The Feast of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic
From the events of history
The Feast of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic
The Coptic Church celebrates on the coming May 15 (7 Bashans) the feast of the departure of Saint Athanasius the Apostolic, the twentieth Pope of Alexandria. And on the same day falls the commemoration of the birthday of Anba Shenouda the Archimandrite.
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III had brought the relics of Saint Athanasius during his visit to Rome on the feast of the saint (May 15) in the year 1973 (six years ago)…
How much Saint Athanasius offered to the Church, as he defended the sound faith against the Arians—a defense that led to his removal from his throne five times… and to his exile and persecution, until it was said to him: “The whole world is against you, O Athanasius.”
And yet how little the Church honors him.
There is a new church in his name in Alexandria in the Syouf district.
And there is a church in his name in Beni Suef in Al-Kofour, and a third in Assiut (Deir Al-Zawya).
And the majority of his writings have not yet been translated…
The virtuous father Archpriest Markos Dawood translated from the works of this saint:
1- The book On the Incarnation of the Word.
2- The Letter to the Heathen.
3- Four letters on the Holy Spirit.
4- The Life of Saint Anthony.
And this is an effort that is undoubtedly appreciated. His Paschal letters were also translated. But the large work which Saint Athanasius wrote in doctrine, which is: The Defense Against the Arians, has not yet been translated.
And the rest of the saint’s writings—most Arabic readers know nothing about them…
We want the life of this saint to be a subject of discussion in sermons and church education.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
