The "three hypostases": their Gnostic, Hermetic, Platonic origin

One of the most curious paradoxes of Arianism is that it took to the extreme the doctrine of the "three hypostases", which was of Origen (albeit in a subordinationist sense). The champions of Nicea, including, first and foremost Athanasius, firmly held to one hypostasis of God.

So, to "cure" the Arian heresy, the "orthodox" ultimately resorted to a cure that contained an even more remote heresy, Gnosticism, the infamous "one ousia in three hypostases" invented by the Cappadocian scoundrels.

Don't you believe it?

Read this:

7. Now all these [Gnostics] derived the starting points of their impiety from the philosophers Hermes [Trismegistus], Plato and Aristotle.

8. Now with the heresy of the Ariomaniacs, which has corrupted the Church of God, it is necessary to clarify the matter in their case as well, that you may be able to know that by deceitful sophistry they have filched the dogmas of the ancients.

9. These then teach three hypostases, just as Valentinus the [Gnostic] heresiarch first invented in the book entitled by him 'On the Three Natures'. For he was the first to invent three hypostases and three persons of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and he is discovered to have filched this from Hermes and Plato.

10. That is also why they again devise a second god created by the Father before the ages, as their esteemed Asterius said, instructed by Hermes surnamed Trismegistus (for this is how he speaks to Asclepius the physician: 'Hear then, Asclepius. The lord and maker of everything, whom we are accustomed to name God, created the second god visible and perceptible as well'). This is also where he acquired his 'only begotten god' instead of from the divine John saying 'only begotten Son' (John 1:18; 3:16, 18).

(Logan AHB, Marcellus of Ancyra (Pseudo-Anthimus), 'On the Holy Church': Text, Translation and Commentary,  © Journal of Theological Studies, NS, Volume 51, Pt. 1, April 2000, p.95 - bolding and italics by MdS - see also @ e-homoreligiosus.blogspot.it, where the full quotation is provided - also in the original Greek - and, although Marcellus of Ancyra is apparently presented in a negative light, it is confirmed that he - not Anthimus of Nicomedia - is the author of On the Holy Church)

So, what is Marcellus of Ancyra saying? That the very core of the Trinitarian Dogma is a Gnostic pollution of Christianity, and that, in turn, the Gnostic Valentinus has filched it from Hermetism.