ABSTRACT
Before heading into the body of the study a brief overview will be provided of the wider context that frames the practices and beliefs to be examined. Although more stable than the century that preceded it, conditions in the fourth century could still prove difficult 1 and the period witnessed significant movement away from traditional norms in religious, social, political and economic activities. In the following pages an outline will be provided of the major changes and occurrences that affected Syria and Palestine in the fourth century.
