He uses these words: “They pursued Paul, bishop of Constantinople, and when they had seized him at Cucusus, a city of Cappadocia, they had him strangled. As their executioner they used Philip the prefect, who was the protector of their heresy and the active agent of their most atrocious plans.” [a] Such were the murders the blasphemy of Arius gave rise to. Their mad rage against the only Son was matched by cruel deeds against his servants.