Pneumatomachianism (Macedonianism)
The Spirit-fighters who denied the third person his full divinity
Pneumatomachianism, also called Macedonianism, denied the full divinity of the Holy Spirit. Its adherents, the Pneumatomachi or "Spirit-fighters," were condemned at the Council of Constantinople in 381. The orthodox response affirmed the Spirit's full divinity within the Trinity, a confession shared across the traditions and expressed in the Creed's profession of the Spirit as Lord and giver of life.
How it traveled
- De Spiritu SanctoCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379challenges
- The LettersCaesarea (Cappadocia) · 379applies
- The Second Ecumenical Council: The First Council of ConstantinopleConstantinople (Istanbul) · 381challenges
- Select Orations of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390explains
- Select Letters of Saint Gregory NazianzenNazianzus · 390challenges
- On the Holy SpiritNyssa · 395explains
- Against EunomiusNyssa · 395challenges
- On the Holy SpiritMilan · 397challenges
- Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious MenBethlehem · 420challenges
- The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates ScholasticusConstantinople (Istanbul) · 439explains
- The Ecclesiastical History of SozomenConstantinople (Istanbul) · 450explains
- The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of TheodoretCyrrhus · 458explains
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604challenges
Key passages(20)
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
The Canons of the Council in Trullo; Often Called The Quinisext Council · The Ecumenical Councils
The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen · Sozomen
The Ecclesiastical History, Dialogues, and Letters of Theodoret · Theodoret of Cyrus
The Second Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils
De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
Jerome and Gennadius. Lives of Illustrious Men · Jerome
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
The Second Ecumenical Council: The First Council of Constantinople · The Ecumenical Councils
De Spiritu Sancto · Basil of Caesarea
John of Damascus: Exposition of the Orthodox Faith · John of Damascus
On the Holy Spirit · Ambrose of Milan
Select Letters of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus