Monday, May 3, 2010

Athanasius of Alexandria

Monday after Easter 5
May 3, 2010

The Lord be with you

Yesterday was the commemoration of Athanasiaus of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor on the calendar used in the LC-MS. I didn’t get to posting anything about it yesterday, so I thought I’d put something up today.

Athanasius was born in Alexandria in Egypt around AD 295. He served as a church leader in a time of great controversy and ecclesiastical disagreement. At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Athanasius defended Christian orthodoxy against the proponents of the Arian heresy, which denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ. During his forty-five-year tenure as bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius wrote numerous works that defended the orthodox teaching. His enemies had him exiled five times; on two occasions he was almost murdered. Yet Athanasius remained steadfast and ended his days restored fully to his ecclesiastical responsibilities. The Athanasian Creed, though not composed by Athanasius, is named in his honor because it confesses the doctrinal orthodoxy he championed throughout his life. (Treasury of Daily Prayer, CPH, page 1293)

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

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