Damasus, who had served as an assistant…
370 CE
Damasus, who had served as an assistant deacon to Liberius since his installation in 352, wins the support of the Roman people to become pope on October 1, 366, following the death of Antipope Felix II.
Of Spanish descent, Damasus, uneasy at the growing power of Constantinople, attempts to strengthen his position by insisting on the apostolic foundations of the Roman see.
An adherent of orthodoxy, he works to suppress Arianism and other church heresies.
Two synods held in 368 and 369 had condemned the unorthodox teachings of Bishop Macedonius of Constantinople and of Bishop Apollinaris (the Younger) of Laodicea.
Among Damasus' literary remains are twenty-four anathemas against various fourth-century heresies.
With a view to the elimination of Arianism in the East, he enters into lengthy negotiations with Basil, who, as the new bishop of Caesarea, is head of the church throughout most of Anatolia (Turkey).
Their dealings are not a success: though united against Arianism, they fail to agree on policies.
Valentinian does, however, legislate in favor of Rome‘s university, the nursery of imperial officials, by his law of 370.
In this year, laws of Valentinian and Valens ban marriages between Romans and barbarians under penalty of death; an edict issued by both emperors bans the importation of wine and olive oil from areas controlled by the barbarians.
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