Athanasius (c.296–373), patriarch of Alexandria. Born of Christian parents and educated in Alexandria's catechetical school, Athanasius became deacon and secretary to his bishop Alexander, whom he accompanied to the Council of Nicea (325). This first General Council, in which the Alexandrians were prominent, condemned Arianism which denied the eternity of the Word of God and the Divinity of Christ in the full, proper sense of that word. The Creed there formulated, as confirmed by the subsequent Council of Constantinople (381), became part of Christian belief and liturgy to this day. A fighter all his life, Athanasius vigorously defended Christian orthodoxy and refused all compromise with Arians or semi-Arians, who were, however, strongly represented at the courts of Constantine and Constantius.
In 328 he became bishop; he made extensive pastoral visits in his province, but was soon the target of bitter attacks by Arians and Meletians. Summoned to the hostile council of Tyre and appealing to the emperor for fair treatment, he was exiled and then restored, deposed, and then reinstated. Much of his life was spent in exile: in Trier (335–7), in Rome (339–46), in country districts near Alexandria (356–61, 362–3). Misunderstandings, lawsuits, and persecution were his fate, but the papacy strongly supported him.
A prolific author even in exile, Athanasius contributed strongly to the theology of the Redemption. The theme of his early work De Incarnatione is the restoration of fallen man to the image of God in which he was created, through God the Word's union with mankind. His most important controversial work was the Contra Arianos. Drawing on the teaching of Justin and Irenaeus, who interpreted Scripture in an orthodox tradition, Athanasius further insisted that the Nicene term Homoousios, although not itself a Scriptural term, was necessary to formulate correctly the truth of Christ's Scriptural revelation. In 362 Athanasius returned in short-lived triumph to Alexandria, whose council condemned the semi-Arians in the same year. This was part of the early liberal policy of Julian the Apostate, but it was soon followed by an edict to remove him, dead or alive.
From 365 till 373 he was peacefully in charge of his church. As in earlier undisturbed years he improved the spiritual life of his diocese: huge crowds were present at the feast-day Liturgy: his own preaching and writing were outstanding; candidates for the monastic life multiplied.
For Athanasius, both asceticism and virginity are effective means of restoring the divine image in man. Several of his works were addressed to monks, to whom he also gave repeated practical help. He was the friend of Pachomius and Serapion of Thmuis as well as the biographer of Antony. This Life, devoted to the single combat of the hermit against the powers of evil, became a classic and was widely diffused throughout Christendom. Its Latin version was known in England from the time of Bede and frequently inspired monastic hagiographers. In the West Athanasius is seen as the tireless defender of orthodoxy against both heretics and emperors. In this he was supported repeatedly by genuine councils and by the papacy. In the East this picture is rightly completed by emphasis on his role as a spiritual teacher of the ascetic and mystical life. With Basil, Gregory Nazianzen, and John Chrysostom he is invoked and portrayed as one of the Four Eastern Doctors of the Church.
Athanasius' feast occurs frequently in calendars, but there are no known early English Church dedications. Feast: 2 May.
Bibliography
Click here for a list of abbreviations used in this bibliography.
- AA.SS. Maii I (1680), 186–258; J. H. Newman, The Arians of the Fourth Century (1881); F. L. Cross, The Study of St. Athanasius (1945); J. N. D. Kelly, Early Christian Doctrines (1960), pp. 243–58, 284–95; L. Bouyer, L'Incarnation et l'Église-Corps du Christ dans la Théologie de S. Athanase; see also Studia Patristica, iii (1982), 981–1045. Works in P.G., xxv–xxviii and ed. H. G. Opitz for Berlin Academy (1934– ); selected works ed. by F. L. Cross, De Incarnatione (1937), G. J. Ryan and R. P. Casey, De Incarnatione (1945–6), R. W. Thomson, Contra Gentes (1971) tr. W. Bright, Orations against the Arians (1873) and Historical Writings (1881); see also translations by various writers in Fathers of the Church series. Lives by G. Bardy (1914), J. M. Leroux (1956); recent studies by D. Brakke, Athanasius and the Politics of Asceticism (1995) and A. Pettersen, Athanasius (1995); see also H.S.S.C., iii. 70–7
