Day 6 – Saint Athanasius of Alexandria (296–373)

Athanasius was a young deacon when he first appeared on the stage of history at the Council of Nicaea in 325. The church was divided over the teaching of Arius, who claimed that Christ was a created being and not fully God. Athanasius, though not yet a bishop, rose as a brilliant defender of the truth: that Jesus Christ is of one substance with the Father, fully divine and fully human, the Savior who alone can bring us salvation.

In time, Athanasius became bishop of Alexandria, and his life turned into a long battle to defend the Nicene faith. He endured exile five times under four emperors, living for years as a fugitive. His opponents mocked him with the phrase “Athanasius contra mundum” — “Athanasius against the world” — yet he stood firm, trusting that to stand with Christ was to stand with the truth. His writings, especially On the Incarnation, continue to shape how the church confesses Jesus as both God and man.

Though Athanasius often felt alone, his faithfulness preserved the heart of the gospel for generations. When the church was tempted to compromise with cultural pressure and political power, he reminded them that without the full divinity of Christ, salvation itself was at stake. His life was not about winning debates, but about holding fast to the One who had first loved him.

For us today, Athanasius reminds us that truth is worth defending even when it is costly. Faithfulness may sometimes feel like standing against the world, but Christ has promised to be with His church. Athanasius’ courage calls us to hold firmly to the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord — not merely with our lips, but with our lives.