Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/123

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Those who attended the Council were three hundred and eighteen in number; and, to these, the emperor manifested great kindness, addressing them with much gentleness, and presenting them with gifts. He ordered numerous seats to be prepared for the accommodation of all during the repast to which he invited them. Those, who were most worthy, he received at his own table, and provided other seats for the rest. Observing that some among them had had the right eye torn out, and learning that this suffering had been undergone for the sake of religion, he placed his lips upon the wounds, believing, that blessing would thence result. After the conclusion of the feast, he again presented other gifts to them. He then wrote to the governors of the provinces [or other officers], directing, that money should be given in every city to orphans and widows, and to those who were consecrated to the divine service; and he fixed the amount of their annual allowance more according to the impulse of his own generosity, than to the exigencies of their condition. …

Some quarrelsome individuals wrote accusations against certain bishops, and presented the catalogue of crime to the emperor. This occurring before the restoration of concord, he received the lists, formed