The Fathers and Teachers
of the Church through their works saved for us the Apostolic tradition and
clarified the true teaching of faith and piety. During the difficult times of
the fight with heretics and false prophets, they stepped forth as protectors of
Orthodoxy; and their life and activity came as a high (worthy) example of
spiritual life.
The 4th century in particular was famous for
the appearance of great Teachers, who banded for the protection of the holy
faith at a time when the peace of the Church was deeply and for a long time
shaken by the Arian heresy (the Arians denied the Divine nature of the Lord
Jesus Christ).
The first great fighter
against Arianism was St. Athanasius the Great (293-373). Having been given by
nature unusual gifts, Athanasius received his education under the guidance of
the Alexandrian Bishops Peter and Alexander. Athanasius was greatly influenced
by the founder of Egyptian monasticism, Anthony the Great, whose life he
described. Having judiciously studied the Holy Scripture, the works of early
Church scribes and ancient classicists, he held what was considered at that
time an important and influential function of archdeacon during the time of
archbishop Alexander and was his enviable assistant in the preliminary fight
against Arian heresy.
He was energetic and
courteous, unbending in truth, and indulgent toward those who went astray,
being endowed with great tact in his dealings with people with a shrewd
presence of mind, being diversely educated, Archbishop Athanasius immediately
gained public respect and love. However the peaceful time of his patriarchal
activity lasted no more than two years; this was followed by a series of trials
and misfortunes. Followers of Arianism, at whose head was the Nicodemian Bishop
Eusebuis, a friend of Arius, from the school at Antioch, tried by all means to
return Arius to the Church and were able to dispose in his favor the sister of
Emperor Constantine and with her help the Emperor himself. It was determined to
reinstate Arius from exile, who supposedly was repentant of his straying - and
have the Archbishop of Alexandria accept him into the Church community.
Athanasius having understood the slyness and pretense of the false prophets,
refused to accept the heretic who rejected the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus
Christ.
From then on, began the
persecution of the witness of Christ, with the blackest of calumny being
contrived against him. He was accused of embezzlement from the church, and
collusion with the enemies of the empire; it was rumored that he had killed a
bishop called Arsenius whose cut off hand he used in the practice of magic. St.
Athanasius was obliged to defend himself in court since there were some who
actually believed this absurd fabrication. Here the enemies of Athanasius
displayed the same hand which was supposedly found in his possession. However,
to their great embarrassment Arsenius himself showed up. Legend has it that
Arsenius was brought in and showed both his hands which had been given him by
God. This brought the enemies of Athanasius into an undescribable rage; they
beset upon him and almost strangled him. All this happened during the time of
Constantine, the protector of the Church. The ensuing rulers, Constantius the
Arian and Julian the apostate openly persecuted St. Athanasius but could not
destroy his unwavering steadfastness.
During difficulties and
tumults of his ascetic life, St. Athanasius wrote many apologias in defence of
Christianity and edification of believers. His works are published in Russian
in 4 volumes. The thoughts and attestations of St. Athanasius to this day have
a great meaning and power, - the language is rich and exemplary. The valiant archpriest died at about 75 years of age.
Sources: https://www.fatheralexander.org/booklets/english/saints/athanasius_great.htm
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