St. Athanasius

In the great city of Alexandria, in around 297 A.D., there was a very bright boy born to Christian parents. His name was Athanasius. This boy would soon become one of the pillars of our Christian faith.

Athanasius grew up in the sight of the Lord. One day, he was playing along the seashore with his friends.  Athanasius and his Christian friends were baptizing their non-Christian friends as a game, and they appointed Athanasius to be the “bishop” to perform the sacrament.

From the window, Pope Alexander was watching, and when they had finished playing, he called all of them and their parents to talk to them about baptism.

Athanasius grew up under the guidance and teachings of Pope Alexander. The Pope ordained him as a reader in the church and then as a deacon. It was during this time that Arius the priest spread his wrong teachings about Christ.

Pope Alexander took Athanasius with him to the first council in Nicea. There, all the fathers of the church gathered to hear what Arius had to say. Arius argued that the being of the Father was different than the being of the Son. He did not believe that they were one, but that God the Father was the only one who was divine.
As Arius kept arguing, young Athanasius could not remain silent anymore. He arose from his seat and rebuked Arius. Athanasius fought against him and he stood up for the faith and made sure that everyone knew that Arius was wrong. Everyone in the council agreed with Athanasius and they banished Arius from the Church.

Soon after, Pope Alexander passed away and the people enthroned Athanasius as Pope of Alexandria. Throughout his life, St. Athanasius was persecuted by those who followed Arius and his teachings but Athanasius remained strong in the faith. After the council of Nicea, the first part of the creed, the declaration of our faith , was written, which states: Truly we believe in one God, God the Father, the Pantocrator, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things seen and unseen.

St. Athanasius wrote many books including a biography of St. Anthony the Great, who was very close to him.

After 47 years of shepherding the people, St. Athanasius departed in peace. May his holy blessing be with us all. Amen.