Hierarch Alexander of Alexandria

Hierarch Alexander was born around 250 and in 313 was chosen as primate of the Church of Alexandria, heading it until his death. He bore the chief burden of the struggle against the heresy of the presbyter Arius, who denied the consubstantiality of God the Son with the Father. Hierarch Alexander convened a local council in Alexandria that condemned Arianism, and then took an active part in preparing and conducting the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea (325), which finally condemned this heresy and affirmed the Orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity. His secretary and closest assistant was the deacon Athanasius, later Saint Athanasius the Great, who succeeded him on the see of Alexandria. He died in 328.