St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Archbishop, Greek Father of the Church, Doctor of the Church: ca. 297-373 A.D.
Birth, education and diaconate
St. Athanasius was born of Christian parents at Alexandria, Egypt. He was well educated in Scripture and in theology. Ordained a deacon, he became secretary to Bishop Alexander in Alexandria in ca. 318 A.D.
Leadership in the Church
St. Athanasius was present at the Council of Nicaea, which condemned Arianism and excommunicated Arius. He was elected bishop of Alexandria upon Bishop Alexander's death in 327 A.D. St. Athanasium combined his duties as bishop with his responsibility of taking care of the of the desert hermits, and the people of Ethiopia. It was in the exercise of this responsibility and in his visits to the desert hermits that he came to know St. Anthony of the Desert - who became St. Athanasius' ally in the fight versus Arianism. It was his knowledge on the life of St. Anthony that St. Athanasius wrote a biography of St. Anthony the Abbot in his later years.
The struggle against Arianism
Arianism continued to spread despite its ongoing condemnation since the Council of Nicaea. The Arians were also joined in Egypt by the Meletians - another dissident group. St. Athanasius provided a strong voice against all of them by his orthodox stand on the truth. The Arians persuaded Emperor Constantine to call a council. At first, Constantine sided with St. Athanasius. However, Constantine reverted and agreed with the condemnation of St. Athanasius - sending him into exile in northern Gaul (in what is now Belgian territory).
Second exile
When Constantine died in 337 A.D., St. Athanasius returned to his see. However, an Arian bishop by the name of Eusebius, persuaded Pope Julius to reopen the charges against St. Athanasius. Eusebius succeeded in deposing St. Athanasius at a synod in Antioch. When a Cappadocian by the name of Gregory was then installed as archbishop supplanting St. Athanasius, riots broke out in Alexandria. Because of all this conflict, St. Athanasius was unable to return to Alexandria and remained in Rome.
Third exile
While in Rome, St. Athanasius worked to have his case heard by the pope. Pope Julius I therefore called a synod which vindicated St. Athanasius - a verdict later endorsed by the Council of Sardica. This victory in 346 A.D., helped St. Athanasius to live in peace for four years in Alexandria. This triumph was short-lived because Constans was murdered in 350 A.D. Constans' successor, Constantine, now set himself against St. Athanasius. He condemned St. Athanasius in the council of Arles in 353 A.D., and then again in Milan in 355 A.D. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, soldiers forced their way into the church and killed some of the congregation. St. Athanasius escaped and spent the next six years moving about among the monks in the desert (who all protected him). St. Athanasius remained hidden there for many years. And it was here among the desert hermits where he completed most of his major writings.
Fourth exile
A new emperor, Julian the Apostate, revoked all of his predecessor's banishments of bishops, and St. Athanasius was able to return to Alexandria. But when Julian wanted to re-paganize the Empire, he had to get rid of St. Athanasius - who now had to experience a fourth exile.
Fifth exile
When Emperor Jovian succeeded Julian, he recalled St. Athanasius back from his fourth exile. Jovian's rule however did not last long, and the next emperor, Valens, again ordered all orthodox bishops exiled. This exile only lasted for four months. In September 365 A.D., St. Athanasius was again back in Alexandria. He stayed in Alexandria for the last seven years of his life until his death on May 2.
Greek Father of the Church and Doctor of the Church
St. Athanasius supported the ascetic movement in Egypt and was the first to introduce knowledge of monasticism to the West. He wrote treatises on Catholic doctrine which illuminated many truths on the Christian faith. Among his great works are: Contra gentes and De incarnatione verbi Dei (318-323 A.D.). The major treatises he produced in his exile were: Apologia to Constantius, Defense of Flight, Letter to the Monks, and History of the Arians. The Church recognizes St. Athanasius as both a Father of the Church and Doctor of the Church.
Sources of this blog post:
- Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
- A Year with the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
- Saints for Our Time, by Ed Ransom
- The Doctors of the Church, volume one, by John F. Fink
- The Essential Writings of Christian Mysticism, by editor Bernard McGinn
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