St. Athanasius, also known as Athanasius the Great and
Athanasius the Confessor, was a bishop and doctor of the
church. He is called the "Father of Orthodoxy," the "Pillar
of the Church" and "Champion of Christ's Divinity." Athanasius became one of the most dedicated opponents of
the heresy of Arianism. Much of his life was a testimony to
the divinity of Jesus Christ. Born in either 296 or 298 in
Alexandria, Egypt to a prominent Christian family, Athanasius received a wonderful education in Christian doctrine,
Greek literature, philosophy, rhetoric and jurisprudence.
He was well studied in the Hebrew Scriptures and
the Gospel accounts and the Christian texts which would
later be recognized by the Church as the canon of the
New Testament. He credited the confessors during the
Christian persecution under the Roman Emperor Maximian as his teachers of theology.
Bishop Alexander of Alexandria became a strong
influence in Athanasius' life after Alexander witnessed him
playing at administering Baptism as a young boy, with other children. Alexander called the boys over and after questioning them, he determined the baptisms were valid and
decided to train them for priesthood. As he grew up, Athanasius befriended many monks and hermits of the desert,
including St. Antony. He later wrote the biography of Antony. Athanasius became Alexander's secretary in 318 after
being ordained a deacon. Around this time, Athanasius
wrote his first work, a theological treatise on the Incarnation which is still quoted extensively in Christian theological studies and spiritual literature.
The early Christian Church, still undivided, rejoiced
at the defense of the true nature of Jesus Christ. To this
day, Athanasius is considered the great defender of the
Faith in both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches. Just
five months later, Alexander died and Athanasius succeeded him after being unanimously elected. He was consecrated as the new Bishop of Alexandria in 328 and continued the fight against Arianism.
In 335, Emperor Constantine commanded Athanasius to go to the Council of Tyre, Lebanon. The council
was full of Athanasius' opponents and was led by an Arian.
Athanasius realized his condemnation was already predecided.
Over the course of his life, Athanasius was banished five times and spent 17 years of his life in exile for
the defense of the doctrine of Christ's divinity.
However, the last years of his life were peaceful and he
died on May 2, 373 in Alexandria. His body was transferred, first to Constantinople, then to Venice.
St. Athanasius is often shown as a bishop arguing
with a pagan, a bishop holding an open book or a bishop
standing over a defeated heretic. He is a patron saint of
theologians, and faithful Orthodox and Roman Catholic
Christians and hailed to this day as a great Defender of
the Faith.
His feast day is celebrated on May 2.
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