Skip to content
Lexicon index Lexicon

Pneumatomachianism

Spirit-fighting — the heresy that denied the full divinity of the Holy Spirit, condemned at Constantinople I (381 AD).

The Pneumatomachians accepted the Nicene definition of the Son's divinity but denied that of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, they held, was an exalted servant of God. Condemned at Constantinople I (381 AD), which defined the Spirit as 'Lord and Giver of Life, who together with the Father and Son is worshipped and glorified.' St. Basil's argument: the Church has always worshipped the Spirit alongside Father and Son; worship belongs to God alone; therefore the Spirit is God.