Arius, an heresiarch, b. about A.D. 250; d. 336. He is said to have been a Libyan by descent. His father’s name is given as Ammonius. In 306, Arius, who had learnt his religious views from Lucian, the presbyter ofAntioch, and afterwards the martyr, took sides with Meletius, an Egyptian schismatic, against Peter,Bishop ofAlexandria. But a reconciliation followed, and Peter ordained Arius deacon. Further disputes led theBishop to excommunicate his restless churchman, who, however, gained the friendship of Achillas, Peter’s successor, was made presbyter by him in 313, and had the charge of a well-known district inAlexandria called Baucalis. This entitled Arius to expound the Scriptures officially, and he exercised much influence when, in 318, his quarrel withBishopAlexander broke out over the fundamental truth of Our Lord’s divine Sonship and substance. (SeeArianism.) While many Syrian prelates followed the innovator, he was condemned atAlexandria in 321 by his diocesan in a synod of nearly one hundred Egyptian and Libyan bishops. Deprived and excommunicated, the heresiarch fled to Palestine. He addressed a thoroughly unsound statement of principles toEusebius of Nicomedia, who yet became his lifelong champion and who had won the esteem of Constantine by his worldly accomplishments. In his house the proscribed man, always a ready writer, composed in verse and prose a defense of his position which he termed “Thalia”. A few fragments of it survive. He is also said to have published songs for sailors, millers, and travellers, in which his creed was illustrated. Tall above the common, thin, ascetical, and severe, he has been depicted in lively colors byEpiphanius (Heresies, 69, 3); but his moral character was never impeached except doubtfully of ambition byTheodoret. He must have been of great age when, after fruitless negotiations and a visit toEgypt, he appeared in 325 atNicaea, where the confession of faith which he presented was torn in pieces.. With his writings and followers he underwent the anathemas subscribed by more than 300 bishops. He was banished into Illyricum. Two prelates shared his fate,Theonas of Marmarica and Secundus of Ptolemais. His books were burnt. The Arians, joined by their old Meletian friends, created troubles inAlexandria. Eusebius persuaded Constantine to recall the exile by indulgent letters in 328; and the emperor not only permitted his return toAlexandria in 331, but ordered Athanasius to reconcile him with theChurch. On the saint’s refusal more disturbance ensued. The packed and partisanSynod ofTyre deposed Athanasius on a series of futile charges in 335. Catholics were now persecuted; Arius had an interview with Constantine and submitted a creed which the emperor judged to be orthodox. By imperial rescript Arius requiredAlexander ofConstantinople to give him Communion; but the stroke of Providence defeated an attempt which Catholics looked upon as a sacrilege. The heresiarch died suddenly, and was buried by his own people. He had winning manners, an evasive style, and a disputatious temper. But in the controversy which is called after his name Arius counted only at the beginning. He did not represent the tradition ofAlexandria but the topical subtleties ofAntioch. Hence, his disappearance from the scene neither stayed the combatants nor ended the quarrel which he had rashly provoked. A party-theologian, he exhibited no features of genius; and he was the product, not the founder, of a school.

WILLIAM BARRY