Arianism

: This article is about theological views like those of Arius. Aryan is an unrelated ethnic concept.

The Council of Nicea and its aftermath

In 321 Arius was denounced by a synod at Alexandria for teaching a heterodox view of the relationship of Jesus to God the Father. Because Arius and his followers had great influence in the schools of Alexandria — counterparts to modern universities or seminaries — their theological views spread, especially in the eastern Mediterranean. By 325 the controversy had become significant enough that Emperor Constantine called an assembly of bishops, the First Council of Nicaea (modern Iznik, Turkey), which condemned Arius' doctrine and formulated the Nicene Creed, which is still recited in Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant services. The Nicene Creed's central term, used to describe the relationship between the Father and the Son, is homoousios, meaning "of the same substance" or "of one being". (The Athanasian Creed is less often used but is a more overtly anti-Arian statement on the Trinity.)

Related Topics:
321 - Synod - 325 - First - Council - Nicaea - Nicene Creed - Catholic - Orthodox - Protestant - Homoousios - Athanasian Creed

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Constantine exiled those that refused to accept the Nicean creed - Arius himself, the deacon Euzoios and the Libyan bishops Theonas of Ptolemais and Secundus of Mamarica - and also the bishops that signed the creed but refused to join in Arius' condemnation, Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicea. The Emperor also ordered all copies of the Thalia, the book in which Arius had expressed his teachings in verses, to be burned. This ended the open theological dispute, though under the surface opposition to the Nicean creed remained.

Related Topics:
Eusebius of Nicomedia - Burned

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Though he was committed to maintaining what the church had defined at Nicea, Constantine was also bent on pacifying the situation and eventually became more lenient towards those condemned and exiled at the council. First he allowed Eusebius and Theognis to return once they had signed an ambigious statement of faith. The two and other friends of Arius worked for Arius' rehabilitation. At the synod of Tyre in 335 they brought accusations against Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, the primary opponent of Arius, and after this Constantine had Athanasius banished, since he considered him an impediment to reconciliation. In the same year the synod of Jerusalem readmitted Arius to communion and in 336 Constantine allowed Arius to return to his hometown. Arius however died on the day he was scheduled to depart from Constantinople. Eusebius and Theognis remained in the Emperor's favour and when Constantine, who had been a catechumen much of his adult life, accepted baptism on his deathbed, it was from Eusebius.

Related Topics:
335 - Athanasius - 336 - Catechumen - Baptism

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