Chapter XXVIII.--The Illustrious Bishops of that Time.

1. Of these, the most eminent were Firmilianus, [2381] bishop of Cæsarea in Cappadocia; the brothers Gregory [2382] and Athenodorus, pastors of the churches in Pontus; Helenus [2383] of the parish of Tarsus, and Nicomas [2384] of Iconium; moreover, Hymenæus, [2385] of the church of Jerusalem, and Theotecnus [2386] of the neighboring church of Cæsarea; and besides these Maximus, [2387] who presided in a distinguished manner over the brethren in Bostra. If any should count them up he could not fail to note a great many others, besides presbyters and deacons, who were at that time assembled for the same cause in the above-mentioned city. [2388] But these were the most illustrious.

2. When all of these assembled at different times and frequently to consider these matters, the arguments and questions were discussed at every meeting; the adherents of the Samosatian endeavoring to cover and conceal his heterodoxy, and the others striving zealously to lay bare and make manifest his heresy and blasphemy against Christ.

3. Meanwhile, Dionysius died in the twelfth year of the reign of Gallienus, [2389] having held the episcopate of Alexandria for seventeen years, and Maximus [2390] succeeded him.

4. Gallienus after a reign of fifteen years [2391] was succeeded by Claudius, [2392] who in two years delivered the government to Aurelian.