Church of Alexandria: Persecution disturbed the peace of the church in Alexandria. In the year 306, Peter, its bishop, wrote a letter on how to accept the atheists. Meletius, the bishop of Asyut, opposed him, “and his speech led to folly and disagreement, although he had previously flattered the pagans and worshipped their idols.” Then the severity of the persecution intensified, Peter went into hiding. Meletius set out to stir up the issue of repentance and dared to ordain priests and clergy in the absence of the bishops and in dioceses other than his own. Four bishops who were in prison rebuked him for this action, expecting martyrdom. Peter cut him off and excommunicated him. Peter received the crown of martyrdom in the fall of 311. He was succeeded by Achillas for a few months, then Alexander. Both tried to resolve the issue of Meletius, but they did not succeed. A priest named Colothus dared to ordain priests and deacons. Dissension broke out in the church of Egypt and the bishops exchanged excommunications. Then another priest named Arius dared to attack the Bishop of Alexandria, and there was a quarrel that led to a great schism in the churches of the East that lasted for a long time.
Arius: (256-335). We know almost nothing about Arius before he rebelled against Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria. All we know is that he was born and raised in Libya, that he went to Alexandria and studied there, and that he supported Melatius when he rebelled against Peter. Then he retracted and was ordained a deacon. Then he criticized his superior for the matter of the repentance of the apostates, so he was cut off. He sought refuge with Achillas, who ordained him a priest. Then Alexander trusted him and made him a servant of the church in Falk.
Arius was apparently an ascetic and devout scholar who was good at preaching and guidance. A large number of believers gathered around him, especially the virgins of Alexandria who dedicated themselves to good works, and they became the pride of the Church of Egypt. A large number of clergymen joined them, who found in his preaching nourishment for their souls, and they preferred to listen to him despite the difference in teaching between him and the bishop, the head of the church.
Arius agreed with Lucian the Antiochian teacher and took from him. Perhaps he studied with him, but we do not know exactly and completely clearly what Lucian taught. Also, nothing remains of Arius’ teachings except for a few excerpts that came in some of his “responses”! Especially what was written by Saint Athanasius the Great and what was mentioned by Saint Ambrose.
What can be said about the doctrine of Arius is that it was a new attempt to affirm the oneness of the Father and to reduce the status of the Son (Subordinationisme) and the Holy Spirit.
In the view of Arius, the Father alone deserved the title of God. As for the Son, he was only a secondary god created from nothing by the will of the Father. However, he was distinguished from all other creatures in that he was the image of the Father in essence, will, power, and glory. In the view of Arius, the Trinity is three in person, but they are not one except by the agreement of wills.
One of the things that the historian Sozomenus took against Arius was that he was an extremist linguist and logician, whose extremism led him to fall into error.
