The Nicene Faith Attacked after Constantine’s Death

We have now seen what happened in the churches during the reign of Constantine. On his death the doctrine that had been set out at Nicaea was put under examination once again. Not everyone had approved of it, yet while Constantine lived no one had dared to reject it openly. At his death, however, many renounced it, especially those who had already been suspected of treachery. Of all these, Eusebius and Theognis, bishops in the province of Bithynia, did everything in their power to make the teachings of Arius prevail. They believed this would easily be done if Athanasius could be kept from returning from exile, and if the government of the Egyptian churches could be given to a bishop who thought as they did. [a]

They found an effective helper in the presbyter who had obtained from Constantine the recall of Arius. The emperor Constantius held this man in high regard because of the service he had done him in delivering his father’s will to him. Since he was trusted, he boldly seized his opportunities, until he became an intimate of the emperor’s wife and of the powerful eunuchs who served in the women’s bedchambers. At this time Eusebius was appointed to manage the affairs of the royal household. Being a zealous Arian, he persuaded the empress and many of the people at court to adopt the same views. So disputes about doctrine became common again, both in private and in public, and abuse and hostility broke out anew. This state of things suited the plans of Theognis and his party.