Trinity

TRINITY & OTHER DOCTRINES OF GOD:
PROF. M. M. NINAN
Arius' followers in Alexandria began to engage in violence in defense of their beliefs,
prompting Alexander to write an encyclical to all of his brother bishops in Christendom,
in which he related the history of Arianism and his opinion of the flaws of the Arian
system. In doing so, he was obliged to indicate to them the actions of Eusebius of
Nicomedia, who had assembled a provincial council of the church of Bithynia to discuss
Arius. This body reviewed the actions that Alexander and his predecessors had taken,
and, based on their review, formally admitted Arius to the communion of the Syriac
church. Other figures, including Paulinus of Tyrus, Eusebius of Caesarea, and
Patrophilus of Scythopolis, also indicated their support of Arius, allowing his followers to
assemble for the Divine Office as they had earlier done in Alexandria. Other supporters
included Auxentius Arian Bishop of Milan, and Ulfilas Arian Bishop of Dacia.
Arius is believed to have written his Thalia at around this time, which gathered even
more support for his cause. This book, combined with Arius' other works and
Alexander's opposing works, exacerbated the dispute between the supporters and
opponents of Arius.
In this atmosphere and on the advice of his deacon Athanasius, Alexander wrote in
defense of his own position a confession of faith. He sent this tome to all the bishops of
Christianity, asking them to endorse his position by placing their own signatures on the
copies. He received about 250 signatures to his work, including about 100 from his own
diocese, as well as 42 from Asia, 37 from Pamphylia, 32 from Lycia, 15 from Cappadocia,
and various others. He also maintained individual correspondence with Alexander of
Constantinople, protesting the violence of the Arians and promulgation of Arius's views
on the influence of females, as well as with Pope Sylvester I, Macarius of Jerusalem,
Asclepius of Gaza, Longinus of Ashkelon, Macarius of Ioannina, Zeno of Tyrus, and many
others on the issues of Arianism.
The dispute over Arianism had become a serious problem, which threatened to damage
the peace and unity of the church and of the empire. Constantine, now sole claimant to
the throne after the execution of Licinius, wrote a letter "to Athanasius and Arius".
Constantine wrote the letter from Nicomedia, so some have concluded that Eusebius of
Nicomedia, the bishop of Nicomedia and a supporter of Arius, may have been involved
in the composition of the letter. The letter was given to Hosius of Cordoba, a respected
older bishop, to deliver to the disputants in Alexandria. In the letter, Constantine
requested that Alexander and Arius end their dispute.
Shortly after receiving the message from Constantine, Alexander requested another
general council of the diocese, which seems to have confirmed its agreement with the
profession of faith Alexander had earlier circulated an agreement to the use of the
theological term "consubstantial". It also reaffirmed the excommunication of Arius and
the condemnation of the followers of Meletius, which, of course, angered the Arians of
Alexandria even more. Arius himself formally complained to the emperor over his
treatment by Alexander. In response, Constantine called for Arius to plead his case
before an ecumenical council of the church, to be held at Nicaea in Bithynia on 14 June
325, the first such council ever called into existence.
Alexander came to the council with a party which included Potamon of Heraclea,
Paphnutius of Thebes, and Alexander's deacon, Athanasius, who acted as his
spokesman. Alexander was himself supposed to preside over the meeting, but felt that
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