History glossary
Arianism
a Christian theological position that taught Christ was subordinate to God the Father, rejected as heresy by Nicene Catholic Christianity.
- Category
- Religion
- Region
- Roman and post-Roman Europe
- Date range
- 4th-7th centuries CE
What it means
Arianism was a Christian theological position associated with Arius, a fourth-century priest, which taught that Christ was created by and subordinate to God the Father rather than eternally equal with him. The Council of Nicaea in 325 rejected this view, but Arian Christianity remained influential among several post-Roman rulers and peoples, including the Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Burgundians, and Vandals. This made religion a political issue in kingdoms that ruled largely Catholic populations.
Related terms
Stories using this term
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