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St. Athanasius

St. Athanasius

St. Athanasius

Feastday: May 2
Died: 373

St. Athanasius, the great champion of the Faith was born at Alexandria, about the year 296, of Christian parents. Educated under the eye of Alexander, later Bishop of his native city, he made great progress in learning and virtue. In 313, Alexander succeeded Achillas in the Patriarchal See, and two years later St. Athanasius went to the desert to spend some time in retreat with St. Anthony.

In 319, he became a deacon, and even in this capacity he was called upon to take an active part against the rising heresy of Arius, an ambitious priest of the Alexandrian Church who denied the Divinity of Christ. This was to be the life struggle of St. Athanasius.

In 325, he assisted his Bishop at the Council of Nicaea, where his influence began to be felt. Five months later Alexander died. On his death bed he recommended St. Athanasius as his successor. In consequence of this, Athanasius was unanimously elected Patriarch in 326.

His refusal to tolerate the Arian heresy was the cause of many trials and persecutions for St. Athanasius. He spent seventeen of the forty-six years of his episcopate in exile. After a life of virtue and suffering, this intrepid champion of the Catholic Faith, the greatest man of his time, died in peace on May 2, 373. St. Athanasius was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

 
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1 - 11 of 11 Comments

  1. Joseph Mathew
    2 weeks ago

    St. Athanasius, great saint and Doctor of the Universal Church, thanks for your prayers and intercession, which have helped me a lot in my daily life, in understanding and living the true faith that you professed centuries back. Please continue to remember me in your prayers.

  2. Mona
    3 weeks ago

    Please pray for Gwen, Michelle, Jacob and all cancer patients especially the children. Dear Lord thank you for making me cancer free.

  3. Nwanne
    3 weeks ago

    St Athanasius,

    Pray for us to stand firm on the faith, that you fought hard for us to know till today

    Amen

  4. Jane
    3 weeks ago

    Hello all!
    St. Athanasius,
    Please pray for my brother Anthony. He is in the hospital with cancer right now and may not live. I plea this with all my heart that he will LIVE!

    Jane o'Conner

  5. Joseph Mathew
    1 year ago

    Dear St. Athanassius, Please pray for me to have the purity of mind and will to know God's will and to do everything accordingly. Guard me from the snares of the evil one through your prayers,; my dear holy saint.

  6. christie
    1 year ago

    St. Athanasius,whose feast day we celebrate today, pray for us to be faith filled and loyal followers of Christ. Give us your loving care and guidance while we are but pilgrims on this earth. Journey with us always and keep us safe from the snares of the devil. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I adore, worship and love You, God made Man. Listen to our pleas and answer our prayers, dear Jesus. Amen.

  7. sydney
    1 year ago

    this suprisingly helped me in my st report and i am very grateful for that

  8. 007
    1 year ago

    St. Athanasius pray for us. Plead with God that we may obtain great wisdom from His son. Now and at the hour of our death, intercede for us. †

  9. Brad Leonard
    2 years ago

    Good for quick reports. A worthy Doctor of the Church.

  10. judy l cebedo
    2 years ago

    so, he was the one who refute the first heresy that was very fundamental against the catholic dogma -- the Arian heresy. he is indeed a doctor of the church.

  11. dominic s.navarro jr.
    3 years ago

    nice and very scholastic

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