Reflections on the Life of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic
Feast of the Saint and his Relics – Imperial Decrees against him.
The Apostolic, Father of Theologians – Exiled Four Times.
His Spirituality – His Strength and Endurance during Exile.
Founder of the Ethiopian Church – His High Morale and God’s Presence with Him.
Theological Education and Monasticism in His Time – Became a Symbol and a Doctrine.
His Early Maturity and Writings – Athanasius Contra Mundum.
The Deacon at the Council of Nicaea – The Man and the Place.
Consecrated Pope while Young – United Mind and Faith.
Life of Suffering for the Lord – His Writings and Some of Their Translations.
Arian Councils against Him – Churches Named after Him.
The Feast of Saint Athanasius and His Relics
On May 15, the Church celebrated the feast of the departure of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, the twentieth Pope of the See of St. Mark.
On this date in 1973, we went to Rome, to the Vatican, to bring back the relics of Saint Athanasius, which were handed to us by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, the Pope of Rome. Great celebrations were held in Egypt on this occasion at the Cathedral of St. Mark in Anba Reweis, attended by all Christian denominations in Egypt, including His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Jacob III, the Patriarch of the sister Syriac Orthodox Church.
On this blessed feast, we are pleased to meditate together on the pure life of this great saint.
This Great Saint
He is the only Pope among all the successors of Saint Mark who was given the title “Apostolic.” This is a great honor, for he was considered to speak and act in the Spirit of the holy apostles.
He is truly regarded as the Father of Theologians and a Champion of Faith in the Christian world.
He is not only one of the Fathers of the Coptic Church but also one of the Fathers of the Universal Apostolic Church, venerated by all Churches worldwide.
In our dialogue on Christian unity and common faith, we used to say that we are united on the faith of our two fathers, Athanasius and Cyril — Saint Athanasius the Apostolic and Saint Cyril the Pillar of Faith, both Popes of Alexandria.
Saint Athanasius was not only renowned for his theological knowledge but also for his virtue, for he was spiritually raised by Saint Anthony the Great. It was said of him:
“He who speaks of Athanasius speaks of virtue.”
He sat on the throne of Saint Mark for 45 years, a long shepherding allowed by God for the preservation of the Christian faith.
He founded the Ethiopian Church and ordained its first bishop, Saint Frumentius (a Coptic name meaning “Man of God”). Since then, the Coptic Church ordained metropolitans and bishops for Ethiopia until the recent revolution that overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie.
Saint Athanasius appointed as head of the Theological School the saintly scholar Didymus the Blind, who invented a raised system of writing 15 centuries before Braille. Didymus excelled in allegorical interpretation, leaving us a great theological and exegetical heritage.
His era was marked not only by theological richness but also by the flourishing of monastic life. It was the time of Saint Anthony the Great and his early disciples, Saint Macarius the Great with the Fathers of Scetis, and also Saint Basil the Great in Caesarea of Cappadocia with his companions and monastic school.
The time of Athanasius shows us the devotion of monastic life to worship and the selection of patriarchs from among deacons or theological scholars.
It is enough to note that Saint Athanasius was chosen as Patriarch while Saint Anthony the Great was still living — the Father of all monks in the world.
His Early Maturity
Saint Athanasius amazed the world in his youth. He showed remarkable early brilliance:
He wrote two of his most famous theological works, “On the Incarnation of the Word” and “Against the Heathen”, at about twenty years of age (around AD 318).
At the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (AD 325), he was one of its most distinguished figures — perhaps the most distinguished. Though only 27, he was the theological pillar of the council, refuting Arius with exceptional wisdom and clarity, and helped in formulating the Nicene Creed — as a deacon among 318 bishops.
He was consecrated Pope of Alexandria in AD 328 at the age of thirty, three years after Nicaea. His ordination was by the unanimous consent of the faithful and with great joy, though it alarmed the Arians who saw him as their most dangerous enemy.
He was young in body but giant in spirit, commanding respect even from his enemies, who feared his intellect, reasoning power, eloquence, and influence.
Life of Suffering for the Lord
Saint Jerome said truly:
“The eloquence of Athanasius at the Council of Nicaea brought upon him troubles throughout his life.”
Though the Council condemned Arius and his heresy, it did not end his influence. Arianism spread widely, even among bishops, across the Roman Empire.
The Arians held a council at Tyre (325 AD) and falsely accused Athanasius, leading to his first exile in Trier (in the West).
They held another council in Antioch (339 AD) to depose him.
Under Emperor Constantius, an Arian sympathizer, another decree was issued against him after the Council of Milan (355 AD), resulting in his third exile to the borders of Bulgaria.
His fourth exile came under Emperor Julian the Apostate (362 AD).
A fifth decree was issued under Emperor Valens (365 AD) but was not executed.
He finally returned peacefully to his See in 366 AD and reposed in 373 AD.
Thus, he spent 20 years in exile out of his 45-year papacy — a life of pain and struggle for faith.
Life of Perseverance and Struggle
Saint Athanasius was stronger than exile or deposition. His trials only increased his courage and the people’s love for him.
In exile, he devoted himself to prayer, contemplation, and writing. His works deeply influenced many souls.
Councils were later held in his defense, such as the Council of Sardica (343 AD), which acquitted him and restored his rights.
God continually saved him and restored him to his throne. His enemies — Arius, Constantius, and Julian — all perished, while Athanasius returned unharmed.
His spirit never weakened; he remained full of faith and confidence, strengthening others in the same.
He even confronted emperors with courage — once stopping Emperor Constantine’s horse and saying, “Stop, O Constantine, I have a word with you!” The emperor dismounted and listened.
The Arians and emperors opposed him in the East, but he won strong support from the West.
He became a symbol of faith, courage, and endurance — “Athanasius Contra Mundum” (Athanasius against the world).
When told, “The whole world is against you, Athanasius,” he replied, “And I am against the world.”
His people remained loyal to him; he never abandoned them. Even when soldiers surrounded the church to arrest him, he stayed until all the faithful left safely.
The Arians learned that true power is not force but truth and love. Exile could not imprison his spirit or his thought.
During exile, he wrote the famous “Life of Anthony” (Vita Antonii) at the request of the Romans — a work that spread monasticism throughout the West and later inspired Saint Augustine’s conversion.
Athanasius showed that a man is not confined by place; his thought and faith can fill the world. His theological writings, especially “Contra Arianos”, became the universal Christian response to Arianism.
Athanasius: Man of Mind and Faith
In him were united reason and revelation, logic and spirituality.
Reading On the Incarnation, one cannot tell whether it is philosophy, theology, or spiritual meditation — it is all three in perfect harmony.
One of the Fathers said:
“If you hear a saying of Athanasius and have no paper, write it on your garment.”
Such was the depth and richness of his words.
Among his translated works are:
On the Incarnation,
Against the Heathen,
The Life of Anthony,
Letters to Bishop Serapion on the Holy Spirit,
The Festal Letters, and more.
Thanks are due to Fr. Markos Dawood, Dr. Samuel Abd El-Sayed, and the Monastery of the Syrians for their translation efforts.
Churches Named after Saint Athanasius
Among them are churches in Nasr City (Cairo), El-Syouf (Alexandria), and Damanhour.
(An article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in Watani Newspaper, May 18, 1986.)
