Syrian clergyman. He was bishop first of Beryus (Beirut) in Syria, then of Nicomedia. He defended Arius at the Council of Nicaea (325), and afterwards became the leader of an Arian group known as the Eusebians. Exiled to Gaul for his views, he returned in 328 and influenced Emperor Constantine to move towards Arianism, and baptized him in 337, just before his death. He had also been responsible for the deposition of Athanasius in 335. In 339 he was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople, and enjoyed the favours of Emperor Constantius.
Distantly related to the imperial family of Constantine, he not only owed his removal from an insignificant to the most important episcopal see to his influence at court, but the great power he wielded in the Church was derived from that source.
Like Arius, he was a pupil of Lucian of Antioch, and it is probable that he held the same views as Arius from the very beginning.
At the First Council of Nicaea, 325, he signed the Confession, but only after a long and desperate opposition.
Eusebius baptised Constantine the Great in 337 just before the death of the Emperor.
He is not to be confused with his contemporary Eusebius of Caesarea, the author of a well-known early book of Church History.
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Preceded by: Paul I |
Bishop of Constantinople 339–341 |
Succeeded by: Paul I |
This article includes content derived from the public domain Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 1914.
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