By CNA Staff
CNA Staff, May 2, 2025 / 04:00 am
The Catholic Church on May 2 honors St. Athanasius of Alexandria, a fourth-century bishop known as “the father of orthodoxy” for his dedication to the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. Athanasius played a key role at the First Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325 and defended the Nicene Creed throughout his life.
This year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, which was convened during the pontificate of Pope Sylvester I in 325.
St. Athanasius was born to Christian parents living in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 296. His parents took great care to have their son educated, and his talents came to the attention of a local priest who was later canonized — St. Alexander of Alexandria. The priest and future saint tutored Athanasius in theology and eventually appointed him as an assistant.
Around the age of 19, Athanasius spent a formative period in the Egyptian desert as a disciple of St. Anthony in his monastic community. Returning to Alexandria, he was ordained a deacon in 319 and resumed his assistance to Alexander, who had become a bishop. The Catholic Church, newly recognized by the Roman Empire, was already encountering a new series of dangers from within.
The most serious threat to the fourth-century Church came from a priest named Arius, who taught that Jesus could not have existed eternally as God prior to his historical incarnation as a man. According to Arius, Jesus was the highest of created beings and could be considered “divine” only by analogy. Arians professed a belief in Jesus’ “divinity” but meant only that he was God’s greatest creature.
Opponents of Arianism brought forth numerous Scriptures that taught Christ’s eternal preexistence and his identity as God. Nonetheless, many Greek-speaking Christians found it intellectually easier to believe in Jesus as a created demigod than to accept the mystery of a Father-Son relationship within the Godhead.
By the year 325, a heated debate was tearing the Church apart and causing unrest in the Roman Empire. The controversy centered around Arius’ doctrine, challenging traditional beliefs about the full deity of Christ. It was at this critical moment that Athanasius stepped onto the stage of history.
Attending the First Ecumenical Council at Nicaea, Athanasius played a pivotal role in reaffirming the Church’s teaching on Christ’s divinity. The council established the Nicene Creed as a foundational statement of faith, setting the stage for Athanasius’ lifelong commitment to defending the council’s decisions.
As the successor to St. Alexander as the bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius faced relentless pressure from Emperor Constantine to compromise on his stance against Arius. Despite threats and false accusations, Athanasius stood firm in his defense of the Nicene Creed, refusing to waver in his convictions.
Throughout his life, Athanasius endured multiple exiles and persecution at the hands of Arian sympathizers. Despite attempts on his life and relentless attacks on his character, he remained steadfast in his beliefs, supported by a few courageous popes who stood by his side.
Even in the face of adversity, Athanasius continued to uphold the Nicene Creed, inspiring others to join him in the fight against Arianism. His perseverance and unwavering faith ultimately led to the vindication of his beliefs at the Second Ecumenical Council in 381.
Athanasius’ legacy lives on as a testament to the power of standing firm in the face of opposition and upholding the truth, no matter the cost. His unwavering commitment to defending the divinity of Christ serves as an inspiration to all who face challenges to their beliefs.
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