Editing Eusebius of Nicomedia (section)

== Relationship with Arius ==
Like [[Arius]], he was a pupil of [[Lucian of Antioch]], and it is probable that he held the same views as Arius from the very beginning; he was also one of Arius' most fervent supporters and encourager.<ref name="jones-pp121">Jones, "Constantine and the Conversion of Europe", p. 121.</ref> It was also because of this relationship that he was the first person whom Arius contacted after the latter was excommunicated from Alexandria by [[Pope Alexander I of Alexandria|Alexander I of Alexandria]] in 321.<ref name="young-pp59">Young, "From Nicaea to Chalcedon", p. 59.</ref> Apparently, Arius and Eusebius were close enough and Eusebius powerful enough that Arius was able to put his theology down in writing.<ref name="young-pp61">Young, "From Nicaea to Chalcedon", p. 61.</ref> He afterward modified his ideas somewhat, or perhaps he only yielded to the pressure of circumstances; but he was, if not the teacher, at all events the leader and organizer of the [[Arianism|Arian]] council.

At the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325, he signed the Confession, but only after a long and desperate opposition in which he was said to "subscribe with hand only, not heart"<ref name="amidon-10.5">Amidon, "The Church History of Rufinus of Aquileia: Books 10 and 11", 10.5.</ref> according to ancient sources. It was a huge blow to the Arian party since it was surmised that the participants in the [[First Council of Nicaea]] were evenly split between non-Arians and Arians.<ref name="lim-pp183">Lim, "Public Disputation, power, and social order in late antiquity", p. 183.</ref> His defense of Arius angered the emperor, and a few months after the council he was sent into exile due to his continual contacts with Arius and his followers.<ref name="drake-pp259">Drake, "Constantine and the Bishops", p. 259.</ref> After the lapse of three years, he succeeded in regaining the imperial favor by convincing Constantine that Arius and his views do not conflict with the proclaimed [[Nicene Creed]].<ref name="roldanus-pp82">Roldanus, "The Church in the Age of Constantine - the Theological Challenges", p. 82.</ref> After his return in 329, he brought the whole machinery of the state government into action in order to impose his views upon the [[Christianity|Church]].