EUNOMIUS. – Born in the 4th century, no one in Cappadocia from a humble family, died at Dacora around 395. He spent his life first in Constantinople and later in Antioch, where he was drawn by the fame of Aetius, of whom he became a disciple and secretary. Promoted bishop of Cyzicus in 360, he was forced to resign because his flock refused to obey 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 Anomeans, also called Aetians or Eunomians, who established at Antioch and Constantinople a hierarchy opposed to the existing one. Other bishops were then appointed in Syria, Ionia, Palestine, Cappadocia and Cilicia. The death of Julian (363) halted the movement; it was only under Gratian and Theodosius, however, that the Eunomians lost the right of assembly. E. was exiled to Halmyris and then to Caesarea in Cappadocia. After 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 entirely different, inasmuch as the Father is the creator and the Son, instead, is 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 which he became the instrument to enlighten and sanctify souls, without however communicating to him the creative power. The Eunomian Trinity thus consists of three different beings, not consubstantial, without mutual relation.
E. wrote before 365 an Apology of himself, a work full of obscurities, refuted by St. Basil in *Against Eunomius*; an *Apology of the Apology*, refuted by St. Gregory of Nyssa after the death of St. Basil, in *Against Eunomius*; a Profession of Faith, addressed to Theodosius, who however did not accept it (358).