It is Arius, Who Has Torn My Robe

It is God’s willed that His Church must never grow without a struggle and the heresy of Arius shook the Church to its very foundations. Whether we like it or not, heresy has its positive side – it confirms our faith. The following narrative extracted from the story of St. Athanasius reveals that Our Lord had already warned in a vision against accepting Arius back into the fold.

“A certain man called Arius had been excommunicated by the Patriarch for having joined the schism of Meletius. He(Arius) – that very day – beseeched the clerics with tears to use their influence with Peter to obtain his pardon. The clerics knew the tenderness of their Bishop’s heart and readiness to forgive the erring; they were greatly surprised when their petition met with a stern refusal. The Patriarch gave his reason thus; “This night, as I prayed, Our Lord appeared to me in glory but His robe rent from top to bottom. ‘Who has treated Thee thus, My Lord!’ I cried,’and I rent thy garments?’ ‘It is Arius,’ He replied, ‘who has torn My robe, and tomorrow they will come to you to intercede for him. Therefore, I have warned you to keep him from the fold. But You shall die tomorrow.'” Oh Jesus, True God and True Man, Save Us.