The Emperor Constantius, who was an Arian, had in
359 assembled at Ariminum (the modern Rimini) a Council of 400 Western
Bishops, and these, partly duped, partly compelled by the Imperial
Officers, had put out a Creed, which, while acknowledging the proper
Deity of the Son, and confessing Him to be Like the Father, omitted to say Like In
All Points, and refused the word Consubstantial; thus, while condemning the extreme
followers of Arius, favouring the views of the Semi-Arian party.
At the same time another Synod, of 150 Eastern Bishops, was assembled
under Court influence at Seleucia, and promulgated a similar
formula. The Bishop of Nazianzus, though still as always a
staunch upholder of Nicene orthodoxy, was in some way induced to attach
his signature to this compromising Creed; and this action led to most
important consequences. The Monks of his Diocese took the matter
up with the usual earnestness of Religious, and, with several also of
the Bishops, withdrew from Communion with their own Bishop. This
may have been the reason for his son’s return. He induced
his Father to apologize for his involuntary error and to put out an
orthodox Confession, and so he healed the schism. To this period
belongs his first Oration on Peace; in which, after an eloquent
encomium on the Religious life, he sets forth the blessings of peace
and concord, and contrasts them with the misery of discord; begging the
people to be very slow indeed on this account to sever themselves from
the Communion of those whom they think to be erring brethren; and
thanking God for the restoration of peace. He concludes
the whole with a splendid setting
forth of the Catholic doctrine concerning the Trinity, in the following
terms:—