Arius

Arius
Arius
An heresiarch, born about A.D. 250; died 336

Catholic Encyclopedia. . 2006.

Arius
    Arius
     Catholic_Encyclopedia Arius
    An heresiarch, born about A.D. 250; died 336. He is said to have been a Libyan by descent. His father's name is given as Ammonius. In 306, Arius, who had learnt his religious views from Lucian, the presbyter of Antioch, and afterwards the martyr, took sides with Meletius, an Egyptian schismatic, against Peter, Bishop of Alexandria. But a reconciliation followed, and Peter ordained Arius deacon ( see Deacons ). Further disputes led the Bishop to excommunicate his restless churchman, who, however, gained the friendship of Achillas, Peter's successor, was made presbyter by him in 313, and had the charge of a well-known district in Alexandria called Baucalis. This entitled Arius to expound the Scriptures officially, and he exercised much influence when, in 318, his quarrel with Bishop Alexander broke out over the fundamental truth of Our Lord's divine Sonship and substance. (See ARIANISM.) While many Syrian prelates followed the innovator, he was condemned at Alexandria in 321 by his diocesan in a synod of nearly one hundred Egyptian and Libyan bishops. Deprived and excommunicated, the heresiarch fled to Palestine. He addressed a thoroughly unsound statement of principles to Eusebius of Nicomedia, who yet became his lifelong champion and who had won the esteem of Constantine by his worldly accomplishments. In his house the proscribed man, always a ready writer, composed in verse and prose a defence of his position which he termed "Thalia". A few fragments of it survive. He is also said to have published songs for sailors, millers, and travellers, in which his creed was illustrated. Tall above the common, thin, ascetical, and severe, he has been depicted in lively colours by Epiphanius (Heresies, 69, 3); but his moral character was never impeached except doubtfully of ambition by Theodoret. He must have been of great age when, after fruitless negotiations and a visti to Egypt, he appeared in 325 at Nic&aea, where the confession of faith which he presented was torn in pieces. With his writings and followers he underwent the anathemas subscribed by more than 300 bishops. He was banished into Illyricum. Two prelates shared his fate, Tehonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais. His books were burnt. The Arians ( see Arianism ), joined by their old Meletian friends, created troubles in Alexandria. Eusebius persuaded Constantine to recall the exile by indulgent letters in 328; and the emperor not only permitted his return to Alexandria in 331, but ordered Athanasius to reconcile him with the Church. On the saint's refusal more disturbance ensued. The packed and partisan Synod of Tyre deposed Athanasius on a series of futile charges in 335. Catholics were now persecuted; Arius had an interview with Constantine and submitted a creed which the emperor judged to be orthodox. By imperial rescript Arius required Alexander of Constantinople to give him Communion; but the stroke of Providence defeated an attempt which Catholics looked upon as sacrilege. The heresiarch died suddenly, and was buried by his own people. He had winning manners, an evasive style, and a disputatious temper. But in the controversy which is called after his name, Arius counted only at the beginning. He did not represent the tradition of Alexandria but the topical subtleties of Antioch. Hence, his disappearance from the scene neither stayed the combatants nor ended the quarrel which he had rashly provoked. A party-theologian, he exhibited no features of genius; and he was the product, not the founder, of a school.
    SOZOMEN, H.E., 1, 68, 69; THEODORET, H.E., 1; SOCRATES, H.E., 1; PHILOSTORG., 1; ATHAN., De Synodis; EUSEB., De Vita Constantini; RUFIN., H.E., 1; TRAVASA, Vita di Ario (Venice, 1746); GIBBON, XXI; NEWMAN, Arians, 2, 3; Tracts, Causes of Arianism. See also ARIANISM.
    WILLIAM BARRY

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


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  • Arius — (AD ca. 250 or 256 336) was a Christian priest from Alexandria, Egypt in the early fourth century whose teachings, now called Arianism, were deemed heretical by the Church. In about the year 318, he was involved in a dispute with his bishop,… …   Wikipedia

  • Arius — (Areios) [aˈriːʊs] (* um 260; † 336 in Konstantinopel) war ein christlicher Presbyter aus Alexandria. Nach ihm ist die Lehre des Arianismus benannt. Leben und Lehre Nach Epiphanius von Salamis stammte Arius aus Libyia, womit wohl die alte… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Arīus — Arīus, geboren im 3. Jahrh. in Kyrene, n. And. in Alexandria, gebildet von Lucian in Antiochia, war erst Diacon, dann Presbyter zu Alexandria; er ist Haupt u. Gründer der Arianer (s.d.); wurde 321 auf dem Concil zu Alexandria abgesetzt u. seine… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Arīus — (griech. Areios), Stifter der Arianer, s. Arianischer Streit …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Arius — Arīus, Haupt der Arianer (s.d.) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Arius — Arius, ein Afrikaner aus Aegypten oder Cyrene, zuerst Diakon, dann Presbyter in Alexandrien, behauptete: der Logos oder Sohn ist dem Wesen nach nicht dem Vater gleich; er ist ein Geschöpf des Vaters, aber ein vorweltliches, durch das die Welt… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Arius — (v. 256 336) prêtre hérésiarque, fondateur de l arianisme …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Arius — Arius,   griechisch Ạreios, Presbyter in Alexandria, * um 260, ✝ Konstantinopel 336; Schüler Lukians von Antiochia; wegen seiner theologischen Position (Arianismus) 318 als Häretiker exkommuniziert, 335 durch Kaiser Konstantin rehabilitiert.   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Arius — [ar′ē əs; ] also, [ə rī′əs] A.D. 250? 336; Alexandrian theologian, born in Libya: see ARIANISM …   English World dictionary

  • Arius — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Arius peut désigner : Arius (256 336), un prêtre alexandrin à l origine de l hérésie qui porte son nom : l arianisme. Henri Arius (1897 1968),… …   Wikipédia en Français

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