ST. ATHANASIUS, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

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SATURDAY, MAY 02, 2009

Athanasius was born in 295 in Alexandria, Egypt, and served there most of his whole life. He was ordained bishop of Alexandria in 328.

Three years earlier, he attended the Council of Nicea, where he defended the faith and the divinity of Jesus against Arianism, which was rampant at the time. He taught that Jesus was truly God and fully man, defining the Holy Spirit also as God. The Council was crucial to determining the orthodox teachings of the Church on the nature of Christ.He also fought for the acceptance of the Nicene Creed.

As bishop, he took responsibility for the welfare of the desert monks and fathers. Due to the difficulties with politics and Arianism at the time, Athanasius was exiled five times, spending more than one-third of his episcopate in exile.

He died May 2, 373 at Alexandra.His relics are in Venice, Italy.

1 posted on 05/02/2009 5:35:55 AM PDT by GonzoII

Doctor of the Church bump

2 posted on 05/02/2009 5:40:25 AM PDT by Desdemona (Tolerance of grave evil is NOT a Christian virtue. http://www.thekingsmen.us/)

Indeed, a man of God greatly used by Him.

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost
of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again
according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, with glory,
to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
who proceedeth from the Father [and the Son];
who with the Father and the Son together
is worshipped and glorified;
who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. AMEN.

3 posted on 05/02/2009 6:01:26 AM PDT by ReformationFan

4 posted on 05/02/2009 8:49:12 AM PDT by Salvation ( Â†With God all things are possible.Â†)

To: ReformationFan; GonzoII

5 posted on 05/02/2009 8:50:52 AM PDT by Salvation ( Â†With God all things are possible.Â†)

6 posted on 05/02/2009 6:39:29 PM PDT by gitmogrunt

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