The relations, however, between the two
metropolitans remained for some time strained. When in Armenia in
372, Basil arranged some differences between the bishops of that
district, and dissipated a cloud of calumny hanging over Cyril, an
Armenian bishop. Ep.
xcix. He also acceded
to a request on the part of the Church of Satala that he would nominate
a bishop for that see, and accordingly appointed Pœmenius, a
relation of his own. Epp.
cii., ciii. Later on a
certain Faustus, on the strength of a recommendation from a pope with
whom he was residing, applied to Basil for consecration to the see,
hitherto occupied by Cyril. With this request Basil declined to
comply, and required as a necessary preliminary the authorisation of
the Armenian bishops, specially of Theodotus of Nicopolis.
Faustus then betook himself to Anthimus, and succeeded in obtaining
uncanonical consecration from him. This was naturally a serious
cause of disagreement. Epp.
cxx., cxxi., cxxii. However, by
375, a better feeling seems to have existed between the rivals.
Basil is able at that date to speak of Anthimus as in complete
agreement with him. Ep.
ccx.