E04186: Theodoret of Cyrrhus in his Ecclesiastical History recounts the victory of the emperor Theodosius I over the usurper Eugenius at the Battle of the Frigidus in 394, with the help of *John (Apostle and Evangelist, S00042) and *Philip (Apostle, S00109). Written in Greek at Cyrrhus (northern Syria), 444/450.

Theodoret of Cyrrhus, Ecclesiastical History, 5. 25 (24)

Hearing about the usurpation of Eugenius in Europe, Theodosius consults the ascetic Ioannes/John of Lycopolis in Egypt who predicts for him two victories, one bloodless and the second achieved after a great massacre. He sets off on his campaign, but his generals advise him to seek a truce and continue the war in springtime, because his forces are insufficient. He rejects the advice, saying that his troops are led by the cross, while the usurper’s are led by the image of Hercules. He spends the night praying at a chapel on a mountain and, around dawn, he has the following dream vision:

Περὶ δὲ ἀλεκτρυόνων ᾠδὰς ἐνίκησε μὲν ὁ ὕπνος τὴν γνώμην. ἐπὶ δὲ τοῦ δαπέδου χοῦ κείμενος ὁρᾶν ἐδόκει δύο τινὰς λευχειμονοῦντας ἄνδρας ἐφ’ ἵππων ὀχουμένους λευκῶν, οἳ θαρρεῖν τε ἐκέλευον καὶ τὸ δέος ἐξελάσαι καὶ ὑπὸ τὴν ἕω καθοπλίσαι καὶ τάξαι τὴν στρατιὰν εἰς παράταξιν· ἐπίκουροι γὰρ ἔλεγον ἀπεστάλθαι καὶ πρόμαχοι. καὶ ὁ μὲν Ἰωάννην ἑαυτὸν ἔλεγεν εἶναι τὸν εὐαγγελιστήν, ὁ δὲ Φίλιππον τὸν ἀπόστολον.

‘About cock-crow sleep overcame him. As he lay on the ground he thought that he saw two men in white garments riding white horses, who bade him be of good cheer and drive away his fear, and at dawn arm and marshal his army for battle. For, they said, they had been sent to help and fight for him. One said that he was John the Evangelist, and the other Philip the Apostle.’

The emperor descends from the mountain with his troops, and the usurper prepares his army for battle. Assuming that Theodosius is deliberately seeking certain death, Eugenius sets up his seat on a mound to watch, and orders that Theodosius be arrested and brought to him alive and fettered. Theodosius’ troops are way inferior in numbers. As they start firing arrows, a violent wind with dust blows against Eugenius’ troops, neutralising their fire, and allowing Theodosius’ troops to assail them easily. Seeing that God is on the emperor’s side, Eugenius’ soldiers surrender, they arrest the usurper and hand him over to Theodosius who has him executed.

Text: Hansen 1997.
Summary and Translation: E. Rizos.