Liberius

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Liberius

Liberius , d. 366, pope (352-66), a Roman; successor of St. Julius I. At the beginning of his pontificate, the status of Athanasius was still disputed, and Liberius requested Emperor Constantius II to call the Council of Arles (353). Subdued by imperial favor toward Arianism , the papal legates signed against Athanasius, but Liberius refused to be coerced or bribed. He was banished to Thrace by Constantius, who set up an antipope, Felix . In 358, Liberius was permitted to return to Rome after signing a vaguely worded creed and repudiating communion with Athanasius. Felix was forced to retire. After Constantius died, Liberius openly avowed his orthodox position and reasserted the primacy of Rome as arbiter in matters of faith.

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Liberius

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church | 2000 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church 2000, originally published by Oxford University Press 2000. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Liberius, Pope from 352 to 366. Ordered by the Arian Emp. Constantius to assent to the condemnation of St Athanasius as a rebel, Liberius refused and was banished from Rome in 355. In 357 he submitted and in 358 he was allowed to reoccupy his see, having agreed to the deposition of Athanasius and signed a confession of faith which, while not mentioning the homoousion, is otherwise orthodox.

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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Liberius." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 24 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Liberius." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (December 24, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Liberius.html

E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Liberius." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved December 24, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Liberius.html

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