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Athanasius I of Alexandria [note 1] (c. 296–298 – 2 May 373), also called Athanasius the Great, Athanasius the Confessor, or, among Coptic Christians, Athanasius the Apostolic, was a Christian theologian and the 20th patriarch of Alexandria (as Athanasius I).
ATHANASIUS, ST. Bishop of Alexandria from 328 to 373, dominant 4th-century churchman, and theologian in the battle for orthodoxy against arianism; b. Alexandria, c. 295; d. Alexandria, May 2, 373 (feast, May 2). Source for information on Athanasius, St.: New Catholic Encyclopedia dictionary.
- Turbulent Times For The Faith
- The Rise of Arianism
- The Council of Nicaea
- Athansius Keeps Fighting
- Treatises to Defend Doctrine
- Athanasius' Lasting Legacy
- Sources
Athanasius was born about 293 A.D. in the Egyptian city of Alexandria. He rose through the ranks to become the assistant to Alexander, bishop of Alexandria. After centuries of persecution, the Christian Church suddenly experienced a change in fortune when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted. In 313 A.D., Constantine the Great issued the Edict o...
One such doctrine was called Arianism, named after the priest Arius of Alexandria (256-336 A.D.). Arianism came after a second century heresy called Modalism. Modalism contended that God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spiritwere only modes, or masks that God used on various occasions. In other words, sometimes God would appear as the Father,...
A bitter fight broke out between supporters and opponents of Arianism. Letters from the time are filled with false accusations, insults, and character assassination. In 325 A.D., Emperor Constantine called for a conference of bishops and church leaders at the ancient city of Nicaea, in what is now Turkey. Front and center at the meeting was the que...
The death of Arius did not end his heresy. During his lifetime, Arius had composed catchy little songs about his beliefs that spread quickly across the Roman Empire. Peasants would sing them while working, and the heresy about Jesus being a created being became even more popular. Meanwhile, Athanasius continued to defend the Trinity. In 328 A.D. he...
Athanasius realized that preaching and teaching, as effective as they were, would still not reach as many people as he wanted. He began writing treatises, or apologetic defenses, of the true biblical message. Considering when they were written, his books are quite readable today and available free online. His most important work was On the Incarnat...
In the long history of Christianity, Athanasius is revered for his single-minded defense of Trinitarianism. He never compromised; he never budged a bit in his insistence that Jesus Christ was both fully human and fully divine. Athanasius rescued the Christian Church from accepting Gnosticism, a widespread belief that material things are evil and sp...
"Athanasius," Christianity Today, https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/theologians/athanasius.html."Athanasius," by Aaron J. West, Fourth Century Christianity, https://www.fourthcentury.com/athanasius-chart/.On the Incarnation, by Athanasius, Christian Classics Ethereal Library,https://www.ccel.org/ccel/athanasius/incarnation.pdf."St. Athanasius," Catholic Encyclopedia, by Clifford Cornelius, http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02035a.htm.Athanasius of Alexandria (also spelled "Athanasios") (c. 296 C.E. – May 2, 373 C.E.) was a Christian bishop—the Patriarch of Alexandria—in the fourth century.
- c. 296 in Alexandria, Egypt
- May 21, 373 in Alexandria, Egypt
Athanasius received his philosophical and theological training at Alexandria. In 325 he attended Bishop Alexander of Alexandria as deacon at the Council of Nicaea. A recognized theologian and ascetic, Athanasius was the obvious candidate to succeed Alexander when the latter died in 328.
May 9, 2016 · Athanasius was frequently portrayed by his enemies as a divisive, angry little bishop who was sowing division. On five occasions Athanasius was banished from the city of Alexandria. He nevertheless remained unwavering in his commitment to the divinity of the Son.
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Sep 13, 2024 · In 369, Athanasius managed to convene an assembly of 90 bishops in Alexandria, for the sake of warning the Church in Africa against the continuing threat of Arianism.
