While born into a Christian family, Theodosius was not [[baptize]]d until 380, when a serious sickness in [[Thessalonica ]] brought him to make the decision. He was baptized by the Orthodox bishop of Thessalonica, Ascholios, after assuring himself that the [[bishop]] was not an [[Arianism|Arian]]. From the start of his reign, a considerable part of Theodosius’ activities were spent defending the Orthodox faith and suppressing Arianism. In February 380, he joined with Gratian in a edict declaring that all subjects of their domains should profess the Orthodox faith. Upon entering Constantinople, Theodosius began to expel the Arian party from their hold there. St. [[Gregory the Theologian|Gregory of Nazianzus]] was elected patriarch of [[Church of Constantinople|Constantinople]] by the [[Second Ecumenical Council]], which had been called into session in 381 to deal with a number of issues, including the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Creed]], various [[heretic]]s, and the order of honor among the patriarchates.