Arius (a'-ri-us), a presbyter in the Church of Alexandria, who lived in the 4th century. His doctrine was that the Father and Son were essentially distinct, that the latter was created out of nothing by the will of the former. For this he was excommunicated and banished, but having been recalled, was about again to enter the church from which he had been exiled, when he suddenly expired. The sect called Arians are named after him, but they do not adopt all his opinions.

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