From the Lives of the Saints
Heroes of the Faith (1)
Types of Saints:
The saints are of various types: some have risen to high degrees in the life of monasticism and asceticism. Some have received the crown of martyrdom, or have become known for performing signs and miracles, or have labored in the work of pastoral care, teaching, or preaching. And there are those whom we call the heroes of the faith.
The Apostles and Preachers:
The holy Apostles, our fathers, who preached the faith throughout the entire world, may be included among the heroes of the faith, together with their disciples and all the preachers throughout the earth, throughout the various ages. And these are many.
The Apologists:
Among the heroes of the faith are also the Apologists, who presented a defense of the Christian faith and sent it to the pagan emperors and rulers of their days. Examples of these include Saint Justin and the scholar Athenagoras, among others.
Fighters Against Heresies:
Among the heroes of the faith are also the saints who fought against heresies and devoted all their struggles to defending the sound faith, presenting arguments and proofs for the correctness of the Church’s belief, while responding to all the corrupt teachings of the heretics.
Examples of these are the saints who stood against Arianism, Nestorianism, Apollinarianism, Eutychianism, and other heresies that resulted in the convening of Ecumenical or local councils. Added to them are the defenders of the faith against heresy in the remaining generations.
Many of these endured, for the sake of defending the faith, many forms of hardship and persecution. Yet they stood with heroic steadfastness against the heretics and against the rulers who supported them, defending the faith with remarkable courage, until history called them “heroes of the faith.”
And we will mention some of these saints:
Saint Athanasius the Apostolic:
He defended the Orthodox faith against Arius and Arianism, and spent 45 years, the duration of his blessed episcopate, with his primary work being the preservation of the faith and responding to the Arians.
Five decrees were issued against him by the emperor, removing him and exiling him from his See. He traveled throughout the lands in disguise, defending the faith. He traveled to many regions, convincing bishops and peoples of the correctness of the faith. Councils were convened against him, and councils were convened in response to them. The Arians attacked him with great violence and accused him of false and wicked accusations.
He stood firm against all of them, until it was said to him, “The whole world is against you, Athanasius.” He replied, “And I am also against the world.” Therefore, he was called Contra Mundum. Saint Jerome said about him: There was a time when almost the whole world was becoming Arian, had it not been for Athanasius.
Other Saints Against Arianism:
We also mention among the great saints who defended the faith against Arianism:
- Saint Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers.
Because of the strength of his defense of the faith, he was called “Athanasius of the West.” His most famous book is On the Trinity (De Trinitate).
- Saint Basil the Great.
- The brother of Saint Basil, Bishop of Nyssa, and each of them wrote a book against Eunomius the Arian, responded to his arguments, and corrected the meanings of verses that had been misinterpreted.
An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III — in Al-Keraza Magazine — Tenth Year (Issue Thirty-One), 3/8/1979.
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