Beautiful Egypt 156 – «The Egyptian Champion» May 15, 2016

   History is the record of nations’ accounts. Man is the maker of history: for he builds and develops his nation by his deeds. Thus, to study history, one should look into people’s conditions and how they shape them. Now, we are about to look into the account of the fourth-century genius and the pillar that supported the Church in both the East and West, which entails that we assert that his life is an epitome of the Church’s history.

   This man’s history shines with the glory of bravery. He is of true renown, having struggled with an impersonal power so valiantly without hesitating to sacrifice. This man was fought by the entire world. Yet, he was alone. The two sides continued to fight for about fifty years. Nobody knew which would emerge victorious: the might party or the meek one whose only honest friends are God and death. The first would acquit him and the second save him.

   The fight was fierce, as it occurred between two non-compatible sides: the whole world with its kings, commanders and soldiers was against our champion with his faith and patience. The world kept watching anxiously. Nobody thought that a person fighting on his own could triumph. What an honorable struggle! What a glorious fight! Before that fight, kings and historians have always stood amazed.

   In fact, historians love to tackle him more than any other figure. People read him more than any other author. Should we compile what historians have written about him so far, it would surpass whatever was written about any other persona. Seeing that the world had strayed from the correct concept of Christ’s Divinity, sovereigns interfered to spread this heresy, the Egyptian champion started resisting it with his diligence, eloquence, and reason. He was fearless and unshaken, for he advocated the truth.

   No wonder then that he was told, “The world is against you, Athanasius,” to which he answered, “And I am against the world.” So he was called, “Athanasius Contra Mundum” or “Athanasius against the world.” Thus, he presented a role model for consistency, despite his opponents’ consensus. He exemplifies the rightfulness of an individual to express himself, even though he might be against a group and, even more, defeat the group. The Church owes her glory and triumph at that time and till the end of times to Athanasius, the brave Egyptian champion. Thus, historians have always tackled his biography to eternalize him and rebuke weaklings.

Pope Athanasius the Apostolic (328-373 A.D.)

   This great Pope was also known as “Athanasius of Alexandria,” “Athanasius the Great,” and “Athanasius the Confessor”. He was respected by the whole world. St. Basil the Great called him “the bishop of bishops”. In one of his epistles to him, St. Basil wrote, “You are the only one entitled to solve the conflict of the church of Antioch, as you are the bishop of bishops.”

   Pope Athanasius the Apostolic is not only one of the fathers of the Orthodox Church, a keeper of her Apostolic Faith, as well as one of her Doctors, he is also a father of the world’s churches. As we recite the Creed, Pope Athanasius’ image appears before us in glory for his significant role in the Council of Nicaea as well as his setting the Creed.

   All the churches accredited Pope Athanasius sainthood: the Catholic Church acknowledged his sainthood in Rome. Likewise, she accredited him one of the thirty-one doctors of the church. Also, the Eastern Church counts him one of her four fathers. Protestants consider him a great scholar. Pope Athanasius the Apostolic wrote several books and treatises which are considered important Patrology references.

   When he was ordained patriarch, it was said that, “The congregation agreed, as though with one mind and one body, crying out: He is surely worthy of becoming bishop. Not a single word was uttered against Athanasius in the entirety of Egypt. Rather, everybody spoke highly of him, calling him, the good, pious, ascetic, true bishop and Christian.”

   Due to defending the Faith, Athanasius faced lots of tribulations which endured for about fifty years in which he never had any rest. He was exiled five times during his papacy. He was falsely accused of rebellion against the emperor, prohibiting the export of grains to the king, practicing black magic, murder and adultery! Yet, God never forsook him. He brought about evidence and witnesses to testify to his innocence. Thus, Arians tried to assassinate him several times, but God saved him. Socrates, a historian, wrote about Athanasius’ eloquence which, “helped him in the Council of Nicaea, yet brought him all sorts of tribulation.” Reposed Abba Gregorius, General Bishop of Higher Theological Studies, Coptic Culture and Scientific Research, said, “His heroism is one of its kind. He stood strongly before the whole world. Today, he is respected by the whole world which bows its head in homage to him. But, who endured what Athanasius had endured? Who tolerated bitterness and tribulation in like manner he had?”

Pope Athanasius and Monasticism:

   St. Athanasius was St. Anthony’s disciple, for he spent three years with him. He led a life of asceticism, contemplation, worship, aloneness, and fearlessness of death. He said, “I have seen Anthony a lot, and learned from him. I lived with and served him for a long time.” At that time, Pope Athanasius wrote two books, namely, “The Falsehood of Idols” and “God’s Oneness”. He loved monasticism so much that he wrote, “Their cells within the mountain have become like sanctuaries full of pious people who chant the Psalms, read keenly, fast, and pray happily and wait for eternal life.” He believed that monastic life is perpetual asceticism and martyrdom. When persecution ceased to be and blessed Peter was martyred on February 25, 311 A.D., Anthony returned to his cell. He was martyred every day before his conscience and struggled for faith. Thus, his asceticism became stricter, as he fasted continuously.

   Pope Athanasius was the first patriarch made to wear monastic attire by St. Anthony. This became the patriarchal attire afterwards. Pope Athanasius the Apostolic wrote St. Anthony’s biography, recording what he had seen and experienced with the saint, and speaking about monasticism wherever he went, like Europe, thus spreading monasticism there, especially through his book “Anthony the Great”.

   Faced with threats and resistance emanating from Arius’ heterodoxy, Pope Athanasius sent a letter to St. Anthony, asking him to come over to Alexandria to combat it. So, St. Anthony, accompanied by the monks, hurried to Alexandria to support the Pope in this tribulation.

   St. Anthony was… Here starts another story. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center