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Saint Athanasius the Great
The life and theological legacy of Saint Athanasius the Great, defender of Orthodox doctrine against Arianism
The life and theological legacy of Saint Athanasius the Great, defender of Orthodox doctrine against Arianism
Saint Athanasius the Great (c. 296-373 AD) stands as one of the most courageous defenders of Orthodox Christian doctrine in Church history. Known as the “Father of Orthodoxy” and the “Pillar of the Church,” he spent his entire life fighting against the Arian heresy and defending the true divinity of Jesus Christ, often standing alone against the entire world.
Athanasius was born around 296 AD in Alexandria, Egypt, into a Christian family. He received an excellent education in both secular learning and Christian theology, becoming fluent in Greek philosophy, rhetoric, and Scripture. From his youth, he showed exceptional intellectual gifts and deep devotion to the Orthodox faith.
As a young man, Athanasius came under the influence of Saint Anthony the Great, the father of monasticism. This relationship profoundly shaped his spirituality and later led him to write the definitive biography of Saint Anthony, which became instrumental in spreading monasticism throughout the Christian world.
In 318 AD, Athanasius was ordained as a deacon by Bishop Alexander of Alexandria and became his secretary and closest advisor. It was in this capacity that he first encountered the teachings of Arius, a priest who denied the full divinity of Christ, claiming that the Son was created by the Father and was therefore subordinate to Him.
Athanasius immediately recognized the devastating implications of Arianism for Christian faith and salvation. If Christ were not truly God, he reasoned, then He could not truly save humanity. This insight would drive his entire theological career.
When the Arian controversy threatened to tear the Church apart, Emperor Constantine convened the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea in 325 AD. Though only a deacon, Athanasius accompanied Bishop Alexander and played a crucial role in the council’s deliberations.
The council condemned Arianism and affirmed that Christ is “true God and true man,” “begotten, not made,” and “of one essence (homoousios) with the Father.” Athanasius’s theological insights were instrumental in formulating these precise definitions that would guide Christian doctrine for all time.
In 328 AD, Athanasius was elected Archbishop of Alexandria, one of the most important sees in the Christian world. At only 32 years old, he inherited a diocese torn by the Arian controversy and faced the enormous task of implementing the decisions of Nicaea.
His archiepiscopal ministry was marked by:
Athanasius’s steadfast defense of Orthodox doctrine made him many enemies, particularly among Arian bishops and emperors who favored Arianism. During his 45-year episcopate, he was exiled five times by four different emperors:
First Exile (335-338): To Trier, under Constantine Second Exile (339-346): To Rome, under Constantius II Third Exile (356-362): To the Egyptian desert, under Constantius II Fourth Exile (362-363): Brief exile under Julian the Apostate Fifth Exile (365-366): Under Valens
Despite these persecutions, Athanasius never wavered in his defense of the faith. His famous declaration, “Athanasius against the world” (Athanasius contra mundum), became a symbol of unwavering commitment to truth.
Saint Athanasius made several crucial contributions to Christian theology:
The Incarnation: His masterwork “On the Incarnation” explains why God became man—to restore humanity to communion with God and to conquer death through His own death and resurrection.
Trinitarian Doctrine: He developed precise theological language to explain how Christ can be both fully God and fully man, laying groundwork for later Christological definitions.
Soteriology: He taught that salvation requires Christ to be truly God, because only God can save humanity from sin and death.
Biblical Exegesis: His interpretation of Scripture consistently emphasized the divinity of Christ and the unity of the Old and New Testaments.
Written when Athanasius was only about 20 years old, “On the Incarnation” remains one of the greatest theological treatises ever written. In it, he explains:
The work’s famous opening line captures its essence: “He became what we are so that He might make us what He is.”
Athanasius was a great supporter of the monastic movement and wrote the definitive “Life of Saint Anthony,” which spread knowledge of monasticism throughout the Christian world. He saw monasticism as a powerful witness to the transforming power of Christ and often found refuge among the monks during his exiles.
His support for monasticism was not merely personal but theological—he understood that the monastic life demonstrated the reality of theosis (deification) that Christ makes possible for all Christians.
Each year, as Archbishop of Alexandria, Athanasius wrote letters announcing the date of Easter and providing spiritual instruction for the faithful. These “Festal Letters” are treasures of pastoral theology and spiritual guidance.
His 39th Festal Letter (367 AD) is particularly significant because it contains the first complete list of the 27 books of the New Testament canon as we know it today, helping to establish the biblical canon for the entire Church.
Saint Athanasius’s theological contributions include:
Christological Precision: His formulations about Christ’s divinity and humanity provided the foundation for later Christological councils.
Soteriological Clarity: He showed that salvation depends on Christ being truly God and truly man.
Trinitarian Development: His work helped develop the theological vocabulary needed to express Trinitarian doctrine.
Pastoral Theology: He demonstrated how theological precision serves pastoral care and spiritual life.
During his third exile (356-362), Athanasius lived among the monks in the Egyptian desert while Constantius II attempted to force Arianism on the entire Church. This period, known as the “Great Persecution,” saw Orthodox bishops deposed and replaced with Arians throughout the empire.
Yet Athanasius continued to write, teach, and encourage the faithful, proving that truth cannot be silenced by political power. His letters from this period show remarkable courage and unwavering faith in God’s ultimate victory.
Saint Athanasius died peacefully on May 2, 373 AD, in Alexandria, having lived to see the triumph of Nicene orthodoxy under Emperor Theodosius I. His theological insights were vindicated at the Second Ecumenical Council (381 AD), which reaffirmed and expanded the Nicene Creed.
Saint Athanasius represents several crucial aspects of Orthodox Christianity:
Doctrinal Fidelity: His life demonstrates the importance of maintaining Orthodox doctrine even at great personal cost.
Theological Courage: He shows that sometimes one must stand alone for truth against popular opinion and political pressure.
Pastoral Concern: His theology was always directed toward the salvation and spiritual welfare of the faithful.
Christocentric Focus: Everything in his theology centered on Christ as true God and true man.
Saint Athanasius’s example remains profoundly relevant today:
Saint Athanasius the Great is commemorated on May 2nd (May 15th New Style). He is also remembered in various liturgical contexts as one of the great Fathers and teachers of the Church.
His troparion proclaims: “Guide of Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and modesty, luminary of the world, the God-inspired pride of monastics, O wise Athanasius, you have enlightened everyone by your teachings. You are the harp of the Spirit. Intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.”
Saint Athanasius the Great continues to inspire Orthodox Christians through his example of unwavering commitment to truth, showing that the defense of Orthodox doctrine is ultimately the defense of human salvation itself.
“He became what we are so that He might make us what He is.” - Saint Athanasius the Great