Today we are celebrating the life of one of our heroes here at the Cafe: Athanasius of Alexandria. Everyone lift up their glasses and mugs in toast! To Athanasius!I first learned of Athanasius when I took Systematic Theology from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry several years ago. On this day when a certain Presiding Bishop is writing funny little letters, it is good to reflect on this courageous leader who fought hard and suffered much for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Athanasius (296-373 A.D.): Athanasius served as presbyter and bishop of Alexandria. Athanasius is best known for his defense of the deity of Christ and the doctrine of the Trinity at the ecumenical Council of Nicea (325 A.D.). Before the Arian controversy called into question the deity of Christ, Athanasius wrote two apologetic works, Against the Gentiles and On the Incarnation of the Word. He continued to defend orthodoxy and denounce the Arian heresy throughout his life. This resulted in his being banished from his church four times. His last years were spent peacefully.
Human and human-minded as men were, therefore, to whichever side they looked in the sensible world, they found themselves taught the truth. Were they awe-stricken by creation? They beheld it confessing Christ as Lord. Did their minds tend to regard men as gods? The uniqueness of the Savior's works marked Him, alone of men, as Son of God. Were they drawn to evil spirits? They saw them driven out by the Lord, and learned that the Word of God alone was God and that the evil spirits were not gods at all. Were they inclined to hero-worship and the cult of the dead? Then the fact that the Savior had risen from the dead showed them how false these other deities were, and that the Word of the Father is the one true Lord, the Lord even of death. For this reason was He both born and manifested as Man, for this He died and rose, in order that, eclipsing by His works all other human deeds, He might recall man from all the paths of error to know the Father. As He says Himself, "I came to seek and to save that which was lost.".
- Athanasius
LATER - FROM THE "SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE AND PERHAPS KJS SHOULD CHECK HER HISTORY AND THE DATE BEFORE MAKING SUCH STRENUOUS PRONOUNCEMENTS" FILE: "But before the appointed time arrived, the bishops assembled together, and having summoned Arius to attend, began to examine the disputed topics, each one amongst them advancing his own opinion. As might have been expected, however, many different questions started out of the investigation: some of the bishops spoke against the introduction of novelties contrary to the faith which had been delivered to them from the beginning. And those especially who had adhered to simplicity of doctrine argued that the faith of God ought to be received without curious inquiries; others, however, contended that ancient opinions ought not to be followed without examination. Many of the bishops who were then assembled, and of the clergy who accompanied them, being remarkable for their dialectic skill, and practiced in such rhetorical methods, became conspicuous, and attracted the notice of the emperor and the court. Of that number Athanasius, who was then a deacon of Alexandria, and had accompanied his bishop Alexander, seemed to have the largest share in the counsel concerning these subjects."
From "Chapter 17. Of the Council convened at Nicæa on Account of Arius," Ecclesiastical History (Book II) by Sozomen (c. 375-c. 447).
"The Arians assert that after the death of Alexander, the respective followers of that bishop and of Melitius held communion together, and fifty-four bishops from Thebes, and other parts of Egypt, assembled together, and agreed by oath to choose by a common vote, the man who could advantageously administer the Church of Alexandria; but that seven of the bishops, in violation of their oath, and contrary to the opinion of all, secretly ordained Athanasius; and that on this account many of the people and of the Egyptian clergy seceded from communion with him. For my part, I am convinced that it was by Divine appointment that Athanasius succeeded to the high-priesthood; for he was eloquent and intelligent, and capable of opposing plots, and of such a man the times had the greatest need. He displayed great aptitude in the exercise of the ecclesiastical functions and fitness for the priesthood..."
From "Chapter 17. On the Death of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, at his Suggestion, Athanasius receives the Throne; and an Account of his Youth; how he was a Self-Taught Priest, and beloved by Antony the Great," Eccelesiastical History (Book II), by Sozomen (c. 375-c. 447).
Learn more here.
9 comments:
Here's to Athanasius of Alexandria! May we be as diligent.
Wow... Ya' just have to pray that the Lord would raise up 100 Athanasius's for our day!
Athanasius is definitely one of my heros.
On another thread (SF), one erudite contributer posted the claim that the Athanasian Creed had nothing to do with Athanasius and was in fact composed several centuries later (http://www.standfirminfaith.com/index.php/site/article/2880/#49254). I questioned this claim, but received no reply, perhaps because the subject was way off topic for the SF thread.
Can anyone rise to the defense of Athanasius as author or at least progenitor of the creed that bears his name?
New Advent generally favors that Athanasius did not write it.
New Advent's The Athanasian Creed page.
Thanks, Kevin.
Although actual authorship is denied, that site says, "internal evidences seem to justify the conclusion that it grew out of several provincial synods, chiefly that of Alexandria, held about the year 361, and presided over by St. Athanasius."
That is not nearly the same as the claim that the creed "had nothing to do with Athanasius."
Another round on the House - butterbeers and chai for everyone and tonight we'll be flipping the pancakes and baking the chocolate chip cookies. God Bless Athanasius!
bb
Athanasius was "eloquent and intelligent, and capable of opposing plots, and of such a man the times had the greatest need."
Ah, just the man we need for these times and this need.
from the Greek Orthodox website:
The next source of the teachings of the Orthodox Church is the Athanasian Creed, which was written and used by the Western part of the Church and later accepted by the Eastern part, though not used in its liturgical life. This Creed is a source because it states the orthodox teaching of the faith of the Church. This Creed was not written by Athanasius, but attributed to him, and is believed by some to have been written by St. Ambrose in Latin. It is believed to have been written in either the fourth or fifth century.
"Besides all his other achievements, Saint Athanasius wrote the life of Saint Anthony the Great, with whom he spent time in his youth; ordained Saint Frumentius first Bishop of Ethiopia; and in his Paschal Encyclical for the year 367 set forth the books of the Old and New Testaments accepted by the Church as canonical. Saint Gregory the Theologian, in his Oration On the Great Athanasius, said he was "Angelic in appearance, more angelic in mind; ... rebuking with the tenderness; of a father, praising with the dignity of a ruler ... Everything was harmonious, as an air upon a single lyre, and in the same key; his life, his teaching, his struggles, his dangers, his return, and his conduct after his return ... be treated so mildly and gently those who had injured him, that even they themselves, if I may say so, did not find his restoration distasteful.""
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