peashooter85:Presbyter Arius and the Bowel Movement of DeathWhen Emperor Constantine legalized Chris
peashooter85:Presbyter Arius and the Bowel Movement of DeathWhen Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire there was a great debate among Christians as to what Christianity was going to be all about. There were dozens of different sects, each with their own theology. Arius was a presbyter, or priest, who held the idea that God was three persons; father, son, and holy spirit, but that the father was the dominant form of God, while the son was held in second place. However, Pope Alexander believed that the trinity of God was made up of three persons of equal stature.On 325 AD Emperor Constantine held the Council of Nicaea to determine the official doctrine of the Christian church. When Arius argued his case he was generally denounced as blasphemous and heretical. According to accounts a Bishop Nikolaos of Myra (Jolly old St. Nicholas) actually approached and slapped Arius over his theological ideas (the fresco above is a depiction of the fight). Denounced by most, including the Pope Alexander, Arius was exiled to Palestine.Despite the declaration of the council, now called the Nicene Creed, the controversy over church doctrine continued. In order to ease tensions among the factions Emperor Constantine nullified the exiles of those declared to be heretics. Arius made a big spectacle of his return to Constantinople, then capital of the empire. He lead a huge procession of clergy, followers, entertainers, carriages, and floats. Obviously the parade was done to rub his enemies noses in the fact that they had not yet won. At the end of the route, Arius would enter Constantine’s Forum, where he would give a grand speech to his followers. When he entered the forum square, however, Arius was seized with terrible spasms. Doubled over, his bowels let loose a torrent of blood, followed by intestines, liver, and other internal organs. The crowd was shocked as he immediately collapsed and died.The cause of Arius death, other than the fact he randomly expelled his innards, is unknown. Supporters of the Nicene Creed claimed that his death was punishment by God for heresy, supporters of Arius claim he was poisoned. The debate would continue for decades. -- source link
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