Nicaea - The Rise of the Imperial Church. William Speir

would be.

      This is the story of the men at the center of the controversy that led to the first Council of Nicaea, the debates between those who believed in The Way and those who believed in the divinity of Jesus, and the rise of a new Imperial Church created to serve the needs of the Roman Empire.

      Chapter 1

      As he entered his chamber, Arias immediately knew what the scroll on his chair was even before he saw the all-too-familiar wax seal in the center. What does Alexander want this time?

      Arias glanced out the window on the far side of his chamber and noticed the messenger standing in the shade of a date palm tree. He’s waiting for my reply. Alexander’s demands must be urgent if he wants my response sent back immediately.

      Arias picked up the scroll and sat in the chair, running a finger along the seal of the Patriarch of Alexandria stamped into the wax. The theological disagreement between Arias and Alexander had been going on for years, but recently, the tone of Alexander’s epistles had become more like edicts rather than part of an ongoing discussion, and Arias wondered if it were still possible for the two men to engage in a polite, rational discussion of their differences.

      Alexander was the Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, making him one of the five Patriarchs of the churches devoted to Jesus Christ. Arias had been considered for the post, but he was passed over in favor of Alexander. Arias retained his post as the priest of the church in Baucalis, near where the Apostle Mark had been martyred, but his relationship with his superior grew more strained by the day.

      Arias broke the seal on the scroll and unrolled the letter, feeling the rough texture of the paper in his hands and smelling the smoky scent of the charcoal pencil used to write the words. He immediately recognized the handwriting of Athanasius, Alexander’s scribe and chief assistant. As he read Alexander’s epistle, Arias wondered how someone could become one of the five Patriarchs with such a distorted view of theology.

      Brother Arias,

      It has come to my attention that you have once again ignored my instructions to alter your preaching and bring your public views on theology in line with what has been approved. Never forget that you serve your congregation at my pleasure. If you wish to retain your post, you will obey my instructions.

      I am aware of your reservations regarding the Divine Trinity, but the Trinity is part of the accepted doctrine of the churches. Your position that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are separate and distinct entities is not in keeping with the doctrine approved by the Patriarchs of the churches. Further, your position that there is no scriptural basis for the concept of the Trinity is heresy and will not be tolerated.

      You are commanded to obey my instructions, or you risk disciplinary action. My messenger has been told to wait for your response.

      Alexander, Bishop

      Patriarch of Alexandria

      Arias leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his shoulder-length, silver streaked hair. This again! The Patriarchs have forgotten what the healing ministry of Jesus was all about. For centuries, the faithful Followers of The Way have healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out disorders of the mind according to the teachings of our Master. These are not miracles performed only by a divine entity and his closest followers. These are natural occurrences that can be performed by anyone who studies the words and works of our Master. But because the Patriarchs have forgotten how to heal, they assume that the power to heal is divine and therefore that Jesus must have been a divine entity in order to wield that power. Their new theology is little better than pagan superstition.

      Arias glanced at window across the room and watched the messenger waiting outside. When the messenger turned toward the window, Arias recognized him – Athanasius. Alexander sent his chief lackey to deliver the message and take back my reply. There’s more going on here than I’m aware of.

      A soft knocking on his chamber door pulled his attention away from the window. “Enter,” he said. Botherik, Arias’ Goth servant, entered the chamber carrying a tall flagon of liquid.

      “Refreshments, sir?” Botherik asked softly.

      “Yes, thank you,” Arias replied. As Botherik retrieved a cup from the table in the corner of the room and filled it with the liquid from the flagon, Arias asked, “Have you offered anything to our guest outside?”

      “No, sir,” Botherik replied, handing Arias the filled cup. “I wasn’t sure if such courtesies were to be extended to him.”

      Arias hid a smile. Athanasius was well-known in Baucalis and disliked by all who served with Arias there. He had publically challenged Arias several times on behalf of Alexander, and his zeal for antagonizing Arias and his followers was a frequent topic of conversation.

      “We must continue to practice charity toward those who need it,” Arias reminded his servant. “Those who are impolite and speak with little or no respect have the greatest need for our compassion and good deeds. We cannot allow their manners to alter our duty to mankind as taught to us by our Master. Jesus taught us to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them which despitefully use us, and persecute us. And while I don’t consider Athanasius an enemy, his demeanor toward us certainly cries out for our love. Please take him refreshments, and tell him that I’ll have my reply to Alexander ready as soon as I’m able.”

      “Yes, Arias.” Botherik nodded and left the chamber.

      Arias stared at Athanasius, still standing in the shade one of the date palms that lined the courtyard outside Arias’ chamber. Athanasius was a tall man with a pleasant face and curly dark hair. His features made him look Greek.

      A moment later, Arias smiled when he saw Botherik bring Athanasius a cup and a plate of fruit. We must never allow those who antagonize us to change who we are. Those who are the hardest to love are the ones we must love the most. And if it requires extra effort on our part to love them, it’s because their need is greatest. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the love that our Master showed to his persecutors. If Jesus could forgive those who crucified him, I can certainly show forgiveness and love to Athanasius and Alexander.

      Arias put down the scroll on his desk and walked across the room to a cupboard where he kept his writing supplies. He selected a pencil and a blank scroll before returning to his chair. The chamber was not a large room – certainly smaller than the sanctuary where he preached his sermons to the faithful Followers of The Way but large enough to serve as Arias’ bedroom, office, and a classroom for instructing his acolytes. The floor was made of stone tiles, covered in rugs, and the walls were ornately carved and painted wood – a gift from a long-forgotten patron to one of Arias’ predecessors in gratitude for being healed of consumption through The Way. There were two windows – one faced the courtyard, and the other, on the adjacent wall, overlooked a small garden. The chamber was comfortable, but Arias preferred being in the company of the faithful – preaching, healing, and helping others learn The Way.

      He sipped from his cup and then began writing his latest reply to his superior in Alexandria.

      Brother Alexander,

      I have received your latest epistle, and while your instructions are quite clear, I must once again decline to obey. I implore you to cease your support for this revisionist theology that can serve no purpose but to lead mankind farther and farther from The Way as given to us by our Master.

      Since you specifically mention the Trinity, I will attempt to confine my reply to that theological issue. I am aware that the concept of a Divine Trinity is the latest doctrine change approved by the Patriarchs. However, there is no difference between the five Patriarchs declaring a man to be a god and the Roman Senate declaring that Julius, Augustus, and Livia were gods. Man cannot create God, and by declaring that the Father and the Son are the same entity – in direct contradiction to the gospels where Jesus denied that he was God and drew clear distinctions between himself and his Father – you and the other Patriarchs are attempting to