'''Arius''' (AD 250 or 256 - 336) was a [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandrian]] [[presbyter]] of the early fourth century who is considered to be a [[heretic]] by the Orthodox Church. His heresy, referred to as [[Arianism]], consisted of his teaching that the [[Jesus Christ|Son of God]] was not eternal, but was rather a created being, subordinate to God the Father. This belief was condemned by the [[First Ecumenical Council]], at [[Nicea]] in 325. The council's decision did not permanantly immediately resolve the issue, as its proponent ultimately returned to the [[Constantine the Great|Emperor's]] favor. Even Arius' unusual death, followed a year later by the death of Constantine, did not lay the controversy to rest; that came about—in the Church, at least—through the teachings of the [[Cappadocian Fathers]] and the actions of the [[Second Ecumenical Council]] in 381. Arianism continued to linger in some Gothic and Vandal kingdoms of the West until finally suppressed altogether in the seventh century. Arianism no longer survives as an organized entity, though some modern sects such as the [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] and [[Mormonism|Mormons]] display Arian tendencies in their doctrine.