Editing First Council of Constantinople (section)

===See of Constantinople===
The incumbent bishop of Constantinople was Demophilus, a [[homoiousia|Homoian]] Arian. On his accession to the imperial throne, Theodosius offered to confirm Demophilus as bishop of the imperial city on the condition of accepting the [[Nicene Creed]]; however, Demophilus refused to abandon his Arian beliefs, and was immediately ordered to give up his churches and leave Constantinople.<ref>{{harvnb|Onslow|1911}} cites Socr. H. E. v. 7.</ref><ref name="Butler2006">{{cite book|author=Alban Butler|title=The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints; Compiled from Original Monuments, and Other Authentic Records|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XeBclBLATNEC&pg=PA280|access-date=22 October 2011|date=May 2006|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|isbn=978-1-4286-1025-5|pages=280–}}</ref> After forty years under the control of Arian bishops, the churches of Constantinople were now restored to those who subscribed to the Nicene Creed; Arians were also ejected from the churches of other cities in the Eastern Roman Empire thus re-establishing Christian [[orthodoxy]] in the East.{{sfn|Onslow|1911}}

There ensued a contest to control the newly recovered see. A group led by [[Archbishop Maximus I of Constantinople|Maximus the Cynic]] gained the support of Patriarch Peter of Alexandria by playing on his jealousy of the newly created see of Constantinople. They conceived a plan to install a cleric subservient to Peter as bishop of Constantinople so that Alexandria would retain the leadership of the Eastern Churches.<ref name="The Church standard">{{cite book|title=The Church standard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kVJAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA125|access-date=21 October 2011|year=1906|publisher=Walter N. Hering|pages=125–}}</ref> Many commentators characterize Maximus as having been proud, arrogant and ambitious. However, it is not clear the extent to which Maximus sought this position due to his own ambition or if he was merely a pawn in the power struggle.{{citation needed|date=October 2011}} In any event, the plot was set into motion when, on a night when Gregory was confined by illness, the conspirators burst into the cathedral and commenced the consecration of Maximus as bishop of Constantinople. They had seated Maximus on the [[archiepiscopal]] throne and had just begun shearing away his long curls when the day dawned. The news of what was transpiring quickly spread and everybody rushed to the church. The [[magistrate]]s appeared with their officers; Maximus and his consecrators were driven from the cathedral, and ultimately completed the tonsure in the tenement of a flute-player.<ref name="McGuckinP318">McGuckin p. 318</ref>

The news of the brazen attempt to usurp the episcopal throne aroused the anger of the local populace among whom Gregory was popular. Maximus withdrew to [[Thessalonica]] to lay his cause before the emperor but met with a cold reception there. Theodosius committed the matter to [[Ascholius]], the much respected [[bishop of Thessalonica]], charging him to seek the counsel of [[Pope Damasus I]].<ref>{{harvnb|Venables|1911}} cites [[Migne]], ''[[Patrologia Latina]]'' xiii. pp. 366–369; Epp. 5, 5, 6.</ref>

Damasus' response repudiated Maximus summarily and advised Theodosius to summon a council of bishops for the purpose of settling various church issues such as the schism in Antioch and the consecration of a proper bishop for the see of Constantinople.<ref name="Lincoln.)1882">{{cite book|author=Christopher Wordsworth (bp. of Lincoln.)|title=A Church history|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-ICAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA312|access-date=21 October 2011|year=1882|publisher=Rivingtons|pages=312–}}</ref> Damasus condemned the translation of bishops from one see to another and urged Theodosius to "take care that a bishop who is above reproach is chosen for that see."<ref name="Marique1962">{{cite book|author=Joseph Marie Felix Marique|title=Leaders of Iberean Christianity, 50–650 A.D.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2kkbAAAAMAAJ|access-date=23 October 2011|year=1962|publisher=St. Paul Editions|page=59}}</ref>