Saint Athanasius of Alexandria, also known as Athanasius the Great, is one of the most important and influential figures of early Christianity. Patriarch of Alexandria in the 4th century, fierce defender of the Nicene faith against Arianism, profound theologian and formidable ecclesiastical strategist, he left a lasting mark on the doctrinal, political, and spiritual history of the Church. His life, marked by conflicts, exiles, theological controversies, and major conciliar decisions, perfectly illustrates the tensions that ran through nascent Christianity as it transitioned from being persecuted to the religion of the Empire.
Relic of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria on relics.es
Historical background and birth
Athanasius was born around 295 (or slightly later according to some historians) in Alexandria, Egypt, a major intellectual and spiritual center of the Greco-Roman world. At this time, the Roman Empire was still officially pagan, but Christianity was gaining ground there, despite periodic persecutions. It was a time of profound upheaval: doctrines were forming, heresies emerged, and the Church, still fragile, sought to define its theological identity.
Athanasius received a solid education, probably at the Catechetical School of Alexandria, where he studied Scripture, rhetoric, philosophy, and theology. He was noted early on for his intelligence and piety. Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, his mentor, ordained him deacon and took him to the Council of Nicaea in 325.
The Council of Nicaea and the condemnation of Arianism
The Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325, marked a turning point in the history of the Church. It was convened to resolve a major theological controversy tearing Christian communities apart: that of Arianism, a doctrine championed by a priest named Arius, also from Alexandria.
Arius argues that the Son of God is not coeternal with the Father; he was created before all ages, but he is not God in the same way as the Father. This position, while having some scriptural coherence at first glance, threatens the unity of the Christian faith and the understanding of salvation.
Athanasius, although still a young deacon at the time, played a crucial role in the debates. He vigorously defended the consubstantiality of the Son with the Father (homoousios): the Word is eternal, uncreated, truly God. The formulation of the Nicene faith affirmed this position, and Arianism was officially condemned.
Bishop of Alexandria and first trials
In 328, upon the death of Alexander, Athanasius became Bishop of Alexandria, at only thirty years old. He inherited a powerful but fragile Church, torn by theological and political influences.
He quickly became the target of Arian supporters, who still had many supporters, particularly in the imperial court and among the influential bishops of the East. Athanasius was accused of various crimes (violence, murder, treason), often in a slanderous manner, with the aim of discrediting him.
In 335, he was deposed at a council in Tyre, under the influence of the Arians, and exiled to Trier by Emperor Constantine. This would be the first of his five exiles. His exile did not prevent him from continuing to write, correspond, and defend his positions. Athanasius was a spiritual warrior, but also a formidable tactician.
A persecuted but indomitable exile
Athanasius spent more than 17 years of his episcopate in exile, sometimes in the West, sometimes hidden in the Egyptian desert, protected by monks. Each time he returned to Alexandria, tensions flared. With each new wave of persecution, he fled, took refuge, wrote, and consolidated his resistance.
Paradoxically, these exiles reinforced his moral authority: he became the symbol of Orthodox resistance to heresy. His determination to defend the Nicene faith earned him the admiration of monks, the faithful, and many bishops in the West.
During the reign of Julian the Apostate (361–363), Athanasius was again expelled, as the emperor wanted to restore paganism and weaken Christianity. But upon Julian's death, Athanasius returned once more to his seat.
Athanasius and Egyptian monasticism
One of the fascinating aspects of Athanasius's life is his closeness to monastic circles. He was a friend and promoter of Saint Anthony the Great, the father of Christian monasticism.
Athanasius wrote a major hagiographic work, The Life of Saint Anthony, which helped spread the monastic ideal throughout the Empire. This text presents Anthony as a model of faith, the fight against demons, ascetic wisdom, and resistance to heresy.
Athanasius saw in monasticism not only a radical spiritual way of life, but also a theological support: the monks, for the most part, upheld the Nicene faith and rejected Arianism. This link between orthodoxy and asceticism became a strong marker of Eastern Christian identity.
Theological thought
Athanasius's theology is profoundly Christocentric. He develops a thought structured around the divinity of the Word, the Incarnation, salvation, and man's participation in divine life.
In his treatise "On the Incarnation of the Word," probably written before the Council of Nicaea, Athanasius sets out his understanding of salvation: the Word became flesh so that man could be divinized. This theology of divinization (theosis) is at the heart of Eastern Christian spirituality.
He insists on the full divinity of Christ: if he is not God, he cannot save. He is not a simple prophet nor a superior creature: he is the eternal Word made flesh, victor over death, source of life. Athanasius carried this profound intuition throughout his life.
His other works include treatises against the Arians, festal letters (notably that of 367, in which he draws up the first complete canonical list of the New Testament as we know it today), and apologetic discourses.
The Five Exiles: A Life of Opposition
Athanasius experienced five exiles:
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335–337: exile in Trier (West), under Constantine.
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339–346: exile in Rome, welcomed by the Western Church, which supported him.
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356–362: Flight into the desert, under Constantius II. He finds refuge with the monks.
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362–363: very brief exile under Julian the Apostate.
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365–366: under Valens, who favors the Arians.
Despite these exiles, Athanasius always managed to return. He never lost the support of a large part of the clergy and the faithful. He embodied the figure of the persecuted pastor, faithful to the truth against all odds.
Death and posterity
Saint Athanasius died in 373 in Alexandria, after a 45-year episcopate. By the time of his death, the Nicene faith had largely established itself, although the controversies were not over. A few years later, in 381, the Council of Constantinople reaffirmed the divinity of Christ and the Trinitarian doctrine: a posthumous victory for Athanasius.
He was quickly canonized in both the East and the West. Eastern tradition often calls him "Father of Orthodoxy." His feast day is May 2 in the West, and January 18 in some Eastern traditions.
Spiritual and theological influence
Athanasius had an immense influence:
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On the Trinitarian doctrine: it is one of the pillars of the dogmatic definition of the one God in three persons.
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On Christology: His defense of the divinity of Christ laid the foundation for later debates on the union of natures in Jesus.
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On monastic spirituality: his Life of Saint Anthony inspired generations of monks, from Augustine to Benedict of Nursia.
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On the biblical canon: His list of Scriptures in his 39th Festal Letter is a major milestone in the formation of the New Testament.
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On Christian resistance: it embodies fidelity to the truth against compromise with power or dominant opinion.
Conclusion
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria is an exceptional figure in Christian history: intellectual, bishop, theologian, polemicist, exile, pastor, writer, mystic. He never gave in to error, even when it was supported by biased emperors or councils. He suffered, fought, prayed, wrote, taught, and edified.
His work and his example remain highly relevant today: in a world where faith can seem compromised by power games or doctrinal relativism, Athanasius reminds us that truth has a price, but that it always triumphs in the end.
