Bishop exiled five times over heresy

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	St. Athanasius When: c.297-373 Where: Egypt What: Bishop and theologian, Doctor of the Eastern Church Feast: May 2

If St. Athanasius had lived in the 21st century, rather than the fourth century, he probably could have made a fortune as the TV pitchman for some rental moving truck company or hotel chain.

From the time of his appointment as the Bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, in 327 until his death some 46 years later, Athanasius was forced into exile five times, for a total of 17 years. Each exile was caused by a group of heretics who gained control over the emperor and of key segments of the church.

Athanasius is thought to have been born in Alexandria to a Christian family, who provided him a top notch education, particularly in theology and scripture.

Following his ordination as a deacon in about 318, he was named the secretary to Bp. Alexander of Alexandria. Athanasius went with Bp. Alexander to the Council of Nicaea, which condemned Arianism. This new heresy denied the divinity of Jesus, who, they said, was only the greatest creature of all time, but not divine.

Nearly 10 years later, after the death of Alexander, Athanasius was named the Bishop of Alexandria. Soon after Athanasius became bishop, Arianism staged a comeback and a supporter of Arius, the heresy's originator, convinced the emperor to require Athanasius to admit Arius to Communion. Athanasius refused and was put on trial at a church synod, which the Arians managed to stack with their own people.

In 336, Athanasius was banished to Germany by Emperor Constantine, but the next year, after the Emperor's death, he was allowed to return to Alexandria.

For the next several years Athanasius would be banished by the emperor who was being pressured by the Arians who had wrested control of the Eastern church. Athanasius would then appeal to the pope, the Western bishops and the emperor - if a new one held power - to allow his return, only to be banished again - once for 10 years.

Athanasius made good use of his time in exile, writing major spiritual and theological works, including a life of St. Antony, the desert father.

Athanasius believed so strongly in the importance of the written word that he wrote: "You will not see anyone who is really striving after his advancement who is not given to spiritual reading, and to him who neglects it, the fact will soon be observed in his progress."

Among Athanasius' theological works were two in which he made clear the importance of the Trinity and the belief that the second person of the Trinity became human. He also emphasized that the Holy Spirit and the Son were equal in divinity several years before the Council of Constantinople formally approved this doctrine.

Athanasius spent the final seven years of his life in Alexandria helping oppose Arianism. He is one of the church's first confessors - that is, a person who suffered for the church but was not martyred.