Marcellus Of Ancyra

Related Category: Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches: General Biographies

(märsĕl´əs, ănsī´rə), fl. 350, Galatian churchman, the most violent opponent of Arianism in Asia Minor. He developed the theory that the Trinity was the result of emanations from God that would ultimately revert to God in the final judgment. Marcellus practically denied all distinction between Father and Son, thus teaching a virtual Sabellianism (see Sabellius) that proved embarrassing to his orthodox defenders. His views were eventually condemned.