Alexander of Alexandria:

Alexander was the Bishop of Alexandria who first opposed Arius and continued to oppose him and his teaching until his death.  His cause was then carried by the more famous Athanasius.

According to Epiphanius, Alexander wrote 70 letters to bishops all over the empire, combating Arianism.  These were were still preserved in Epiphanius's day (though its unclear whether Epiphanius had seen them or just knew of them, see Against Heresies 69.4).  No doubt the Nicene cause owes much to this determined bishop.

Correspondence of Alexander
Opitz's date Document Clavis Patrum Graecorum number
318/9 Alexander to his clergy concerning Arius 2001
c.318 Alexander’s encyclical letter on Arius’s deposition 2000
c.320 Arius and other Alexandrian clergy to Alexander pleading his cause 2026
c.320 Eusebius of Caesarea to Alexander pleading Arius’ cause 3501
c. 320 Part of a letter of Paulinus of Tyre, attacking Alexander’s position 2065
c.322 Athanasius of Anazarbus to Alexander defending Arius 2060
c.322 Priest George to Alexander defending Arius 3555
324 Alexander to Alexander of Thessalonica 2002
324 Part of a letter of Alexander to all bishops 2003
324 Letter of Alexander to Sylvester of Rome 2005
Oct. 324 Emperor Constantine to Alexander and Arius 2020
June 325 Letter of the Council of Nicaea to the Egyptian church 8515
June 325 Emperor Constantine to the church of Alexandria 8517
Beginning of 328 Fragment of a letter from Emperor Constantine to Alexander 2021
 

Sermons of Alexander:

 
? Exhortation to Christological Orthodoxy  
? Discourse on the Incarnation of our Lord, and on the soul and the body 2004

   

See the entire chart of Early Arian Documents

Created by AJW
Last updated: 6/25/07 AJW
Copyright 2006 Wisconsin Lutheran College
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