These and similar exhortations he, like an affectionate son, addressed to the bishops as to fathers, desiring their accordance in the apostolical doctrines. Most of those present were won over by his arguments, established concord among themselves, and embraced sound doctrine. There were, however, a few, of whom mention has been already made, who sided with Arius; and amongst them were Menophantus, bishop of Ephesus; Patrophilus, bishop of Scythopolis; Theognis, bishop of Nice; and Narcissus, bishop of Neronopolis, which is a town of the second Cilicia, and is now called Irenopolis; also Theonas, bishop of Marmarica, and Secundus, bishop of Ptolemais in Egypt. They drew up a declaration of their creed, and presented it to the Council. Instead of being recognized, it was torn to pieces, and was declared to be spurious and false. So great was the uproar raised against them, and so many were the reproaches cast on them for having betrayed religion, that they all, with the exception of Secundus and Theonas, stood up and excommunicated Arius.[1] This impious man,
- ↑ In the discussions of the Creed, there were curious scenes, according to some writers. One reports that St. Nicholas, the red-faced bishop of Myra, whom we sometimes call "Santa Claus," got so enraged at Arius, that he slapped him on the jaw. And when a song was repeated out of Thalia, the bishops kept their eyes fast shut and stopped their ears. When the Arian Creed, signed by 18 bishops was produced, the other 100 bishops tore it in pieces and ejected Arius from the Council. He disappeared before the close of the Council. His book, Thalia, was burnt on the spot, and so many copies were soon destroyed, that it became a very rare work. The whole Christian world has altered the Nicene Creed, in some respects, in order to make it conform to common sense, as Stanley thinks.
The statement of Athanasius is, that "Arius was anathematized, and his Thalia condemned." He was then banished into Illyricum, by the emperor, who sent edicts to all parts of his empire denouncing him and his doctrines, and even threatening those who should dare to speak well of the exiled bishops, or to
