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Arius

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'''Arius''' (AD 250 or 256 - 336) was a fourth-century [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandrian]] [[presbyter]] of the early fourth century who is considered to be was formally condemned as a [[heretic]] by the Orthodox Church. His heresy originated in , referred to as [[Arianism]], consisted of his teaching that the [[Jesus Christ|Son of God ]] was not co-eternaland consubstantial with His Father, but was rather a created being, subordinate to God the Father. This Arius's belief, called [[Arianism]], was condemned by the [[First Ecumenical Council]] , at [[Nicea]] as a [[heresy]]in 325. HoweverThe council's decision did not immediately stop Arianism, the controversy over Arius' heresy continued long after the Councilhowever, as its proponent eventually quickly returned to the [[Constantine the Great|Emperor's ]] favor. Only Even Arius's' unusual death, followed a one year later by the death that of Constantine, temporarily overshadowed did not lay the controversyto rest; that came about—in the Church, at least—through the teachings of the [[Cappadocian Fathers]] and the actions of the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] in 381. Arianism continued to linger in some Gothic and Vandal kingdoms of the West until it was finally suppressed in the seventh century. Arius's ideas are no longer accepted ''in toto'' by any organized entity, though some modern sects like the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and [[Mormonism|Mormons]] display Arian tendencies in their doctrine. Arianism should be clearly distinguished from "Aryanism", which formed the core of Nazi racial ideology during the twentieth century, and which had nothing whatsoever to do with Arius or his teachings.
==Early life==
Arius was apparently of Lybian and Berber descent, born about 250 (some sources say 256) in North Africa. His father is known 's name was given as Ammonius. Arius grew up in Alexandria, Egypt; at the time , the city was the a center of Christian scholarship. He was a pupil of Lucian of Antioch, a celebrated Christian teacher and [[martyr]]. These were This was the times era when a theological explanation of the relationship between the Father and Son was being developed, and Arius' teachings became one of the views proposed during these ''Christological'' controversies.
In 306, Arius sided with Meletius, another an Egyptian schismatic, against the [[Bishop]] of Alexandria, [[Peter of Alexandria|Peter]]. But their dispute was soon reconciled, and Peter [[ordination|ordain]]ed Arius a [[deacon]]. Later, having Having fallen out again anew with Peter, Arius gained the friendship of Peter's successor, Achillas, who ordained Arius a [[priest]] in 313, thus giving him an official statusin the Church. It Achillas was succeeded by [[Alexander of Alexandria]]; it was under Bishop Achillas this bishop that Arius first became controversial, as reported by ignited the historian Socrates Scholasticuscontroversy now that bears his name. This occurred when Arius presented his syllogism :''If argument centered upon the Father begat precise nature of the [[Jesus Christ|Sonof God]], and His relationship to God the Father, he that was begotten had a beginning and it struck at the very heart of existence. From this it is evident that there was a time when the Son was not. It therefore necessarily follows that he had his substance from nothing''Orthodox Christian faith.
==The Arian controversy==
In 318According to Church historian Socrates Scholasticus, Arius entered in 318 into a dispute with Bishop [[Alexander of Alexandria]], who had succeeded Achillas, over his teachings about God's divine Sonship and substance. Alexander had attempted to instruct his clergy on the unity of the [[Holy Trinity]], but Arius&mdash;whether through misunderstanding, or a "love of controversy", as alleged by Socrates&mdash;opposed his bishop's teaching as smacking of [[Sabellianism]].<ref>[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf202.ii.iv.v.html Socrates Ecclesiastical History], Vol. 1, Ch. 5.</ref> Arius proffered his own syllogism: ''If the Father begat the Son, he that was begotten had a beginning of existence. From this it is evident that there was a time when the Son was not. It therefore necessarily follows that he had his substance from nothing''. This, of course, denied the essential unity and consubstantiality of the Holy Trinity, and caused an uproar among Arius's listeners that quickly spread throughout the Church, as Arius insisted upon disseminating his ideas.  Although Arianism carries Arius's name, its doctrines did not entirely originate with him. Lucian of Antioch, Arius's teacher and mentor, was accused by Bishop Alexander of being the source for Arius's heretical teachings&mdash;not so much that Lucian had taught Arianism ''per se'', but rather that he possessed certain heretical tendencies which he passed on to his pupil, Arius.<ref>Vasiliev, A. [http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/vasilief/arianism-council-nicaea.asp Arianism and the Council of Nicaea], from ''History of the Byzantine Empire'', Chapter One. Retrieved on 2010-02-02.</ref> Indeed, the noted Russian historian Alexander Vasiliev refers to Lucian as ''"the Arius before Arius"''.<ref>Vasiliev, A. [http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/vasilief/arianism-council-nicaea.asp Arianism and the Council of Nicaea], from ''History of the Byzantine Empire'', Chapter One. Retrieved on 2010-02-02.</ref> While Arius developed a following among some Syrian prelates, an Alexandrian [[synod ]] of some 100 bishops summoned by Bishop Alexander condemned him in 321. He was [[excommunication|excommunicated]] , and fled to Palestine. There he entered into a friendship with [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]]. Arius, a proficient writer, produced many compositions, in both prose and verse defending his belief, including a poem that he called the ''Thalia''. Most of these writings were destroyed as being heretical, though portions of the ''Thalia'' and a few other Arian texts survive.
==The Council of Nicea==In opposition to Arius, Alexander of Alexandria presented his case to [[Alexander of Constantinople]] and [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]], where the emperor was in residence. The Although the emperor sent a legate to resolve the controversy and publically called upon Arius and Alexander to settle their differences, the dispute was of such a nature as to preclude any compromise. Accordingly, the arguments between Arius and his opponents continued and became , becoming such a powerful divisive force within the Roman empire, such that the emperor Constantine could no longer ignore itabide them. To settle the dilemmaonce and for all, he called a [[synod|council]] with delegates drawn from all the empire. The purpose of this, the [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicea]], was to determine as far as possible what had been taught from the beginningby Jesus Christ and His [[Apostles]]. The Council met in Nicea, near Constantinople , in 325. Here , the confession of faith presented by Arius was cut to pieces. Then, under Guided by the guidance of Constantineemperor, the Council developed a [[creed]], the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]] , for use in catechetical instruction and at baptisms. Arius himself was condemned as a heretic; his [[deposition]] from the priesthood and excommunication were confirmed, together with those of all his recalcitrant adherents&mdash;who were then exiled, that rendered together with Arius. One champion of Orthodoxy to emerge from this council was [[Athanasius the Great]], an Alexandrian deacon who would eventually succeed Bishop Alexander and become one of the Church's greatest warriors against Arianism, authoring one of its most famous Patristic polemicals: ''Against the Arians'' language heretical.
With this decision, Arius Although the council seemed to have settled the Arian issue once and his followers were [[deposition|deposed]] and sent into exile. Yetfor all, much concern remained over the use of the word ''homoousios'' that was used in formulating the case against Arius. The earlyEarly, ill-defined definitions of ''homoousios'' were part of the arguments used in deposing [[Paul of Samosata]] in 269, which ; at the time , these were considered to have Sabellian tendencies. In his arguments polemics against Arius, Alexander of Alexandria refined the definition of ''homoousios'' to mollify the these earlier objections. However, not all of his contemporaries agreed with Alexander's approach.
SoHowever, the not all of his contemporaries agreed with Alexander's conclusions. The decision at Nicea came almost immediately came under attack, and after Alexander died in 327 , many of Arius's supporters were allowed to returned to their old positions. This in turn allowed Eusebius of [[Nicomedia]] again to influence Constantine. Even anew; even Arius himself was allowed to return to Alexandria in 331. Many of the proponents of the Nicene decision began to be deposed, as they found it impossible to defend the decision it without apparently falling into Sabellianism. Eustathius of Antioch, Marcellus of Ancyra, and others&mdash;who were supporters of [[Athanasius the Great|St. Anthanasius of Alexandria]]&mdash;were among them.
==Later years and death==
With Constantine now favoring Arius, he commanded Anthanasius to readmit Arius him to communion. This Anthanasius refused, leading to charges of treason against the emperor and Athanasius's exile to Trier. With Revelling in their new-found acceptance by the emperorConstantine, the Arius's supporters of Arius began commenced disturbances in Alexandria toward gaining poweraimed at taking control there. The emperor then now directed Bishop Alexander of Constantinople to receive Arius into communion. Opposed ; vehemently opposed to the reinstatement of Ariusthis, Alexander asked his supporters to pray for the removal of either him or Arius from this the world before Arius was could be re-admitted to communionthe Church. AndIncredibly, the one day before Arius was to receive communion, he suddenly died . Socrates Scholasticus reports that while parading through the streets of the Imperial City Arius was suddenlyseized with pain in his bowels, barely making it to an outdoor privy before expiring due to loss of blood. That <ref>''[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wace/biodict.html A Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D., with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies]'' by Henry Wace.</ref> While many Orthodox Christians&mdash;then and now&mdash;regarded his demise as miraculous, some scholars believe that Arius was 336actually poisoned by some of his enemies.<ref>Edward Gibbons "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", Chapter 21, (1776&ndash;88), Jonathan Kirsch, ''God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism'', 2004, and Charles Freeman, ''The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason'', 2002.</ref> Although Arius's death and that of Constantine a year later led to reduced debate, the Christological controversies eventually resumed. Ultimately, the [[Cappadocian Fathers]]: [[Basil the Great]], [[Gregory the Theologian]] and [[Gregory of Nyssa]], would provide a comprehensive Orthodox answer to the dilemmas raised by Arius, burying Arianism in the Church once and for all. Their doctrines were confirmed by the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] in 381. Arius is still considered by the Orthodox church (and most of the rest of Christianity) to be one of its greatest heretics; in icons of the First Ecumenical Council, he is often portrayed as lying prostrate beneath the feet of [[Jesus Christ|the Lord]] and/or the bishops. ==Arianism today==Today, a so-called "Holy Arian Catholic and Apostolic Church" in England claims to proclaim Arius's teachings, even "canonizing" him in 2006. However, this body differs with its namesake on several crucial points, including its rejection of the [[Nativity|Virgin Birth]] and [[Resurrection]] of Christ, which Arius himself never questioned. The Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormon sects are often accused (especially the former) of being Arian; while both certainly exhibit doctrines which tend toward Arianism&mdash;which are rejected by the Orthodox Church as being heretical, along with many other teachings&mdash;each sect's [[Christology]] differs somewhat from classic Arian doctrine.  No remnant of any of the Arian sects established in Western Europe or elsewhere is known to exist today.
The death of Arius and then that of Constantine a year later led to a lull in the controversy, but the ‘'Christological'' controversies would continue for several more centuries. Arius is still considered by the Orthodox church (and most of the rest of Christianity) to be one of its greatest heretics; in icons of the First Ecumenical Council, he is usually portrayed lying prostrate beneath the feet of [[Jesus Christ|the Lord]] and==Notes==<references /or the bishops.>
==External links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arius Wikipedia : Arius] ''Wikipedia'' article on Arius.*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01718a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: Arius] ''Catholic Encyclopedia'' article on Arius.*[http://www.fourthcentury.com/index.php/arius-chart The Complete Extant Works of Arius] From the "Fourth Century Christianity" webpage sponsored by Wisconsin Lutheran College.[http://www.fourthcentury.com/]*[http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/28161.htm St. Athanasius' ''Discourse Against the Arians''] From Arius's chief opponent at the First Ecumenical Council.
[[Category:Heretics]]
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