Eusebius of Nicomedia facts for kids

Eusebius of Nicomedia (died 341) was an important Arian church leader. He is famous for baptizing Constantine the Great just before the emperor died in 337. Some old stories say Pope Sylvester I baptized Constantine. However, most experts today believe this is not true.

Eusebius started as a bishop in Berytus (now Beirut). Later, he became the bishop of Nicomedia, which was where the Roman emperor lived. He then moved to Constantinople in 338 and stayed there until his death.

Eusebius's Power in the Roman Court

Eusebius was distantly related to Emperor Constantine. This connection helped him become a very powerful figure in the church. His influence came from his close ties to the emperor's court. During his time, many important church leaders in the East were Arians or supported Arian ideas.

Eusebius was trusted by both Emperor Constantine and his son, Constantius II. He even taught Julian the Apostate, who later became emperor. It is believed that Eusebius baptized Constantine on May 22, 337. This was because of his family link to the emperor.

Arianism became very popular with the royal family during Eusebius's time. He played a big part in this. Arian influence in the empire lasted until Theodosius I became emperor.

Eusebius was almost punished earlier in his career. This was because he was close to Emperor Licinius. This happened when Eusebius was bishop of Nicomedia.

Eusebius and Arius

Eusebius and Arius both studied under Lucian of Antioch. It is likely that Eusebius shared Arius's beliefs from the start. He was one of Arius's strongest supporters.

When Arius was removed from the church in Alexandria in 321, Eusebius was the first person he contacted. Eusebius was powerful enough to help Arius write down his ideas. Eusebius later changed some of his views, or perhaps he just gave in to pressure. Still, he was a main leader of the Arian movement.

At the First Council of Nicaea in 325, Eusebius signed the Nicene Creed. But he did so after a long fight. Old writings say he signed "with hand only, not heart." This was a big setback for the Arians. Many thought the council was evenly split between Arians and non-Arians.

Eusebius's support for Arius made the emperor angry. A few months after the council, Eusebius was sent away. He kept in touch with Arius and his followers. After three years, he convinced Constantine that Arius's ideas did not go against the Nicene Creed. He then won back the emperor's favor.

When he returned in 329, Eusebius used the government to spread his views in the Church.

Eusebius's Church and Political Work

Eusebius was not only interested in religious ideas, but he was also a skilled politician. After he returned from being sent away, he worked to regain his power. He made friends with other groups, like the Melitians. He also managed to remove many people who disagreed with him.

Historians describe Eusebius as a clever and ambitious person. He was also said to be forceful in his actions. He even used his friends to spy on those who opposed him.

He successfully removed three key opponents who supported the First Council of Nicaea. These were Eustathius of Antioch in 330, Athanasius of Alexandria in 335, and Marcellus of Ancyra in 336. This was a big achievement. Constantine thought Athanasius was a "man of God." Both Eustathius and Athanasius held very high positions in the church.

Another major success for Eusebius was becoming the Patriarch of Constantinople. He did this by removing Paul I of Constantinople. Paul later returned as Patriarch after Eusebius died.

Eusebius also had great influence outside the Roman Empire. He brought Ulfilas into the Arian priesthood. He then sent Ulfilas to teach the Goths about Christianity.

Eusebius baptized Constantine the Great at his home in Nicomedia. This happened on May 22, 337, just before the emperor passed away.

Eusebius's Death and What Happened Next

Eusebius died in 341, when he was at the peak of his power.

He was so influential that even after his death, his ideas lived on. Emperor Constantius II followed Eusebius's advice. He tried to make the entire Roman Empire Arian. He did this by creating Arian Councils and official Arian rules.

Because of Eusebius, "Constantine and his successors made life pretty miserable for Church leaders committed to the Nicene decision and its Trinitarian formula." This means that church leaders who believed in the Nicene Creed had a hard time.

Remember, Eusebius of Nicomedia is not the same person as Eusebius of Caesarea. Eusebius of Caesarea wrote famous early books about church history.

See also

In Spanish: Eusebio de Nicomedia para niños Synod of Gangra