Nicopolis

To Theodotus, Bishop of Nicopolis

God, the lover of mankind, who joins to our afflictions consolations of like measure, and comforts the lowly, lest they be unawares swallowed up by excessive grief, has brought us a comfort equal to the disturbances that have lately befallen us at Nicopolis, by setting over us at the right moment the most God-beloved bishop Jovinus;

When we had come as far as Nicopolis, in the hope both of setting right the disturbances that had arisen and of bringing what comfort we could to those whose conduct had been disorderly and contrary to the law of the Church, we were greatly disheartened not to find your Excellency there, but learned instead that you had set off in all haste, and this when the synod you were holding was almost at its midpoint.