1. Bishop of ANCYRA (A. D. 336-360), originally a physician, was one of the chief leaders of the
Semi-Arian party, and the founder of a sect of Arians which was named after him. He was held
in high esteem by the emperor Constantius, and is praised for his piety and learning by
Socrates and Sozomen. He was engaged in perpetual controversies both with the orthodox and
with the ultra Arians. His chief opponent was Acacius, through whose influence Basil was
deposed by the synod of Constantinople (A. D. 360), and banished to
Illyricum. He wrote against his predecessor Marcellus, and a work on Virginity. His works are
lost. (Hieron. de Vir. Illust. 89 ; Epiphan. Haeres.
73.1; Socrates, H. E. 2.30, 42; Sozomen, H. E.
2.43.)