Athanasius (296-373), bishop of Alexandria and head of the Christian church in Egypt. He was a learned Greek. At the time when the struggle was on between the followers of Arius and the supporters of the doctrine of the Trinity, Athanasius was leader of the Trinitarians. He was obliged to flee more than once to the desert for his life. Now that theological controversy affords less delight than formerly, Athanasius is likely to be forgotten; but for centuries his writings were regarded as one of the bulwarks of the Nicene or Trinitarian faith. Athanasius is one of the men who stand high in the history of the Roman church. See NICE; COPTS.