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NovATus. A. D. 251. 99
' good word for the church under his care. As for the
' Cataphryg'ians, in other parts of the empire they declined,
' as most others did, excepting- only in Phrygia, and the
' neighbouring- countries ; where from the time of Montanus,
' they have been numerous, and still continue so to be.'
The Novatians suffered together with the catholics in the
Arian persecution under Constantius, about' the year 356.
Agelius, then bishop of the Novatians at Constantinople,''
saved himself by flight: but many of his people, eminent
for piety, suffered greatly at that time. ' The Arians,' as
Socrates' says, ' demolished many churches in divers cities,
' by orders of Macedonius, their bishop at Constantinople.
' The emperor's edict, and the violence of Macedonius,
' threatened likewise a church of the Novatians at Constan-
' tinople. Its ruin was near, and the persons were at hand
' to whom the execution was committed : but the Novatians
' prevented them after a sort ; for, gathering together in a
' great multitude, and being assisted likewise by a good
' number of well-meaning catholics, they pulled down the
' church, and conveyed all the materials to another place
' without the city.' So writes Socrates. And Sozomen""
confirms his account. About the same time the church" of
the Novatians at Cyzicum was quite demolished by Eleusius,
the Arian bishop at that city, an intimate fi-iend
mentioned Macedonius.
of the fore-
The Novatians hoM ever had honourable satisfaction made
them afterwards. With the leave" of the emperor Julian
they rebuilt their church at Constantinople in a splendid
manner, calling it now Anastasia. As for their church that
had been pulled down at Cyzicum, Julian sent? orders to
Eleusius to rebuild it in two months' time at his own expense,
upon the pain of a very heavy forfeiture.
Under i was
Valens again, the Novatians, as well as others who
held the consubstantial doctrine, were forbidden to worship
at Constantinople. The churches of the Novatians Avere shut
up, and their bishop Agelius was banished : but the emperor's
displeasure against the "^ Novatians
moderated by
3Iarcian, a pious and learned man, who formerly had a
military post in the imperial palace, but was now presbyter
' See Tillemont, Mem. Tom. vi. P. ii. Les Ariens, Art. 63.
^ Vid. Socrat. lib. li. cap. 38. p. 142. B. C.
' Ka07jpsv fitv nv oi apiavi^ovrtc, MaiciCovM KeXtvomog, aX\a^ n iroKKac
Kara ttoXhq SKKXrjffiag. Socrat. ib. p. 143. A. "' L. iv. cap. 20. p.
570. C. D. " Socrat. 1. ii. cap. 38. p. 144. A. B.
" Socr. ib. p. 143. D. 144. A. p Socrat. 1. iii. cap. 1 1. Sozom. I.
V. cap. 5. p. 601. "i Vid. Socra*. 1. iv. cap. 9.
Socr. ib. et 1. v. cap. 21.
H 2