GIORGIO, Arian bishop of ALESSANDRIA. - A native of Cappadocia, greedy and avaricious, he had led a turbulent life. Elected bishop by an Arian synod of Antiochia, in February 357 he was intruded into Alessandria after St. Athanasius had been forced to flee.
A follower of pure Arianism, he subjected the Catholics to unheard-of persecutions and violence, having bishops exiled, priests condemned to the mines, and the faithful maltreated in every way. In August 358 the exasperated people rose against him, and G. was compelled to take refuge with the emperor Constantius. He took part in the Council of Seleucia in 359, after which he returned to Alessandria. In December 361 an uprising of pagans who, together with the Catholics, had experienced his vexations, made him prisoner and shortly afterwards put him to death (24 December).