The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Marcellus of Ancyra
c. 285 – c. 374 · Bishop of Ancyra · Anti-Arian theologian · Ancyra, Galatia
The Nicene Age
Who Marcellus of Ancyra was
A vehement anti-Arian at Nicaea who, in his zeal against any distinction that might make the Son a lesser being, swung so far toward the opposite pole that he was accused of reviving Sabellius — teaching that the Word was an impersonal power that issued from God at creation and would be reabsorbed, so that the kingdom would “have an end.” The clause in the Creed of 381, “whose kingdom shall have no end,” was aimed at him. Deposed and exiled, sheltered for a time by Rome and Athanasius, he was eventually disowned even by his allies. A cautionary figure: orthodoxy overshooting into a new error.
Also listed in bishops beyond the great sees and heretics & schismatics.
Common questions
When did Marcellus live?
Marcellus of Ancyra is dated c. 285 – c. 374 in the archive, which places Marcellus in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
What did Marcellus write?
Marcellus of Ancyra has 2 catalogued writings in the archive: Against Asterius (fragments) and Letter to Julius of Rome.
Which early sources mention Marcellus?
Marcellus of Ancyra is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Eusebius of Caesarea, Basil of Caesarea and Epiphanius of Salamis. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Marcellus from?
The archive associates Marcellus of Ancyra with Ancyra, Galatia. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Writings (2)
Against Asterius (fragments)
His great book survives as ~130 fragments inside Eusebius's two rebuttals — adversarial transmission again[Quoted to be refuted, preserved by the refutation]Read the interlinear source text →
Letter to Julius of Rome
His profession of faith, preserved whole by Epiphanius[The self-defense the West accepted, kept in Panarion 72]Read the interlinear source text →
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Against Marcellus & Ecclesiastical Theology
c. AD 325Marcellus… dared to call the Son of God a mere word, having no proper existence of His own, but proceeding and returning again into God, as a word is uttered and falls silent.Eusebius of Caesarea · source text
Letter 69 (the Marcellus problem laid before Athanasius)
c. AD 371Panarion 72 (the Marcellians)
c. AD 375Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
- AD 361 · Julian’s pagan restoration, AD 361
- AD 366 · Damasus and the catacomb epigrams, AD 366
- AD 367 · Athanasius lists the 27 NT books, AD 367
- AD 372 · The martyrdom of Sabbas the Goth, AD 372
Place
Places served
The 2 places the sources put Marcellus, in the order the record moves through them. This is what the sources attest, not a reconstructed route.