Changes

==Council of Nicaea==

==Council of Nicaea==

Athanasius assisted Bishop Alexander at the Council of Nicaea. The Council was requested by Constantine due to the schisms over the distribution of authority in the [[Church]] and over doctrinal questions. Arius, a priest of the Alexandrian Church who denied the Divinity of [[Christ]]. Thus began the heresy of Arianism. With only two dissenting voices the Bishops condemned them as heresy, and deposed Arius, together with eleven priests. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=336 St. Athanasius] Catholic Online</ref> Arius retired to Caesarea, where he continued to propagate his ideas, enlisting the support of Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia and other Syrian prelates. After the death of Bishop Alexander, Athanasius vigorously defended the Councils edicts. Yet in spite of his best efforts, there was strong opposition. At the same time, Arius was plotting his comeback and gaining support. In 330, the Arian bishop of Nicomedia had persuaded the aging Constantine to write to Athanasius, bidding him readmit Arius into communion. Athanasius held to his conviction that the Church could have no communion with heretics who attacked the divinity of Christ. Then the Arian Bishop wrote the Egyptian Meletians urging them to impeach Athanasius for personal misconduct. They brought charges and other petty accusations. At his trial before the emperor, Athanasius cleared himself and returned in triumph to Alexandria, bearing with him a letter of approval from Constantinople. Then, for some unexplained reason, Constantine suddenly changed his mind and banished Athanasius to Treves. During this first exile, Athanasius kept in touch with his flock by letter.

Athanasius assisted Bishop Alexander at the Council of Nicaea. The Council was requested by Constantine due to the schisms over the distribution of authority in the [[Church]] and over doctrinal questions. Arius, a priest of the Alexandrian Church, had denied the Divinity of [[Christ]]. Thus began the heresy of Arianism. With only two dissenting voices the Bishops condemned them as heresy, and deposed Arius, together with eleven priests. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=336 St. Athanasius] Catholic Online</ref> Arius retired to Caesarea, where he continued to propagate his ideas, enlisting the support of Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia and other Syrian prelates. After the death of Bishop Alexander, Athanasius vigorously defended the Councils edicts. Yet in spite of his best efforts, there was strong opposition. At the same time, Arius was plotting his comeback and gaining support. In 330, the Arian bishop of Nicomedia had persuaded the aging Constantine to write to Athanasius, bidding him readmit Arius into communion. Athanasius held to his conviction that the Church could have no communion with heretics who attacked the divinity of Christ. Then the Arian Bishop wrote the Egyptian Meletians urging them to impeach Athanasius for personal misconduct. They brought charges and other petty accusations. At his trial before the emperor, Athanasius cleared himself and returned in triumph to Alexandria, bearing with him a letter of approval from Constantinople. Then, for some unexplained reason, Constantine suddenly changed his mind and banished Athanasius to Treves. During this first exile, Athanasius kept in touch with his flock by letter.

==Death of Constantine==

==Death of Constantine==