A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Ἀλέξανδρος), of ALEXANDRIA, succeeded as patriarch of that city St. Achillas, (as his predecessor, St. Peter, had predicted, Martyr. S. Petri, ap. Surium, vol. vi. p. 577,) A. D. 312. He, " the noble Champion of Apostolic Doctrine," (Theodt. Hist. Eccl. 1.2,) first laid bare the irreligion of Arius, and condemned him in his dispute with Alexander Baucalis. St. Alexander was at the Oecumenical Council of Nicaea, A. D. 325, with his deacon, St. Athanasius, and, scarcely five months after, died, April 17th, A. D. 326. St. Epiphanius (ad v. Hacres. 69.4) says he wrote some seventy circular epistles against Arius, and Socrates (H. E. 1.6), and Sozomen (H. E. 1.1), that he collected them into one volume. Two epistles remain; 1. to Alexander, bishop of Constantinople, written after the Council at Alexandria which condemned Arius, and before the other circular letters to the various bishops. (See Theodt. H. E. 1.4; Galland. Bibl. Pair. vol. iv. p. 441. ) 2. The Encyclic letter announcing Arius's deposition (Socr. H. E. 1.6, and Galland. l.c. p. 451), with the subscriptions from Gelasius Cyzicen. (Hist. Con. Nicaen. 2.3, ap. Mans. Concilia. vol. ii. p. 801.) There remains, too, The Deposition of

Arius and his, i. e. an Address to the Priests and Deacons, desiring their concurrence therein (ap. S. Athanas. vol. i. Ps. 1. p. 396, Paris, 1698; see Galland. l.c. p. 455). Two fragments more, apud Galland. (l.c. p. 456.) St. Athanasius also gives the second epistle. (l.c. p. 397.)

[A.J.C]