CHAPTER XXI

THE DECREES OF THE COUNCIL; THE CONDEMNATION OF ARIUS; HIS BOOKS ARE TO BE BURNED; CERTAIN OF THE ARCHIERARCHY DIFFER FROM THE SYNOD; THE PASSOVER

IT ought to be known that the following points were settled by the synod; that the Son is consubstantial with the Father; and that those are to be excommunicated who assert that there was a time in which the Son existed not, and before which He was not, and that He was made from what had no existence, and that He is of another hypostasis and substance from the Father, and that He is subject to change and mutation. This decision was sanctioned by Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia; by Theognis, bishop of Nicæa, by Maris, bishop of Chalcedonia; by Patrophilus, bishop of Scythopolis; and by Secundus, bishop of Ptolemais in Egypt. Eusebius Pamphilus, however, at first withheld his assent, but on further examination admitted the justice of the decree. The Council excommunicated Arius and his adherents, and prohibited his entering Alexandria. The words in which his opinions were couched were likewise condemned, as also a work entitled “Thalia,” which he had written on the subject. I have not read this book, but have been told it is of a loose character, similar to the odes of Sotades. It ought to be known that although Eusebius, bishop of Nicomedia, and Theognis, bishop of Nicæa, assented to the exposition of faith set forth by the Council, they neither agreed nor subscribed to the deposition of Arius. The emperor sent Arius into exile, and despatched edicts to the bishops and people of every country, denouncing him and his adherents as ungodly, and commanding that their books should be destroyed, in order that no remembrance of him or of the doctrine which he had broached might remain; and the secretion of any of his writings was declared a capital crime. The emperor wrote letters to every city against Arius and those who had received his doctrines, and commanded Eusebius and Theognis to quit the cities whereof they were bishops; he addressed himself in particular to the churches of Nicomedia and Nieæa, urging them to adhere to the faith which had been set forth by the Council, to elect orthodox bishops, and to let the past fall into oblivion; and he threatened those who should venture to speak well of the exiled bishops, or to adopt their sentiments. In these and in other letters, he expressed resentment against Eusebius, for having sided with the tyrant against him. In accordance with the imperial edicts, Eusebius and Theognis were banished, and Amphion was elected bishop of Nicomedia, and Chrestus of Nicæa. On the termination of the doctrinal controversy, the Council decided that the Paschal feast should be celebrated at the same time in every place.