catholic encyclopedia_ arianism.pdf

6/6/2015 CATHOLICENCYCLOPEDIA:Arianism

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Aheresywhicharoseinthefourthcentury,anddeniedtheDivinityofJesusChrist.

Doctrine

FirstamongthedoctrinaldisputeswhichtroubledChristiansafterConstantinehadrecognizedtheChurchinA.D.313,andtheparentofmanymoreduringsomethreecenturies,Arianismoccupiesalargeplaceinecclesiasticalhistory.Itisnotamodernformofunbelief,andthereforewillappearstrangeinmoderneyes.ButweshallbettergraspitsmeaningifwetermitanEasternattempttorationalizethecreedbystrippingitofmysterysofarastherelationofChristtoGodwasconcerned.IntheNewTestamentandinChurchteachingJesusofNazarethappearsastheSonofGod.ThisnameHetooktoHimself(Matthew11:27John10:36),whiletheFourthGospeldeclaresHimtobetheWord(Logos),WhointhebeginningwaswithGodandwasGod,byWhomallthingsweremade.AsimilardoctrineislaiddownbySt.Paul,inhisundoubtedlygenuineEpistlestotheEphesians,Colossians,andPhilippians.ItisreiteratedintheLettersofIgnatius,andaccountsforPliny'sobservationthatChristiansintheirassemblieschantedahymntoChristasGod.ButthequestionhowtheSonwasrelatedtotheFather(HimselfacknowledgedonallhandstobetheoneSupremeDeity),gaverise,betweentheyearsA.D.60and200,toanumberofTheosophicsystems,calledgenerallyGnosticism,andhavingfortheirauthorsBasilides,Valentinus,Tatian,andotherGreekspeculators.ThoughallofthesevisitedRome,theyhadnofollowingintheWest,whichremainedfreefromcontroversiesofanabstractnature,andwasfaithfultothecreedofitsbaptism.IntellectualcentreswerechieflyAlexandriaandAntioch,EgyptianorSyrian,andspeculationwascarriedoninGreek.TheRomanChurchheldsteadfastlybytradition.Underthesecircumstances,whenGnosticschoolshadpassedawaywiththeir"conjugations"ofDivinepowers,and"emanations"fromtheSupremeunknowableGod(the"Deep"andthe"Silence")allspeculationwasthrownintotheformofaninquirytouchingthe"likeness"oftheSontoHisFatherand"sameness"ofHisEssence.CatholicshadalwaysmaintainedthatChristwastrulytheSon,andtrulyGod.TheyworshippedHimwithdivinehonourstheywouldneverconsenttoseparateHim,inideaorreality,



fromtheFather,WhoseWord,Reason,Mind,Hewas,andinWhoseHeartHeabodefrometernity.ButthetechnicaltermsofdoctrinewerenotfullydefinedandeveninGreekwordslikeessence(ousia),substance(hypostasis),nature(physis),person(hyposopon)boreavarietyofmeaningsdrawnfromthepreChristiansectsofphilosophers,whichcouldnotbutentailmisunderstandingsuntiltheywereclearedup.TheadaptationofavocabularyemployedbyPlatoandAristotletoChristiantruthwasamatteroftimeitcouldnotbedoneinadayandwhenaccomplishedfortheGreekithadtobeundertakenfortheLatin,whichdidnotlenditselfreadilytonecessaryyetsubtledistinctions.Thatdisputesshouldspringupevenamongtheorthodoxwhoallheldonefaith,wasinevitable.Andofthesewranglingstherationalistwouldtakeadvantageinordertosubstitutefortheancientcreedhisowninventions.Thedriftofallheadvancedwasthis:todenythatinanytruesenseGodcouldhaveaSonasMohammedterselysaidafterwards,"Godneitherbegets,norisHebegotten"(Koran,112).WehavelearnedtocallthatdenialUnitarianism.ItwastheultimatescopeofArianoppositiontowhatChristianshadalwaysbelieved.ButtheArian,thoughhedidnotcomestraightdownfromtheGnostic,pursuedalineofargumentandtaughtaviewwhichthespeculationsoftheGnostichadmadefamiliar.HedescribedtheSonasasecond,orinferiorGod,standingmidwaybetweentheFirstCauseandcreaturesasHimselfmadeoutofnothing,yetasmakingallthingselseasexistingbeforetheworldsoftheagesandasarrayedinalldivineperfectionsexcepttheonewhichwastheirstayandfoundation.Godalonewaswithoutbeginning,unoriginatetheSonwasoriginated,andoncehadnotexisted.Forallthathasoriginmustbegintobe.

SuchisthegenuinedoctrineofArius.UsingGreekterms,itdeniesthattheSonisofoneessence,nature,orsubstancewithGodHeisnotconsubstantial(homoousios)withtheFather,andthereforenotlikeHim,orequalindignity,orcoeternal,orwithintherealsphereofDeity.TheLogoswhichSt.Johnexaltsisanattribute,Reason,belongingtotheDivinenature,notapersondistinctfromanother,andthereforeisaSonmerelyinfigureofspeech.TheseconsequencesfollowupontheprinciplewhichAriusmaintainsinhislettertoEusebiusofNicomedia,thattheSon"isnopartoftheIngenerate."HencetheAriansectarieswhoreasonedlogicallywerestyledAnomoeans:theysaidthattheSonwas"unlike"theFather.AndtheydefinedGodassimplytheUnoriginate.TheyarealsotermedtheExucontians(exoukonton),becausetheyheldthecreationoftheSontobeoutofnothing.

Butaviewsounliketraditionfoundlittlefavouritrequiredsofteningorpalliation,evenatthecostoflogicandtheschoolwhichsupplantedArianismfromanearlydateaffirmedthelikeness,eitherwithoutadjunct,orinallthings,orinsubstance,oftheSontotheFather,whiledenyingHiscoequaldignityandcoeternalexistence.ThesemenoftheViaMediawerenamedSemiArians.Theyapproached,instrictargument,tothehereticalextremebutmanyofthemheldtheorthodoxfaith,howeverinconsistentlytheirdifficultiesturneduponlanguageorlocalprejudice,andnosmallnumbersubmittedat



lengthtoCatholicteaching.TheSemiAriansattemptedforyearstoinventacompromisebetweenirreconcilableviews,andtheirshiftingcreeds,tumultuouscouncils,andworldlydevicestellushowmixedandmotleyacrowdwascollectedundertheirbanner.Thepointtobekeptinremembranceisthat,whiletheyaffirmedtheWordofGodtobeeverlasting,theyimaginedHimashavingbecometheSontocreatetheworldsandredeemmankind.AmongtheanteNicenewriters,acertainambiguityofexpressionmaybedetected,outsidetheschoolofAlexandria,touchingthislastheadofdoctrine.WhileCatholicteachersheldtheMonarchia,viz.thattherewasonlyoneGodandtheTrinity,thatthisAbsoluteOneexistedinthreedistinctsubsistencesandtheCircumincession,thatFather,Word,andSpiritcouldnotbeseparated,infactorinthought,fromoneanotheryetanopeningwasleftfordiscussionasregardedtheterm"Son,"andtheperiodofHis"generation"(gennesis).FiveanteNiceneFathersareespeciallyquoted:Athenagoras,Tatian,TheophilusofAntioch,Hippolytus,andNovatian,whoselanguageappearstoinvolveapeculiarnotionofSonship,asthoughItdidnotcomeintobeingorwerenotperfectuntilthedawnofcreation.TothesemaybeaddedTertullianandMethodius.CardinalNewmanheldthattheirview,whichisfoundclearlyinTertullian,oftheSonexistingaftertheWord,isconnectedasanantecedentwithArianism.PetaviusconstruedthesameexpressionsinareprehensiblesensebuttheAnglicanBishopBulldefendedthemasorthodox,notwithoutdifficulty.Evenifmetaphorical,suchlanguagemightgivesheltertounfairdisputantsbutwearenotanswerablefortheslipsofteacherswhofailedtoperceivealltheconsequencesofdoctrinaltruthsreallyheldbythem.FromthesedoubtfultheorizingsRomeandAlexandriakeptaloof.Origenhimself,whoseunadvisedspeculationswerechargedwiththeguiltofArianism,andwhoemployedtermslike"thesecondGod,"concerningtheLogos,whichwereneveradoptedbytheChurchthisveryOrigentaughttheeternalSonshipoftheWord,andwasnotaSemiArian.TohimtheLogos,theSon,andJesusofNazarethwereoneeversubsistingDivinePerson,begottenoftheFather,and,inthisway,"subordinate"tothesourceofHisbeing.HecomesforthfromGodasthecreativeWord,andsoisaministeringAgent,or,fromadifferentpointofview,istheFirstbornofcreation.DionysiusofAlexandria(260)wasevendenouncedatRomeforcallingtheSonaworkorcreatureofGodbutheexplainedhimselftothepopeonorthodoxprinciples,andconfessedtheHomoousianCreed.

History

PaulofSamosata,whowascontemporarywithDionysius,andBishopofAntioch,maybejudgedthetrueancestorofthoseheresieswhichrelegatedChristbeyondtheDivinesphere,whateverepithetsofdeitytheyallowedHim.ThemanJesus,saidPaul,wasdistinctfromtheLogos,and,inMilton'slaterlanguage,bymeritwasmadetheSonofGod.TheSupremeisoneinPersonasinEssence.ThreecouncilsheldatAntioch(264268,or269)condemnedandexcommunicatedtheSamosatene.ButtheseFatherswouldnotaccepttheHomoousianformula,dreadinglestitbetakentosignifyonematerialorabstractsubstance,accordingtotheusageoftheheathenphilosophies.Associatedwith



Paul,andforyearscutofffromtheCatholiccommunion,wefindthewellknownLucian,whoeditedtheSeptuagintandbecameatlastamartyr.FromthislearnedmantheschoolofAntiochdrewitsinspiration.Eusebiusthehistorian,EusebiusofNicomedia,andAriushimself,allcameunderLucian'sinfluence.Not,therefore,toEgyptanditsmysticalteaching,buttoSyria,whereAristotleflourishedwithhislogicanditstendencytoRationalism,shouldwelookforthehomeofanaberrationwhichhaditfinallytriumphed,wouldhaveanticipatedIslam,reducingtheEternalSontotherankofaprophet,andthusundoingtheChristianrevelation.

Arius,aLibyanbydescent,broughtupatAntiochandaschoolfellowofEusebius,afterwardsBishopofNicomedia,tookpart(306)intheobscureMeletianschism,wasmadepresbyterofthechurchcalled"Baucalis,"atAlexandria,andopposedtheSabellians,themselvescommittedtoaviewoftheTrinitywhichdeniedallrealdistinctionsintheSupreme.Epiphaniusdescribestheheresiarchastall,grave,andwinningnoaspersiononhismoralcharacterhasbeensustainedbutthereissomepossibilityofpersonaldifferenceshavingledtohisquarrelwiththepatriarchAlexanderwhom,inpublicsynod,heaccusedofteachingthattheSonwasidenticalwiththeFather(319).TheactualcircumstancesofthisdisputeareobscurebutAlexandercondemnedAriusinagreatassembly,andthelatterfoundarefugewithEusebius,theChurchhistorian,atCaesarea.Politicalorpartymotivesembitteredthestrife.ManybishopsofAsiaMinorandSyriatookupthedefenceoftheir"fellowLucianist,"asAriusdidnothesitatetocallhimself.SynodsinPalestineandBithyniawereopposedtosynodsinEgypt.Duringseveralyearstheargumentragedbutwhen,byhisdefeatofLicinius(324),ConstantinebecamemasteroftheRomanworld,hedeterminedonrestoringecclesiasticalorderintheEast,asalreadyintheWesthehadundertakentoputdowntheDonatistsattheCouncilofArles.Arius,inalettertotheNicomedianprelate,hadboldlyrejectedtheCatholicfaith.ButConstantine,tutoredbythisworldlymindedman,sentfromNicomediatoAlexanderafamousletter,inwhichhetreatedthecontroversyasanidledisputeaboutwordsandenlargedontheblessingsofpeace.Theemperor,weshouldcalltomind,wasonlyacatechumen,imperfectlyacquaintedwithGreek,muchmoreincompetentintheology,andyetambitioustoexerciseovertheCatholicChurchadominionresemblingthatwhich,asPontifexMaximus,hewieldedoverthepaganworship.FromthisByzantineconception(labelledinmoderntermsErastianism)wemustderivethecalamitieswhichduringmanyhundredsofyearssettheirmarkonthedevelopmentofChristiandogma.Alexandercouldnotgivewayinamattersovitallyimportant.Ariusandhissupporterswouldnotyield.Acouncilwas,therefore,assembledinNicaea,inBithynia,whichhaseverbeencountedthefirstecumenical,andwhichhelditssittingsfromthemiddleofJune,325.(SeeFIRSTCOUNCILOFNICAEA).ItiscommonlysaidthatHosiusofCordovapresided.ThePope,St.Silvester,wasrepresentedbyhislegates,and318Fathersattended,almostallfromtheEast.Unfortunately,theactsoftheCouncilarenotpreserved.Theemperor,whowaspresent,paidreligiousdeferencetoagatheringwhichdisplayedtheauthorityofChristianteachinginamannerso



remarkable.FromthefirstitwasevidentthatAriuscouldnotreckonuponalargenumberofpatronsamongthebishops.Alexanderwasaccompaniedbyhisyouthfuldeacon,theevermemorableAthanasiuswhoengagedindiscussionwiththeheresiarchhimself,andfromthatmomentbecametheleaderoftheCatholicsduringwellnighfiftyyears.TheFathersappealedtotraditionagainsttheinnovators,andwerepassionatelyorthodoxwhilealetterwasreceivedfromEusebiusofNicomedia,declaringopenlythathewouldneverallowChristtobeofonesubstancewithGod.Thisavowalsuggestedameansofdiscriminatingbetweentruebelieversandallthosewho,underthatpretext,didnotholdtheFaithhandeddown.AcreedwasdrawnuponbehalfoftheArianpartybyEusebiusofCaesareainwhicheverytermofhonouranddignity,excepttheonenessofsubstance,wasattributedtoOurLord.Clearly,then,noothertestsavetheHomoousionwouldproveamatchforthesubtleambiguitiesoflanguagethat,thenasalways,wereeagerlyadoptedbydissidentsfromthemindoftheChurch.Aformulahadbeendiscoveredwhichwouldserveasatest,thoughnotsimplytobefoundinScripture,yetsummingupthedoctrineofSt.John,St.Paul,andChristHimself,"IandtheFatherareone".Heresy,asSt.Ambroseremarks,hadfurnishedfromitsownscabbardaweapontocutoffitshead.The"consubstantial"wasaccepted,onlythirteenbishopsdissenting,andthesewerespeedilyreducedtoseven.Hosiusdrewouttheconciliarstatements,towhichanathemasweresubjoinedagainstthosewhoshouldaffirmthattheSononcedidnotexist,orthatbeforeHewasbegottenHewasnot,orthatHewasmadeoutofnothing,orthatHewasofadifferentsubstanceoressencefromtheFather,orwascreatedorchangeable.Everybishopmadethisdeclarationexceptsix,ofwhomfouratlengthgaveway.EusebiusofNicomediawithdrewhisoppositiontotheNiceneterm,butwouldnotsignthecondemnationofArius.Bytheemperor,whoconsideredheresyasrebellion,thealternativeproposedwassubscriptionorbanishmentand,onpoliticalgrounds,theBishopofNicomediawasexilednotlongafterthecouncil,involvingAriusinhisruin.TheheresiarchandhisfollowersunderwenttheirsentenceinIllyria.Buttheseincidents,whichmightseemtoclosethechapter,provedabeginningofstrife,andledontothemostcomplicatedproceedingsofwhichwereadinthefourthcentury.WhiletheplainAriancreedwasdefendedbyfew,thosepoliticalprelateswhosidedwithEusebiuscarriedonadoublewarfareagainsttheterm"consubstantial",anditschampion,Athanasius.ThisgreatestoftheEasternFathershadsucceededAlexanderintheEgyptianpatriarchate(326).Hewasnotmorethanthirtyyearsofagebuthispublishedwritings,antecedenttotheCouncil,display,inthoughtandprecision,amasteryoftheissuesinvolvedwhichnoCatholicteachercouldsurpass.Hisunblemishedlife,consideratetemper,andloyaltytohisfriendsmadehimbynomeanseasytoattack.ButthewilesofEusebius,whoin328recoveredConstantine'sfavour,weresecondedbyAsiaticintrigues,andaperiodofArianreactionsetin.EustathiusofAntiochwasdeposedonachargeofSabellianism(331),andtheEmperorsenthiscommandthatAthanasiusshouldreceiveAriusbackintocommunion.Thesaintfirmlydeclined.In325theheresiarchwasabsolvedbytwocouncils,atTyreandJerusalem,theformerofwhichdeposedAthanasiusonfalseandshamefulgroundsofpersonalmisconduct.HewasbanishedtoTrier,andhissojournof



eighteenmonthsinthosepartscementedAlexandriamorecloselytoRomeandtheCatholicWest.Meanwhile,Constantia,theEmperor'ssister,hadrecommendedArius,whomshethoughtaninjuredman,toConstantine'sleniency.Herdyingwordsaffectedhim,andherecalledtheLybian,extractedfromhimasolemnadhesiontotheNicenefaith,andorderedAlexander,BishopoftheImperialCity,togivehimCommunioninhisownchurch(336).Ariusopenlytriumphedbutashewentaboutinparade,theeveningbeforethiseventwastotakeplace,heexpiredfromasuddendisorder,whichCatholicscouldnothelpregardingasajudgmentofheaven,duetothebishop'sprayers.Hisdeath,however,didnotstaytheplague.ConstantinenowfavourednonebutArianshewasbaptizedinhislastmomentsbytheshiftyprelateofNicomediaandhebequeathedtohisthreesons(337)anempiretornbydissensionswhichhisignoranceandweaknesshadaggravated.

Constantius,whonominallygovernedtheEast,washimselfthepuppetofhisempressandthepalaceministers.HeobeyedtheEusebianfactionhisspiritualdirector,Valens,BishopofMursa,didwhatinhimlaytoinfectItalyandtheWestwithAriandogmas.Theterm"likeinsubstance",Homoiousion,whichhadbeenemployedmerelytogetridoftheNiceneformula,becameawatchword.Butasmanyasfourteencouncils,heldbetween341and360,inwhicheveryshadeofhereticalsubterfugefoundexpression,boredecisivewitnesstotheneedandefficacyoftheCatholictouchstonewhichtheyallrejected.About340,anAlexandriangatheringhaddefendeditsarchbishopinanepistletoPopeJulius.OnthedeathofConstantine,andbytheinfluenceofthatemperor'ssonandnamesake,hehadbeenrestoredtohispeople.Buttheyoungprincepassedaway,andin341thecelebratedAntiocheneCounciloftheDedicationasecondtimedegradedAthanasius,whonowtookrefugeinRome.Therehespentthreeyears.Gibbonquotesandadopts"ajudiciousobservation"ofWetsteinwhichdeservestobekeptalwaysinmind.Fromthefourthcenturyonwards,remarkstheGermanscholar,whentheEasternChurcheswerealmostequallydividedineloquenceandabilitybetweencontendingsections,thatpartywhichsoughttoovercomemadeitsappearanceintheVatican,cultivatedthePapalmajesty,conqueredandestablishedtheorthodoxcreedbythehelpoftheLatinbishops.ThereforeitwasthatAthanasiusrepairedtoRome.Astranger,Gregory,usurpedhisplace.TheRomanCouncilproclaimedhisinnocence.In343,Constans,whoruledovertheWestfromIllyriatoBritain,summonedthebishopstomeetatSardicainPannonia.NinetyfourLatin,seventyGreekorEastern,prelatesbeganthedebatesbuttheycouldnotcometoterms,andtheAsiaticswithdrew,holdingaseparateandhostilesessionatPhilippopolisinThrace.IthasbeenjustlysaidthattheCouncilofSardicarevealsthefirstsymptomsofdiscordwhich,lateron,producedtheunhappyschismofEastandWest.ButtotheLatinsthismeeting,whichallowedofappealstoPopeJulius,ortheRomanChurch,seemedanepiloguewhichcompletedtheNicenelegislation,andtothiseffectitwasquotedbyInnocentIinhiscorrespondencewiththebishopsofAfrica.

HavingwonoverConstans,whowarmlytookuphiscause,theinvincibleAthanasius



receivedfromhisOrientalandSemiAriansovereignthreeletterscommanding,andatlengthentreatinghisreturntoAlexandria(349).Thefactiousbishops,UrsaciusandValens,retractedtheirchargesagainsthiminthehandsofPopeJuliusandashetravelledhome,bywayofThrace,AsiaMinor,andSyria,thecrowdofcourtprelatesdidhimabjecthomage.Thesemenveeredwitheverywind.Some,likeEusebiusofCaesarea,heldaPlatonizingdoctrinewhichtheywouldnotgiveup,thoughtheydeclinedtheArianblasphemies.Butmanyweretimeservers,indifferenttodogma.Andanewpartyhadarisen,thestrictandpiousHomoiousians,notfriendsofAthanasius,norwillingtosubscribetotheNiceneterms,yetslowlydrawingnearertothetruecreedandfinallyacceptingit.Inthecouncilswhichnowfollowthesegoodmenplaytheirpart.However,whenConstansdied(350),andhisSemiArianbrotherwasleftsupreme,thepersecutionofAthanasiusredoubledinviolence.ByaseriesofintriguestheWesternbishopswerepersuadedtocasthimoffatArles,Milan,Ariminum.Itwasconcerningthislastcouncil(359)thatSt.Jeromewrote,"thewholeworldgroanedandmarvelledtofinditselfArian".FortheLatinbishopsweredrivenbythreatsandchicanerytosignconcessionswhichatnotimerepresentedtheirgenuineviews.Councilsweresofrequentthattheirdatesarestillmatterofcontroversy.Personalissuesdisguisedthedogmaticimportanceofastrugglewhichhadgoneonforthirtyyears.ThePopeoftheday,Liberius,braveatfirst,undoubtedlyorthodox,buttornfromhisseeandbanishedtothedrearysolitudeofThrace,signedacreed,intoneSemiArian(compiledchieflyfromoneofSirmium),renouncedAthanasius,butmadeastandagainstthesocalled"Homoean"formulaeofAriminum.ThisnewpartywasledbyAcaciusofCaesarea,anaspiringchurchmanwhomaintainedthathe,andnotSt.CyrilofJerusalem,wasmetropolitanoverPalestine.TheHomoeans,asortofProtestants,wouldhavenotermsemployedwhichwerenotfoundinScripture,andthusevadedsigningthe"Consubstantial".Amoreextremeset,the"Anomoeans",followedAtius,weredirectedbyEunomius,heldmeetingsatAntiochandSirmium,declaredtheSontobe"unlike"theFather,andmadethemselvespowerfulinthelastyearsofConstantiuswithinthepalace.GeorgeofCappadociapersecutedtheAlexandrianCatholics.Athanasiusretiredintothedesertamongthesolitaries.Hosiushadbeencompelledbytorturetosubscribeafashionablecreed.WhenthevacillatingEmperordied(361),Julian,knownastheApostate,sufferedallaliketoreturnhomewhohadbeenexiledonaccountofreligion.Amomentousgathering,overwhichAthanasiuspresided,in362,atAlexandria,unitedtheorthodoxSemiArianswithhimselfandtheWest.FouryearsafterwardsfiftynineMacedonian,i.e.,hithertoantiNicene,prelatesgaveintheirsubmissiontoPopeLiberius.ButtheEmperorValens,afierceheretic,stilllaidtheChurchwaste.

However,thelongbattlewasnowturningdecidedlyinfavourofCatholictradition.Westernbishops,likeHilaryofPoitiersandEusebiusofVercellaebanishedtoAsiaforholdingtheNicenefaith,wereactinginunisonwithSt.Basil,thetwoSt.GregoriesofNyssaandNazianzusEd.,andthereconciledSemiArians.Asanintellectualmovementtheheresyhadspentitsforce.Theodosius,aSpaniardsandaCatholic,governedthewhole



Empire.Athanasiusdiedin373buthiscausetriumphedatConstantinople,longanAriancity,firstbythepreachingofSt.GregoryNazianzen,thenintheSecondGeneralCouncil(381),attheopeningofwhichMeletiusofAntiochpresided.ThissaintlymanhadbeenestrangedfromtheNicenechampionsduringalongschismbuthemadepeacewithAthanasius,andnow,incompanyofSt.CyrilofJerusalem,representedamoderateinfluencewhichwontheday.NodeputiesappearedfromtheWest.Meletiusdiedalmostimmediately.St.GregoryNazianzen,whotookhisplace,verysoonresigned.AcreedembodyingtheNicenewasdrawnupbySt.GregoryofNyssa,butitisnottheonethatischantedatMass,thelatterbeingdue,itissaid,toSt.EpiphaniusandtheChurchofJerusalem.TheCouncilbecameecumenicalbyacceptanceofthePopeandtheeverorthodoxWesterns.FromthismomentArianisminallitsformslostitsplacewithintheEmpire.Itsdevelopmentsamongthebarbarianswerepoliticalratherthandoctrinal.Ulphilas(311388),whotranslatedtheScripturesintoMaesoGothic,taughttheGothsacrosstheDanubeanHomoeantheologyAriankingdomsaroseinSpain,Africa,Italy.TheGepidae,Heruli,Vandals,Alans,andLombardsreceivedasystemwhichtheywereaslittlecapableofunderstandingastheywereofdefending,andtheCatholicbishops,themonks,theswordofClovis,theactionofthePapacy,madeanendofitbeforetheeighthcentury.IntheformwhichittookunderArius,EusebiusofCaesarea,andEunomius,ithasneverbeenrevived.Individuals,amongthemareMiltonandSirIsascNewton,wereperhapstaintedwithit.ButtheSociniantendencyoutofwhichUnitariandoctrineshavegrownowesnothingtotheschoolofAntiochorthecouncilswhichopposedNicaea.NeitherhasanyArianleaderstoodforthinhistorywithacharacterofheroicproportions.InthewholestorythereisbutonesingleherotheundauntedAthanasiuswhosemindwasequaltotheproblems,ashisgreatspirittothevicissitudes,aquestiononwhichthefutureofChristianitydepended.

Aboutthispage

APAcitation.Barry,W.(1907).Arianism.InTheCatholicEncyclopedia.NewYork:RobertAppletonCompany.RetrievedJune6,2015fromNewAdvent:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01707c.htm

MLAcitation.Barry,William."Arianism."TheCatholicEncyclopedia.Vol.1.NewYork:RobertAppletonCompany,1907.6Jun.2015.

Transcription.ThisarticlewastranscribedforNewAdventbyAnthonyA.Killeen.



A.M.D.G.

Ecclesiasticalapprobation.NihilObstat.March1,1907.RemyLafort,S.T.D.,Censor.Imprimatur.+JohnCardinalFarley,ArchbishopofNewYork.

Contactinformation.TheeditorofNewAdventisKevinKnight.Myemailaddressiswebmasteratnewadvent.org.Regrettably,Ican'treplytoeveryletter,butIgreatlyappreciateyourfeedbackespeciallynotificationsabouttypographicalerrorsandinappropriateads.

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