The Arian Controversy, Julian the Apostate, Athanasius, and the Great Cappadocians

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key figures, theological terms, and historical councils of the 4th-century Arian Controversy, Julian's pagan reaction, Athanasius of Alexandria, and the Great Cappadocians.

Arius

A prestigious presbyter of Alexandria who taught that the Logos/Word was not coeternal with God the Father, but was the first of all created beings, summarizing his view with the phrase 'there was when He was not.'

Alexander of Alexandria

The bishop of Alexandria who clashed with Arius, condemning his views and maintaining that the Word of God was divine, uncreated, and coeternal with the Father.

Council of Nicea

The First Ecumenical Council, gathered in 325 CE by Emperor Constantine, where approximately 300 bishops met to address standard ecclesiastical policies and reject Arianism by adopting the Creed of Nicea.

Homoousios

A Greek term meaning 'of the same substance,' included in the Nicene Creed to affirm that the Son is fully divine and equal in substance with the Father.

Homoiousios

A Greek term meaning 'of a similar substance,' preferred by non-Arian Christians who worried that 'homoousios' implied no distinction between the Father and the Son.

Patripassianism

The doctrine holding that the Father and the Son are identical, which implies that the Father suffered the passion on the cross.

Eusebius of Nicomedia

An influential bishop and politician who spoke on behalf of Arius at Nicea, courted Emperor Constantine to secure the return of exiled Arians, baptized Constantine on his deathbed, and orchestrated the exiles of Nicene leaders.

Eusebius of Caesarea

A learned church historian present at the Council of Nicea who presented the creed of his home church during the debate over the Nicene Creed.

Julian the Apostate

The cousin of Constantius II who became Roman emperor in 361 CE, abandoned Christianity to restore paganism, organized a pagan hierarchy, and passed laws restricting Christian teaching.

Against the Galileans

A work written by Emperor Julian to mock Christian doctrine, the Bible, and Jesus, claiming that Christians had misinterpreted Jewish scripture.

Athanasius of Alexandria

The secretary to Bishop Alexander who succeeded him as bishop of Alexandria in 328 CE, surviving five exiles to serve as the chief champion of Nicene orthodoxy.

On the Incarnation of the Word

An early theological work written by Athanasius arguing that the central event of history is God becoming human in Jesus Christ to restore creation from the destruction of sin.

Synod of Tyre

A council where Arian opponents falsely accused Athanasius of magic and murdering a bishop named Arsenius, an accusation Athanasius disproved by producing Arsenius alive with both hands intact.

Blasphemy of Sirmium

The term used by Nicene Christians to describe the decision of the council gathered in Sirmium, which openly rejected the decisions of the Council of Nicea.

Macrina

The sister of Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa, known as 'the Teacher,' who turned her family toward the monastic life at Annesi and is considered a founder of Greek monasticism.

Basil of Caesarea

One of the Great Cappadocians, known as 'The Great,' who wrote key rules for Eastern monasticism, built the 'Basiliad' complex for the needy, and became Bishop of Caesarea.

Basiliad

A complex constructed on the outskirts of Caesarea by Basil the Great where the hungry were fed, the sick were treated, and the unemployed were provided work.

Gregory of Nyssa

The younger brother of Basil and Macrina who was forced to become Bishop of Nyssa, authored 'On Virginity', and became a leading theologian for Nicene orthodoxy at the Council of Constantinople.

Gregory of Nazianzus

A Cappadocian poet and orator who became Patriarch of Constantinople, presided over the Second Ecumenical Council, and composed classic Greek hymns.

Council of Constantinople

The Second Ecumenical Council, convened in 381 CE under Emperor Theodosius, which reaffirmed the Nicene Creed, declared the full divinity of the Holy Spirit, and established standard Trinitarian theology.

Ousia and Hypostasis

Greek philosophical terms defined by the Great Cappadocians to formulate the Trinity as one essence ('ousia') in three distinct persons ('hypostases').