St. Pachomius Library

ARIANISM

The heresy proclaimed by Arius, although some later Arians rejected the name on the grounds that Arius was too moderate. In its extreme form, holds that Jesus Christ was a human prophet; in its more moderate form, that he was a sort of demigod, the most important creature in the universe, but still a created being. This was official theology of the Roman Empire at several times, and almost destroyed Orthodoxy. The First and Second Councils were largely about the refutation of Arianism. Although it eventually died out in the Empire, it survived among barbarian tribes who saw it as a way to be Christian without being under Roman rule. Today, the Jehovah's Witnesses are the most significant neo-Arian group.
Norman Hugh Redington

ABOUT:
- Anthony F. Beavers and Robert Rivers: A Chronology of the Arian Controversy. --- ECOLE
- Arian Creeds.
Arian sub-groups: Eunomianism;
OPPONENTS OF ARIANISM:
- St. Athanasius the Great -- the most important.
  
  Apologia Against the Arians: --- NA
  Apologia for his Flight: --- NA
  Apologia to Constantius: --- NA
  Encyclical Epistle to the Bishops of Egypt and Libya: --- NA
  Encyclical Epistle to the Bishops Throughout the World: --- NA
  Four Discourses Against the Arians: Include excerpts from the Thalia of Arius. --- NA
  History of the Arians: --- NA
  On the Incarnation of the Word: One of the most important works in Orthodox theology, describing the incarnation of God the Word as the basis for human theosis. --- NA
  On the Sentences of Dionysius: Arians and their sympathizers argued that the respected St. Dionysius of Alexandria had anticipated their views; Athanasius disagrees. --- NA
  Synodical Letter to the Africans: On the Council of Nicea, and against Auxentius of Milan. --- NA
  On the Synods: --- NA
  Tome to the Antiochians: --- NA
- St. Alexander of Alexandria -- the bishop who, after careful investigation, excommunicated Arius.
  - Deposition of Arius: The decree expelling the famous heretic from the Orthodox Church. --- New Advent
- St. Ambrose of Milan -- fought to maintain the Orthodox Church's independence from control by Arian emperors.
  - Against Auxentius: Sermon justifying Ambrose's refusal to turn over Orthodox church property to the state-supported Arian Church. De Romestin translation, 1896. --- CCEL
  - Twentieth Epistle (To his Sister Marcellina): Narrates the story of his opposition to the construction of an Arian basilica in Milan. --- CCEL
- St. Amphilochius of Iconium:
- St. Anthony the Great
- St. Gregory the Theologian:
  - Oration 33 (Against the Arians, and concerning Himself): Browne-Swallow translation. --- NA
  - Oration 34 (On the Arrival of the Egyptians): Although the Patriarch of Alexandria was an Arian, Egyptian sailors in port in Constantinople chose to attend the Orthodox parish. Browne-Swallow translation. --- NA
Notable Arians:

Arius
Auxentius of Milan
Emperor Constantius
Eusebius of Nicomedia
Wulfila

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