324 CE:
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Egypt -- Alexander (bishop of Alexandria) writes a letter to
Alexander of Constantinople that is also sent to bishops outside of Egypt. In
this letter, Alexander warns his fellow bishops of the danger of the Arian
threat. He also names Lucian of Antioch and Paul of Samosata as the true
originators of this heresy.
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325 CE:
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Palestine -- Hosius, a representative of the Emperor
Constantine, presides over an anti-Arian council in Antioch sometime during the
early months of this year. This council condemns Eusebius of Caesarea for being
an Arian sympathizer and formulates a doctrinal creed in favor of Alexander's
theology.
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325 CE:
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Asia Minor -- Constantine convenes the Council of Nicaea in
order to develop a statement of faith that can unify the Church. The Nicene
Creed is written, declaring that the Father and the Son are of the same
substance (homoousios), thereby taking a decidedly anti-Arian stand. Arius is
exiled to Illyria.
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327 CE:
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Arius and Euzoius write a letter to the Emperor Constantine.
This letter includes a creed that attempts to show the orthodoxy of Arius'
position and a petition to be restored to the Church.
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328 CE:
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Constantine recalls Arius from exile in Illyria.
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335 CE:
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Palestine -- A Pronouncement of the Synod of Tyre and
Jerusalem restores Arius and his friends into communion with the Church. Both
Eusebius of Caesarea and Eusebius of Nicomedia have leading roles in this synod.
Athanasius is deposed and so goes to complain to the Emperor Constantine, whom
he encounters mid-road. After Athanasius persists in requesting an audience,
Constantine agrees to hear his complaint.
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336 CE:
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The Emperor agrees with the findings of the council concerning
Athanasius, and so in February, he exiles him to Trier.
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336 CE:
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Marcellus, bishop of Ancyra, is deposed by a council at
Constantine. He had written a treatise in 335 defending the Nicene theology, but
was considered a Sabellian by his opponents.
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336 CE:
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Greece -- Arius dies suddenly in Constantinople on the evening
before a formal ceremony was to restore him to his presbyterial rank.
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338 CE:
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Palestine -- A council at Antioch deposes Athanasius and
orders a second exile.
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339 CE:
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Egypt -- Athanasius flees Alexandria in anticipation of being
expelled.
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340 CE:
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Julius I, bishop of Rome, receives Marcellus and Athanasius
into communion with the Roman church.
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342 CE or 343 CE:
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Emperor Constans convenes a council in Sardica in an attempt
to restore unity to the Church. The council is a fiasco. The western bishops and
eastern bishops separate and denounce each other. The West release a statement
claiming to be an attack on Arianism, the East retire to Philippopolis and
release a statement, dated from Sardica, which justifies the deposition of
Athanasius and Marcellus and condemns Julius I and others. To this is appended
the 4th creed of Antioch with additional anathemas directed at Marcellus.
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344 CE:
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Another Arian council is held in Antioch. Here, the council
writes the Fifth Arian Confession (or Macrostich), which is notably longer than
the confessions written at Antioch in 341. The Macrostich is the Eastern creed
of Sardica plus eight paragraphs addressed to the western bishops.
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345 CE:
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Italy -- A council is held in Milan. Western bishops read the
Macrostich.
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346 CE:
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Egypt -- Athanasius is restored to the Alexandrian
see.
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353 CE:
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A council is held at Arles during autumn that is directed
against Athanasius.
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355 CE:
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Italy -- A council is held in Milan. Athanasius is again
condemned.
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356 CE:
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Egypt -- Athanasius is deposed on February 8, beginning his
third exile.
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357 CE:
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The third Council of Sirmium is convened during the summer.
The Western bishops move as close as they will to finding a compromise with the
Arians. Both "homoousios" (of one essence) and "homoiousios" (alike in essence)
are avoided as unbiblical, and it is agreed that the Father is greater than his
subordinate son.
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359 CE:
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The fourth council of Sirmium is convened on May 22. The
Fourth Sirmium Confession (or the Dated Creed?) is written. It proposes a
compromise formula, which is not technical, and is designed to please everybody
(though it is too watered-down to do any good).
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359 CE:
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Emperor Constantius summons two councils to finish what Nicaea
had started, that is, to develop a unifying creed for Christianity. The Synod of
Ariminum (Rimini) is held in the West during May and is attended by more than
400 bishops. The Synod of Seleucia is held in the East during October (or
December?) and is attended by about 160 bishops. Here, the Ninth Arian
Confession is written, which affirms that Christ is "like the Father" while, at
the same time, anathematizing the Anomoeans. (which signifies: "not the same" --
ie substance or essence). In the end, both councils agree to this semi-Arian
statement of Faith, even though it does not specify how the Son is like the
Father.
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361 CE:
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Palestine -- A council is held in Antioch during the
installation of Euzonius as bishop of Antioch. (Euzonius had been excommunicated
with Arius in 318 and 325 and restored with him in 335.) During this council,
the Eleventh Arian Confession is written. This creed is strongly Anomoean,
leading Athanasius to remark that the Arians have reverted back to the first
doctrines framed by Arius.
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