be in their presence. This letter clearly shows his stand that accepting Jesus as the divine Son of God is not optional but necessary:

"I know moreover that not only this thing saddens you, but also the fact that while others have obtained the churches by violence, you are meanwhile cast out from your places. For they hold the places, but you the apostolic faith.

They are, it is true, in the places, but outside of the true faith; while you are outside the places indeed, but the faith, within you. Let us consider whether is the greater, the place, or the faith. Clearly the true faith (greater), who then has lost more, or who possesses more? He who holds the place, or he who holds the faith."

(fragment conjectured to belong to the Festal letter)

Further Writings

Athanasius' biography of Anthony the great entitled life of Anthony (βίοσ καὶ πολιτεία πατρὸσ Ἀντωνίου, vita antonii) became his most widely read work. Translated into several languages, it became something of a best seller in its day and played an important role in the spreading of the ascetic ideal in Eastern and Western Christianity (Encyclopedia Americana). It depicted Anthony as an illiterate yet holy man who continuously engaged in spiritual exercises in the Egyptian desert and struggled against demonic powers. It later served as an inspiration to Christian monasticism in both the East and the West (Metropolitan Bishop of Damiette).

Athanasius' works on Asceticism also include a discourse on virginity, love, and self-control, and a treatise on sickness and health of which only fragments remain.

Misattributed Works

There are several other works ascribed to him that are generally unaccepted as his own. These include the so-called Athanasian Creed (which is seen today by most as being of 5th century Galician origin), and a complete exposition on the Psalms (pg 27: 60-545).

There are many things which Athanasius accomplished, and here we will name just a few.

1. While in the council of Nicae, as a secretary to the bishop Alexander of Alexandria, he suggested the word “Homoousios” to express how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are equal, eternal, and uncreated. He was nicknamed the “Black Dwarf.” He was the leading theologian arguing for this position (class note [2017] given by Dr. John Carson on church history in second year, second semester).
2. Athanasius, only a deacon, when he participated in the Nicene Council, which clarified the doctrine of the unity of the Father, the deity of the Son and his eternal existence.
3. Concerning the nature of Christ, he held the view that Christ was coequal, coeternal, and consubstantial with the Father. This view was the cause of his exile. He made a Christology defense that will never be like any other.
4. He served as the Bishop (archbishop) of Alexandria for forty-five year succeeding Alexander of Alexandria. He spent seventeen years of his Episcopate in exile.
5. Along with the Bishop of Alexandria and his mentor Alexander, he opposed Arianism at the Nicene Council.
6. He suffered persecution and was forced to go into exile five times, but later came back to Alexandria where he died peacefully.

Athanasius suffered persecution due to his commitment to defending the Christian faith. He defended the doctrines of the church and suffered persecution. His willingness to suffer, strengthened the church by the grace of God, he returned home late in his life where he died peacefully.

1. Doctrine

Athanasius was a Christian theologian, a church father, the chief defender of Trinity, against Arianism, and a notable Egyptian leader of the fourth century. He explained the word "Trinity" by dividing the doctrine into two parts:
a. Doctrine of God: (paraphrase from John Carson, note on biographies in his diploma course of church history);

• Equality: to explain this Athanasius uses the word “homoousios” (consubstantial), to mean that the Son is divine and "of one substance (consubstantial) with the Father."
• Eternity: on this idea he uses “gennathenta,”which means that the Son is eternal, "begotten (gennathenta) and not made." By this he meant that there was never a time when the Son came into existence. Neither, by implication, was there a time when the Holy Spirit came into existence.

b. Ontological trinity: from Greek “ontos” which means “being”. This was to show who God is in his inmost being. We see transcendent inner-relations between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (paraphrase from John Carson, note on biographies in his diploma course of church history).

2. Persecution

Athanasius' episcopate began on 9 May 328 when the Alexandrian council elected Athanasius to succeed the aged Alexander. That council also denounced various heresies and schisms, many of which continued to preoccupy his 45-year-long episcopate (c. 8 June 328 – 2 may 373). Patriarch Athanasius spent over 17 years in five exiles ordered by four different Roman emperors. This does not exclude approximately six more incidents in which Athanasius fled Alexandria to escape people seeking to take his life. These incidents gave rise to the expression "Athanasius contra mundum" or "Athanasius against the world."

After returning to Alexandria in early 366, Athanasius spent his final years repairing all the damage done during the earlier years of violence, dissent, and exile. He resumed undisturbed writing and preaching, and characteristically re-emphasized the view of the incarnation, as defined at Nicaea. On 2 May 373, having consecrated Peter II, one of his presbyters as his successor, Athanasius died peacefully in his own bed, surrounded by his clergy and faithful supporters (Encyclopedia Britannica).

Bibliography

1. Class notes by Dr. John Carson
2. Paraphrase from john Carson, note on biographies in his diploma course of church history).
3. Wikipedia
4. Encyclopedia Britannica