of the god, copied from Phidias' statue of Zeus at Olympia. Julian, suspecting angry Christians were responsible, ordered the cathedral of Antioch closed, and an investigation into the cause of the fire: Ammianus Marcellinus reports "a frivolous rumor" laid the blame to some candles lit by a worshipper late the previous night (XXII, 13). John Chrysostom claimed a bolt of lightning set the temple on fire. The remains of Babylas were reinterred in a church dedicated to him on the other side of the River Orontes. Near the close of his discourse John Chrysostom refers to the erection of the church dedicated to Babylas, and to the zeal of the Bishop Meletius in promoting it, who actually took part in the work with his own hands. This was the first recorded "translation" of the buried remains of a saint, something that was to become routine in the Middle Ages. The columns and walls of the ruined temple were still pointed out twenty years later. In the Middle Ages, the remains of Babylas are said to have been moved to Cremona. References Sources External links Text of St John Chrysostom's homily "On the Holy Martyr S. Babylas". St. Babilas at the Christian Iconography web site. 253 deaths Syrian Christian saints Patriarchs of Antioch 3rd-century archbishops 3rd-century Christian martyrs Year of birth unknown