Athanasius Of Alexandria
| Athanasius of Alexandria | |
|---|---|
 Icon Athanasius of Alexandria | |
| Patriarch of Alexandria , Doctor of the Church , Father of the Church | |
| Birth | 298 Damanhur, near Alexandria |
| Deaths | 373 (75) |
| Nationality | Roman |
| Revered by | Roman Catholic Church , Orthodox Church , Coptic Orthodox Church , Protestants |
| Servant of God Venerable Happy St. | |
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 298 - 2 May 373 ) was a Patriarch of Alexandria au fourth century. The Coptic Orthodox Church is called the "Apostolic", "Lighthouse of the Orient" and "pillar of faith." Other Churches Orthodox (who celebrate January 18) are among the four great Doctors of the Church. Catholics (who celebrate May 2), have made him one of 33 doctors and one of the Fathers of the Church.
At the time of the Reformation , Calvin had him in high esteem, while Marguerite de Navarre , Rabelais , non-Trinitarian Protestants as Kepler and Isaac Newton first made him responsible for offsets of primitive Christianity.
Summary |
Athanasius was born in Damanhour near Alexandria in Egypt in 298. He was consecrated bishop in 328 and took a decisive part in the great debates Christological the fourth century.
Young man, he is player of the Church of Alexandria for six years. He participates in the First Council of Nicaea as a deacon and secretary of his predecessor Alexander of Alexandria.
Later his intransigence against Arian earned him five successive exiles, according to the emperors of Rome:
- 1 Exile (of 11 July 335 au 22 November 337 ): after the First Council of Nicaea , Constantine I , for indulgence or on the advice of his pro-Arian sister, asks Athanasius to readmit Arius in the community Christian of Alexandria. Athanasius, inflexible, is summoned to the first council of Tyre who condemns to confirm the testimony of Athanasius . The popularity of Athanasius is great, so is investing Constance Alexandria militarily and place in the episcopal Gregory of Cappadocia. The supporters of Athanasius are persecuted, and he himself had to flee into the desert. This new exile lasted six years. On the death of Constance, the new emperor, Julian , in favor of paganism, get convictions Constance in an Edict of Tolerance, and disinterested Christological discussions;
- 4th exile (from 24 October 362 au 5 September 363 ): the advent of Julian, Gregory of Cappadocia was massacred by the people of Alexandria . The vacancy allows the return of Athanasius. However Julien, who has erased the convictions of Constance, is not going to restore the bishops in their function. As he requires the expulsion of the prelate, and Athanasius withdrew again into the desert until his rehabilitation by the Emperor Jovian. In 363 , Jovian , Julian's successor, proclaims its commitment to the Council of Nicaea. The meeting between the emperor and the bishop at Antioch strengthens the position of Athanasius;
- 5th exile (from 5 October 365 au 31 January 366 ): Jovian died in 364 , and two brothers share the government of the empire: Valentinian I in the West preaches religious tolerance, but Valens in the East is openly Arian. Each episcopal vacancy generates disputes between Arians and Nicene. Athanasius was persecuted by his enemies, and the temporary retirement that he is celebrated as needed fifth exile;
After five exiles, Athanasius returned to Alexandria on 31 January 366 , never to leave. He died crowned with glory and virtue on 2 May 373 , on May 15 by the Julian calendar. His feast is celebrated on January 18 in the Roman calendar. At his death, Valens provides ephemeral triumph of Arianism by placing Lucius on the seat of Alexandria.
Athanasius was consecrated Bishop Prudence, who founded the Church of Ethiopia
At a time when the doctrine was not established (it will progressively by different councils), the debate that book against the Arian position (at which Arius subordationnisme of Christ a creature of the Father, he contrasted doctrine of consubstantiality - the Son is consubstantial with the Father but separate) is one of the most decisive in the establishment of the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. He fights not only against dissenting churches, but also against the civil power of the emperors. His charisma, his toughness, her imperious, sometimes irascible, he alienated many people, but also acquired him unwavering support of both populations and among its peers.
In his writings, Athanasius seeks to convince by the perspective of salvation: "Man is not saved if Christ was not fully God."
Works
He wrote several books defending his thesis and for its position vis--vis the Arianism. He also wrote a Life of Saint Anthony which did not spare his support in his dispute with the emperor Constantine II.
- Against the Greeks;
- Discourse on the Incarnation of the Word;
- Apologies (357);
- Discourse against the Arians;
- Life of St. Antony (c. 370);
- Exposition of the Faith;
- 13 letters written between 324 and 343 or 356 and 370.
Apologies four, the last is apocryphal, and attributed to Apollinaris of Laodicea.
The famous symbol of Saint Athanasius, also known as the Quicumque is attributed to Bishop Fulgence of Ruspe to 533.
- Clavis Patrum Grcorum 2090-2309.
Translations
Translations published in Christian Sources (Editions du Cerf):
- Apology to the Emperor Constance (Apologia ad Constantium) CPG 2129, SC No. 56 bis, 1958
- Apology for his flight (Apologia de fuga sua); GC 2122, SC No. 56 bis, 1958
- Speech against the pagans (Oratio contra gentes) GC 2090, SC No. 18 bis, 1947
- On the Incarnation of the Word (Oratio of Incarnatione Verbi) GC 2091; SC No. 199, 1973 (2nd edition)
- History "Acephale" Syriac Literature and festal Index (Index Epistularum Festalium) GC 2102; SC No. 317; 1985
- Letter quoted by Diodorus of Tarsus Facundus of Hermiane (Epistula ad Diodorum Tarsensem apud Facundum Hermaniensem) CPG 2164, SC No. 478; 2003
- Letters to Serapion (Epistulae ad Serapionem) GC 2094 and 2096; SC No. 15, 1947
- Life of Antony (Life of Antony) GC 2101; SC No. 400, 1994
By other publishers:
- The Three Speeches against the Arians; Publishing Lessius
References
- The council led by Eusebius of Caesarea, Athanasius was accused of alleged violence against the sect mlsiens.
- Athanasius is not alone in suffering the wrath of Constance. Pope Liberius , Ossius Cordoba , Paulinus of Trier, Dionysius of Milan and Lucifer of Cagliari , Eusebius of Vercelli and Hilary of Poitiers were exiled.
- To the clergy of the East, Athanasius was still under the condemnation of the synod of Antioch which had not been waived, in their view, by the leniency of Constantius II.
- It is unknown if this act is to the account of the heathen, quick to get rid of a bad reputation to the bishop, or if the supporters of Athanasius played a role in this case.
Bibliography
- Louis Bouyer , The Incarnation and the Church as the Body of Christ in the theology of Athanasius, Cerf, 1943.
- On the Incarnation of the Word. Introduction, critical text, translation and notes by Charles Kannengiesser , Cerf, 1973.
- Charles Kannengiesser , The Word of God in Athanasius of Alexandria, Descle-Mame, 1999.
Notes
Related articles
External Links
- (En) Patristique.org, text of Athanasius of Alexandria and the Church Fathers
- Athanasian texts in Latin, Greek, English, etc.. site Documenta Catholica Omnia
- Text of Athanasius, Greek
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