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Date 359
Location Arminium (Rimini, northern Italy)
Summoned by
Constantius II
Chaired by Restitutus of Carthage
Number of Participants
c. 400
Key Participants
Valens; Ursacius; Germinius
Purpose Constantius’ effort to achieve compromise between the pro and anti-Nicene bishops
Key Events
 
The anti-Nicene Valens and Ursacius led c. 80 bishops to oppose the majority; the majority deposed this group and condemned their propositions; later Constantius II forced the council to submit to a vague compromise that defined the Son as “like the Father”; the anti-Nicene party viewed this is as a victory.
Ancient Descriptions
 
Hilary Coll. Antiar A 5-6, B 7.2; Athanasius De Synodis 10.1-11.2, 55.1-7; Socrates HE II.37; Sozomen HE 4.17-19; Theodoret HE 2.16-17 (NCPNF); Jerome Adv. Luciferanos 17-18; Sulpicius Severus Chronica 2.41-45 
Extant Documents
 Letter from the Council at Arminum to the emperor Constantius (Sozomen, HE IV.18; Socrates, HE II.37) Letter from Constantius to Arminium (Socrates, HE II.37) Letter from Council to Constantius (Socrates, HE II.37; Theodoret, HE II.20; Athanasius, De Synodis 55) Decree of the Council (Athanasius, De Synodis I.11; Hilary, Fragmenta historica VII.3)

Bibliography

M. Simonetti, “Council of Rimini”  in The Encyclopedia of the Early Church, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1992).

R.P.C. Hanson, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God, (New York: T&T Clark, 1988).

MKM and JCB

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