Read this when you want the high-theology version of Nicaea.
Five Theological Orations
Gregory of NazianzusDense but decisive sermons on the Trinity from the theologian of Constantinople.
Arius
c. 256 – 336 · b. Libya
Presbyter
Quick facts
- Born
- c. 256, Libya
- Died
- 336, Constantinople
- Region
- egypt
- Era
- nicene
- Significance
- Major Father(3/4)
Highlights
- Main contribution
- Arius matters because his answer almost won.
- Event connection
- First Council of Nicaea (325)
- Primary source
- Athanasius, De Synodis 15-16
Alexandrian presbyter whose teaching that the Son was a created being sparked the Arian controversy. Condemned at Nicaea (325). Heretic.
Why Arius matters
Arius matters because his answer almost won. He taught that the Son was created by the Father, so there was a 'when' when the Son was not; that seemed to protect God's uniqueness while still honouring Christ highly. Nicaea condemned him in 325, but Arian and semi-Arian positions kept imperial and episcopal support for decades. Athanasius and the Cappadocians had to fight the issue through a generation of exile, councils, and compromise formulas. The Creed's language about the Son being 'one in being with the Father' is impossible to understand without knowing what Arius made the church reject.
Recommended reading near Arius
A cover-visible starting point chosen from the curated reading path, either by this figure or by their era.
Chain to Jesus
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Common questions
- Who was Arius?
- Arius (256–336) — Alexandrian presbyter whose teaching that the Son was a created being sparked the Arian controversy. Condemned at Nicaea (325). Heretic.
- Who did Arius oppose?
- Alexander of Alexandria, Athanasius of Alexandria, and Cyril of Jerusalem.
Sources for biography
- Athanasius, De Synodis 15-16 primary
- Socrates Scholasticus, Hist. Eccl. 1.5-1.9 primary
- Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. 1.2-1.4 primary
documented connections(4)
- opposed (incoming) Alexander of AlexandriaAlexander first condemned Arius and excommunicated him c. 318.Socrates Scholasticus, Hist. Eccl. 1.5-6 · Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. 1.3-4
- opposed (incoming) Athanasius of AlexandriaAthanasius's life work was the refutation of Arianism.Athanasius, Orationes contra Arianos
- knew of (incoming) Eusebius of NicomediaEusebius of Nicomedia was Arius's chief patron and protector after his condemnation.Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. 1.5 · Sozomen, Hist. Eccl. 1.15
- opposed (incoming) Cyril of JerusalemCyril's Catechetical Lectures defend the Nicene faith and oppose Arian subordinationism, and he subscribed the Nicene-Constantinopolitan creed at the council of 381.Cyril of Jerusalem, Catecheses 4.7; 11; 15 · Theodoret, Hist. Eccl. 2.26
External resources
📖WikipediaFull encyclopedic biography with footnotes and further reading.🔗WikidataStructured data hub linking to library catalogues, archives, and academic sources worldwide.🏛️WikisourcePublic-domain primary texts and translations (search).⛪Catholic Encyclopedia1913 reference — long entries, useful for less-known figures (search for Arius).