E04544: In his Church History, Rufinus of Aquileia, writing in Latin c. 402 in Aquileia (North Italy), describes the Emperor Theodosius I's preparations for the war in the years 392-394, which included prayers at the tombs of the Apostles and martyrs.

Rufinus of Aquileia, Church History 11.33

Rufinus describes the emeperor Theodosius I's preparations for the war against Eugenius (AD 392-394). Theodosius is at Constantinople.

Igitur praeparatur ad bellum non tam armorum telorum que quam ieiuniorum orationum que subsidiis, nec tam excubiarum vigiliis quam obsecrationum pernoctatione munitus, circumibat cum sacerdotibus et populo omnia orationum loca, ante martyrum et apostolorum thecas iacebat cilicio prostratus et auxilia sibi fida sanctorum intercessione poscebat.

'He made ready then for war by arming himself not so much with weapons as with fasts and prayers; guarded not so much by the night watch as by nightly vigils in prayer, he would go around all the places of prayer with the priests and people, lie prostrate in sackcloth before the tombs (thecae) of the martyrs and apostles, and implore assistance through the faithful intercession of the saints.'

Text: Mommsen 1909, 1037. Translation: Amidon 1997, 87.