Who was St. Athanasius?:
St. Athanasius, a Christian theologian, was one of the 8 great Doctors of the Church (Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Gregory the Great, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus).
Occupation: Christian (bishop and theologian)
Dates:
Athanasius lived from about 298 - 373.
Offices:
St. Athanasius was Bishop of Alexandria from 328.
Controveries / Heresies:
Athanasius actively opposed the Arian heresy because if Jesus was not fully divine, he couldn't provide salvation. Athanasius was present at the Nicene Council, after which Arius was exiled. After Arius' recall, Athanasius would not reinstate him, and after a smear campaign by his enemies, Athanasius was sent into exile.
Source: Christian History
Sources:
Gregory of Nazianzus, the Emperor Julian, and St. Jerome all wrote about Athanasius.
Writings of Athanasius:
Athanasius wrote the first list of the 27 books that are recognized today as the New Testament. Athanasius wrote a life of St. Anthony. He also wrote, among many other items: De Incarnatione Verbi, De virginitate, Oratio de Incarnatione, and Contra Arianos. The Athanasian Creed is attributed to him.
Athanasius' Saint's Day:
2 May
