Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Athanasius.

Athanasius was raised in a Christian household in Alexandria, Egypt, received a classical education, turned to the priesthood, and eventually became the bishop of Alexandria, serving as Alexander’s secretary. Alexander, his predecessor, had been a vocal opponent of an emerging movement called Arianism that took root in the East.

Athanasius continued the battle against Arianism after assuming the position of bishop of Alexandria. At first, it appeared that Arianism would be defeated and the battle won easily. But it turned out that this was not the case. Athanasius was exiled to northern Gaul by the emperor Constantine after the Council of Tyre took place for several unspecified reasons. The adventures and exiles that would follow, evoking the life of Saint Paul, would not end here.

Athanasius was reinstated as bishop by Constantine’s son after his death. But this was only for a year, as a group of Arian bishops soon overthrew him again. Athanasius brought his case to Rome, where Pope Julius I convened a synod to discuss it and other pertinent issues.

Athanasius was banished five times for upholding the concept of Christ’s deity. He had ten years of comparatively quiet time in his life where he read, wrote, and promoted the monastic ideal of the Christian life, to which he was deeply committed. Most of his historical and dogmatic writings are polemic and attack every facet of Arianism.

The Life of St. Anthony, one of his ascetic writings, attained incredible fame and substantially influenced the development of monastic life across the Western Christian world.

Source: franciscanmedia.org