On life (126) – ”Stop! I Want to Have a Word with You” – 15/5/2016

   Today, Egypt and the whole world celebrate the departure of Pope Athanasius the Apostolic who did change the world. He faced challenges with bravery and patience, which is why he deserves the title, “Defender of Faith”, and the tribute of being “the legendary Egyptian Pope who was called the Apostolic.” His unparalleled genius made some people say, “Whenever one reads the life of Athanasius, he wishes the man had not died!” From Pope Athanasius’ life, we learn the following morals:

Interest in Study and Thought

   Young Athanasius was studious. He cared for developing his mental skills. Thus, he concentrated on law, science, philosophy and literature. Yet, he was mostly interested in biblical and theological studies based on a patristic approach. He studied at the Alexandria Theological Seminary where he became a disciple of great teachers who taught him grammar, logic, oration, rhetoric, Greek philosophy, Roman law, as well as the Bible’s books.

Interest in Serving People

   Athanasius cared for the poor and the needy during his youth. He used to feed the hungry, dress the naked, visit the prisoners, host the strangers, and strengthen the weak. He was loved by everybody. So much so that when he was chosen patriarch, nobody spoke ill of him. Rather, everybody praised him. Insofar as serving the poor was concerned he said, “God can feed the poor who He had entrusted to us; yet He wants people to sprout the fruit of love and righteousness.” Pope Athanasius loved everybody. He was kindhearted, and encouraged everybody to do good, saying, “Do good as much as you can, for God’ sake, even with your enemies, that you might defeat the evil they nurse for you.”

Keenness on Declaring the Truth

   Pope Athanasius was not lured by worldly matters. Rather, he was brave, strong and self-confident enough to declare the truth. He complimented nobody. Meanwhile, he  never hurt or insulted people. Historians maintain that he wanted to meet king Constantine who persecuted him after some Arian bishops had instigated him. When he could not do so, he waited for the king’s cortege. He stopped him and held his horse reins strongly, saying, “Stop, O Constantine! I want to have a word with you.” Finding it was Pope Athanasius, the Emperor descended from his horseback to talk to him.

   Ever since his youth, Pope Athanasius never wasted time. Rather, he spent every single moment in learning, discipleship at the hand of St. Antony, the father of monks, writing books, treatises, and commentaries. In fact, his writings amount to three hundred and eighty of the most important theological books and references in the whole world. They are the legacy that illuminates our life. St. Athanasius the Apostolic is the Egyptian to whom the world bows in homage.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center