Page:History of the First Council of Nice.djvu/129

Rh episcopacy forty-six years, of which twenty had been passed in exile.

Athanasius, of Anazarbus, the Arian bishop, who was present at the Nicene Council, had, in 331, the notorious Ætius for his disciple or pupil in theology.

Ætius became one of the most conspicuous Arian leaders, although he began life fatherless and in poverty, being some time the slave of a vine-dresser's wife, next a travelling tinker, or goldsmith, then a quack doctor, then a pupil of Paulinus, Arian bishop of Antioch; of Athanasius, of Anazarbus; of Anthony, a priest of Tarsus; and of Leontius, a priest of Antioch. He held disputations with the Gnostics and other sects, practising medicine for a living. Finally he had Eunomius for his pupil and amanuensis (who founded the Eunomian sect), and became at length bishop of Constantinople, where he died, and was buried by Eunomius, being at that time unpopular with the court party. He taught many heretical dogmas, one of which was, that faith alone, without works, was sufficient for the salvation of man.

Eunomius, more famous than his master, was a man of great learning and ability. He became bishop of Cyzicum, A. D. 360, but was banished soon after. His Arianism was like that of Ætius—a belief that Christ was a created being, and unlike the Father. Having wandered about much, he died about 391.

Hosius, of Corduba (Cordova), but a native Egyptian, one of the foremost of the Orthodox party, and a chief leader in the Council of Nice, was prevailed upon to sign an Arian creed after that party had banished him in 356, when he was nearly a hundred years of age. He died A. D.