Dr. Dafydd Daniel

Well, the problem for Arius, why Arius views it as a heresy, is that then what you're saying is that the father becomes incarnate and dies on a cross. And you shouldn't be saying that, right? Because you should be able to distinguish something about these persons. There must be different persons. In Arius' own light, he's actually being the most Christian person.

Well, the problem for Arius, why Arius views it as a heresy, is that then what you're saying is that the father becomes incarnate and dies on a cross. And you shouldn't be saying that, right? Because you should be able to distinguish something about these persons. There must be different persons. In Arius' own light, he's actually being the most Christian person.

Well, the problem for Arius, why Arius views it as a heresy, is that then what you're saying is that the father becomes incarnate and dies on a cross. And you shouldn't be saying that, right? Because you should be able to distinguish something about these persons. There must be different persons. In Arius' own light, he's actually being the most Christian person.

Because he's preserving that there's three different persons in the Godhead. Whereas for their opponent, Alexander, they're being really Christians because they're preserving the fact that Christ is fully divine in the same sense as the Father. And so that's why they want to push that homoousion language.

Because he's preserving that there's three different persons in the Godhead. Whereas for their opponent, Alexander, they're being really Christians because they're preserving the fact that Christ is fully divine in the same sense as the Father. And so that's why they want to push that homoousion language.

Because he's preserving that there's three different persons in the Godhead. Whereas for their opponent, Alexander, they're being really Christians because they're preserving the fact that Christ is fully divine in the same sense as the Father. And so that's why they want to push that homoousion language.

Well, it's a great question because no one's entirely sure. I mean, it's open to our imagination a little bit. And I find it very difficult to imagine. It must be the most extraordinary thing ever. So Constantine pays for it all to bring all of these bishops together. The discussion is in Greek. Constantine, when he speaks, speaks in Latin, it seems, for the most part.

Well, it's a great question because no one's entirely sure. I mean, it's open to our imagination a little bit. And I find it very difficult to imagine. It must be the most extraordinary thing ever. So Constantine pays for it all to bring all of these bishops together. The discussion is in Greek. Constantine, when he speaks, speaks in Latin, it seems, for the most part.

Well, it's a great question because no one's entirely sure. I mean, it's open to our imagination a little bit. And I find it very difficult to imagine. It must be the most extraordinary thing ever. So Constantine pays for it all to bring all of these bishops together. The discussion is in Greek. Constantine, when he speaks, speaks in Latin, it seems, for the most part.

Although he does understand Greek and occasionally talks in Greek. And he's actively there as well. He's not dictating it from afar. Okay. No, no. He's actively there. So he opens the council. So you can imagine these, I mean, in effect, thousands of people gather together in Nicaea. He moves it to Nicaea just so he can attend because that's closer to where he is.

Although he does understand Greek and occasionally talks in Greek. And he's actively there as well. He's not dictating it from afar. Okay. No, no. He's actively there. So he opens the council. So you can imagine these, I mean, in effect, thousands of people gather together in Nicaea. He moves it to Nicaea just so he can attend because that's closer to where he is.

Although he does understand Greek and occasionally talks in Greek. And he's actively there as well. He's not dictating it from afar. Okay. No, no. He's actively there. So he opens the council. So you can imagine these, I mean, in effect, thousands of people gather together in Nicaea. He moves it to Nicaea just so he can attend because that's closer to where he is.

And Eusebius and Athanasius give these strongly glowing descriptions of Constantine opening the debate. Eusebius is describing this sort of transfigured figure, right? Sort of in this glowing gold, opening the discussion. Then what is really heated argument for months between these bishops and others. They are heavily disagreeing.

And Eusebius and Athanasius give these strongly glowing descriptions of Constantine opening the debate. Eusebius is describing this sort of transfigured figure, right? Sort of in this glowing gold, opening the discussion. Then what is really heated argument for months between these bishops and others. They are heavily disagreeing.

And Eusebius and Athanasius give these strongly glowing descriptions of Constantine opening the debate. Eusebius is describing this sort of transfigured figure, right? Sort of in this glowing gold, opening the discussion. Then what is really heated argument for months between these bishops and others. They are heavily disagreeing.

As you alluded to earlier, they're not always clear whether in actual fact they are agreeing rather than disagreeing. There's one great story, which seems sadly not to be true, that Father Christmas himself St. Nicholas, who maybe was not even actually there, but he was around and was a Nicene, that he was at the council and sort of biffed Arius on the nose.

As you alluded to earlier, they're not always clear whether in actual fact they are agreeing rather than disagreeing. There's one great story, which seems sadly not to be true, that Father Christmas himself St. Nicholas, who maybe was not even actually there, but he was around and was a Nicene, that he was at the council and sort of biffed Arius on the nose.

As you alluded to earlier, they're not always clear whether in actual fact they are agreeing rather than disagreeing. There's one great story, which seems sadly not to be true, that Father Christmas himself St. Nicholas, who maybe was not even actually there, but he was around and was a Nicene, that he was at the council and sort of biffed Arius on the nose.

He sort of slapped him across the face for his views, which says... Father Christmas.

He sort of slapped him across the face for his views, which says... Father Christmas.