Athanasius

Athanasius

Bishop of Alexandria. The first to introduce monasticism to the West. In 335, when he was banished to Trier (in modern Germany) he was accompanied by two monks. He wrote The Life of Saint Anthony and its circulation spread the idea in the West. In A.D. 367 he wrote an Easter letter containing a list of books he included in the N.T. canon. This list was accepted and authorized by the Hippo and Carthage councils. As an advisor to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria during the Nicean council in A.D.325, he first battled the Arian heresy. At 33, he succeeded Alexander as bishop of Alexandria and for the next 50 years waged a perpetual war against Arianism. During these decades Athanasius was banned 5 times and returned to Alexandria each time after a change in emperors, or a change in religious maneuvering in the palace.Finally, Athanasius and his supporters quenched the Arian heresy, and he died at 75 a peaceful man and secure in his office as bishop of Alexandria.

[tags]Alexander, Anthony, Athanasius, BlogRodent, church-history, ChurchRodent, history, Arianism[/tags]

 

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