Michael Prokurat, Alexander Golitzin, Michael D. Peterson
PNEUMATOMACHOI
PNEUMATOMACHOI. Literally, “Spirit fighters,” the term refers to the late 4th c. movement against ranking the Holy Spirit (q.v.) with the divine persons of the Father and the Son. Basil the Great (q.v.) composed his On the Holy Spirit in specific rebuttal to this party, and the other Cappadocians (q.v.) and Pope Damasus also condemned them. Basil’s arguments are the ones essentially summarized in the article on the Spirit approved for the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed at the Second Ecumenical Council (qq.v.) in 381 where the Pneumatomachoi were anathematized.