Page "Arianism" Paragraph 17

Although he was committed to maintaining what the church had defined at Nicaea, Constantine was also bent on pacifying the situation and eventually became more lenient toward those condemned and exiled at the council.

First he allowed Eusebius of Nicomedia, who was a protégé of his sister, and Theognis to return once they had signed an ambiguous statement of faith.

The two, and other friends of Arius, worked for Arius ' rehabilitation.

At the First Synod of Tyre in AD 335, they brought accusations against Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, the primary opponent of Arius ; after this, Constantine had Athanasius banished, since he considered him an impediment to reconciliation.

In the same year, the Synod of Jerusalem under Constantine's direction readmitted Arius to communion in AD 336.

Arius, however, died on the way to this event in Constantinople.

Some scholars suggest that Arius may have been poisoned by his opponents.

Eusebius and Theognis remained in the Emperor's favour, and when Constantine, who had been a catechumen much of his adult life, accepted baptism on his deathbed, it was from Eusebius of Nicomedia.