Athanasius 			May 2
Bishop of Alexandria, Teacher of the Faith
Athanasius was a bishop of strong character, whose contribution to the disputes of the fourth century ensured the eventual triumph of the doctrine affirmed at Nicea that Christ is “of one being with the Father”.
Athanasius was born around 296 in Alexandria, then the intellectual centre of the Roman world, and was probably educated there. He was ordained a deacon (at that time a deacon was a close administrative assistant to the bishop), and accompanied his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria, to the Council of Nicea in 325, and then succeeded him as patriarch in 328.
Arianism, which had begun in Egypt, now convulsed the church in the eastern Mediterranean. The controversy was both theological and political. Theologically it concerned the divinity of Christ - was he fully and substantially divine, or divine in only a qualified sense. To complicate matters, theological parties vied for imperial support to oust their opponents. Rivalry between the great sees was also a factor causing tensions.
Athanasius unswervingly upheld the doctrine of the full and substantial divinity of Christ as stated at Nicea. As Athanasius put it: “The Word of God came in his own person, because it was he alone, the Image of the Father, who could recreate humanity made according to the image.” Athanasius was exiled no fewer than four times through the efforts of his theological and political opponents. It was probably during his first exile to Trier in Gaul in 336 that he wrote his best-known treatise, On the Incarnation of the Word of God. He returned to Alexandria in 337. 
Like many of his contemporaries, Athanasius was attracted by the ascetic ideal of the new monastic movement. During his second exile, which was in Rome (339-346), he did much to promote the support of the western church for Nicene theology, and the growth there of the monastic ideal. His Life of Antony became a popular spiritual classic on the monastic/ascetic way. He depicted it as offering a proper balance between things earthly and heavenly.
He was exiled twice more (356-363 and 365-366), though on these occasions he went into hiding in the vicinity of Alexandria. Throughout his life he made strenuous efforts and wrote voluminously in order to establish understanding and acceptance of the Nicene doctrine. In this he was largely successful, though he died in 373, eight years before the eventual triumph of Nicene orthodoxy at Constantinople in 381.
For Liturgical Use
Athanasius was born about 296 and became patriarch of Alexandria in 328. Although exiled four times by the efforts of his opponents, he did much to foster the eventual triumph of the doctrine affirmed at the Council of Nicea that Christ is “of one being with the Father”, rather than a more qualified statement of Christ’s divinity. His treatise, On the Incarnation of the Word of God, is still a widely read classic, and his Life of Antony did much to popularise a monastic life-style. He died in 373.
Sentence
In you O Lord I have taken refuge, let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me and save me.	Psalm 71:1,2
Collects
God of truth,
your servant Athanasius
earnestly defended faith in the incarnate Word;
grant that, enlightened by his teaching,
we may confess with our lips
and believe in our hearts
the divine nature of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.

True and living God,
you gave Athanasius patience and endurance
to defend Christ’s divinity;
help us not to be surprised
that you are beyond our understanding.
Psalms	2	119:129-136
Readings
Isaiah 63:7-9		The people’s saviour
Colossians 1:11-20		The image of the invisible God
Matthew 5:13-16		Salt and light
Post Communion Sentence
Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?	
				1 John 5:5