Page "Semi-Arianism" Paragraph 3

After the 325 Council of Nicea defeated Arianism, the greater number of the Eastern bishops, who agreed to the deposition of St. Athanasius at Tyre in 335 and received the Arians to communion at Jerusalem on their repentance, were not Arians.

The dedication Council of Antioch in 341 put forth a creed which was unexceptionable but for its omission of the Nicene formula " of One Substance.

" Even disciples of Arius, such as George, Bishop of Laodicea ( 335-47 ) and Eustathius of Sebaste ( c. 356-80 ), joined the moderate party, and after the death of Eusebius of Nicomedia, the leaders of the count faction, Ursacius, Valens and Germinius, were not tied to any formula, for Emperor Constantius II himself hated Arianism, though he disliked Athanasius yet more.

When Marcellus of Ancyra was deposed in 336, he was succeeded by Basil.

Marcellus was reinstated by the Council of Sardica and Pope Julius I in 343, but Basil was restored in 350 by Constantius, over whom he gained considerable influence.

He was the leader of a council at Sirmium in 351, held against Photinus who had been a deacon at Ancyra, and the canons of this synod begin by condemning Arianism, though they do not quite come up to the Nicene standard.

Basil had afterwards a disputation with the Anomoean Aëtius.