260s

The two Dionysii: "right-wing" and "left-wing" Origenism and the first discussion of consubstantiality

After Origen his followers, according to González, diverged: Gregory of Neocaesarea (the Wonderworker) in his creed stressed the eternal deity of the Son ("right-wing" Origenism), while Dionysius of Alexandria, fearing Sabellianism, insisted on the distinction of the Father and the Son so strongly that he said there was a time when the Son was not and that he was of a different substance from the Father ("left-wing" Origenism). The Alexandrians appealed to the Roman bishop, also named Dionysius, who saw in this a division of the divine unity into "three powers and three separate beings (hypostasis)" and a lowering of the Son to a creature. The Alexandrian replied that the Father and the Son are consubstantial (homoousios), like root, branch and fruit of one nature. González stresses the language barrier: in the West substantia meant the common deity, while in the East ousia and hypostasis were synonyms, so that "three hypostases" sounded to Western ears like tritheism.