ABSTRACT
Among imperial power and religious authority is also included the famous confrontation between Emperor Valens, who ruled in the Balkan and Eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, and St Basil, the uncontested leader of the church in Cappadocia. If Valens could not himself participate in high theological dialogue, he was clever enough to realise that it was necessary to engage good counsellors do it on his behalf. Valens reacted by making a gesture of clemency towards his opponents and exerted a rapid change of his religious policy. Several years have passed, instead of the apostate Julian, is now Valens, an emperor decided to introduce the Arianism, in its moderate aspect, with any price, in all Eastern provinces of the empire. Procopius took care to have the assured support of the Thracian troops, led by General Julius, who had been sent by Valens to secure the border against the Visigoths.
