HOMILY 75: On the Seventh Sunday after Pascha: Teaching of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom on the Council of the 318 Holy Fathers who gathered against the heretic Arius.

Today, beloved faithful, we commemorate the memory of the holy fathers. For by their confession—that the Son of God became man, willingly suffered, died, was buried, rose again, ascended into the heavens, and so forth—the holy fathers established the Orthodox Faith. Many heretics also confessed that Christ suffered and rose from the dead. But that the Son is like unto the Father—this they did not admit in any way. Indeed, many blasphemies against the Godhead did the heretics proclaim.

But the holy fathers explained the true teaching of the Church and confirmed the faith. For this reason, after the feasts of the Lord, we celebrate the memory of the holy fathers.

There was in Alexandria of Egypt a presbyter of the great church, by name Arius, a man very learned in books, to whom the Archbishop Peter had entrusted the teaching of the people in the church. Yet not long after, Arius began to utter evil things, saying: “The Son of God is a creature.” And he said that Christ Jesus is neither of one essence with God the Father nor equal to the Holy Ghost.

When the archbishop came to know of this, he commanded that Arius be cast out of the Church. But he began to assemble gatherings, teaching his heresy to many.

When the emperor saw that the Church was being disturbed by Arius, he gave command that all the bishops of the world be gathered, and they quickly assembled in Nicaea, where Arius also was brought, together with those of like mind with him.

Bishops came from all places—three hundred and eighteen—and they sat with the emperor. Arius and his companions were brought before the Council, and Emperor Constantine commanded that Arius should first speak.

And Arius said:

“The Word of God is not from eternity. By Him were not all visible things made. The Son is not like unto the Father, nor is He true in His essence, but is a creature and a creation. The Son is so named by God, but the Father is invisible to the Son.”

There were many philosophers with Arius, among whom was one named Theodoros, very cunning, who defended Arius’s sayings and opposed the bishops vehemently, for he was eloquent in speech.

But the Lord God showed that it is not by might that one receives the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that worketh righteousness shall receive it.

And then there occurred a wonder at the Council. There was a bishop named Spyridon of Trimythous, unlearned and not eloquent, who dared to dispute with the philosopher. The other bishops, knowing him to be unlearned, sought to dissuade him so that he not be put to shame. But he would not obey them and said with joy to the philosopher:

“In the name of Jesus Christ, listen, O heretic: God is One, who wisely created heaven and earth, and made man, and established all creation by the Word and the Spirit—both visible and invisible things and all that is in them.

This same Word, the Son of God, we know to have been born in the latter days of the Virgin for our salvation, and by His crucifixion, death, and resurrection has delivered the race of man. Him do we await to come and to judge the living and the dead.

Believest thou this, O philosopher?”

All those who were with Arius were struck with fear and fell silent. Only Theodoros the philosopher replied:

“I too, O father, believe thus.”

And the saint said:

“If thou desirest to save thy soul, then follow me into the Church, and receive the sign of the faith of Christ.”

Theodoros then turned to his disciples and said:

“Hear now—I contended stoutly for Arius until this elder began to speak. But great power came forth from his lips, and I could not resist the power of God.”

All those who were present at the Council saw fire proceeding from the mouth of Spyridon when he spoke to Theodoros. And so, all who had been with Theodoros became Christians—except for Arius the Christ-fighter, whom the holy fathers put to shame. They cast him out, both from the Council and from the empire, and they confirmed the Orthodox Faith. They anathematized Arius, his heresy, and all heretics.

The chief hierarchs present at the Council were:

• Silvester, Pope of Rome

• Alexander, Patriarch of Alexandria

• Eustathius, Archbishop of Antioch

• Metrophanes, of Byzantium

• Macarius, of Jerusalem

• Nicholas, of Lycia

• Paphnutius, of Egypt

This was the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, with 318 holy fathers, in the twelfth year of the reign of Emperor Constantine.

These holy fathers, gathered from all ends of the earth, came as if winged: neither heat nor cold, nor the breadth of the sea, nor the terrifying deep, nor mighty storm, nor the length of the journey prevented them. But for the love of Christ, they despised all these and came together. And the blessed fathers established the faith.

Therefore let us also praise them, saying:

Rejoice, O most blessed, divine, and glorious teachers! Pray to Christ for peace, for our right-believing emperor, and for all Christians—to deliver us from the sorrows and afflictions that come upon us, and to preserve for us the right and unshaken faith, free from heresies—

that we may inherit a portion with the saints in the Kingdom of Heaven, glorifying the Holy Trinity: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.