ABSTRACT
After his death Theodosius was revered not only as a hero of the Christian faith but as a warrior for the Nicene doctrine and an implacable foe of ‘heretics’, particularly in the east where Constantius II and Valens had reaped god’s displeasure by supporting the hated Arians. Less than 20 years after his death Augustine paints a picture of his unceasing campaign against heresy from the very commencement of his reign, he did not cease to help the troubled church against the impious by most just and merciful laws, which the heretical Valens, favouring the Arians, had vehemently afflicted. Before examining Theodosius’ interactions with the eastern church it is worth looking at the religious landscape into which the emperor was about to venture. By the time Theodosius came to power, the Church was an ingrained part of society. During his recovery, Theodosius questioned the bishop about the state of the church in his new domain.
