Documents of the Early Arian Controversy
This page gives an overview of the most important background documents of the early Arian controversy and provides a chart listing those 40 items according to Samuel Fernández in Fontes Nicaenae Synodi. The chart also gives a hotlink for each item that leads to a subpage the provides information and a short introduction to that document together with the text and our English translation.
This list was first compiled by Hans-Georg Opitz in connection with his projected edition of Athanasius’s works. He published the ancient texts in volume 3, fascicles 1-2 of the German Athanasius Werke (AW) in 1934. He numbered each document, Urkunde in German; hence Urkunde 1, Urkunde 2, etc. Since English translations were not similarly available in one place, our Fourth-Century Christianity website provided them in 2008. The previous year, however, the German continuators of Opitz’s AW project published German translations of the items in a new volume 3.3, and in doing so re-evaluated the chronology and order of the documents, almost all of which are undated. To put the items in the updated chronological order while distinguishing their numbering from that of Opitz, they designated the items as Dokumente 1, Dokumente 2, etc.
We have now redone our pages to give priority to this more recent scholarship. In the table below the items are listed in order given in Fontes Nicaenae Synodi.
We have also included separate pages displaying the competing chronologies of H.-G. Opitz, Rowan Williams (2002) and Sarah Parvis (2006). The source designated below as the Anonymous Church History has often been erroneously attributed to Gelasius. Our translation of it can be accessed here.
Historical background
Sometime between 318-320, a dispute between Arius, a priest in the Baucalis suburb of Alexandria, and his bishop Alexander (r. 313-328) arose about the proper way to describe the relationship between the Father and the Son. This continued a pattern of dissension within the Christian community that had started during the Great Persecution a decade earlier and which had led to a breakaway “Church of the Martyrs” led by Melitius, the bishop of Lycopolis. After several hearings in which the two sides could not come to agreement, the dispute rapidly heated up. Alexander soon excommunicated Arius and his supporters. Arius sent letters and representatives to sympathetic clergy around the eastern Mediterranean garning support for his theology.
Patristic scholars today warn against lumping together as “Arians” all the early theologians who had reservations about granting the Son full equality with the Father. They argue that it was the opponents of Arius who created this persona of Arius as the leader and arch-heretic of this theological tendency. Even his role as originator of the open controversy has been questioned, with men such as Eusebius of Caesarea, Asterius the Sophist and Lucian of Antioch offered as among the other instigators. Arius and those with similar ideas are seen as continuing an already existent theological trajectory which emphasized the Son as “substantially different” than the Father while yet distinct from the rest of creation. On the other hand, the key role of Arius in both the theological and public debate is clearly seen in the writings below.
Map: For a map showing the geographical diversity among early Arian supporters, click here.
Key to the chart:
Appx. date: The date given is normally those assigned by Heil (AW 3.3). Click here to see the issues related to chronology.
FNS: The document number assigned by Samuel Fernández in Fontes Nicaenae Synodi.
Ancient source(s): Gives the location in the ancient sources where the document has been preserved.
Translation(s): Names where the translations on this website come from.
Dok.: The document number in vol. 3.3 (the 2007 edition) of Athanasius’ Werke.
Urk.: Provides the document number (Urk.) in Opitz’s 1934 Athanasius Werke 3.1-2: See the contents of this volume by page number.
CPG: Clavis Patrum Graecorum reference number.
| Appx Date | FNS | Description | Ancient Source(s) | Translation(s) | Dok. | Urk. | CPG |
| late 304 or early 305 | 1 | Four Egyptian Bishops, Letter to Melitius | Kettler, ZNW, 35, 159–161; Codex Veronensis, lx, ed. M.J. Routh, Reliquae Sacrae, IV, 91–93; Migne, P.G. X, 1565–1568 | FCC: JTS, ANFvol. 6, p. 163f | 1667 | ||
| 305 | 2 | Peter of Alexandria, Letter to the People of Alex. | Kettler, ZNW, 35, 162–163; Codex Veronensis, LX, ed. M.J. Routh, Reliquae Sacrae, IV, 94; Migne, P.G. XVIII, 509–510 | FCC: JTS; ANF vol. 6, p. 280 | 1641 | ||
| April 306 | 3 | Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Letter | 1639 | ||||
| Easter 314 | 4 | Synod of Ancyra, Canons | 8501 | ||||
| 314/319 | 5 | Synod of Neocaesarea, Canons | 8504 | ||||
| 322/323 | 6 | Arius, Letter to Eusebius of Nicomedia | Theodoret, H.E. 1.5; Epiphanius, Panarion 69.6 | FCC: GLT; New Eusebius, no. 283; Sections 2-8: Hanson, p. 139, Sections 4-5: Hanson, p. 6; NPNF2 vol. 3, p. 41 | 15 | 1 | 2025 |
| 322/323 | 7 | Eusebius of Nicomedia, Letter to Arius | Athanasius, De Synodis 17.2 | FCC: GLT; Hanson, p. 31; NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 459 | 16 | 2 | 2046 |
| 322/323 | 8 | Alexander of Alexandria, Letter to Alexander | Theodoret, H.E. 1.4.1-61 | FCC: AJW and JCB; CLA no. 21; NPNF2 vol. 3, pp. 35-41; Discussed in Hanson, p. 141-2; Discussed on New Eusebius, no. 285 | 17 | 14 | 2002 |
| 322/323 | 9 | Alexander of Alexandria, Letter to Philogonius | Greek (reconstruction): Schwartz, “Zur Geschichte des Athanasius,” pp. 265-7; Syriac: Pitra, vol. 4, pp. 196-7 | FCC: AJW | 14 | 15 | 2010 |
| 321/323? | 10 | Alexander of Alexandria, Festal Homily | 2010 | ||||
| 323 | 11 | Arius and Companions, Letter to Alexander | Athanasius, De Synodis 16.2-6; Epiphanius, Panarion 69.7-8; Hilary, De Trinitate, 4.12-13 | FCC: GLT; CLA no. 22; Hanson, pp. 7-8; NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 458; NPNF2 vol. 9, p. 74; New Eusebius, no. 284 | 1 | 6 | 2026 |
| 323 | 12 | Eusebius of Caesarea, Letter to Alexander | 2nd Council of Nicaea: Labbe, vol. 7, col. 496 and Mansi, vol. 13, coll. 316-7 | FCC: AJW | 9 | 7 | 3501 |
| ca. 323 | 13 | Eusebius of Caesarea, Letter to Euphration | Sections 1-3: Council of Nicaea, Session 5: Labbe vol. 7, col. 365 Sections 1-2: 2nd Council of Nicaea, Session 5: Mansi vol. 13, col. 176, 317 Sections 4-5: Eusebius, Contra Marcellum 1.4.40-41, 57; Athanasius, De synodis 17.3 | FCC: AJW and GLT | 10 | 3 | 3500 |
| ca. 323 | 14 | Eusebius of Caesarea, Letter | Sections 1-3: Council of Nicaea, Session 5: Labbe vol. 7, col. 365 Sections 1-2: 2nd Council of Nicaea, Session 5: in Mansi vol. 13, col.176, 317 Sections 4-5: Eusebius, Contra Marcellum1.4.40-41, 57; Athanasius, De synodis 17.3 | FCC: AJW and GLT | 10 | 3 | 3500 |
| ca. 323 | 15 | Eusebius of Nicomedia, Letter to Paulinus | Theodoret, Historia ecclesiastica 1.6 | NPNF2 vol. 3, p. 42, adapted for FCC by GLT | 4 | 8 | 2045 |
| ca. 323 | 16 | Paulinus of Tyre, Letter | Eusebius, Contra Marcellum 1.4.18-21, 49-51 | FCC: GLT; Hanson, p. 45 | 5 | 9 | 2065 |
| 323 | 17 | Asterius of Cappadocia, Theological Fragments | 2817–2818 | ||||
| 323/324 | 18 | Arius, Hymn [Thalia] | Athanasius, De synodis 15.3 Athanasius, Or. c. Ar. I,5-6, 9, 11 | FCC: AJW and GLT | 2028 | ||
| 324 | 19 | George [of Laodicea], Letter to Alexander of Alexandria (fr.) | Athanasius, De synodis 17.5 | FCC: AJW and GLT; Hanson, p. 44; NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 459 | 6 | 12 | 3555 |
| 324 | 20 | George [of Laodicea], Letter to Those of Arius (fr.) | Athanasius, De synodis 17.6 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 459, adapted for FCC by AJW; Hanson, p. 44 | 7 | 13 | 3556 |
| 324 | 21 | Athanasius of Anazarbus, Letter to Alexander of Alexandria (fr.) | Athanasius, De synodis 17.4 | FCC: AJW; NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 458; Hanson, p. 42 | 11 | 11 | 2060 |
| ? | 22 | Athanasius of Anazarbus, Letter (fr.) | Codex Vaticanus lat. 5750, p. 275 (Frag. 4 [235 Gryson, Scripta Arriana]) | FCC: GLT | 12 | 2061 | |
| ? | 23 | Theognis of Nicaea, Letters (fr.) | Codex Vaticanus lat. 5750, p. 275-76 (Frag. 4 [235 Gryson, Scripta Arriana]) | FCC: GLT | 13 | 2070 | |
| late 324 | 24 | Constantine, Letter to Alexander and Arius | Eusebius, Vita Constantini, 2.64 Sections 6-15: Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.7; Sections 6-15: Anonymous Church History 2.4 | NPNF2 vol. 1, pp. 515-8, adapted for FCC by AJW; New Eusebius, no. 287; Coleman, no. 47; Sections 6-15: NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 6-7 | 19 | 17 | 2020 |
| 324 | 25 | Alexander of Alexandria, Deposition of Arius | Athanasius, De decretis 34 | FCC: GLT; NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 69 | 2.1 | 4a | 2001/2120,2 |
| 324 | 26 | Alexander of Alexandria, Encyclical Letter | Athanasius, De decretis 35; Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.6.; Anonymous Church History 2.3.1-21 | NPNF2 vol. 2, pp.3-5, adapted for FCC by GLT; New Eusebius, no. NPNF2 vol. 4, pp. 69-72; 282; Sections 2-3: Hanson, p. 16 | 2.2 | 4b | 2000/2120,3 |
| 324 | 27 | Alexander of Alexandria, Letter to Silvester (fr.) | 2005 | ||||
| 324/5 | 28 | Synod of Antioch, Synodical Letter | Greek and Syriac: Schwartz, “Zur Geschichte des Athanasius,” pp. 271-9; Syriac: Schulthess, “Die syrischen Kanones,” pp. 160-2 | FCC: AJW; New Eusebius, no. 288; Sections 8-11: Hanson, p. 149 | 20 | 18 | 8509 |
| 325 | 29 | Narcissus of Neronias, Testimony of a Letter (fr.) | Eusebius, Contra Marcellum, 1.4.39 | FCC: AJW and GLT | 21 | 19 | |
| beginning of 325 | 30 | Constantine, Letter to the Bishops (fr.) | Greek: Schwartz, “Zur Geschichte des Athanasius,” pp. 289 Syriac: Schulthess, “Die syrischen Kanones,” p. 1 | New Eusebius, no. 289, adapted for FCC by GLT; Coleman, no. 48 | 22 | 20 | 8511 |
| June 325 | 31 | Constantine, Speech to the Nicene Synod | 3496 | ||||
| June 325 | 32 | Synod of Nicaea, Creed | Athanasius, De decretis 37 | FCC: AJW; NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 75 | 26 | 24 | 8512/2120,5 |
| 325 | 33 | Synod of Nicaea, Canons | NPNF2, vol. 14, pp. 8-42, adapted for FCC by AJW | 8513 | |||
| 325 | 34 | Synod of Nicaea, Letter to the Church of Egypt, Libya, and Pentapolis | Athanasius, De decretis 36; Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.9; Theodoret, Historia ecclesiastica 1.9.2 (1.8.2 in NPNF); Anonymous Church History 2.34.2 | NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 12-3, adapted for FCC by AJW, AGC, and GLT; New Eusebius, no. 292; NPNF2 vol. 3, p. 46 | 25 | 23 | 8515/2120,4 |
| 325 | 35 | Constantine, Letter to All the Churches | Eusebius, Vita Constantini 3.17-20; Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.9.32; Theodoret, Historia ecclesiastica 1.10 (1.9 in NPNF); Anonymous Church History 2.37.10 | NPNF2 vol. 1, p. 524-5 and NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 14-16, adapted for FCC by AJW, AGC, and GLT; Coleman, no. 52; NPNF2 vol. 3, p. 47-8 | 30 | 26 | 8518 |
| 325 | 36 | Constantine, Letter to the Alexandrian Church | Athanasius, De decretis 38; Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.9.17; Anonymous Church History 2.37 | NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 13-4, adapted for FCC by AJW and AGC; Coleman, no. 53; New Eusebius, no. 293 | 29 | 25 | 8517/2120,6 |
| mid 325 | 37 | Eusebius of Caesarea, Letter to his Church | Athanasius, De decretis 33; Theodoret, Historia ecclesiastica 1.12 (1.11 in NPNF); Anonymous Church History 2.35; Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.8 (section 16 omitted) | NPNF2 vol. 4, pp. 74-76, adapted for FCC by AJW; New Eusebius, no. 291; NPNF2 vol. 2, pp. 10; NPNF2 vol. 3 p. 51 (partial); Sections 3-6: Hanson, p. 159; Section 7: Hanson, p. 165; Section 16: Hanson, p. 166 | 24 | 22 | 3502/2120,1 |
| 325 | 38 | Eusebius (?), Fragment | Ambrose, De fide 3.15 | FCC: GLT; Hanson, p. 31; NPNF2 vol. 10, p. 260 | 23 | 21 | 2047 |
| 325 | 39 | Eustathius of Antioch, On Prov 8:22 (fr. 79) | 3354 | ||||
| 325/328 | 40 | Eustathius of Antioch, Against the Ariomaniacs and on the Soul (fr. 6) | 3353 | ||||
| ? | 41 | Eustathius of Antioch, Contra Arianos (fr. 107) | 3357 | ||||
| late 325 | 42 | Constantine, Letter to the Church of the Nicomedians | Athanasius, De decretis 41; Anonymous Church History 3. appendix 1; Sections 9-17: Theodoret, Historia ecclesiastica 1.20 (1.19 in NPNF) | FCC: AJW; Coleman, no. 50; Sections 9-17: New Eusebius, no. 294; NPNF2 vol. 3, p. 56 | 31 | 27 | 2120,9 |
| late 325 | 43 | Constantine, Letter to Theodotus of Laodicea | Athanasius, De decretis 42; Anonymous Church History 3.appendix 2 | FCC: AJW; Coleman, no. 51; New Eusebius, no. 305 (1957 edition only) | 32 | 28 | 2120,10 |
| late 325 | 44 | Constantine, Letter to the Bishops and the People | Athanasius, De decretis 39; Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.9.30; Anonymous Church History 2.36.1 Syriac: Schulthess, “Die syrischen Kanones,” pp. 1-2 | FCC: AJW; Coleman-Norton, no. 66; NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 14 | 28 | 33 | 2041/2120,7 |
| late 325 | 45 | Constantine, Against the Heretics | 3496 | ||||
| Sept. 326 | 46 | Constantine, Mandate on Clerical Privileges | |||||
| Sept. 326 | 47 | Constantine, Mandate on Novationists | |||||
| late 327 | 48 | Melitius, Report to Alexander | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 71.6 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 137, adapted for FCC by SMT and JTS | 35 | 2123,23 | |
| after June 328 | 49 | Constantine, Letter to Athanasius (fr.) | |||||
| 328/331 | 50 | Constantine, Letter to Athanasius (fr.) | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 59.6; Sozomen, HE 2.22.3-5; Socrates, HE 1.27.4-5 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 132, adapted for FCC by SMT and JTS | 38 | 2123.15 | |
| first months of 329 | 51 | Synod of Antioch, Letter and Canons | NPNF2, vol. 14, pp. 108-121, adapted for FCC by LSS, GLT, and JCB | 8536 | |||
| early 329 | 52 | Constantine, Letter to the People of Antioch | 3496 | ||||
| early 329 | 53 | Constantine, Letter to the Synod of Antioch | 3496 | ||||
| early 329 | 54 | Constantine, Letter to Eusebius of Caesarea | 3496 | ||||
| c. Feb. 332 | 55 | Constantine, Letter to the Church of Alexandria | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 61-62; Socrates, HE 1.27.9-10; Sozomen, HE 2.22.8-9; portion in Theodoret, HE 1.27 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 132-3, adapted for FCC by SMT | 47 | 2123,16 | |
| 332/333 | 56 | Ischyras, Letter to Athanasius | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 64 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 133-4, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT | 48 | 2123,17 | |
| March 334 | 57 | Pageus Presbyter, Letter to the Priors of the Monks of Hathor | P. Lond. 6 1913 | FCC: JTS | |||
| 334 | 58 | Alexander of Thessalonica, Letter to Athanasius | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 66 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 134-135, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT | 55 | 2123,18 | |
| 334 | 59 | Pinnes, Letter to John of Memphis [Archaph] | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 67 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 135, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT | 50 | 2123,19 | |
| c. 334 | 60 | Arsenius, Letter to Athanasius (fr.) | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 69.2-4 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 136, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT | 75 | 2123,21 | |
| 334 | 61 | Constantine, Letter to Athanasius | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 68; Sozomen, HE 2.23 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 135-6, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT | 52 | 2123,20 | |
| 334 | 62 | Constantine, Letter to John of Memphis [Archaph] | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 70.2 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 136-7, adapted for FCC by SMT and GLT | 54 | 2123,22 | |
| 334 | 63 | Constantine, Letter to Arius and His Companions | Athanasius, De decretis 40; Anonymous Church History 3.19.1 | Coleman-Norton, no. 67; Sections 14-15: Hanson, p. 189 | 27 | 34 | 2120,8 |
| 334 | 64 | Constantine, Letter to Arius | Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.25.7 | FCC: AJW; Coleman, no. 58; NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 28 | 33 | 29 | 2040 |
| 335 | 65 | Arius and Euzoius, Letter to Constantine | Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.26.2; Sozomen, Historia ecclesiastica 2.27.6-10 | NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 28, adapted for FCC by AJW; New Eusebius, no. 295; NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 277 | 34 | 30 | 2027 |
| 335 | 66 | [Secundus and Theonas], Pamphlet of Apology | Socrates, Historia ecclesiastica 1.14.2; Sozomen, Historia ecclesiastica 2.16.3-7; Anonymous Church History 3.13 | NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 19-20, adapted for FCC by GLT; New Eusebius, no. 296; NPNF2 vol. 2, p. 68 | 36 | 31 | 2048 |
| first half of 335 | 67 | Callistus, Letter to Paiêou and Patabeit | P. Lond. 6 1914 | FCC: JTS; H.I. Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1924) doc. 1914, pp. 58-63 | |||
| first half of 335 | 68 | Constantine, Letter to the Synod of Tyre | Eusebius, Vita Const. 4.42; Theodoret, HE 1.29.1-6 | NPNF2 3.27:61-62, adapted for FCC by SMT, JTS, and GLT | 3496 | ||
| ca. Sept. 335 | 69 | The Clergy of Alexandria, Letter to the Commission of Mareotis | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 73 | NPNF2 vol. 4, pp. 138-139, adapted for FCC by SMT and JTS | 64 | 2123,24/8546 | |
| ca. Sept. 335 | 70 | The Clergy of Mareotis, Letter to the Synod of Tyre | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 74-75 | NPNF2 vol. 4, pp. 139-140, adapted for FCC by SMT and JTS | 65 | 2123,25/8548 | |
| 8 Sept. 335 | 71 | The Clergy of Mareotis, Letter to Prefect Philagrius | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 76 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 140, adapted for FCC by SMT | 66 | 2123,26/8547 | |
| ca. Sept. 335 | 72 | The Egyptian Bishops in Tyre, Letter to the Synod of Tyre | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 77 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 140-141, adapted for FCC by SMT | 60 | 2123,27/8541 | |
| ca. Sept. 335 | 73 | The Egyptian Bishops in Tyre, Letter to Count Dionysius I | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 78 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 141-142, adapted for FCC by SMT and JTS | 61 | 2123,28/8542 | |
| ca. Sept. 335 | 74 | The Egyptian Bishops in Tyre, Letter to Count Dionysius II | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 79 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 142, adapted for FCC by SMT | 67 | 2123,29/8543 | |
| ca. Sept. 335 | 75 | Alexander of Thessalonica, Letter to Dionysius | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 80 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 142, adapted for FCC by SMT | 62 | 2123,30/8544 | |
| ca. Sept. 335 | 76 | Count Dionysius, Letter to the Commission of Mareotis (fr.) | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 81 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 142-3, adapted for FCC by SMT | 63 | 2123,31/8545 | |
| Sept. 335 | 77 | Synod of Jerusalem, Synodical Letter | Athanasius, De Synodis 21 | NPNF2 vol. 4, p. 460 | 39 | 70 | 2128,6 |
| ca. Oct. 335 | 78 | Flavius Hemerius, Letter to the Tax-collector of Mareotis | 83 | 2123,33 | |||
| ca. Nov. 335 | 79 | Constantine, Letter to the Bishops Gathered in Tyre | Athanasius, Apol. Sec. 86; Anonymous Church History 3.18; Sozomen, HE 2.28.2-12; Socrates, HE 1.34 | NPNF2 vol. 4, pp. 145-146, adapted for FCC by SMT | 71 | 2123,34/8549 | |
| late 335 | 80 | Constantine, Letter to Alexander [of Constantinople] (fr.) | Anonymous Church History, 3.15.1-5 | FCC: RR and Philip Balge; Hanson, GCS N.F. 92 (2002):136-137 | 37 | 32 | 2021 |
Three additional pages are devoted to alternative chronologies of the period:
For a simpler table comparing the alternative chronologies side-by-side, click here.
Created by AJW and JTS
Last updated 11/11/2025 JTS
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