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| Chapter XXXV.
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Chapter XXXV.
Such were the things
accomplished by Helena, while, under a Christian prince, the world had
both attained to liberty, and possessed in him an exemplar of faith.
But a far more dreadful danger than all that had preceded fell upon all
the churches from that state of tranquillity. For then the Arian heresy
burst forth, and disturbed the whole world by the error which it
instilled. For by means of the two364
| 364 The one of these was
Arius, the author of the heresy, and the other a presbyter of
Alexandria bearing the same name. | Ariuses, who
were the most active originators of this unfaithfulness, the emperor
himself was led astray; and while he seemed to himself to fulfill a
religious duty, he proceeded to a violent exercise of persecution. The
bishops were driven into exile: cruelty was exerted against the
clerics; and even the laity were punished, who had separated from the
communion of the Arians. Now, the doctrines which the Arians proclaimed
were of the following nature,—that God the Father had begotten
his Son for the purpose of creating the world; and that, by his power,
he had made365
| 365 Both the text and
meaning are here obscure. We have read, with Halm,
“fecisse” for the usual “factum.” | out of nothing
into a new and second substance, a new and second God; and that there
was a time when the Son had no existence. To meet this evil, a synod
was convened from the whole world to meet at Nicæa. Three hundred
and eighteen bishops were there assembled: the faith was fully set
forth in writing; the Arian heresy was condemned; and the emperor
confirmed the whole by an imperial decree. The Arians, then, not daring
to make any further attempt against the orthodox faith, mixed
themselves among the churches, as if they acquiesced in the conclusions
which had been reached, and did not hold any different opinions.
There remained, however, in their
hearts, a deep-seated hatred against the Catholics, and they assailed,
with suborned accusers and trumped-up charges, those with whom they
could not contend in argument on matters of faith.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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