St. Athanasius

Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Athanasius. St. Athanasius was born during the year; 296 or 298 in Alexandria, Egypt to a very prominent Christian family. St. Athanasius was able to get a great education in Christian doctrine, Greek literature, philosophy, rhetoric and jurisprudence.

St. Athanasius reported that the confessors taught him a lot during the Christian persecution under the Roman Emperor Maximian and they were his theology teachers.

As St. Athanasius grew up, he started to become friends with many monks and hermits who lived in the desert, including St. Antony. He later wrote a book on the biography of St. Antony.

St. Athanasius became Alexander's secretary during the year 318, after he had been ordained a deacon. Around this same time, St. Athanasius had written his first work, a theological treatise which was on the Incarnation. This book is still quoted a lot, in many Christian theological studies and spiritual literature.

Around the year 323, Arius, who was an ambitious priest of the Alexandrian Church, denied the Divinity of Christ, and began to spread word that Jesus Christ was not divine, but merely created in time by the Eternal Father.

Alexander demanded that Arius produce a written statement on the false doctrine. It was later condemned as heresy after two dissenting Bishops came forward. Arius and 11 other priests and deacons were removed from their office, for teaching false doctrine.

Arius left for Caesarea, however, he decided to continue to teach his false doctrine and enlisted support from the Bishop of Nicomedia, Eusebius and other Syrian prelates.

St. Athanasius had to watch his predecessor, Alexander, be an outspoken critic of a new movement growing in the East which was Arianism.

After St. Athanasius had received the role as bishop of Alexandria, he decided to continue to fight against Arianism.

When he first began the fight, it seemed that the battle could be easily won and that Arianism would be easily condemned. However, after the fight went on for a long time, it did not prove to be the case.

The Council of Tyre was called and it was called for many reasons, however the reasons are still not clear. The Emperor Constantine decided to exile St. Athanasius to the northern region of Gaul. This was to be the first in a series of travels and exiles reminiscent of the life of Saint Paul.

After The Emperor Constantine had died, his son decided to restore St. Athanasius as bishop. However, this decision only lasted a year, for he was again deposed by a coalition of Arian bishops. St. Athanasius decided to take his case to Rome, and Pope Julius I called a synod to review the case and all the other related matters.

St. Athanasius was exiled five times for defending the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. During one period of his life, he had the opportunity to spend 10 years of relative peace and he spent that time working by reading, writing, and promoting the Christian life along the lines of the monastic ideal to which he was greatly devoted.

St. Athanasius’ dogmatic and historical writings are all directed and against every aspect of Arianism.

Among all his ascetical writings, his Life of St. Anthony achieved astonishing popularity and it actually contributed a lot to the establishment of monastic life all throughout the Western Christian world.

After St. Athanasius was able to spend the last year of his life in peace and reflection he died on May 2, 373 in Alexandria.

St. Athanasius’ body was later transferred, first to Constantinople, then to Venice.

St. Athanasius is often illustrated as a bishop arguing with a pagan, a bishop holding an open book or a bishop standing over a defeated heretic.

St. Athanasius is the patron saint of theologians, and faithful Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians and he is hailed until this day as a great Defender of the Faith. St. Athanasius’ feast day is celebrated on May 2.

St. Athanasius suffered many trials during his time as the bishop of Alexandria. St. Athanasius was given the grace to remain strong against times that were filled with a lot of opposition. St. Athanasius lived his office as bishop completely. St. Athanasius defended the true faith completely for his flock, regardless of what punishment it may have cost him. In today’s world we are experiencing this same call to remain true to our faith, no matter what.

Prayer to St. Athanasius:

Pray that we may be able to guide others to Christ. Help us to protect our faith regardless of what kind of persecution or torture we may endure due to the fact that we defend our faith. Help us to not retaliate against harm or blasphemy with anger and help us to continue to teach those who do wrong to us with love, respect and care. St. Athanasius help us to stand up for our faith and help us to bring others to Christ.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord and Mary our Mother in Heaven

Amen

St. Athanasius pray for us

St. Joseph pray for us

May we continue to strengthen our journey to sainthood and keep others in our prayers.

---

Works cited:

Information (read from, not taken):

Franciscan Media. "Saint Athanasius . ”Saint Athanasius | Franciscan Media. Accessed 2, May 2021.

Images:

St. Athanasius. May 2, 2021. St. Athanasius - Google Search.