| Athanasius (May 2nd) is one of the single most influential figures in the history of the Church's development Born to Christian parents ca.295 in Alexandria, he was ordained a deacon in 319. He attracted attention by his opposition to the Arian movement (which held that Jesus was not fully divine) and became secretary to the Bishop, Alexander. He accompanied Alexander to the Council of Nicea in 325 to serve as his advisor. There, Athanasius succeeded in winning approval for the Creed's affirmation of the full divinity of the Son: "of one being with me Father."
Upon Alexander's death in 328, Athanasius was elected Bishop of Alexandria by popular acclaim due to his reputation as a theologian and defender of the orthodox faith. His episcopacy was to be embattled for the next 36 years. Arianism had widespread acceptance among bishops, theologians, and emperors; in some regions it was dominant The Arians opposed Athanasius at every turn, sending him into exile five times, only to see him restored when Arian sympathizers went out of power. Often, he seemed to stand alone in his defense of Nicea ("Athanasius against the world" became a well-known phrase among the people).
In his fourth exile, he had to escape a military detachment, fleeing into the Libyan desert and moving from one hiding place to another. But even from afar, he continued to direct affairs in his diocese. He used his periods in exile to write voluminously—his work On the Incarnation is still read as a classic. He emphasized the divinity of the Holy Spirit decades before that doctrine was formally approved. Wildly popular at the end of his career, his last seven years as bishop were peaceful. He died during the night of May 2, 373 and was hailed as "the God-given physician of me Church's wounds." |
