(296-373 A.D.) Athanasius served as presbyter and bishop of Alexandria. Athanasius is best known for his defense of the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity at the ecumenical Council of Nicea (325 A.D.). Before the Arian controversy called into question the deity of Christ, Athanasius wrote two apologetic works, Against the Gentiles and On the Incarnation of the Word. He continued to defend orthodoxy and denounce the Arian heresy throughout his life. This resulted in his being banished from his church four times. His last years were spent peacefully.