Saint Athanasius of Alexandria

Biography

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, also known as Athanasius of Egypt, Athanasius the Great, Champion of Christ's Divinity, Champion of Orthodoxy, Father of Orthodoxy, Greek Doctor of the Church, Holy Hierarch, and Pillar of the Church, was an influential figure in early Christianity. Born around 295 in Alexandria, Egypt, Athanasius studied the classics and theology in his hometown. Early in his life, Athanasius became a student, deacon, and secretary to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria. Under the guidance of his mentor, Athanasius became a learned theologian and dedicated himself to the service of the Church. His deep understanding of theology and doctrine would play a crucial role in his later life. In 325, Athanasius attended the Council of Nicea, a significant ecumenical council that addressed the Arian controversy. Arianism was a heretical teaching that denied the divinity of Jesus Christ, considering Him a distinct and subordinate being to God the Father. At the council, Athanasius fervently advocated for the defeat of Arianism and the acceptance of the divinity of Jesus. It was at this council that he formulated the doctrine of homoousianism, which asserts that Christ is of the same substance as the Father. With his strong stand against Arianism, Athanasius gained recognition as a formidable defender of orthodox Christian theology. As a reward for his unwavering commitment to the faith, Athanasius was appointed as the Bishop of Alexandria around 328, succeeding his mentor, Bishop Alexander. He faithfully served the Church in this capacity for an impressive 46 years. During his episcopate, the conflict between Arianism and orthodoxy escalated from the realm of theology to political power struggles. As the Arians gained influence, Athanasius faced several exiles from Alexandria due to his unwavering defense of the Nicene Creed and the orthodox faith. Throughout his life, Athanasius endured a total of five exiles, spending more than a third of his episcopate in exile for the sake of affirming the true nature of Christ. In addition to his theological and ecclesiastical accomplishments, Athanasius authored biographies of two notable monastics, Saint Anthony the Abbot and Saint Potamon of Heraclea. These biographies, particularly the Life of Saint Anthony, were instrumental in the development of monasticism and had a profound impact on Christian spirituality. Athanasius's legacy as a saint and Doctor of the Church is marked by his unwavering commitment to the orthodox Christian faith. His defense of the faith against Arianism and his formulation of the doctrine of homoousianism have been crucial in shaping the understanding of the divinity of Christ within Christian theology. Represented in art as a bishop, Saint Athanasius is often depicted engaged in theological debates with pagans, holding an open book as a symbol of his scholarly pursuits, or standing triumphantly over a defeated heretic, representing his defense of orthodoxy. Saint Athanasius of Alexandria died on May 2, 373, in his beloved city of Alexandria, Egypt, from natural causes. His relics are kept at the Basilica of San Croce in Venice, Italy. Although he was revered as a saint and a great defender of the faith in his lifetime, his official canonization occurred before the establishment of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Saint Athanasius is the patron saint of Bellante, Italy, and his feast day is celebrated on May 2nd annually, commemorating his exemplary life and significant contributions to the Christian faith.