Athanasius, Bishop of Ancyra

ATHANASIUS bishop of ANCYRA. - He was consecrated by Acacius of Caesarea in Palestine, leader of the Homoeans, as successor to Basil of Ancyra, leader of the Homoiousians, who had been exiled by Emperor Constantius after the Council of Constantinople of January 360. A. had not compromised himself in the preceding controversies and remained an advocate of the “consubstantial.” He had himself represented at the Council of Antioch in 363 and personally took part in that of Tyana in Cappadocia in 367. He was on good terms with St. Basil of Caesarea and St. Gregory of Nyssa. Of the former there are three letters: to A., to his father, and to the Church of Ancyra, on the occasion of A.’s death (Epp. 24, 25, 29); of the latter, the splendid praise of A., vir cui veritate nihil fuit antiquus (Contra Eunom., lib. 1: PG 45, 259-60).