The Eusebians, now that Eustathius has been removed, proceed against Athanasius, a much more dangerous opponent.

Athanasius has devoted the first years of his episcopate to visitation of his extensive patriarchate, which includes all of Egypt and Libya.

During this time, …

…Athanasius has established important contacts with the Coptic monks of Upper Egypt and their leader Pachomius.

Soon began the struggle with imperialist and Arian churchmen that will occupy much of his life.

Athanasius is in 334 summoned before a synod in Caesarea; he does not attend.

He uses political influence against the Meletians, followers of the schismatic bishop Meletius of Lycopolis, who have gone back on the plans made at Nicaea for their reunion with the church; but …

…he refutes specific charges of mistreatment of Arians and Meletians before a hostile gathering of bishops, over which Eusebius of Caesarea presides, at Tyre (in modern Lebanon) in 335, which Athanasius refuses to recognize as a general council of the church.

Foreseeing the result, he goes to Constantinople to bring his cause before the emperor.

Eusebius of Nicomedia, formerly bishop of Berytus, had been bishop of the seat of the imperial court under Constantine.

(A leading exponent of Arianism, Eusebius was likely a fellow disciple, with Arius, of Lucian of Antioch.)

Although Eusebius signed the formula approved at the Nicaean council declaring the full divinity and equality of Christ with the Father, he had soon begun advocating Arianism with renewed zeal.

This resulted in his banishment by Constantine, but the favor of the empress restored him to his post.

He had employed his growing political and ecclesiastical power to obtain the banishment of Athanasius, in 335.

In 338, Eusebius, who had baptized Constantine as the first Christian emperor shortly before his death, becomes bishop of Constantinople.