Council of Ariminum

In 358, the Roman Emperor Constantius II requested two councils, one of the western bishops of the Roman Empire at Ariminum (modern-day Rimini), and one of the eastern bishops, planned for Nicomedia but eventually held at Seleucia Isauria. The councils were called to resolve the Arian controversy which plagued the fourth-century early church. Arian creeds had been drafted in the Councils of Sirmium in 357 and 358, considered the highpoints of Arianism. The Council of Seleucia was held in September 359, with 150 eastern bishops participating. ==Council==

The council opened on 27 May 359, It was hosted in the Cathedral of Santa Colomba, no longer extant, with Arian supporters worshipping at a chapel, traditionally reported to be a downtrodden area near the Arch of Augustus, known as , renowned for its prostitutes. of which 40 were pro-Arian at the start of the council. Gaudentius, the first Bishop of Rimini, participated in the Council; he was against Arianism. with seventeen other bishops, Gaudentius retreated to a nearby town, in another, he was stoned to death for perduellio. Gaudentius was martyred on 14 October 360. He was killed in a marshy area south of the city's Arch of Augustus, which became known as (Lake of the Martyr); it is believed to be the etymology of Via Lagomaggio and Rimini's eponymous suburb. The account of Gaudentius' participation in the Council of Ariminum is considered inconsistent with earlier legends about his life. ==Aftermath==

In 360, the Council of Constantinople confirmed the resolutions of Ariminum and Seleucia. The early church later disregarded the resolutions from both councils. Some sources attribute Taurus' appointment as a consul in 361 to his management of the Council of Ariminum. ==References==