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Acacius took a leading place among the prelates who succeeded in splitting into two the [[ecumenical council]] that Constantius II proposed to summon, and thus nullified its authority. While the Western bishops assembled at [[Council of Rimini|Rimini]], in 359, he and his brethren of the East gathered at [[Council of Seleucia|Seleucia]] Isauria in Syria (now Silifke, Turkey). The number of bishops present has been variously estimated as between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and sixty. The [[Semi-Arianism|Semi-Arians]] were in a large majority. Acacius had a well-disciplined group of followers, called after him Acacians. With the [[Anomoeanism|Anomoeans]], he could count on his side about forty bishops. After the majority confirmed the Semi-Arian creed of Antioch ("Creed of the Dedication") and [[Silvanus of Tarsus]] proposed confirmation of the Lucianic Creed, Acacius and his party walked out of the assembly, as a protest. In spite of the protest, the Creed was signed the next morning behind closed doors, a proceeding that Acacius quickly characterized as a "deed of darkness." On Wednesday, [[Basil of Ancyra]] and [[Macedonius I of Constantinople|Macedonius of Constantinople]] arrived with [[Hilary of Poitiers]], [[Cyril of Jerusalem]], and [[Eustathius of Antioch]]. Cyril was already under censure. Acacius refused to bring his followers back to the assembly until some accused bishops who were present had withdrawn. After a stormy debate his approach was agreed to and Leonas, the representative of Constantius II at the assembly, rose and read a copy of a new Creed that Acacius had put into his hands. This version rejected the terms Homoousion and Homoiousion "as alien from [[Holy Scripture|Scripture]]," and anathematizing the term "Anomoeon," but distinctly confessed the "likeness" of the Son to the Father. This formula, which interpreted the "likeness of the Son to the Father" as "likeness in will alone," (oμοιον κατα την βούλησιν μόνον), was rejected by the Semi-Arian majority. The majority then proceeded to depose Acacius and his followers.
Acacius and his followers did not wait for the sentence of deposition. They immediately traveled to Constantinople and to place their complaints before Constantius. Acacius soon gained his ear. A new council was speedily called at Constantinople, of which Acacius was its soul.<ref>Philostorgius iv. 12.</ref> Through his efforts the Council was brought to accept the Confession of Rimini. Completing their triumph, he and [[Eudoxius of Antioch]], then bishop of Constantinople, used their whole influence to bring the edicts of the [[First Ecumenical Council|Council of Nicea]], and all mention of the Homoousion, into disuse and oblivion.<ref>Sozomen iv. 26.</ref> On his return to the East in 361, Acacius and his followers consecrated new bishops to the sees that were vacant. Among these, [[Meletius of Antioch|Meletius]] was placed in the see of Antioch. When the imperial throne was filled by the Nicene friendly emperor Jovian, Acacius with his friends suddenly changed their views, and voluntarily accepted the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|creed of Nicea]] in 363.<ref>Socrates Scholasticus|Socrates iii. 25.</ref> On the accession in 364 of the Arian Emperor Valens, however, Acacius quickly returned to Arianism and made common cause with [[Eudoxius of Antioch]].<ref>Socrates iv. 2.</ref> But he found no support with the council of [[Macedonianism|Macedonian ]] bishops at Lampsacus, as his deposition at Seleucia was confirmed. He died in 366.
==Literary works==
