St. Athanasius was born into a Greek Christian family in
Alexandria at the end of the third century, probably in 295. During his youth he
witnessed the persecutions which took place under Diocletian. In the words of
St. Gregory the Theologian, he spent "little time" in getting a general
education or in studying the secular sciences but he had some knowledge of
classical philosophy and of Neoplatonism in particular. He gave most of his
attention to the study of Scripture, which he knew extremely well. Possibly he
studied at the Catechetical School in Alexandria.
St. Athanasius was noticed by Alexander, bishop of Alexandria,
when still very young. He lived in Alexander's home and was instructed in
grammar and rhetoric under his guidance. St. Athanasius was appointed deacon and
became secretary to the bishop not long before the beginning of the Arian
controversy. He accompanied Alexander to Nicaea where he "boldly rose up against
the impiety of the Arians." Alexander died soon after the council. Apparently he
had designated St. Athanasius as his successor. At the Alexandrian council of
339 it was stated that "all the multitude of inhabitants, everyone belonging to
the Catholic Church, had gathered together and unanimously, as if in one body,
cried out demanding Athanasius as bishop of the Church. Throughout the land they
prayed to Christ for this for many days and many nights." In 328 St. Athanasius
was consecrated bishop of Alexandria at a large gathering of prelates.
St. Athanasius was persecuted throughout his administration. He
spent more than 15 of his 47 years as bishop in exile and banishment. The Arians
and Meletians responded to his elevation with hostility and slander and the
Eusebians saw him as the main obstacle to their attempts at compromise.
Athanasius cleared himself of all the accusations brought against him at the
council of Tyre in 335 but his enemies managed to convince Constantine that he
was responsible for the dissension. The emperor ordered Athanasius to leave
Egypt for the West and sent him to Trier, but he did not give permission for
anyone to succeed him to the Alexandrian see. Athanasius was received at Trier
with honor and love. During his short stay he exerted great influence on
ecclesiastical circles and he was long remembered with veneration. After the
death of Constantine in 337 Athanasius and other exiles received permission to
return to Alexandria, where he was greeted with popular rejoicing.
However, the intrigue against St. Athanasius was immediately
resumed. Eusebius accused him of having returned to his see legally, since his
deposition by the council at Tyre had not been overturned by a new council. An
Arian presbyter Pistus, who had been made bishop by Secundus of Ptolemais, also
an Arian, was sent to take his place, but he was anathematized by the Egyptian
bishops.
In spite of the unanimous defense which St. Athanasius received
at the council of Alexandria in 339, at the council of Antioch in 340 he was
again deposed, and a Cappadocian named Gregory was installed in the Alexandrian
see. Gregory and his armed supporters rushed to Alexandria and seized the
churches after much bloodshed. Athanasius considered it necessary to leave Egypt
and went to Rome, where a local council cleared him of the accusations made
against him and received him into their community. Pope Julius also interceded
on his behalf. Roman supporters of monasticism, who were attracted by the renown
of the Egyptian anchorites, gathered around Athanasius. In 343 he attended the
council of Sardica. In 345 Constantius invited him to come back to Egypt, and in
346 Athanasius returned to Alexandria.
The Arian controversy broke out again toward the middle of 350,
and St. Athanasius was deposed at the councils in Arles (353) and Milan (355).
At the beginning of 356 the military commander Sirian was sent to Alexandria
with orders to seize Athanasius, but Athanasius went into hiding and withdrew
into the desert. The see of Alexandria was usurped by a new bishop, George, who
subjected the orthodox to cruel persecution. Alexandria temporarily became the
center of Arianism, and Aëtius and Eunomius began their preaching at this
time.
During this period Athanasius hid in the desert among the
hermits in complete seclusion. It was at this time that he wrote and circulated
his most important denunciatory and apologetic Works. His enemies continued to
look for him, but he was not found. Athanasius was not able to return from this
exile until the sign of Julian in 361, but again for only a short time. During
the few months of his tenure in Alexandria he succeeded in calling and leading a
large council in 362, which made important definitions of doctrine.
At the end of 362 Athanasius was again exiled. He went to Egypt
and stayed there until the death of Julian. After a preliminary meeting in
Antioch with the new emperor, Jovian, Athanasius returned to Alexandria in 364.
He again had to leave in 365 when Valens ordered the banishment of everyone who
had been exiled under Constantius and returned under Julian. In four months this
order was revoked by popular demand and Athanasius spent the rest of his days in
Alexandria, occupied with literary and pastoral affairs. He died on May 2/3,
373, having ordained his successor, Bishop Peter, shortly before his death.
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