Chronology of the Councils

Note 6. Chronology of the Councils
(Vide supra, p. 271.)

As the direct object of the foregoing Volume was to exhibit the doctrine, temper, and conduct of the Arians in the fourth century rather than to write their history, there is much incidental confusion in the order in which the events which it includes are brought before the reader. However, in truth, the chronology of the period is by no means clear, and the author may congratulate himself that, by the scope of his work, he is exempt from the necessity of deciding questions relative to it, on which ancient testimonies and modern critics are in hopeless variance both with themselves and with each other.

Accordingly, he has chosen one authority, the accurate Tillemont, and followed him almost throughout. Here, however, he thinks it well to subjoin some tables on the subject, taken from the Oxford Library of the Fathers, which delineate the main outline of the history, while they vividly illustrate the difficulty of determining in detail the succession of dates.

Principal Events BETWEEN A.D. 325 AND A.D. 381,
IN Chronological Order

1. From 325 to 337
(Mainly from Tillemont.)

A.D.

325.

(From June 19 to August 25.) Council OF Nicæa.
Arius and his partisans anathematized and banished, Arius to Illyricum. The Eusebians subscribe to the
Homoüsion.

326.

Athanasius raised to the See of Alexandria at the age
of about 30.

328-9.

Eusebius of Nicomedia in favour with Constantine.

330.

An Arian priest gains the ear of Constantine, who
recalls Arius from exile to Alexandria.

331.

Athanasius refuses to restore him to communion.
Eustathius deposed by the Eusebians on a charge
of Sabellianism; other Bishops deposed.

334.

Council of Cæsarea against Athanasius, who refuses
to attend it.

335.

Council of Tyre and Jerusalem, in which Arius and
the Arians are formerly readmitted. Athanasius,
forced by the emperor to attend, abruptly leaves it
in order to appeal to Constantine. The Eusebians
DEPOSE Athanasius, AND Constantine BANISHES
HIM TO Treves.

336.

Eusebians hold a Council at Constantinople to condemn
Marcellus on the ground of his Sabellianism; and to
recognize Arius. Death OF Arius.

337.

Death OF Constantine. The Eusebian Constantius
succeeds him in the East, the orthodox Constans and
Constantine in the West.

2. From 337 to 342

338

Exiles recalled by the three new Emperors.
(End of June.) Athanasius leaves Treves for Alexandria.

(From Valesius, Schel-
strate, Pagi, Montfau-
con and S. Basnage.)

(From Baronius and
Petavius.)

(From Tillemont and
Papebroke.)

339

Eusebius sends to Pope
Julius for a Council.

Eusebius, &c.
Council OF aLEX-
ANDRIA DEFENDS
aTHANASIUS TO
THE pOPE.

Eusebius, &c.
Council of Alex-
ANDRIA, &c.
(Sept.) Athanasius
goes to Rome.
¹

340

Council of Alex-
andria defends
Athanasius to
the Pope.

Papal Legates sent to
Antioch from Rome.
(Early in year) Athana-
sius goes to Rome.

Papal Legates, &c.
(End of year) Athana-
sius returns to Alex-
andria.

341

(Christmas or before
Sept.)
Council of the
Dedication at
Antioch (Eusebian),
not in order to
anticipate the Council
at Rome.
(Lent) The Arian
Gregory in
Alexandria.
(March-May.) Atha-
nasius escapes to
Rome, after the
Council of the
Dedication,
immediately before
or after the Papal
Legates set out
from Rome.

Council of
Dedication, &c.,
In order to anticipate
the Council at Rome.

The Papal Legates leave
Antioch.

A Roman Council.

(Christmas or before
Sept.) Council.,
&c.

(Lent.) The Arian
Gregory, &c.

Athanasius
escapes, &c.

The Papal Legates, &c.
The Papal Legates
arrive at Rome during
the Council there.

(June till Aug. or Sept.)
Council of Rome.
The Pope’s Letter
to the Eusebians
immediately after the
Council.

342

(April or June.)
The Papal Legates arrive
at Antioch.
(Jan.) The Papal Legates
leave Antioch.

(March or April.) The
Papal Legates arrive at
Rome.

Council of Rome.
The Pope’s Letter
to the Eusebians.

(End of year) Athanasius
returns to Alexandria. (Or beginning Lent.)
The Arian Gregory
IN aLEXANDRIA.

The Papal Legates arrive
at Rome.
Athanasius escapes
to Rome shortly after
the Roman Council
there.

Council of Rome.
The Pope’s Letter
to the Eusebians,
&c.

3. From 342 to 351
(Mainly from Tillemont.)

345.	Council OF Antioch (Eusebian), at which the Macrostich is drawn up.
347.	Great Council OF Sardica, at the instance of the orthodox Constans. Council of Milan against Photinus. Ursacius and Valens sue for reconciliation to the Church.
349.	Council of Jerusalem, at which Athanasius is present. Athanasius returns to Alexandria. Ursacius and Valens recant, and are reconciled at Rome. Council at Sirmium or at Rome against Photinus.
350.	Death OF Constans. The Eusebian Constantius sole Emperor.
351.	Great Council OF Sirmium, at which Photinus is deposed. First Sirmian creed, &c.

4. From 351 to 361

	B a r o n i u s	P e t a v i u s	V a l e s i u s	P a g i	B a s n a g e	T i l l e m o n t	N. A l e x a n d e r	C o u s t a n t	M o n t f o u c o n	M a n s i	M a m a c h i	Z a c c a r i a
1. Great Council of Sirmium	357	351	351	351	351	351	351	351	351	357/8	351	351
2. Photinus deposed	357	351		351	351	351	351	351	351	358	351	351
3. First Sirmian Creed (Semi-Arian)	357	351		351	351	351	351		351	358	351
4. Signed by Pope Liberius with a condemnation of Athanasius	357	o	o	o	o	357/8	358	357	o	358	o	357
5. Council of Arles (Eusebian) Athanasius condemned	353	353	353	353	353	353/4	353	353		354	353
6. Great Council of Milan (Eusebian) Athanasius condemned	355	(communiter)					355
7. Rise of the Eunomians	356	356				356
8. Syrianus in Alexandria, and George in Cappadocia	356	356	356	356	356	356	355	356	356	356/7	356
9. Council of Beziers. Hilary deposed and banished	356	355		356	356	356	356	356?		355	356
10. Fresh Council or Conference at Sirmium	o	357	357	357	357	357	357	357	357	359	357	357
11. Second Sirmian Creed, the blasphemy of Potamius and Hosius (Homœan, if not Anomœan)	357	357		357	357	357	357	357	357	359	357
12. Signed by Hosius, but without condemning Athanasius	357	357	357	357	357	357	357	357	357	355	357	357
13. Signed by Liberius, with a condemnation of Athanasius	o	357							357	o	o	o
14. Another or an altered Creed signed by Liberius with condemnation of Athanasius	o	357	357	o	o	o	o	o	o	o	o	o
15. Council of Antioch in favour of Eunomius						358	358		358
16. Its Creed (Anomœan)						358	358		358
17. Council of Ancyra of 12 Bishops
18. Its Creed (Semi-Arian) against both the Homoüsian and the Anomœan, signed by Liberius	357 357	358 358		358 358	358 358	358 358	358	358 358		359 359		358 358
19. Fresh Council or Conference at Sirmium	o		359	358	358/9	358	359	359	359	359	359
20. Third Sirmian. Creed (Homœan) drawn up by Semi-Arians	357	358	359	358	358/9	359	359	359	359	359	359	359
21. Signed by Liberius	o	o	358?	358	358	o		o	o		o	o
22. Bi-partite Council of Ariminum (Homœan) and of Seleucia (Semi-Arian)	359	(communiter)
23. Council of Constantinople (Homœan)			360	359/ 60		360	359		360	359	359
24. Council of Antioch (Anomœan)						361	360		361	361	361
25. Death of Constantius	361	(communiter)

5. From 361 to 381
(From Tillemont.)

362.	Council OF Alexandria.
365.	Council of Lampsacus (Semi-Arian or Macedonian).
366.	Macedonian Bishops reconciled to the Church at Rome.
367.	Council of Tyre for the same purpose.
373.	Death OF Athanasius.
381.	Second ŒCUMENICAL Council AT Constantinople.

Footnotes

1. The events in italics are grounded on an hypothesis of the authors who introduce them, that Athanasius made two journeys to Rome, which they adopt in order to lighten the difficulties of the chronology. ↩