Friday, December 18, 2015

THE PARTIAL EXCOMMUNICATION OF EUSEBIUS OF CAESAREA BY THE SYNOD OF ANTIOCH IN 325

Introduction

Eusebius of Caesarea is one of the controversial theologians involved in the Trinitarian Controversy of the fourth century, preceding the Council of Nicaea in 325. Known as the Father of Church History, he pioneered the systematic recording of events in the Church from the time of Jesus to the time of Constantine. Though a historian, he endeavored too in theologizing on particular subjects relevant to his time, chiefly on the Trinitarian doctrine and the nature of the Son in relation to the Father. His theology on the Son earned him a niche to the so-called Eusebian School (being with the other Eusebiuses of Emesa and of Nicomedia). Post-Nicene theologians, Athanasius particularly, would label them as the Homoiousians (in the Latin Church) or the Semi-Arians (in the Greek Church).[1] They were, strictly speaking, anti-Arian though not totally adherers of the Nicene doctrine of ousia. But even before this labeling by the Post-Nicene theologians, and even before the technical terms offered by the Council of Nicaea in 325, Eusebius of Caesarea[2] had a peculiar understanding on the nature of the Son. This understanding is reflected in his apologetic works predating the Creed of Nicaea. The Synod of Antioch, however, had put this same concept of the nature of the Son into question in early 325, together with the mitigating circumstances wherein Eusebius found himself. Consequently, he was partially excommunicated by the same Synod. 

This study will seek to present the doctrines on the Son held by Eusebius and by the Synod of Antioch in 325 that may have led to the partial excommunication of the former by the latter. The doctrines held by the Synod of Antioch regarding the Son will be presented vis-à-vis the doctrine held by Eusebius during the Synod of Antioch in 325 regarding the Son. Such presentation will aid the researcher in presenting the reason behind the partial excommunication of Eusebius.   
  
Life of Eusebius

Eusebius is a Palestinian bishop who lived in a crucial period of the Early Christian world. He was born between 260-265 AD, presumably to a noble family.[3] He is renown for systematizing Christian historiography, providing the model (on writing history), normative for a very long time of new literary genre. He would also go down to the annals of history as one who tread the thin line between Church and Empire relationship, especially when he intervene with the policies and activities of Constantine that affected the Church, serving as Constantine’s theological spokesperson.[4]  He was formed under the tradition of Origen, under the tutelage of the presbyter Pamphilus.[5] Thus, he would be greatly influenced by Origen’s theology especially in his Pre-Nicene understanding of the Trinity. This association with Origen and Pamphilus would encourage Eusebius to put into completion the work entitled Defense of Origen which was started by Pampilus while in prison during the Diocletian persecution in 307 and was eventually beheaded in 309. His master-student relationship with Pamphilus was well neat, so much so Eusebius would go to the extent of affixing the name of his master to his. He would also be known, thus, as Eusebius Pamphilii; Eusebius, Son of Pampilius. Some historians would interpret this move as a legal action from the part of Eusebius for him to become a legitimate heir to the library and school of Pampilius.[6]

When the persecution among the Christian was relaxed, Eusebius took over the library and school of Pampilius. In the course of his management of the school and library, it can be presumed that he was ordained as a priest. Eusebius would advance his ecclesiastical career culminating to the bishopric of Caesarea. By 315, Eusebius was already a bishop, for he attended the dedication of a new basilica at Tyre in his capacity as the bishop of Caesarea.[7]  

As a bishop, Eusebius may brandish a track record characterized by philological, apologetic, and historical works, such as Letter to Caprian, Onomasticon, Chronicle, Ecclesiastical History, Life of Pampilus, The Martyrs of Palestine, Preparation of the Gospels, and the Proof of the Gospel, Life of Constantine, Against Marcellus, and Ecclesiastical Theology. Eusebius, indeed, personified the Alexandrian tradition, making him the complete Christian version of Hellenistic tradition.[8]     

Eusebius and the Arian Controversy

Barely five years in his office as bishop, Eusebius would witness the eruption of a great controversy in the Church. Little did he know that he himself would be included in such scandal.

The Arian controversy emerged on the dispute on the divinity of the Son. Two dominant theological traditions, currents existed in the time of its conception (c. 320), namely the Alexandrian and the Antiochene schools. The Alexandrian school tend to be philosophical in its approach towards problems. It had such worldview, as it was the location of the great library of Alexandria, which contained a lot of texts containing thoughts of ancient philosophers. It is no surprise that Middle-Platonism or the Neo-Platonism influenced the school. The Antiochene School tends to be biblical and scriptural in understanding the faith. They would go further and be literal in their understanding of the scriptures.

However, with the presence of these two schools, to say that Arianism is a classic case of conflict between the Alexandrian and Antiochene school is not feasible. Arius is an Alexandrian, being a follower of Origen (of Alexandria).

Arian Controversy can be said to be a conflict which emerged within the Alexandrian school. Origen, a foremost theologian from Alexandriaan School, was not a systematic theologian. There were conflicting thoughts in his writings due to his being a reactionary towards issues that arise on a specific time. This gave rise to the Arian problem between radical Origenists and the moderate Origenist. The radical Origenists were subordinationists, while the moderate Origenist were those who minimize the subordinationist teachings of Origen on the Trinity. It is in this atmosphere of an internal conflict among the followers of Origen (of Alexandria) that the Arian controversy sprung, with Arius as the main proponent, being a radical subordinationist.

In 318 or 319, Alexander, the bishop of Alexandria in Egypt, and Arius had an informal discussion on the nature of Trinity. In this discussion, Arius accused his bishop as a Sabellianist. He then put forward his adoptionist point of view, influenced by Lucian of Antioch. Alexander of Alexandria called for a synod in his diocese, which condemned and exiled Arius for his false teachings. The excommunication of Arius by Alexander ushered in the so-called Arian/Trinitarian Controversy.

Arius communicated, via letter to Eusebius of Nicomedia, the unjust treatment he had received from the synod convoked by Alexander. In this letter, Arius would mention Eusebius of Caesarea as one of his staunch defenders and believers and who eventually was also condemned together with other Eastern bishops.[9] This was because of their sympathy to Arius and his doctrines on the Trinity. Upon receiving such letter, Eusebius of Nicomedia invited Arius to his diocese, and went to the extent of writing letters to the bishops of Asia Minor eliciting support for Arius. In those tumultuous times, it can be inferred that Arius and his followers found too a refuge in the territory of Eusebius in Caesarea, as Eusebius’ name had been explicitly mentioned by Arius in his letter to Eusebius of Nicomedia. Eusebius even wrote a letter to Alexander of Alexandria accusing him of distorting the real teachings of Arius.[10]  Eusebius would participate also in a synod of Syrian bishops, who defined that Arius should be restored to his former position, but on his side he was to obey his bishop and continually entreat peace and communion with him.[11] Truly, Arius found not only a great sanctuary in Caesarea, but also a prodigious defender of his doctrine in the person of Eusebius, at least in the Pre-Nicene era and from the point of view of Arius. 

Eusebius associated himself to Arius not necessarily because of the similarity of their doctrines and understanding of the Son. It is most probable that Eusebius extended help to Arius because of their affiliation to the same school of thought, namely the Originist tradition. Eusebius had been educated under the tutelage of Pamphilus who was a student of Origen himself. In the formation of Eusebius, he copied works of Origen, together with Pampilus. Arius was also schooled in the Origenist tradition. This is evident in the subordationist leaning of his doctrines. This is also apparent since Arianism is a conflict within the Origenist subordationist and Origenist moderate subordationist. Eusebius coddled a person who would go down to the history as one of the most notorious heretics in the Christendom, out of affiliation and not necessarily doctrinal agreement.

It is also important to note that during that time, in 320, it was then the beginning of the so-called Arian controversy. Clear cut doctrine on the Trinity did not exist yet, after all this very controversy would usher in debates on the same doctrinal subject that would culminate in the doctrinal description of the relation of the Father with the Son by various Church councils, especially the first Council of Nicaea.[12] Thus, when Eusebius received Arius in Caesarea, the former may have received Arius not for doctrinal reasons. Thus, most probably, one reason why Eusebius received Arius is their affiliation to the same school of thought. In this case, it is their association with the Origenist tradition that linked Eusebius and Arius. This could be the reason why the Eusebius and his diocese would be a logical refuge for Arius and his fellow Arians.

The Synod of Antioch in 325

In 325, barely five years since the Arian Controversy erupted, it had spread around the known world. So much so that church officials took all measurements at hand to contain this controversy. One of these means is the Synod of Antioch in the early months of 325.

R.P.C. Hanson hypothesized that this synod was meant to choose the new bishop of Antioch, a successor of Philgonius who had then recently died. It is probable that Ossius of Cordova, on his way to Constantine from Alexandria, joined the synod and made it a point that the Arian Controversy be included in the list of agenda of the synod. [13]

Though Alexander of Alexandria, then the foremost advocate of orthodoxy against the Arians, did not attend this synod, the language used by the synod is very similar to that of Alexander. This is probably because of the influence of Alexander to the bishops through his letters sent to them, though they may be outside Alexandria and Egypt.[14] The synod is also the pioneer in producing anathemas against wrong doctrines and teaching.

The Synodal Letter of Antioch in 325

The source of information regarding this synod is a letter that the synod itself had sent to Alexander of Alexandria. The original Greek text is now lost. However, three Syriac manuscripts survive: Par. Syr. 62; Vatican Cod. Syr. 148; Mingana Syr. 8.[15]

The letter opens with the names of those who participated in the synod. After the introductory notes, the author of the letter highlighted the fact that the he did not desire to solve by himself the problems he had found in the church in Antioch. And such is one of the very purpose of the synod convoked; to find solution to the pressing needs of the Antiochene church. 

For since our brother and fellow servant, the honored and beloved Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, had excommunicated some of his presbyters, i.e. Arius and his friends, for blasphemy which they directed against our Savior, though they were able by their impious teaching to cause some to stray to such an extent that they were received into communion by them, the holy synod decided to investigate this questions first…[16]

We kept before us what Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, had done against Arius and his friends, that if any clearly were tainted with teaching opposed to these actions, they too should be expelled from the Church, to prevent them by their continued presence from being able to seduce some of the simpler brethren.[17]
In the opening remarks of the synod, it is also clear that they had Alexander of Alexandria as their guidepost in every decisions that they would be making. Furthermore, the synod fathers were determined to replicate the same attitude that Alexander had to the perceived enemies of the Church, specifically to Arius and his friends. 

The letter of the synod proceeded to state the doctrines and faith of the synod members. It was through a confession of faith that the synod made such understanding on faith known. For the purpose of the present study, the synod’s understanding of the Son will be presented. It is as follows:

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son, begotten not from nothing, but from the Father; not made, but a genuine offspring. He was begotten inexpressibly and unspeakably, because only the Father who begot and the Son who was begotten know it, “for no one knows the Father except the Son, or the Son except the Father” [Matt 11:27].[18]

He always exists and never before did he not exist, for we have been taught from the holy Scriptures that he alone is God’s image. He is not unbegotten, for he is clearly begotten of the Father. This status has not been placed upon him; in fact, it would be godless blasphemy to say so. But the scriptures say that he is the real and truly begotten Son, so we believe him to be unchangeable and unalterable. He has not been begotten or come into being merely by the Father’s will, nor has this status been placed upon him, which would make him appear to be from nothing. But he was begotten as was fitting for him, not at all according to the impermissible idea that he resembles, is of similar nature to, or is associated with any of the things that came into existence through him.[19]

But, because this transcends all thought, conception, and expression, we simply confess that he has been begotten from the unbegotten Father, God the Word, true Light, righteousness, Jesus Christ, Lord of all and Savior. He is the image not of the will or of anything else except the actual being (hypostasis*) of the Father. This one, the Son, God the Word, was also born in the flesh from Mary the Mother of God and was made flesh. After suffering and dying, he rose from the dead and was taken into heaven, and he sits at the right hand of the Majesty of the Most High. He is coming to judge the living and the dead.[20]

Just as the holy writings teach us to believe in our Savior, so also they teach us to believe in one Spirit, one catholic church, the resurrection of the dead, and the judgment which will pay back to each man according to what he has done in the flesh, whether good or evil.[21]

The confession of faith of the synod concludes with an anathema:

We anathematize those who say or think or proclaim that the Son of God is a creation (ktisma); has come into being (genētos), or was made (poiētos), or was not truly begotten; or that there was a time when he did not exist (for we believe that he was and that he is Light); still also those who think he is unchangeable only by his free will [i.e., not according to his essence], as with those who think he did not exist before he was begotten and that he is not unchanging by his nature as the Father is. He has been proclaimed as the Father’s image in every respect, especially in this respect, that he does not change.[22]

This confession of faith emphasized the Son as one who is not created out nothing, but rather was begotten in an ineffable way, and that he is the image of the Father in every respect. It is also noticeable the use of biblical passages to support their claims. The synod’s letter concludes with the partial excommunication of three personalities that, inn the view of the synod, had openly transgressed against the conclusions of the synod.

This faith was put forth, and indeed the entire holy synod consented and confessed that this is the apostolic teaching which alone is able to save. All the fellow-ministers have the same understanding about these issues. Only Theodotus of the Laodicean church, Narcissus of the church in Neronia, and Eusebius from the church in Caesarea of Palestine have appeared together and brought forward ideas contrary to those expressed here, as if they have forgotten the holy Scriptures and the apostolic teachings (though indeed they have attempted to shiftily escape notice and hide their deceptions with false, though persuasive-sounding arguments). In fact, from what they were asked and what they asked in turn, they clearly were proven to agree completely with Arius’ party, and to hold opinions contrary to what was established by our synod.[23]

For this reason, that their hearts are so hardened, and that they have no regard for the holy synod which rejected and disapproved of their ideas in these matters, we all fellow-ministers in the synod have ruled not to practice fellowship with these men, not to consider them worthy of fellowship, since their faith is something other than that of the catholic church. (15.) So that you might know of this, we write to you, so that you too can be on guard against having fellowship with these men, and that you may not write to them or receive letters of fellowship from them. You should also know this, that on account of our great brotherly love, we of the synod have established a place for them to repent and recognize the truth: the magnificent and sacred synod to be held at Ancyra. So encourage all the like-minded brothers to spread this message, so that they also will be able to know the facts about these men, how some have been removed from the church and are not in agreement with her.[24]

The synod had partially excommunicated Theodotus of the Laodicean church, Narcissus of the church in Neronia, and Eusebius from the church in Caesarea of Palestine. These three were identified to be sympathetic to the Arian cause and doctrine. Though the synod excommunicated these three, they were given the chance to make themselves clear in a council that would be convened in Ancyra. Thus, their excommunication is partial. This council would later be convoked by Constantine on the same year, in Nicaea, since Nicaea would be more accessible to more bishops who would be participating in the said council. 

One may ask: If the synod emphasized on the assertion that the Son was not created out of nothing, but was begotten in an ineffable way, and that he is the express image of the Father in every respect, why did then the synod excommunicate Eusebius? Is Eusebius really against this emphasis of the synod? Is  Eusebius’ understanding of the Son (Pre-Nicene) different from the Synod’s understanding?
EUSEBIUS’ UNDERSTANDING OF THE SON

At this point due attention will be dedicated to Eusebius’ understanding of the Son through his Pre-Nicene writings, particularly in his work Demonstratio Evangelica. The Demonstratio Evangelica is hereby chosen as the source of Eusebius understanding of the Son as this work is extensively dedicated in expounding the nature of the Son using the gospels.[25]  

In his exposition on the Eusebian Theologies of the Son as the image of God before 314, Mark Delcogliano presents Eusebius’ understanding of the Son taking a so-called constitutive approach in the relation of the Son with the Father. The nature of the Son as image consists in the being like of the Father.[26] Eusebius would employ biblical passages and expressions pertaining to the Son, e.g. the form of God (Philippian 2:6), image of the invisible God (Collosians 1:15), radiance of the glory and the character of the subsistence of God (Hebrew 1:3).  Delcogliano states:

These titles of the Son reveal his relationship to the father’s divinity, a relationship that is proper to him alone, as if to an only begotten Son. Because of this relationship, the one God (Deut 4:35) is made known through the Son as through an image. For that reasons the Son is also God, because, in him as in an image, there is an expression of the Father. Hence the Son is God only because he is the image of God, being called by this title only because of his likeness to the first principle.[27]

The Son as the ineffable image of the Father does mean simply a lifeless image. It is a living image; the living Son of the Father, made in the exactness of the Father (in his archetypal Divinity). He is begotten in the greatest degree of exactness possible. By virtue of being begotten in the father exactitude, the Son is the manifestation of the Father’s qualities, activity, essence, form and divinity, as the Son’s titles in the scripture would suggest: form of God, image of the invisible God. Delcogliano would further label such approach of Eusebius towards the Son in relation with the Father as a constitutive approach, in contradistinction with Arius’ approach as participatory approach.[28] Eusebius’ constitutive approach to the Son’s relation with the Father would further describe the Son as one who owns in himself his divinity, and not merely participating to the divinity of the Father. The Father constituted, begot, generated the Son in his own exact image, and essence, and in Himself a God just like the Father. Thus, the essence of God is not foreign to the Son, since the Son was constituted to have them as His own essence. In the Demonstratio Evangelica, Eusebius further elucidated his understanding of the Son to be a God, with the divine attributes the Son possessed in his very own essence. He distinguished the Son from other creatures, making a distinction between generation and creation. He excluded the Son from the category of creatures.

EUSEBIUS AND THE SYNOD: FACE TO FACE

The understanding on the Son by Eusebius and the Synod of Antioch in 325 are alike. Both upheld the divinity of the Son. For the Synod, The Son was not created out of nothing, but was begotten in an ineffable way, and that he is the express image of the Father in every respect. While for Eusebius, the Son is truly Son and God…because he alone who was begotten from the Father himself, was in the form of God (Phil 2:6) and was the image of the invisible God (Col 1:15). With the resemblance in the understanding about the Son, why would the Synod proceed in partially excommunicating Eusebius?

One probable reason behind the partial excommunication of Eusebius by the Synod is their difference in theological, political and social sympathies and affiliations.

The Synod was heavily influenced by Alexander of Alexandria. This is evident in the introductory headings of the Synod, as presented above. The Antiochene church may had been greatly influenced by the Alexandrian bishop through his letters sent to various churches outside Egypt. These letters contained anti-Arius instructions. The presence of Ossius of Cordova may had contributed too to the anti-Arius undertone of the Synod. Lastly, the influence of Alexander of Alexandria to the Synod in translated to the goal that the Synod had set before them; We kept before us what Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, had done against Arius and his friends, that if any clearly were tainted with teaching opposed to these actions, they too should be expelled from the Church. Thus, the Synod was very much willing to observe the same stringent treatment of Alexander towards Arius and his friends.

Eusebius was greatly associated with Arius. The two were linked not necessarily by the doctrine they believed in to nor the teachings they upheld. Eusebius and Arius were related through the school of thought or the tradition in which they were formed. They were both schooled in the Origenist tradition. Thus, it was not surprising that Arius would find Eusebius openhearted towards him and his supporters, when Alexander expelled them from his diocese.

In the end of his study on the Eusebian theologies, Delcogliano concludes that among the Eusebians conflict too occurred. This is primarily because in the fourth century, ecclesiastical parties were not constituted by common set theological beliefs understood in the same way. Parties are defined mainly by expectations and the activity of mutual defense and correction, by common opposition to enemies considered as such for reasons not necessarily theological, and by a minimum set of shared doctrinal principles and formulas. These same principles and findings can also be applied in the case of Eusebius and the Synod of Antioch. Though Eusebius’ may not had a different doctrine on the Son vis-à-vis the doctrine confessed by the Synod, the latter chose to partially excommunicate the former. This is because the Synod is of Alexander of Alexandria who happened to be the archenemy of Arius who is a colleague of Eusebius in the Origenist school.

CONCLUSION

The case of Eusebius and the Synod of Antioch in early 325 can be a classic case of You are either with us, or against us. The Synod perceived Eusebius to be one who was against them as he was with Arius (who was the object of Alexander and the Synod’s disapproval). Such mechanism by the Synod may had proved to be affective, for in the same year during the Council of Nicaea, Eusebius would professed a confession of faith together with Alexander of Alexandria, and Ossius of Cordova. [29] Eusebius did so not as a form of compromised to same his head but a manifestation of his and the rest of the church of Caesarea’s beliefs even before the convocation of such holy and sacred Council of Nicaea. This is manifested in his letter to his Diocese after the Council of Nicaea, indicating the creed they, Caesareans, held since his baptism; the creed himself had received.[30] If compared to that creed professed by the Synod of Antioch; Eusebius and the Caesareans creed particular that which pertains to the doctrine of the Son was of little different but assuredly with no Arian intent in it.  


BIBLIOGRAPHY

Articles

Delcogliano Mark. “Eusebian Theologies of the Son,” Journal of Early Christian Studies 14/4 (2006):  471.

Johnson, Aaron P. Review of Eusebius of Caesarea against Paganism (Jewish and Christian
Perspectives Series, Vol. III by Aryeh Kofsky. Vigiliae Christianae, Vol. 59, No. 2 (May, 2005), pp. 209-212.

Murphy, Harold S. “Eusebius’ NT Text in the Demonstratio Evangelica,” Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 73, No. 3 (Sep., 1954), pp. 162-168.

Suggs, Jack M. “Eusebius and the Gospel Text,” The Harvard Theological Review, Vol. 50, No. 4 (Oct., 1957), pp. 307-310.


Books

Drobner, Hubertus R. The Fathers of the Church: A Comprehensive Introduction; trans. Siegfried S. Schatzmann. Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007.  

Luinheid, Colm. The Essential Eusebius. New York: The New American Library, 1966.

Moreschini, Claudio and Enrico Norelli. Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature: A Literary History, Vol. 1, From Paul to Constantine. trans. Matthew J. O’Connell. Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI. The Fathers of the Church: From Clement of Rome to Augustine. Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J. ed. Cambridge: WB Eerdmans Publsihing Co., 2009.

Stevenson J., ed., A New Eusebius: Documents illustrative of the History of the Church to A.D. 337. London: SPCK, 1983.


Online Sources

A Chronology of the Arian Controversy. Accessed November 30, 2015. Available from http://faculty.cua.edu/pennington/ churchhistory220/LectureTwo/ArianControversy.htm.

Bacchus F.J. Eusebius of Cæsarea. in The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Accessed November 27, 2015. Available from New Advent http://www.newadvent.org /cathen/05617b.htm

Fragment of a letter of Eusebius of Caesarea to Alexander of Alexandria. Accessed November 30, 2015available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/index.php/urkunde-7.

Hanson R.P.C. The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988.
Accessed November 28, 2015. Available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/urkunde-18/.

Letter of Alexander of Alexandria to all bishops (Henos sōmatos). Accessed December 5, 2015. Available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/index.php/urkunde-4b.



[1] Hubertus R. Drobner, The Fathers of the Church: A Comprehensive Introduction; trans. Siegfried S. Schatzmann (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007) 221.  
[2] Henceforth simply Eusebius, other Eusebiuses will be distinguished by suffixing their names with their place of origin
[3] F.J. Bacchus, Eusebius of Cæsarea. in The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Company). Accessed November 27, 2015. Available from New Advent http://www.newadvent.org /cathen/05617b.htm
[4] Claudio Moreschini and Enrico Norelli, Early Christian Greek and Latin Literature: A Literary History, Vol. 1, From Paul to Constantine, trans. Matthew J. O’Connell (Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2005)413.  
[5] Pamphilus was a student of of Pierius in Alexandria. He was an heir in Caesarea to the example of Origen, whose library he tended and expanded. This ascetic was able to gather students, one of them was Eusebius, who busied themselves in the revision of biblical text, a task already started by Origen (Moreschini 414). 
[6] F.J. Bacchus, Eusebius of Cæsarea.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Moreschini, 414.
[9] A Chronology of the Arian Controversy Accessed November 30, 2015. Available from http://faculty.cua.edu/pennington/ churchhistory220/LectureTwo/ArianControversy.htm.
[10] Fragment of a letter of Eusebius of Caesarea to Alexander of Alexandria. Accessed November 30, 2015. Available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/index.php/urkunde-7.
[11] Sozomen, Church History I.15
[12] Mark Delcogliano, “Eusebian Theologies of the Son,”: Journal of Early Christian Studies 14/4 (2006):  471.  
[13] R.P.C. Hanson, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1988.
Accessed November 26, 2015. Available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/urkunde-18/.

[14] Letter of Alexander of Alexandria to all bishops (Henos sōmatos), accessed December 1, 2015, available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/index.php/urkunde-4b, on.
[15] Letter of the Synod of Antioch (325), Accessed November 25, 2015. Available from http://www.fourthcentury.com/urkunde-18/.
[16] J. Stevenson, ed., A New Eusebius: Documents illustrative of the History of the Church to A.D. 337 (London: SPCK, 1983) 355.
[17] Ibid.
[18] Ibid.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Ibid.
[21] Ibid., 356.
[22] Ibid.
[23] Ibid.
[24] Ibid., 357.
[25] Aaron P. Johnson, review of Eusebius of Caesarea against Paganism(Jewish and Christian
Perspectives Series, Vol. III by Aryeh Kofsky. Vigiliae Christianae, Vol. 59, No. 2 (May, 2005), pp. 209-212.
[26] Mark Delcogliano, 471.  
[27] Ibid. 471-472.
[28] Constitutive and Participatory Models are heuristic devices coined by Delcogliano to facilitate the understanding of the Eusebian theologies on the Son.
[29] F.J. Bacchus, Eusebius of Cæsarea.
[30] Colm Luinheid, The Essential Eusebius (New York: The New American Library, 1966) 217.

DEVOTION TO BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO IN SANTO DOMINGO CHURCH, QUEZON CITY

The Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City is one of the unique churches in the Philippines that houses two national shrines; namely the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary and the National Shrine of St. Martin de Porres. The church can easily be associated with these national shrines and to the pious devotions that the devotees of the Lady and St. Martin have. However, the church too is the locale of a simple yet evocative devotion to a Beata, who throughout her life here on earth, was unwanted; such is the devotion to Beata Margarita de Castello.


The Life of the beata

The creed pertains to the set of beliefs that the devotees have towards the Beata. Thus, it will be of great help to understand and identify these beliefs by looking into the life of the Beata and through some of the prayers the devotees used in their devotions. 

Blessed Margaret of Castello was born near Florence, Italy, in 1287, to a certain Emilia and Parisio of a noble Italian family. This beautiful couple had been expecting their first born to be like them, a physically beautiful person without any blemish. To their great surprise, when the day their first born came forth to the light, the baby girl was blind, cripple, and a dwarf. They could not bear to look at the baby girl. They were thinking of what other members of nobility would say about them, should they come to know about the misfortune and physical monstrosity of their first born. They decided to hide her forever, so they entrusted the care of the young Margaret to a nanny.

The nanny of Margaret was a pious Catholic. She taught to Margaret the basic tenets of Christian faith and the basic prayers. Margaret grew as a devote Catholic too, like her nanny. But one day, while Margaret was visiting the chapel in their castle, she was almost discovered by a visitor of her parents. Afraid that Margaret would eventually be discovered and her monstrosity be revealed to the public, her parents decided to place Margaret to a more secluded place.

Parisio commanded that a room be constructed beside the chapel in the middle of the forest under their care. The room has only two openings one for the food and the other for her daily communion. In that room, Margaret would be spending ten years of seclusion. However, the priest attending to the spiritual needs of Margaret discovered the peculiar receptivity of Margaret towards the faith. The priest-chaplain took to himself the responsibility of catechizing young Margaret. The seeds that the nanny planted were watered by the priest-chaplain. Margaret made sure these seeds of faith planted and watered, were taken care by her. 

When Margaret was nineteen, her father’s territory was under threat. He decided to transfer her family from Florence to Mercatello to the south. Here, Margaret was hid in the cellar away from the eyes of the public. While in Mercatello, her parents heard of the miracles that had happened in Castello before the tomb of a Franciscan Third Order member, Fra Giacomo. Her parents decided to bring Margaret in Castello, in the hope that Margaret’s illness and defects would be healed and perfected. However, they were frustrated for no healing and miracle occurred. Her parents decided to leave Margaret in Castello. They abandoned her to other blind and crippled persons, believing that such is the place where she truly belonged. Margaret accepted her fate without any complains but with firm resolve towards the Divine Providence. 

In Castello, Margaret showed an outstanding holiness. The people of Castello never heard her cursing her parents for abandoning her. She never made complains to the difficulties she was enduring. She begged for her daily sustenance, something she never did before in her pampered life. She was eventually invited by the cloistered nuns of St. Margaret's Monastery. Here, Margaret observed monastic life in great austerity. When doubts on her holiness emerged, she bore all these with great patience and fortitude. And the truth of her holiness was revealed. 

Margaret was attracted to the Dominican way of life through the Dominicans she was able to encounter in the church she frequented. She joined the order of Mantellate, which today evolved as the Dominican laity. The prior of the community in Castello instructed her to the Dominican spirituality. Eventually, she was clothed with the Dominican habit. As a lay Dominican she took care of the sick, and dying. She even visited prisoners who were in inhumane situation, bringing food and medicine to them. Throughout her life, she had worked a number of miracles of different kinds. 

She died on April 13, 1320, at the age of thirty-three. Margaret’s body remained to be incorrupt to this day, despite the simple embalming her body underwent. Her body is now displayed in the Church of San Dominico in the city of Castello. She was declared a Blessed by the Church on October 19, 1609.




The Creed 

The life of the Beata serves as an inspiration to those who are unwanted, abandoned, discouraged and tempted to self-pity. 

Devotees believe that the Beata can obtain for the following graces and blessings from God:

· The grace to recognize the Will of God in all that may happen to me in my life and so resign myself to it.
· The grace and courage that I so urgently need so as to be able to bear my infirmities and endure my afflictions in union with our Suffering Savior.
· The grace to persevere in my prayer, confident that God will give me the help to carry whatever cross comes into my life.
· That same attitude of obedience toward all those who have legitimate authority over me, most especially toward the Holy Roman Catholic Church.
· The grace to recognize my human limitations and to acknowledge my utter dependence upon God. Acquire for me that abandonment which leaves me completely at the mercy of God to do with me whatsoever He wills.
· The grace to learn how to endure my sufferings with patience.
· The grace that I might see all my human loves and affections in their proper perspective... in God and for God.
· The grace to recognize Jesus in everyone with whom I come into contact, especially in the poor, the wretched, the unwanted!

Most of these graces that devotees wished to obtain through the Beata were the graces she herself had procured for herself when she was still alive, as manifested by her sanctity of life. 


The Community


The devotees of the Beata in Santo Domingo Church formed a community. They call themselves as the Blessed Margaret of Castello Movement (hence forth BMCM). They are a parish based organization spearheading the growth and propagation of the devotion to the Beata. It was established in the Santo Domingo Parish (attached to the Santo Domingo Church), for a number of purpose, namely: 

· to promote the devotion to and the canonization of Blessed Margaret
· to organize various programs to benefit “The Unwanted,” especially the poor and underprivileged; 
· to promote social justice; 
· to further the cause of Respect for Life; and 
· to promote the principles and ideals carried out by her in her work as a tertiary of the Dominican Order.

These purpose of BMCM are very much in line with the life and inspiration of the Beata. They emphasized the great need for a pastoral care for those who are unwanted. The members of BMCM efficaciously carry out their purpose for they themselves had or have experience being unwanted. Most of the members of the BMCM belong to class D and E from the informal settlers in the Parish. Some of them too are members of PWD (People with disability). In fact their de facto leader is Mr. Sonny Gokilai, a wheelchair-bound person. 



The Code

The BMCM live under rules of conduct and behavior. These rules present the way the members live-out their beliefs. The members of the BMCM strive and encourage others to live a life exemplified by the Beata. They promote the devotion to and the canonization of the Beata. They organize various programs to benefit “The Unwanted,” especially the poor and underprivileged; 

They promote social justice. They further the cause of Respect for Life. And they promote the principles and ideals carried out by her in her work as a tertiary of the Dominican Order.

The BMCM also organize a group sharing among the devotees. It can be likened to a peer group discussion wherein everyone may share their stories of being unwanted, rejected and discouraged. These group sharings are done in the church every after the votive mass on Thursdays, 6 pm, after the veneration the Beata’s relic. They would last from 6:30 to 9:00 pm. 

The Cult

The cult exercised by BMCM presents the manner by which the devotees of the Beata express their veneration and acts of honoring her. It also showcases the way the devotees propagate the devotion to the Beata. The cult takes various forms which are practiced in Santo Domingo Church every Thursday, 5:30 to 9:00 pm. 

The Perpetual Novena to the Beata is said every Thursday followed by a Mass. The Novena is as follow:

First Day: 

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in embracing your life just as it was, you gave us an example of resignation to the Will of God. In so accepting God's Will, you knew that you would grow in virtue, glorify God, save your own soul, and help the souls of your neighbors. Obtain for me the grace to recognize the Will of God in all that may happen to me in my life and so resign myself to it. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 

O God, by whose Will the blessed Virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened she might think without ceasing on You alone; be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God's Will, for His Honor and Glory and the salvation of souls. 

Our Father... Hail Mary . Glory Be .. 


Second Day

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in reflecting so deeply upon the sufferings and death of our Crucified Lord, you learned courage and gained the grace to bear your own afflictions. Obtain for me the grace and courage that I so urgently need so as to be able to bear my infirmities and endure my afflictions in union with our Suffering Savior. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Third Day: 

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was intense and enduring. It was here in intimacy with the Divine Presence that you found spiritual strength to accept suffering, to be cheerful, patient and kindly towards others. Obtain for me the grace that I may draw from this same source, as from an exhaustible font, the strength whereby I may be kind and understanding of everyone despite whatever pain or discomfort may come my way. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Fourth Day:

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you unceasingly turned to God in prayer with confidence and trust in His Fatherly love. It was only through continual prayer that you were enabled to accept your misfortunes, to be serene, patient, and at peace. Obtain for me the grace to persevere in my prayer, confident that God will give me the help to carry whatever cross comes into my life. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Fifth Day:

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in imitation of the Child Jesus, who was subject to Mary and Joseph, you obeyed your father and mother, overlooking their unnatural harshness. Obtain for me that same attitude of obedience toward all those who have legitimate authority over me, most especially toward the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Sixth Day:

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your miseries taught you better than any teacher the weakness and frailty of human nature. Obtain for me the grace to recognize my human limitations and to acknowledge my utter dependence upon God. Acquire for me that abandonment which leaves me completely at the mercy of God to do with me whatsoever He wills. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Seventh Day: 

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you could have so easily become discouraged and bitter; but, instead, you fixed your eyes on the suffering Christ and there you learned from Him the redemptive value of suffering how to offer your pains and aches, in reparation for sin and for the salvation of souls. Obtain for me the grace to learn how to endure my sufferings with patience. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Eighth Day:

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, how it must have hurt when your parents abandoned you! Yet you learned from this that all earthly love and affection, even for those who are closest, must be sanctified. And so, despite everything, you continued to love your parents -but now you loved them in God. Obtain for me the grace that I might see all my human loves and affections in their proper perspective... in God and for God. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,... 

Ninth Day:

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, through your suffering and misfortune, you became sensitive to the sufferings of others. Your heart reached out to everyone in trouble -the sick, the hungry, the dying prisoners. Obtain for me the grace to recognize Jesus in everyone with whom I come into contact, especially in the poor, the wretched, the unwanted! Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God. 

Let us pray: 0 God,...

The devotees also prays the Prayer for the Canonization of the Beata. The Prayer is as follow:


Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God's Will, for His honor and glory and the salvation of souls. 

O my God, I thank you for having given Blessed Margaret of Castello to the world as an example of the degree of holiness that can be attained by anyone who truly loves you, regardless of physical abnormalities. In today's perverted culture, Margaret would have, most likely, never been born; death through abortion being preferable to life, especially life in an ugly distorted twisted body. But Your ways are not the world's ways... and so it was Your Will that Margaret would be born into the world with just such a malformed body. It is Your way that uses our weakness to give testimony to Your power. Margaret was born blind, so as to see You more clearly; A cripple, so as to lean on You completely; Dwarfed in physical posture, so as to become a giant in the spiritual order; hunch-backed, so as to more perfectly resemble the twisted, crucified body of Your Son. Margaret's whole life was an enactment of the words expressed by Paul: "So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me and that is why I am content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions and the agonies I go through for Christ's sake. For It is when I am weak that I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10). 

I beseech you, 0 God, to grant through the intercession of Blessed Margaret of Castello, that all the handicapped ...And who among us is not?...All rejected, all unwanted of the world may make their weaknesses their own special boast so that your power may stay over them now and forever. Amen. 

Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us. 

(Pray 3 Our Father's and3 Hail Mary's)



After the Mass, the BMCM facilitates the kissing and veneration of the Relic of the Beata. Devotees would line up in the front of the sanctuary, in the like manner of taking communion, and kiss the relic of the Beata encased in a gilded reliquary. While kissing the relic, they utter their prayers and ask the Beata for her intercessions. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY

Church Document

Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy: Principles and Guidelines. Vatican City: 2001. 

Books

Commission on Liturgy and Prayer – Dominican Province of the Philippines, Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours for the Order of Preachers in the Philippines. Quezon City: Dominican Province of the Philippines, 2009. 

Mercado, SVD, Leonardo N. ed. Filipino Popular Devotions. Manila: Logos Publications, Inc, 2000.

Raas, SVD, Bernard, Popular Devotions. Manila: Logos Publications, 1992. 


Internet Sources

Blessed Margaret of Castello and the Pro-Life Movement. Accessed November 23, 2015. Available from http://www.op.org/en/content/blessed-margaret-castello-and-pro-life-movement. 

Blessed Margaret of Castello. Accessed November 30, 2015. Available from http://nashvilledominican.org/Charism/mOur_Dominican_Heritage/Our_Saints_and_Blesseds/Bl_Margaret_of_Castello. 

La Casse, O.P., Andre-Joseph, Blessed Margaret of Castello. Accessed http://laydominicans.org/study/dominican-saints/blessed-margaret-of-castello/. Available from November 23, 2015. 

Nugent Madeline Pecora, A Patroness for the Pro-life movement: Blessed Margaret of Castello. Accessed http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimonies/1176-a-patroness-for-the-pro-life-movement-blessed-margaret-of-castello. Available from November 27, 2015.