Saint Athanasios the Great and Our Times (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)

 

Saint Athanasios the Great and Our Times 

By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou

(Transcribed sermon delivered at the Sacred Metropolitan Church of Saint Athanasios in Ioannina, 18 January 2017)

Your Eminence Metropolitan of Ioannina, dear brother Maximos, and my beloved brothers,

Today we celebrate two great Fathers of our Church, and indeed in this very Metropolitan Church of Ioannina which bears the name of one of these two great Fathers and Ecumenical Teachers of our Church, namely Saint Athanasios. Of course, we also celebrate the memory of Saint Cyril. Both were Patriarchs of Alexandria — great Fathers of our Church and great confessors of the faith, great theologians and at the same time great Fathers. For we know that in the Orthodox Church theology is very closely bound to pastoral care and the patristic tradition. That is, one who is a theologian, in the patristic sense, is also a spiritual father, meaning that he guides his spiritual children on the path of salvation. And one who is a spiritual father, in order to guide his spiritual children, must also be a theologian. Thus theology is inseparably linked with spiritual fatherhood.

Yesterday your Eminence, Metropolitan of Ioannina Maximos, analyzed in an excellent manner the historical and dogmatic context in which these two great luminaries and Fathers of our Church, Saint Athanasios the Great and Saint Cyril, both Archbishops and Patriarchs of Alexandria, lived and worked.

Saint Athanasios of Alexandria in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Gregory the Theologian, in his funeral oration for Saint Athanasios the Great, wrote these memorable words: “In praising Athanasios, I praise virtue itself.” To honor Athanasios, he means, is nothing less than to honor virtue in its fullness. This same truth is echoed today in the hymnography of our Church through Saint Theophanes the Hymnographer, who slightly rephrases Saint Gregory’s saying: “As I offer praise to Athanasios, as though extolling virtue, I bring my hymn of praise rather to God Himself.” For indeed, such praise ultimately ascends to God, the Giver of all holiness. But why does the Church speak with such exalted language?

First, because Saint Athanasios truly was "the greatest figure of the ancient Church. He bore upon his shoulders the burden of a deep and multifaceted crisis and gave the definitive theological foundation to Orthodox Trinitarian doctrine. For more than four decades (328–373), he stood as a symbol and a leader toward whom all eyes were turned — both Orthodox and heterodox alike. The few faithful, whenever they saw this sacred eagle standing firm upon his episcopal throne or remaining unyielding in exile, knew with certainty that Orthodoxy lived, and their courage was renewed. The many who opposed the truth, as long as they saw this indomitable man still standing, realized that despite persecutions Orthodoxy endured — and this realization filled them with fury" (Stylianos Papadopoulos).

Encomium to Saint Andrew the Apostle (St. Athanasios the Great)

 

Encomium to Saint Andrew the Apostle 

By St. Athanasios the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria

A. Seeing this radiant flock of the Spirit, this apostolic net cast into a truly calm and untroubled sea, I am reminded of the Master’s voice crying, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” O voice full of power! O words made known by deeds! O promise that is true and grows day by day! For whose is this great catch of human beings? Who has gathered together this illustrious festival, if not the illustrious Andrew, the foremost of the apostles? He it was who cast out the nets of his tongue and memory, so that — filling this sacred ship with the oars of apostleship — he might steer the vessel straight toward heaven.

And what are the first fruits of this catch? What are the choice offerings of these labors? Those who brighten the enclosure of the priesthood with their virtues; those who first spread wide these apostolic arms and drew into salvation those wandering outside. Indeed, the great Andrew has given the occasion for our present festival; yet the whole chorus of the apostles is honored together. For those whom grace has joined, no place can part.

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.

January: Day 18: Saints Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria

January: Day 18:
Saints Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria
 
(On the Means of Rebuking Those Who Are in Error)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Among the fearless confessors of the holy faith, who courageously denounced heretics, are the great saints Athanasius and Cyril, now being glorified.

Still young, not yet ordained as a priest, while deacon of the Alexandrian Church, Athanasius, at the First Ecumenical Synod in 325 A.D. denounced more strongly than others the godless Arius, who falsely taught about the Son of God. His bright mind, thorough knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, the irresistible power of his words surprised the unrighteous-minded and aroused the hatred of his enemies. At the Synod, Arius's teaching was refuted. Arius was then condemned and sent into exile. From that time on, the life of Saint Athanasius became a series of sufferings and severe sorrows. And something that the malice and hatred of his enemies, the Arians, did not bring upon him. Soon after the Synod, the Archbishop of Alexandria died, and Saint Athanasius was made his successor. He was accused of taking unfair income from churches, and the emperor was assured that Athanasius was helping his enemies, that he was cruel to the clergy, and had even killed one bishop. He was banished from Alexandria five times, but the Saint endured everything complacently, zealously continuing to affirm Orthodoxy in his exile. He died in 373 after forty-seven years of ruling his flock.

"A Masterpiece", "A Picture of the Tree of Life": What C.S. Lewis Said About Saint Athanasius the Great and his 'On the Incarnation'

 

By C.S. Lewis

His epitaph is Athanasius contra mundum, "Athanasius against the world." We are proud that our own country has more than once stood against the world. Athanasius did the same. He stood for the Trinitarian doctrine, "whole and undefiled," when it looked as if all the civilised world was slipping back from Christianity into the religion of Arius—into one of those "sensible" synthetic religions which are so strongly recommended today and which, then as now, included among their devotees many highly cultivated clergymen. It is his glory that he did not move with the times; it is his reward that he now remains when those times, as all times do, have moved away.

Greek Customs and Folk Traditions Associated With the Feast of Saint Athanasios the Great

"Ai-Thanasis" is especially beloved among Greek Orthodox Christians. In the villages and towns, where there are parish churches dedicated to him, his winter feast (January 18) is celebrated in them. This is when people named Thanasi, Thanos and Athanasia celebrate their name day. However, for the May 2nd celebration, this is when chapels or cemetery churches that bear his name celebrate.

The people use the etymology of his name (Athanasia = Immortality) and for this reason have dedicated several cemetery churches to his memory, to banish death. The expression is also common in several regions of Greece: "He is ready for Ai-Thanasis," that is, he is about to die.

The paretymology of his name is due to some funeral customs or acts of longevity of the people. In Eastern Thrace, for example, on his feast day, in January, they slaughtered a rooster "for their health," while on the May 2nd festival in many places in his cemetery churches the Divine Liturgy is held and they share kollyva (combining his memory with the memory of the dead).