# Anomoeanism

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4th-century Christian sect

Part of a series of articles on Arianism History and theology Arius Acacians Anomoeanism Arian controversy Arian creeds First Council of Nicaea Gothic Christianity Gothic Bible (Codex Argenteus) Lucian of Antioch Semi-Arianism Arian leaders Acacius of Caesarea Aëtius of Antioch Demophilus of Constantinople Eudoxius of Antioch Eunomius of Cyzicus Eusebius of Nicomedia Eustathius of Sebaste George of Laodicea Wulfila Other Arians Asterius of Cappadocia Auxentius of Milan Auxentius of Durostorum Constantius II Gothic persecution of Christians Fritigern Alaric I Artemius Odoacer Theodoric the Great Modern semi-Arians Samuel Clarke Isaac Newton William Whiston Opponents Peter of Alexandria Achillas of Alexandria Alexander of Alexandria Hosius of Corduba Athanasius of Alexandria Paul I of Constantinople Nicholas of Myra Christianity portal v t e

In [4th-century Christianity](/source/Christianity_in_the_4th_century), the **Anomoeans**[1] [/ˌænəˈmiːənz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English), also known as **Heterousians** [/ˌhɛtərəˈjuːʒənz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English), **Aetians** [/eɪˈiːʃənz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English), or **Eunomians** [/juːˈnoʊmiənz/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English), were a [sect](/source/Sect) that held to an extreme form of [Arianism](/source/Arianism), claiming that [Jesus](/source/Jesus) was neither of the same nature ([homoousian](/source/Homoousian)) as [God the Father](/source/God_the_Father) nor even a similar nature to God the Father ([homoiousian](/source/Homoiousian))—the latter being maintained by the [semi-Arians](/source/Semi-Arianism).[2]

## Overview

The word *anomoean* comes from [Greek](/source/Greek_language) ἀ(ν)- (*an-*) 'not' and ὅμοιος (*homoios*) 'similar', thus 'different; dissimilar'. In the 4th century, during the reign of [Constantius II](/source/Constantius_II), this was the name by which the followers of [Aëtius](/source/A%C3%ABtius_(theologian)) and [Eunomius](/source/Eunomius) were described. The term *heterousian* derives from [Greek](/source/Greek_language) ἑτεροούσιος, *heterooúsios* 'differing in substance' from ἕτερος, *héteros* 'another' and οὐσία, *ousía* 'substance, being'.

The semi-Arians condemned the Anomoeans in the [Council of Seleucia](/source/Council_of_Seleucia), and the Anomoeans condemned the semi-Arians in their turn in the Councils of [Constantinople](/source/Council_of_Constantinople_(360)) and [Antioch](/source/Synods_of_Antioch); erasing the word ὅμοιος (*homoios*) from the formula of [Rimini](/source/Council_of_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 ἀνόμοιοι (*anomoioi*).

In the 5th century, the Anomoean presbyter [Philostorgius](/source/Philostorgius) wrote an Anomoean church history.[3]

## Notable Anomoeans

[Eunomius of Cyzicus](/source/Eunomius_of_Cyzicus), from the [Nuremberg Chronicle](/source/Nuremberg_Chronicle)

- [Aëtius](/source/A%C3%ABtius_(theologian)), who founded the Anomoean tradition, later bishop (361–?).[4][5]

- [Theodulus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theodulus_(bishop)&action=edit&redlink=1), bishop of [Chaeretapa](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chaeretapa&action=edit&redlink=1) (?–c. 363) and [Palestine](/source/Palestine_(region)#Middle_Ages) (c. 363–c. 379).[6][7]

- [Eunomius](/source/Eunomius_of_Cyzicus), bishop of [Cyzicus](/source/Cyzicus) (360–361) and exiled bishop (361–c. 393).[5][8]

- [Paemenius](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paemenius&action=edit&redlink=1), bishop of [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople), (c. 363, at the same time as [Eudoxius of Antioch](/source/Eudoxius_of_Antioch)).[9]

- [Candidus (Bishop of Lydia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Candidus_(Bishop_of_Lydia)&action=edit&redlink=1), (c. 363–?).[9]

- [Arrianus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arrianus_(bishop)&action=edit&redlink=1), bishop of [Ionia](/source/Ionia), (c. 363–?).[9]

- [Florentius](/source/Florentius_of_Constantinople), bishop of [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople), (c. 363–?, at the same time as [Eudoxius of Antioch](/source/Eudoxius_of_Antioch)).[9]

- [Thallus](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thallus_of_Lesbos&action=edit&redlink=1), bishop of [Lesbos](/source/Lesbos), (c. 363–?, at the same time as [Eudoxius of Antioch](/source/Eudoxius_of_Antioch)).[9]

- [Euphronius](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Euphronius_(bishop)&action=edit&redlink=1), bishop of [Galatia](/source/Galatia), the [Black Sea](/source/Black_Sea) and [Cappadocia](/source/Cappadocia), (c. 363–?).[9]

- [Julian](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Julian_(bishop_of_Cilicia)&action=edit&redlink=1), bishop of [Cilicia](/source/Cilicia), (c. 363–?).[9]

- [Serras](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Serras&action=edit&redlink=1), [Stephen](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stephen_(bishop_of_Egypt)&action=edit&redlink=1), and Heliodorus, bishops of Egypt, (c. 363–?).[9]

- [Philostorgius](/source/Philostorgius), historian.

## Notable opponents of Anomoeanism

- [Basil of Caesarea](/source/Basil_of_Caesarea), bishop of [Caesarea](/source/Caesarea_(Mazaca)), and author of *Against Eunomius*.

- [Gregory of Nazianzus](/source/Gregory_of_Nazianzus), archbishop of [Constantinople](/source/Constantinople), prolific writer and orator. [*The First Theological Oration. A Preliminary Discourse Against the Eunomians.*](http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf207.iii.xiii.html)

- [Gregory of Nyssa](/source/Gregory_of_Nyssa), bishop of the Cappadocian town of [Nyssa](/source/Nyssa_(Cappadocia)) and brother to Basil of Caesaria. *[Against Eunomius](http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.i.iii.i.html)* (12 books) and *[Answer to Eunomius' Second Book](http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf205.viii.ii.ii.html).*

## See also

- [Archbishop Nectarius of Constantinople](/source/Archbishop_Nectarius_of_Constantinople)

- [Homoeans](/source/Homoean), in contrast to the Anomoeans

- [Arianism](/source/Arianism)

- [Arian controversy](/source/Arian_controversy)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** also spelled "**Anomeans**"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Encyclopædia Britannica: "Anomoean"](http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/26596/Anomoean)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Philostorgius, *Church History*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Philostorgius, in Photius, *Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius*, book 7, chapter 6.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceA_5-1) Socrates Scholasticus, *Church History*, book 2, chapter 35.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Philostorgius, in Photius, *Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius*, book 8, chapter 2 and book 9, chapter 18.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Socrates Scholasticus, *Church History*, book 2, chapter 40.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Philostorgius, in Photius, *Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius*, book 5, chapter 3 and book 6, chapters 1–3.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-ReferenceB_9-7) Philostorgius, in Photius, *Epitome of the Ecclesiastical History of Philostorgius*, book 8, chapter 2.

## References

- First edition [Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica) [issued 1768-1771]

- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the [public domain](/source/Public_domain): [Chambers, Ephraim](/source/Ephraim_Chambers), ed. (1728). *[Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences](/source/Cyclop%C3%A6dia%2C_or_an_Universal_Dictionary_of_Arts_and_Sciences)* (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al. {{[cite encyclopedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_encyclopedia)}}: Missing or empty |title= ([help](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#citation_missing_title))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Anomoeanism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomoeanism) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anomoeanism?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.