May: Day 2: Saint Athanasius the Great

May: Day 2:
Saint Athanasius the Great
 
(On How Orthodox Christians Should Treat Heretics)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Athanasius the Great, who is celebrated today, was born in Alexandria, was instructed in worldly and Christian wisdom and then, even in the rank of Deacon, having attended the First Ecumenical Synod, showed himself to be a zealot of Orthodoxy and a strong denouncer of heretics. Elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Alexandria at the age of 28, he spent his entire life fighting the Arians! When the founder of the heresy, Arius, exiled by the decision of the First Ecumenical Synod, was returned from exile at the request of powerful people and accepted into communion by many churches, then only Athanasius was unwiling to accept the heretic. "Heretics who arm themselves against Christ the Savior have nothing in common with the true children of the Church of Christ," wrote Saint Athanasius to Emperor Constantine. The embittered Arians slandered Athanasius before the Emperor Constantine the Great, claiming that Athanasius had burdened the people with heavy taxes, had communicated with the enemies of the empire, had killed Bishop Arsenios and had performed magic with his severed hand. Condemned by the slanders of his enemies, Athanasius had to hide in distant lands, and the flock he left behind, who had always loved him dearly, suffered from the violence of the heretics. Only towards the end of his life did he return to Alexandria and lived peacefully until his death, which occurred in 373 A.D.

For his writings on Christian truths and for his zeal for Orthodoxy, Athanasius is called the “Father of Orthodoxy.”

II. We have seen, brethren, how such a pillar of Orthodoxy as Saint Athanasius the Great treated heretics: he did not wish to have any communion with them. Imitating this teacher of faith and fighter for Orthodoxy, we too must in all our relations with heretics, as well as schismatics and sectarians, observe extreme caution, so as not to become infected with their truly soul-destroying teaching.

Let us see how other Saints treated heretics, how ecclesiastical canons speak about this; we will also indicate whether it is possible to read heretical works.

a) Even during the life of the Apostle John the Theologian, there lived a certain false teacher named Cerinthus. This false teacher wanted to be a Christian, but he claimed that Jesus Christ is not the Son of God, having one essence with God the Father, but is instead a creation like all other creations, but the first and best. One day this impious false teacher, who humiliated the dignity of the Son of God, went to a bathhouse that was in the city of Ephesus. The Apostle John also entered there with some Christians. But hearing that Cerinthus was there, the Holy Apostle said to his companions: “Let us flee from here; the bathhouse may catch fire, for there is an impious man in it.” Thus, the Holy Apostle did not want to be even under the same roof with the impious man who dared to deny the Divinity of Jesus Christ. This same Holy Apostle and preacher of Christian love, who treated all sinners meekly, teaches Christians: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching (namely, that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God), do not receive him into your home and do not greet him, for he who greets him participates in his evil deeds.”

Other Saints behaved in a similar manner towards false teachers who distorted the fundamental truths of Christian teaching. Once, the Arian heretics spread the rumor that the universally respected ascetic and hermit Anthony the Great had entered into friendly relations with them. Surprised by their bold lie, Saint Anthony was inflamed with righteous anger and immediately went to Alexandria. There, before the Bishop and all the people, he cursed them, calling them forerunners of the Antichrist.

It would be a mistake to think that Anthony, by this act, violated the virtue of Christian patience and meekness. By not exposing the impudent slander, he would have given others the opportunity to be tempted about him; and what is more terrible, the ignorant, who cannot penetrate the intentions of a great man, could have given themselves over to a pernicious heresy. To remain silent in this case would have been dangerous and sinful.

b) Now let us listen to what the ecclesiastical canons say about the mutual relations of Orthodox Christians with heretics. The ecclesiastical canons regarding the treatment of Orthodox Christians with heretics say the following: “It is not permitted to have communion with those excommunicated, nor to meet in houses and pray with those who do not pray together with the church, and persons who are alien to one church are not to be received into another. If it turns out that any of the bishops, or presbyters, or deacons, or any of the clergy has communion with those excommunicated, then let him himself be excommunicated, as a violator of Church law” (Antiochian Synod, canon 2). “If anyone prays with one excommunicated, even in his house, let him be excommunicated” (Canon of the Holy Apostles, 10).

c) After this it is not difficult to see that it is a sin not only to read, but even to keep non-Orthodox books, for example, heretical and schismatic ones. The priest Kyriakos, who kept heretical works of Nestorius in his cell, was brought to his senses by the following vision: he saw a Woman dressed in purple standing near his cell, and with Her two men, in whom he recognized the Most Holy Theotokos and John the Baptist and John the Theologian, who were accompanying Her. In inexpressible joy the reverent priest threw himself at the feet of the Mother of God and asked Her to visit his cell. But She did not agree, despite his tearful requests, and finally said: “How do you want Me to come to you, when you are keeping My enemy in your cell?”

Having awakened from sleep, Kyriakos began to ponder in deep sorrow: “Who could be the enemy of the Most Holy Theotokos? There was no one else with me in the cell.” After some time, while reading books, the priest found among them the teachings of the heretic Nestorius, who was condemned at the Third Ecumenical Synod for calling the Most Holy Theotokos not the Theotokos, but the Mother of Christ, as if a simple man were born from her, and not also God. Only now did Kyriakos understand who the enemy of the Most Holy Theotokos was in his cell. He immediately burned the heretical book, saying: “From now on, let me not have an enemy of the Most Holy Theotokos.” (Prologue, October 1).

III. Therefore, let these examples of Saints and ecclesiastical canons teach us not to have any communication with heretics in matters of faith. 

Source: A Complete Annual Cycle of Short Teachings, Composed for Each Day of the Year. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.