Hero for Today

Saint Athanasius, today is his Feast Day

One of the Doctors of the Church, now called the "Father of Orthodoxy", Saint Athanasius was about 10 years younger than Constantine the Great. He was an intelligent, educated, spirit filled, courageous man who would not allow politics to sway the dogma of the newly decriminalized church. Athanasius lived in a violent time of political unrest. The church had been under heavy persecution by Galerius, who was the emperor of the Eastern Roman empire until his death in 311. Galerius was succeeded by Licinius in the east. Constantine had consolidated political power in the western empire with his unlikely victory at the Milvian bridge in 312. Constantine had attributed his miraculous victory to the God of the Christians, and issued the Edit of Milan in 313, declaring Christianity was not a crime. Even though Licinius had also signed the Edict, he had just married Constantine's sister. By 322 Licinius changed his mind about Christianity and renewed persecution in the east. A new war broke out between the two emperors, which was largely decided by a violent storm wrecking most of Licinius' navy (God's hand?). Constantine didn't consolidate military and political power until 325. In that same year Anthanasius attended the first Council of Nicea, which Constantine had called for in order to determine just what it was that the newly legitimized church believed. At that time Athanasius was a deacon in Alexandria, and attended the Council as a companion to his bishop. The big battle within the church as it came out of the closet revolved around the divinity of Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, as well as appropriate reverence for Mary. The antagonists of the time were a man named Arius (also a deacon in Alexandria) and his politically motivated patron, a bishop named Eusebius. These Arians were the forerunners of protestantism as well as the natural result of the legitimization of the church. For the first time in history it was OK to be Christian without being threatened physically. For the first time in history a significant political and military leader not only accepted the church, but he even endorsed it and gave its God credit for his worldly success. No wonder that there was a rush of political opportunists trying to change the truth of the faith to suit not only themselves, but also the political correctness of the time. No doubt there was a flood of "converts" who saw real power and monetary advantages from being labeled Christian. The problem for the insincere was in understanding accepting God's truth, which had sustained the faithful during the persecutions.

Enter Athanasius. His devotion to the truth and fearless struggle against the heresy of his day can be credited with laying the foundation of much that we now take for granted as having always been church doctrine. He was exiled from his bishopric in Alexandria 5 times. He was falsely accused. He was persecuted for his conviction. Often a fugitive, his writings are clear and concise and correct. Some of his works include "Against the Pagans" written in 318, "On the Incarnation of the Word of God" in 323, "Discourses against the Arians" in 368, and "The Life of Saint Antony", which was credited by St. Augustine as being the deciding influence that led to Augustine's conversion.

If you want to know what being an Orthodox Catholic is all about, and where it came from, study this man.

Ask me for references for further reading. I have some reliable ones.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch: we are now showing 14.5 inches of rain since the drought broke and more is called for. My cup runneth over (as do the ponds and creek crossings)! Praise God from whom all blessings flow.