Athanasius, St (296-373)

Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, supporter of the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation. He was a disciple of St Anthony the hermit, and an opponent of Arianism in the great Arian controversy. Following the official condemnation of Arianism at the Council of Nicaea in 325, Athanasius was appointed bishop of Alexandria in 328. The Athanasian creed was not actually written by him, although it reflects his views.

Banished in 335 by Emperor Constantine because of his intransigence towards the defeated Arians, Athanasius was recalled in 346 but suffered three more banishments before his final reinstatement in about 366.