Athanasius of Alexandria, 295-373
- considered one of the great teachers or “doctors” of the church - at the synod of Nicea, he wasthe chief spokesman for the church of Alexandria, and for the view that Christ is 'homoousios,' that is, “of one substance” with the Father (whatever it was that made God god, the Son is “made” of the same stuff)
- becoming bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius was soon seen as the chief opponent of the Arians and since the Arians were influencing the emperor, Athanasius was exiled under Constantine (335-337 [Athanasius was accused of murdering a man and cutting off the man's hand to use in magic - Athanasius was able to produce the man, alive and unharmed, but he was exiled anyway]), Constantius (339-347 and 356-362), Julian (362-363), and Valens (365)
- when he died, Athanasius was greatly respected for having stood firmly for the faith regardless of all the pressure the emperor could bring to bear
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