The deliberation of the Council of Nicaea and significantly
Constantine’s agency hand upon the reins throughout that interval had produced a creed which put into comparatively few phrases the reality of the nice mysteries regarding man’s relationship to God. As well as it had produced the anathema which resulted within the banishment of Arius and the 2 recalcitrant bishops, Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicaea, and sowed the seeds of additional controversy.
In Egypt the patriarch Alexander had stepped down shortly after the top of the Council and Athanasius, the fiery advocate of the idea of homoousion actually, of the identical substance because the Father had been chosen to succeed him. With the foremost opponent of the Arian heresy, which firmly adhered to the idea of homoiousion acknowledging the Son to be just like the Father, however not of the identical substance now Bishop of Alexandria, it will appear that no extra controversy would come up from that supply.
Rather more separated Egypt from Nova Roma, nonetheless, than the peninsula of Asia Minor and the jap coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Earlier than lengthy, the doctrine of Arius started to be preached as soon as once more in Asia Minor and Syria Palaestina, offering the tinder wanted to kindle the flames of controversy as soon as once more. And Constantine himself gave impetus to the motion when, influenced by the sensible and persuasive Bishop of Caesarea, he allowed Eusebius of Nicomedia and Theognis of Nicaea to return from exile and, a little bit later, prolonged imperial clemency to Arius, who had been banished to Galatia.
Bishop Athanasius
The recall of the 2 bishops was with out reservation, permitting them to take up their duties as soon as once more. Arius, nonetheless, was forbidden to go to Alexandria, the place a conflict between him and Bishop Athanasius, whose place within the church was steadily rising in significance, would have been a right away consequence. However, having gained their first goal, the recall of Arius, mates of the insurgent priest now attacked their second goal, Bishop Athanasius himself.
Figuring out Athanasius’ fame as a fighter, they first concentrated their efforts upon certainly one of his strongest supporters, Bishop Eustathius of Antioch, and managed to have him banished. This arbitrary act of a extremely prejudiced spiritual courtroom stirred many individuals to anger and introduced on extra division, however the unyielding Arians subsequent drove two different bishops from their sees. Solely then did they contemplate themselves sturdy sufficient to launch an assault in opposition to Athanasius himself.
Travelling 