Church History

1. But the tyrant who, as we have said, ruled over the districts of the Orient, a thorough hater of the good and an enemy of every virtuous person, as he was, could no longer bear this; and indeed he did not permit matters to go on in this way quite six months. [2719] Devising all possible means of destroying the peace, he first attempted to restrain us, under a pretext, [2720] from meeting in the cemeteries.

2. Then through the agency of some wicked men he sent an embassy to himself against us, [2721] inciting the citizens of Antioch to ask from him as a very great favor that he would by no means permit any of the Christians to dwell in their country; and others were secretly induced to do the same thing. The author of all this in Antioch was Theotecnus, [2722] a violent and wicked man, who was an impostor, and whose character was foreign to his name. [2723] He appears to have been the curator [2724] of the city.