Sunday of the Holy Fathers (Acts 20:16–18, 28–36; Jn. 17:1–13)

Arius began to deny the Divinity of the Son of God and His consubstantiality with God the Father. The entire Church rose against him; all believers, in every corner of the world, with one voice confessed that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Only-begotten Son of God, God from God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father. One might have thought this was some incidental surge of unanimity; but this faith afterward passed through a fiery test when secular power and the nobility inclined toward the Arians. Neither fire nor sword nor persecution could destroy it, and it immediately showed itself everywhere among all people as soon as external pressure ceased. This means that it constitutes the heart of the Church and the essence of her confession. Glory to the Lord who preserves this faith in us! For as long as it exists, we are still Christians, though we live poorly; when it is gone—Christianity will be at an end.