Athanasius, St c.296-373AD
Greek Christian theologian and prelate

He was born in Alexandria. In his youth he often visited the celebrated hermit St Antony, and himself for a time embraced an anchorite's life. As a deacon, he was distinguished participant at the great Council of Nicaea (Nice) in AD325. In 326 he was chosen Patriarch of Alexandria and primate of Egypt, and was newly installed when Arius, banished on the condemnation of his doctrine at Nicaea, was recalled, and recanted. In opposition to the wishes of Emperor Constantine, Athanasius refused to restore Arius to communion. For this, and on other charges brought by the Arians, he was deposed by the Synod of Tyre in 335. The sentence was confirmed by the Synod of Jerusalem in 336, when he was banished to Tr�ves. In 338 he was restored until 341, when he was condemned by a council of 97 (mainly Arian) bishops in Antioch. Orthodox synods in Alexandria and in Sardica declared their support for him, and he was again restored to office (349). Under the Arian Emperor Constantius, he was again condemned and expelled, and went to a remote desert in Upper Egypt. Under Julian 'the Apostate', toleration was proclaimed to all religions, and he became once more Patriarch of Alexandria (361). His next controversy was with the heathen subjects of Julian, who forced him to flee from Alexandria, and hide in the Theban desert until 363, when Emperor Jovian (c.331-364) ascended the throne. After holding office for a short time he was expelled again by the Arians under the Emperor Valens (364-378) who, after petitions from the orthodox Alexandrians, restored him to his See, in which he continued until his death. A great leader during the most trying period in the history of the early Christian church, Athanasius' conscientiousness, wisdom, courage and intellect distinguish him in his age. His writings, polemical, historical, and moral, are simple, cogent and clear. The polemical works treat chiefly of the Trinity, the Incarnation and the divinity of the Holy Spirit. The so-called Athanasian Creed (representing Athanasian beliefs) was little heard of until the 7th century. His feast day is 2 May.

Bibliography: F L Cross, The Study of St Athanasius (1945)