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Within the rise of the early church, one of the firmest beliefs of the Christian Church was vulnerable to the attacks of Arianism, a heretical view which held that Jesus was not coeternal with The Father but was begotten i.e., created by the Father. This view was and is considered heretical because it rejects the unity of the trinity and the divinity of God.
Athanasius of Alexandria, an Egyptian Christian theologian and author, led the charge against this growing heretical rejection of Christ’s divine nature. In 325AD, when Constantine called together the most learned Christian theologians to refute Arianism, Athanasius was the head figure defending the Trinitarian view of Christ’s divinity, bearing, often alone, the full brunt of the Arian heresy, leading Christians to a proper understanding of The Savior.
Athanasius’s influence as a Christian Theologian began in the dawn of the 4th century in the Egyptian town of Alexandria. Due to his family’s wealth, Athanasius was given a high-level education, which led him to author many books on Christian doctrine. The most well-known of these is his On the Incarnation, which teaches on Christ’s divine incarnation and is one of his strongest refutations of the Arian heresy. On the Incarnation still influences adults and students, like us at Christ Classical, and leads us in wonder of Christ’s love.
While only being a deacon, Athanasius was elected the Bishop of Alexandria, which grew his influence among Church leaders and among the Arians. For more than 40 years, Athanasius continued to represent His Church as the defender against the Arian heresy, withstanding, often alone, every blow, insult, and wrong that the Arians sent him. The latter part of Athanasius’s life consisted of persecution due to his standing up for the faith; He stood unmoved through 4 Roman emperors and was exiled five times. Throughout his chaotic life, Athanasius found peace through prayer, the study of Scripture, and through writing books of instruction to the Church. Athanasius died in 373AD having successfully stunted the growth of Arianism and having taught those after him, through his many writings, the love of Christ and the wonder of his Divine incarnation.
Owen Mitchell is a 10th grader at Christ Classical. He is Prefect of the House of Athanasius and has attended Christ Classical since Kindergarten.
