Chapter XI
.—
The
Emperor Julian extracts Money from the Christians.
Although
at the beginning of
his reign the Emperor Julian conducted himself mildly toward
all men; but as he went on he did not
continue to show the same equanimity. He most readily indeed acceded to
the requests of the Christians, when they tended in any way to cast
odium on the memory of Constantius; but when this inducement did not
exist, he made no effort to conceal the rancorous feelings which he
entertained towards Christians in general. Accordingly he soon ordered
that the church of the Novatians at Cyzicus, which Euzoïus had
totally demolished, should be rebuilt, imposing a very heavy penalty
upon Eleusius bishop of that city, if he failed to complete that
structure at his own expense within the space of two months. Moreover,
he favored the pagan superstitions with the whole weight of his
authority: and the temples of the heathen were opened, as we have
before stated;
515
but he himself also publicly offered sacrifices to Fortune, goddess of
Constantinople, in the cathedral,
516
where her image was erected.
515
Chap. 1.
516
βασιλικῇ
. On the
origin and history of the term, see Bennett, Christian Archæology,
pp. 157–163. The special basilica meant here was situated,
according to Valesius, in the fourth precinct, and alone called
βασιλική
, or
‘cathedral’ without qualification. The ‘Theodosian
cathedral’ was situated in the seventh ward.