EUNOMIUS. - Heretic of the 4th century, born in Cappadocia of a humble family, died at Dacora around 395. He spent his life first at Constantinople and later at Antioch, where he was drawn by the fame of Aetius, whose disciple and secretary he became. Promoted bishop of Cyzicus in 360, he was forced to resign because his faithful refused to render obedience to such a heretic. After the death of Constantius, he returned to Constantinople together with his master Aetius, with whom he founded the new sect of the Anomoeans, also called Aetians or Eunomians, who established at Antioch and Constantinople a hierarchy opposed to the one already existing. Other bishops were then appointed in Syria, Ionia, Palestine, Cappadocia and Cilicia. The death of Julian (363) halted the movement; yet it was only under Gratian and Theodosius that the Eunomians lost the right of association. E. was exiled to Halmyria and then to Caesarea of Cappadocia. Upon his death, he was buried at Tyana.
His doctrine is absolute Arianism. E. maintains that there is no likeness whatsoever between the Father and the Son, who are two beings different in everything, inasmuch as the Father is creator and the Son, on the other hand, a creature. The Son is therefore a substance distinct from the Father, who created him and communicated to him the creative power. The Son then created the Holy Spirit, of whom he became the instrument for enlightening and sanctifying souls, without however communicating to him the creative power. The Eunomian Trinity thus consists of three different beings, not consubstantial, without mutual immanence.
Before 365 E. wrote an Apology for himself, a work full of obscurity, refuted by St. Basil in the Adversus Eunomium; an Apology of the Apology, refuted by St. Gregory of Nyssa, after the death of St. Basil, in the Adversus Eunomium; a Profession of faith, addressed to Theodosius, who however did not accept it (383).
Bibliography2 works
David Lathoud