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'''Arius''' (AD 250 or 256 - 336) was a [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandrian]] [[presbyter]] of the early fourth century who is considered to be a [[heretic]] by the Orthodox Church. His heresy, referred to as [[Arianism]], consisted of his teaching that the [[Jesus Christ|Son of God ]] was not eternal, but was rather a created being, subordinate to God the Father. This belief was condemned by the [[First Ecumenical Council]], at [[Nicea]] in 325. The council's decision did not permanantly resolve the issue, as its proponent ultimately returned to the [[Constantine the Great|Emperor's]] favor. Even Arius' unusual death, followed a year later by the death of Constantine, did not lay the controversy to rest; that came about—in the Church, at least—through the teachings of the [[Cappadocian Fathers]] and the actions of the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] in 381. Arianism continued to linger in some Gothic and Vandal kingdoms of the West until finally suppressed altogether in the seventh century. Arianism no longer survives as an organized entity, though some modern sects such as the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and [[Mormonism|Mormons]] display Arian tendencies in their doctrine.

Arius was apparently of Lybian and Berber descent, born about 250 (some sources say 256) in North Africa. His father is known 's name was given as Ammonius. Arius grew up in Alexandria, Egypt; at the time , the city was the a center of Christian scholarship. He was a pupil of Lucian of Antioch, a celebrated Christian teacher and [[martyr]]. These were This was the times era when a theological explanation of the relationship between the Father and Son was being developed, and Arius' teachings became one of the views proposed during these ''Christological'' controversies.

In 306, Arius sided with Meletius, another an Egyptian schismatic, against the [[Bishop]] of Alexandria, [[Peter of Alexandria|Peter]]. But their dispute was soon reconciled, and Peter [[ordination|ordain]]ed Arius a [[deacon]]. Later, having Having fallen out again anew with Peter, Arius gained the friendship of Peter's successor, Achillas, who ordained Arius a [[priest]] in 313, thus giving him an official statusin the Church. It Achillas was succeeded by [[Alexander of Alexandria]]; it was under Bishop Achillas this bishop that Arius first became controversial, as reported by ignited the historian Socrates Scholasticuscontroversy now that bears his name. This occurred when Arius presented his syllogism :''If argument centered upon the Father begat precise nature of the [[Jesus Christ|Sonof God]], and His relationship to God the Father, he that was begotten had a beginning and it struck at the very heart of existence. From this it is evident that there was a time when the Son was not. It therefore necessarily follows that he had his substance from nothing''Orthodox Christian faith.

In 318According to Church historian Socrates Scholasticus, Arius entered in 318 into a dispute with Bishop [[Alexander of Alexandria]], who had succeeded Achillas, over his teachings about God's divine Sonship and substance. While Alexander had attempted to instruct his clergy on the unity of the [[Holy Trinity]], but Arius developed &mdash;through misunderstanding, or through a following among some Syrian prelates"love of controversy", an Alexandrian synod as alleged by Socrates&mdash;opposed his bishop's teaching as smacking of some 100 bishops condemned him in 321. He was [[excommunication|excommunicatedSabellianism]] and fled to Palestine. There he entered into a friendship with <ref>[[Eusebius of Nicomedia]http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf202.ii.iv.v.html Socrates Ecclesiastical History], Vol. 1, Ch. 5. </ref> Ariusproffered his own syllogism: ''If the Father begat the Son, he that was begotten had a proficient writer, produced many compositions, in both prose and verse defending his belief, including beginning of existence. From this it is evident that there was a poem time when the Son was not. It therefore necessarily follows that he called the ''Thaliahad his substance from nothing''. Most This, of these writings were destroyed as being hereticalcourse, though portions denied the essential unity and consubstantiality of the Holy Trinity, and caused an uproar among Arius''Thalia'' and a few other Arian texts survives listeners that quickly spread throughout the Church, as Arius insisted upon disseminating his ideas.

In opposition to Although Arianism carries Arius's name, Alexander its doctrines did not entirely originate with him. Lucian of Alexandria presented his case to [[Alexander of Constantinople]] Antioch, Arius's teacher and [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]]mentor, where the emperor was in residence. The arguments continued and became a powerful divisive force within accused by Bishop Alexander of being the Roman empiresource for Arius's heretical teachings&mdash;not so much that Lucian had taught Arianism ''per se'', such but rather that the emperor Constantine could no longer ignore ithe possessed certain heretical tendencies which he passed on to his pupil, Arius. To settle the dilemma<ref>Vasiliev, he called a A. [[synod|http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/vasilief/arianism-council]] with delegates drawn from all the empire-nicaea. The purpose of this, asp Arianism and the [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicea]Nicaea], was to determine as far as possible what had been taught from ''History of the beginningByzantine Empire'', Chapter One. Retrieved on 2010-02-02. The Council met in Nicea</ref> Indeed, near Constantinople in 325. Here the confession of faith presented by noted Russian historian Alexander Vasiliev refers to Lucian as ''"the Arius before Arius was cut to pieces"''. Then<ref>Vasiliev, under A. [http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/vasilief/arianism-council-nicaea.asp Arianism and the guidance Council of ConstantineNicaea], from ''History of the Council developed a [[creed]]Byzantine Empire'', the [[NiceneChapter One. Retrieved on 2010-02-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]] for use in catechetical instruction and at baptisms, that rendered Arius' language heretical02.</ref>

With this decisionWhile Arius developed a following among some Syrian prelates, Arius and his followers were an Alexandrian synod of some 100 bishops summoned by Bishop Alexander condemned him in 321. He was [[depositionexcommunication|deposedexcommunicated]] , and sent fled to Palestine. There he entered into exilea friendship with [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]]. YetArius, much concern remained over the use of a proficient writer, produced many compositions, in both prose and verse defending his belief, including a poem that he called the word ''homoousiosThalia'' that was used in formulating the case against Arius. The earlyMost of these writings were destroyed as being heretical, ill-defined definitions though portions of the ''homoousiosThalia'' were part of the arguments used in deposing [[Paul of Samosata]] in 269, which at the time were considered to have Sabellian tendencies. In his arguments against Arius, Alexander of Alexandria refined the definition to mollify the earlier objections. However, not all of his contemporaries agreed with Alexander's approachand a few other Arian texts survive.

So==The Council of Nicea==In opposition to Arius, Alexander of Alexandria presented his case to [[Alexander of Constantinople]] and [[Eusebius of Nicomedia]], where the emperor was in residence. Although the emperor sent a legate to resolve the controversy and publically called upon Arius and Alexander to settle their differences, the dispute was of such a nature as to preclude any compromise. Accordingly, the arguments between Arius and his opponents continued, becoming such a powerful divisive force within the Roman empire that Constantine could no longer abide them. To settle the dilemma once and for all, he called a [[synod|council]] with delegates drawn from all the empire. The purpose of this, the [[First Ecumenical Council|First Council of Nicea]], was to determine as far as possible what had been taught from by Christ and His [[Apostles]]. The Council met in Nicea, near Constantinople, in 325. Here, the confession of faith presented by Arius was cut to pieces. Guided by the emperor, the Council developed a creed, the [[Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed|Nicene Creed]], for use in catechetical instruction and at baptisms. Arius himself was condemned as a heretic, [[deposition|deposed]] from the priesthood, and exiled, together with his recalcitrant adherents. One of the champions of Orthodoxy to emerge from this council was [[Athanasius the Great]], an Alexandrian deacon who would eventually succeed Bishop Alexander and become one of the Church's greatest warriors against Arianism. Although the council seemed to have settled the Arian issue once and for all, concern remained over the use of the word ''homoousios'' that was used in formulating the case against Arius. Early, ill-defined definitions of ''homoousios'' were part of the arguments used in deposing [[Paul of Samosata]] in 269; at the time, these were considered to have Sabellian tendencies. In his polemics against Arius, Alexander of Alexandria refined the definition of ''homoousios'' to mollify these earlier objections.  However, not all of his contemporaries agreed with Alexander's conclusions. The decision at Nicea came almost immediately came under attack, and after Alexander died in 327 , many of Arius's supporters were allowed to returned to their old positions. This in turn allowed Eusebius of [[Nicomedia]] again to influence Constantine. Even anew; even Arius himself was allowed to return to Alexandria in 331. Many of the proponents of the Nicene decision began to be deposed, as they found it impossible to defend the decision it without apparently falling into Sabellianism. Eustathius of Antioch, Marcellus of Ancyra, and others&mdash;who were supporters of [[Athanasius the Great|St. Anthanasius of Alexandria]]&mdash;were among them.

With Constantine now favoring Arius, he commanded Anthanasius to readmit Arius to communion. This Anthanasius refused, leading to charges of treason against the emperor and Athanasius's exile to Trier. With Given their new-found acceptance by the emperor, the Arius's supporters of Arius began disturbances in Alexandria toward gaining aimed at taking powerover the Church there. The emperor then directed Alexander of Constantinople to receive Arius into communion. Opposed to the reinstatement of Arius's reinstatemen, Alexander asked his supporters to pray for the removal of either him or Arius from this world before Arius was could be re-admitted to communion. AndIncredibly, the day before Arius was to receive communion, he suddenly died . Socrates Scholasticus reports that while parading through the streets of the Imperial City Arius was suddenlyseized with pain in his bowels, barely making it to an outdoor privy before expiring due to loss of blood.<ref>''[http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wace/biodict.html A Dictionary of Christian Biography and Literature to the End of the Sixth Century A.D. That , with an Account of the Principal Sects and Heresies]'' by [[Henry Wace]].</ref> While many Orthodox Christians&mdash;then and now&mdash;regarded his death as miraculous, many modern scholars believe that Arius was 336actually poisoned by some of his enemies.<ref>Edward Gibbons "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire", Chapter 21, (1776&ndash;88), Jonathan Kirsch, ''God Against the Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism'', 2004, and Charles Freeman, ''The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise of Faith and the Fall of Reason'', 2002.</ref> Although Arius's death and then that of Constantine a year later led to a lull in the controversy, the Christological controversies he ignited continued. Ultimately, the [[Cappadocian Fathers]]: [[Basil the Great]], [[Gregory the Theologian]] and [[Gregory of Nyssa]], would provide a comprehensive Orthodox answer to the issues raised by Arius, burying Arianism in the Church once and for all. Their doctrines were confirmed by the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] in 381. Arius is still considered by the Orthodox church (and most of the rest of Christianity) to be one of its greatest heretics; in icons of the First Ecumenical Council, he is usually portrayed lying prostrate beneath the feet of [[Jesus Christ|the Lord]] and/or the bishops.