_Thessalonica_, with Five other Bishops of _Macedon_, had, at least a Year before, transmitted to _Damasus_ a minute Account of it, agreeing in every Particular with that which I have given above from _Gregory Nazianzen_[1179]. [Sidenote: _The Emperor’s Answer to their Letter._] The Letter from the Council caused no small Surprize in _Theodosius_: he was sensible they had suffered themselves to be grosly imposed upon; but, not judging it necessary to undeceive them, he only told them, in his Answer to their Letter, that the Reasons they alleged did not seem sufficient to him for assembling an Oecumenical Council, and giving so much Trouble to the Prelates of the Church; that they were not to concern themselves with what happened in the East, nor remove the Bounds, that had been wisely placed by their Fore-fathers between the East and the West; and that, as to the Affair of _Maximus_, by espousing his Cause they had betrayed either an unwarrantable Animosity against the Orientals, or an inexcusable Credulity in giving Credit to false and groundless Reports[1180]. [Sidenote: _A Council of all the Western Bishops assembled at_ Rome.] Upon the Receipt of this Letter, the _Italian_ Bishops, finding _Theodosius_ no ways disposed to assemble an Oecumenical Council, applied to _Gratian_, who not only granted them Leave to meet at _Rome_, the Place they chose, but dispatched Letters to all the Bishops both in the East and West, giving them Notice of the Time and Place, in which the Council was to be held, and inviting them to it[1181]. But of all the Eastern Bishops, Two only complied with this Invitation; _viz._ _Epiphanius_ Bishop of _Salamis_ in the Island of _Cyprus_, and _Paulinus_, whom all the West acknowleged for lawful Bishop of _Antioch_. The Western Bishops were all present, either in Person, or by their Deputies; and _Damasus_ presided[1182]. But, as to the Transactions of this great Assembly, we are almost intirely in the Dark; for all we know of them is, that they unanimously agreed not to communicate with _Flavianus_, the new Bishop of _Antioch_, nor with _Diodorus_ of _Tarsus_, or _Acacius_ of _Berœa_, who had been chiefly instrumental in his Promotion; that they condemned the Heresy of _Apollinaris_; and that, at the Request of _Damasus_, a Confession of Faith was drawn up by _Jerom_, and approved by the Council, which the _Apollinarists_ were to sign, upon their being re-admitted to the Communion of the Church[1183]. As for _Maximus_, they seem to have abandoned his Cause, being, in all Likelihood, undeceived, with respect to his Ordination, by _Acholius_ Bishop of _Thessalonica_, and St. _Jerom_, who assisted at the Council, and could not be Strangers to the Character of _Maximus_, nor unacquainted with the scandalous Methods by which he had attained the Episcopal Dignity. [Sidenote: _The Misunderstanding between the East and the West increased._]