View source for Anomoeanism

{{Short description|4th-century Christian sect}}
{{Arianism}}

In [[Christianity in the 4th century|4th-century Christianity]], the '''Anomoeans'''<ref>also spelled "'''Anomeans'''"</ref> {{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|n|ə|ˈ|m|iː|ə|n|z}}, also known as '''Heterousians''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|h|ɛ|t|ə|r|ə|ˈ|j|uː|ʒ|ə|n|z}}, '''Aetians''' {{IPAc-en|eɪ|ˈ|iː|ʃ|ə|n|z}}, or '''Eunomians''' {{IPAc-en|j|uː|ˈ|n|oʊ|m|i|ə|n|z}}, were a [[sect]] that held to a form of [[Arianism]]: that [[Jesus]] was neither of the same nature ([[homoousian]]) as [[God the Father]] nor a similar nature to God the Father ([[homoiousian]])—the latter being maintained by the [[Semi-Arianism|semi-Arians]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/26596/Anomoean Encyclopædia Britannica: "Anomoean"]</ref>

==Overview==
The word ''anomoean'' comes from [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ἀ(ν)-}} (''an-'') 'not' and {{lang|grc|ὅμοιος}} (''homoios'') 'similar', thus 'different; dissimilar'. In the 4th century, during the reign of [[Constantius II]], this was the name by which the followers of [[Aëtius (theologian)|Aëtius]] and [[Eunomius]] were described. The term ''heterousian'' derives from [[Greek language|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ἑτεροούσιος}}, ''heterooúsios'' 'differing in substance' from {{lang|grc|ἕτερος}}, ''héteros'' 'another' and {{lang|grc|οὐσία}}, ''ousía'' 'substance, being'.

The semi-Arians condemned the Anomoeans in the [[Council of Seleucia]], and the Anomoeans condemned the semi-Arians in their turn in the Councils of [[Council of Constantinople (360)|Constantinople]] and [[Synods of Antioch|Antioch]]; erasing the word {{lang|grc|ὅμοιος}} (''homoios'') from the formula of [[Council of Rimini|Rimini]] and that of Constantinople and protesting that the Word had not only a different substance but also a will different from that of the Father. From that, they were to be called {{lang|grc|ἀνόμοιοι}}  (''anomoioi'').

In the 5th century, the Anomoean presbyter [[Philostorgius]] wrote an Anomoean church history.<ref>Philostorgius, ''Church History''.</ref>

==Notable Anomoeans==
[[File:Eunomius from Nuremberg Chronicle.jpg|thumb|[[Eunomius of Cyzicus]], from the [[Nuremberg Chronicle]]]]
*[[Aëtius (theologian)|Aëtius]], who founded the Anomoean tradition, later bishop (361&ndash;?).<ref>Philostorgius, in Photius, ''Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius'', book 7, chapter 6.</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">Socrates Scholasticus, ''Church History'', book 2, chapter 35.</ref>
*[[Theodulus (bishop)|Theodulus]], bishop of [[Chaeretapa]] (?&ndash;c. 363) and [[Palestine (region)#Middle Ages|Palestine]] (c. 363&ndash;c. 379).<ref>Philostorgius, in Photius, ''Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius'', book 8, chapter 2 and book 9, chapter 18.</ref><ref>Socrates Scholasticus, ''Church History'', book 2, chapter 40.</ref>
*[[Eunomius of Cyzicus|Eunomius]], bishop of [[Cyzicus]] (360&ndash;361) and exiled bishop (361&ndash;c. 393).<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref>Philostorgius, in Photius, ''Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius'', book 5, chapter 3 and book 6, chapters 1&ndash;3.</ref>
*[[Paemenius]], bishop of [[Constantinople]], (c. 363, at the same time as [[Eudoxius of Antioch]]).<ref name="ReferenceB">Philostorgius, in Photius, ''Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius'', book 8, chapter 2.</ref>
*[[Candidus (Bishop of Lydia)]], (c. 363&ndash;?).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Arrianus (bishop)|Arrianus]], bishop of [[Ionia]], (c. 363&ndash;?).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Florentius of Constantinople|Florentius]], bishop of [[Constantinople]], (c. 363&ndash;?, at the same time as [[Eudoxius of Antioch]]).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Thallus of Lesbos|Thallus]], bishop of [[Lesbos]], (c. 363&ndash;?, at the same time as [[Eudoxius of Antioch]]).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Euphronius (bishop)|Euphronius]], bishop of [[Galatia]], the [[Black Sea]] and [[Cappadocia]], (c. 363&ndash;?).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Julian (bishop of Cilicia)|Julian]], bishop of [[Cilicia]], (c. 363&ndash;?).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Serras]], [[Stephen (bishop of Egypt)|Stephen]], and Heliodorus, bishops of Egypt, (c. 363&ndash;?).<ref name="ReferenceB" />
*[[Philostorgius]], historian.

==Notable opponents of Anomoeanism==
*[[Basil of Caesarea]], bishop of [[Caesarea (Mazaca)|Caesarea]], and author of ''Against Eunomius''.
*[[Gregory of Nazianzus]], archbishop of [[Constantinople]], prolific writer and orator.  [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.iii.xiii.html ''The First Theological Oration. A Preliminary Discourse Against the Eunomians.'']
*[[Gregory of Nyssa]], bishop of the Cappadocian town of [[Nyssa (Cappadocia)|Nyssa]] and brother to Basil of Caesaria.  ''[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.i.iii.i.html Against Eunomius]'' (12 books) and ''[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.ii.ii.html Answer to Eunomius' Second Book].''

==See also==
*[[Archbishop Nectarius of Constantinople]]
*[[Homoean]]s, in contrast to the Anomoeans
*[[Arianism]]
*[[Arian controversy]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*First edition [[Encyclopædia Britannica]] [issued 1768-1771]
*{{1728}}

{{Heresies condemned by the Catholic Church}}

[[Category:Arianism]]
[[Category:Trinitarianism]]
[[Category:Christian terminology]]
[[Category:Nature of Jesus Christ]]