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60 bishop of Nicomedia, supported the opinion of Arius, together with Theognis, bishop of Nice, and Maris, bishop of Chalcedon, in Bithynia. These were powerfully opposed by Athanasius, a deacon of the Alexandrian Church, who was highly esteemed by Alexander, his bishop, and on that account was much envied.

For a short time previous to the general assembling of the bishops, the disputants engaged in preparatory logical contests with various opponents; and, when many were attracted by the interest of their discourse, one of the laity, who was a man of unsophisticated understanding, and had stood the test of persecution, reproved these reasoners, telling them that Christ and his apostles did not teach us the dialectic art, nor vain subtleties, but simple-mindedness, which is preserved by faith and good works.