#Athanasius of Alexandria

[apilgrimpassingby]

Once again, a merely human king does not let the lands he has colonized pass to others to serve them, nor go over to other men; but he warns them by letters, and often sends to them by friends, or, if need be, he comes in person, to put them to rebuke in the last resort by his presence, only that they may not serve others and his own work be spent for naught. Shall not God much more spare His own creatures, that they be not led astray from Him and serve things of nought? Especially since such going astray proves the cause of their ruin and undoing, and since it was unfitting that they should perish which had once been partakers of God's image. What then was God to do? Or what was to be done save the renewing of that which was in God's image, so that by it men might once more be able to know Him? But how could this have come to pass save by the presence of the very Image of God, our Lord Jesus Christ? For by men's means it was impossible, since they are but made after an image; nor by angels either, for not even they are [God's] images. Whence the Word of God came in His own person, that, as He was the Image of the Father, He might be able to create afresh the man after the image. But, again, it could not else have taken place had not death and corruption been done away. Whence He took, in natural fitness, a mortal body, that while death might in it be once for all done away, men made after His Image might once more be renewed. None other then was sufficient for this need, save the Image of the Father.

St. Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation of the Word 13.5-9, translated by Archibald Robinson

(Image from Legacy Icons)

[tonreihe]

I was not expecting a parallel to be drawn between Athanasius of Alexandria and Karl Barth. (Rowan Williams, Arius: Heresy & Tradition)

[cruger2984]

THE DESCRIPTION OF SAINT ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA The Great Champion of the Catholic Faith Feast Day: May 2

Athanasius was born circa 296 or 298 AD in Alexandria, Egypt.

After completing his theological studies, he served as secretary to the bishop of Alexandria, whom he succeeded in 328. It was then that he began the theological struggle against Arius, the Alexandrine priest who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Even though the Council of Nicaea in 325 had formulated the Homousian Doctrine - meaning, that the Son is of the same divine substance as the Father - the conflict was far from over. The Arians were influential at the imperial court, and very active in propagating their heresy through popular songs.

In 355, there were so widespread, that St. Jerome exclaimed: 'The whole world groaned and marveled to find itself Arian.'

The anti-Arian bishops were kept in isolation, including Pope Liberus, and Athanasius himself was exiled five times, for a total of 17 years. In order to escape assassination attempts, he took refuge twice among the monks of the desert. In 164, Athanasius went back victorious to Alexandria, and spent the rest of his life writing the 'Life of St. Anthony the Abbot' and other inspiring books.

Athanasius died on May 2, 373, and his body was subsequently translated to Venice, Italy. Athanasius is considered to be the greatest champion of the Church, because he defended the Catholic faith against overwhelming odds and emerged triumphant.

[quote-bomber]

“If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.”

Athanasius of Alexandria

[humorwithatwist]

Ten Most Influential Christians in History

I was recently talking with a friend who wants to learn more about church history and they asked for some top ten lists to get acquainted with important people and books from the history of Christianity. So I sent them the following list. Now, a quick caveat here: these are Christians who specifically influenced theology, faith, and Biblical interpretation. Christians certainly can and have…

[seekingtheosis]

Gnosticism & the Church's Response: The Apostles' Creed - Part 3

Explore how the early Church confronted and overcame one of its most significant heresies: Gnosticism. This blog delves into the nature of Gnostic beliefs, which challenged core Christian teachings...

In the name of God the Father, Christ Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit, One True God. Amen Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus In the previous blog, we tried to get some brief insights into the theological debates of the early Church which led to the emergence of the Niceno-Constantinople Creed, which is a pivotal statement of faith for the Orthodox Christians. This creed, born from a…

[wellthatsclever]

"Jesus became what we are, that He might make us what He is." Saint Athanasius

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[orthodoxadventure]

You cannot put straight in others what is warped in yourself.

Saint Athanasius of Alexandria

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Today in Christian History

Today is Wednesday, February 8th, the 39th day of 2023. There are 326 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

356: Athanasius of Alexandria goes into hiding after escaping five thousand soldiers who burst into his church.

1250: Defeat and captivity of King Louis IX of France, “St. Louis,” in a crusade in which he had attacked Egypt.

1529: Revolution breaks out in Basel, Switzerland when a Protestant mob surrounds the town hall, plants cannon, and forces the council to expel the twelve Catholic members, meanwhile destroying church pictures and statues. “We raged against the idols, and the mass died of sorrow,” wrote Reformer Oecolampadius.

1576: Puritan parliamentarian Peter Wentworth is sent to the Tower of London for making a rousing defense of freedom of speech.

1587: Beheading of the Catholic prisoner Mary, Queen of Scots, on the orders of the Protestant queen, Elizabeth I of England. Mary was accused of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth.

1786: Philip Quaque, an Anglican priest serving on the Gold Coast, writes an account of an uprising of slaves on a Dutch ship, and commiserates his fellow Africans on their cruel treatment by slavers.

1792: Ordination of hymnwriter Joseph Swain to pastor a church in London. His most famous hymn was “O Thou in Whose Presence.”

1883: Death of hymnwriter Mary Stanley Dana Shindler. Her best-known hymn began with the words “Flee as a bird to your mountain, thou who art weary of sin.”

1893: Confirmation in the Anglican Church of Hamu Lujonza Kaddu Mukasa. After Muslims take control of Uganda, he will lead a strong military counter-attack and win political control of the nation for Christians. As a trustee of the national church, he will advocate a policy of self-governance, self-support, and self-propagation.

2001: Death of Rousas John Rushdoony, a Presbyterian clergyman and theologian known as the “Father of Christian Reconstruction” who had advocated strict implementation of biblical moral law in America.

[mindfulldsliving]

Understanding 'Saviors of Men' Through a Latter-day Saint Lens: Faith, Salvation, and Discipleship

The idea of being a “savior of men” in Latter-day Saint teachings often sparks curiosity and, at times, criticism. Rooted in Doctrine and Covenants 103:9, this concept points to the Lord calling His people to assist in His work of salvation, both for the living and the dead. Critics like Michelle Grim have raised questions about this phrase, but it’s true meaning aligns with faith in Jesus Christ…

[tristansherwin]

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS (DAY 12)

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. Glorious now behold him arise;��King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. Day 12 … The end of Christmas is Epiphany’s eve, the feast marking the Magi’s visit with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The…

[theartarchive]

icon of saints athanasius the great and cyril of alexandria, 1300s

image from the hermitage

[talonabraxas]

“For no part of Creation is left void of him: he has filled all things everywhere…” — Athanasius of Alexandria

21 @twentyone21___ Void of Creation

[godbeautyorder]

If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.

Athanasius of Alexandria

[portraitsofsaints]

Saint Athanasius

Doctor of the Church

297-373

Feast Day: May 2

Saint Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria and Doctor of the Church, assisted at the Council of Nicaea, where the Nicene Creed was established. Under the care of St. Alexander the Patriarch he received a classical education and succeeded him as Bishop in 326. His life struggle was correcting Arianism, the heresy denying the divinity of Christ, to the effect that 47 years of his Episcopate were lived in exile as his life was frequently in danger. St. Athanasius is a “Champion of Orthodoxy” who fully lived his life as Bishop, caring for his flock even in exile.

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase here: (website)

[apilgrimpassingby]

Theologian Tagging Game:

Favourite New Testament Writer: St. James

Favourite Church Father: St. Athanasius of Alexandria

Favourite Medieval Theologian: St. John of Damascus

Favourite Post-Reformation Theologian: C. S. Lewis

Favourite Living Theologian: Fr. Stephen DeYoung

Tagging @sapphosremains, @thomasstaples and @idylls-of-the-divine-romance: fill in your answers and tag others!