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ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA. Life and works. Born around 295 – 373AD Alexandria where he was bishop for over half a century He earned himself the title “ The Great” on account of his strong, determined defense of the Nicene Faith (Symbol/Creed) against Arius and his followers.
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ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA Life and works
Born around 295 – 373AD • Alexandria where he was bishop for over half a century • He earned himself the title “ The Great” on account of his strong, determined defense of the Nicene Faith (Symbol/Creed) against Arius and his followers. • His writings can be classified as follows: • Exegetical, apologetical, dogmatic, disciplinary, moral, polemical • The Orthodox Teaching on the Divinity of Christ was at the basis of his writings
In 319 AD, he was made deacon and secretary counsellor to the Bishop Alexander whom he accompanied to Nicaea (325AD) • Already here we see him as a powerful opponent to Arius and Arians. • Succeeded Alexander who died on the 17th April 328 • Athanasius had to face exiles, synods, battles with bishops, magistrates and emperors. • The Arians gained power in the Church when the Emperors succeeding Constantine was a pro-Arian leader
The Arian condemned and deposed Athanasius at Tyre (335 AD) • Banished by Constantine (sent into exile) to Trier • After Constantine’s death (337AD) Athanasius returned to his seat in 338AD • In 339 he was again condemned at Antioch; then he went to Pope Julius. • Pope Julius found Athanasius innocent but the see of Alexandria was seized and the Synod of Sardica declared him the rightful occupant of the see of Alexandria in 343AD. • He could only return to his See in 346 AD
In 350 Constans died, Constantinus the co-Emperor supported the Arians and Athanasius was deposed once again in the Synod of Arles (353) and another time in Milan (355) • Athanasius was accused of being a disturber in the Church and the Empire • Many exiles and banishments for Athanasius, five exiles – the last seventeen years of his life he spent in glory and peace until he died on the 2nd May 373 • Doctor of the Church
On the incarnation • We are speaking of the good pleasure of God and of the things which He in His loving wisdom thought fit to do, and it is better to put the same thing in several ways than to run the risk of leaving something out. • The body of the Word, then, being a real human body, in spite of its having been uniquely formed from a virgin, was of itself mortal and, like other bodies, liable to death. • But the indwelling of the Word loosed it from this natural liability, so that corruption could not touch it.
Thus it happened that two opposite marvels took place at once : the death of all was consummated in the Lord's body ; • yet, because the Word was in it, death and corruption were in the same act utterly abolished. • Death there had to be, and death for all, so that the due of all might be paid.
Wherefore, the Word, as I said, being Himself incapable of death, assumed a mortal body, that He might offer it as His own in place of all, • and suffering for the sake of all through His union with it, " might bring to nought (nothing) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might deliver them who all their lifetime were enslaved by the fear of death." (Heb. 2. 14 f)
The Nicene Creed (325 AD) • We believe in one God, Father almighty, maker of all things, both visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten from the Father, only-begotten, that is from the being* of the Father, God from God, light from light, true God from True God, begotten not made, one in being** with the Father, through whom all things came to be, both those in heaven and those on the earth, who because of us human beings and because of our salvation descended, became enfleshed, became human, suffered and rose on the third day, ascending to the heavens, coming to judge the living and dead. And in the Holy Spirit. The Catholic and Apostolic Church anathematizes those who say: there was when he was not; and before being born he was not; or that he came to be from things that are not; or that the Son of God is from a different hypostasis or ousia or mutable or changeable.
THE NICENE CREED (381 A.D.) • We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,of all that is, seen and unseen. • We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father. • Through him all things were made. • For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried. • On the third day he rose againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father. • He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end. • We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son. • With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. • He has spoken through the Prophets. • We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. • We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. • We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.
