Synaxarium

On this day in the year 89 AM (373 AD), the great Pope Athanasius the Apostolic, the twentieth of the Popes of the Markian preaching, departed. This father was born to pagan parents around the years 295 and 298 AD. While he was in school, he saw some Christian children performing Christian rites, appointing some as priests, some as deacons, and one as a bishop. He asked to join them, but they prevented him, saying: "You are pagan, and it is not permissible for you to mix with us." He told them: "From now on, I am Christian." They rejoiced and made him their patriarch, seating him in a high place, and they offered him submission. At that moment, Pope Alexander passed by and said to those with him about Athanasius: "This boy will surely rise to a high rank one day."

When the father of Saint Athanasius died, his mother brought him to Pope Alexander, who taught them the principles of the Christian faith, baptized them, and distributed all their wealth to the poor. They stayed with the Pope Patriarch, where Athanasius learned church sciences, was ordained a deacon, and made his private secretary. His spiritual gifts multiplied, and he was chosen for the patriarchate on 8 Bashans, year 44 AM, May 5, 328 AD, after the departure of Pope Alexander.

Pope Alexander had recommended electing Athanasius, his deacon, who was alone with Saint Anthony the Father of Monks and learned asceticism from him. His genius appeared in exposing Arius at the Ecumenical Council when Arius said about the Lord Christ "similar in essence," and Athanasius said "equal in essence," thus revealing his brilliance.

However, after the death of the Pope, Athanasius hid in the mountains, believing himself unworthy of this dangerous position. The people sought him until they found him and brought him to the bishops, who consecrated him Pope in 327 AD. The historian Socrates testified (in chapter 2, page 387): "The eloquence of Athanasius at the Nicene Council brought upon him all the afflictions he encountered in his life."

After becoming Pope, he ordained the first metropolitan of Ethiopia, Anba Salama, and religious matters stabilized there after following the Markian preaching.

The Pope was exiled from his seat five times.

First exile: When Arius tried after his excommunication to return to Alexandria and presented to King Constantine a letter full of ambiguous phrases that influenced the king, who asked Pope Athanasius to accept him. The Pope refused because it contradicted the decision of the Ecumenical Council. The Arians accused the Pope of several charges:

1 – Supporting Pope Philumenus, who rebelled against the government.

2 – Breaking the cup of the priest Iskira and destroying his altar.

3 – Killing Bishop Arsanius and using his arms in sorcery.

4 – Also raping a nun.

The Pope cleared himself of the first charge. A council was held in Tyre mostly of Arians, and they examined the charges. For the first, the Lord moved the heart of priest Iskira, who agreed with them to bear false witness and cleared the Pope. For the second, Bishop Arsanius appeared and refuted their false accusation that the Pope killed him. The Arians had brought the arms of a dead man, claiming they were Arsanius's, but Arsanius showed his arms to the assembly and expressed regret. The Arians said Athanasius was a sorcerer who could produce two arms, and they raged against him. Arsanius left them and went to the king.

Then they examined the nun's accusation. They brought a prostitute who claimed this against the saint. Priest Timothy from the Pope's entourage said: "How dare you say I came to your house and forced you?" She thought it was Athanasius because she did not know him and said: "You are he." Her matter was exposed.

The Pope could not meet the king due to the Arians' interference, who accused him before the king of preventing grain exports from Alexandria to the king. The king ordered the Pope's exile to Trier in France on February 5, 335 AD, where the bishop received him with great honor. Arius died a shameful death, as Socrates said (chapter 1, page 68): "God killed Arius in a public latrine where his intestines spilled out." The people considered this death divine justice. When the king learned this, he recognized the Pope's innocence and ordered his return in 337 AD while on his deathbed. The kingdom was divided after him: Constantine the Younger took France, Egypt was under Constantius, and Italy under Constans. Through Constantine's mediation, the Pope returned in 338 AD, and the people welcomed him joyfully, and every house became like a church.

Second exile: The Arians did not remain silent. They held a council that excommunicated Athanasius and appointed Gregory in his place, sending the decision to Julius, Bishop of Rome. The Pope held a council in Alexandria in 340 AD, protesting against the Arians, then wrote a circular letter to all churches, proving his innocence. However, the Arians influenced Philogorius to help their patriarch seize the churches of Alexandria and influenced Emperor Constantius. The Alexandrian people were alarmed and decided to resist, but the Arians attacked the churches on Good Friday, violated virgins, and killed many worshippers. The Pope appealed to all churches worldwide, left his seat, and traveled to Rome. A council was held in Sardica, deciding first to clear Pope Athanasius, second to confirm the Nicene Council's law, third to excommunicate the Arian bishops, and fourth to depose Gregory. They appointed two bishops to meet Emperor Constans, ruler of Italy, who agreed with the council and threatened his brother with war if he did not restore Athanasius. Meanwhile, some Egyptians killed Gregory in 349 AD. The Pope returned to his seat again and was received by the people as Gregory the Theologian said: "Its crowd was like the Nile at its flood," referring to palm branches, carpets, and many clapping hands.

Third exile: The Pope left for the third time due to Constantius. The Arians reluctantly accepted Athanasius's return until Constans, ruler of Italy, died, and Constantius became angry. He ruled by an Arian council to exile Pope Athanasius. Soldiers went to the Church of the Virgin Mary, built by Pope Theonas. The Pope was praying the evening prayer, saying "For His mercy endures forever." The soldiers rushed into the church to arrest the Pope, but God put a veil over their eyes, so they did not recognize him among the people. The lamps went out, and the Pope left and went to the desert, staying with the monastic fathers. The Arians appointed Georgius the Cappadocian as bishop over the Orthodox, but they did not accept him. He seized church properties, but the pagans he persecuted killed him and burned his body.

Return due to Julian, then leaving the seat for the fourth time: The situation did not last. Emperor Constantius died, and his cousin Julian came to power. Julian wanted to win the people's hearts and requested the return of Athanasius. The Pope held a council in 362 AD and set conditions for accepting returning Arians. He also focused on preaching among pagans, which Julian did not accept as he loved pagans. Julian ordered the arrest of Athanasius, so the Pope left Alexandria and boarded a boat to Upper Egypt. The governor followed in another boat. When they approached the Pope's boat, they asked about it and were told it was going to Thebes, not far from them. The governor hurried to the nearest city but did not find Athanasius because he had hidden elsewhere. Those around him were affected by the persecutions and he showed them that during persecution he felt inner peace and increased grace more than usual. He added: "Julian's persecution is like a summer cloud that will clear." While they were talking, news came that Julian was killed in the Persian war by Mercurius, the father of two swords, who killed him while Julian was saying: "You have overcome me, son of Mary."

Return and solitary life for the fifth time away from his seat, in his father's tomb: After Julian's death, Jovian came to power, then Valens, who was Arian. In 367 AD, Valens issued a decree to exile the Pope, so he had to leave Alexandria and hide in his father's tomb. During this time, the king killed thirty bishops loyal to Athanasius. Despite this, seeing the firmness of the Copts, he decided to lift the persecution and restore Athanasius to his seat in 368 AD.

Although Athanasius was 72 years old, he did not neglect his duties. Due to the Pope's steadfastness in the truth, the African proverb "Athanasius against the world" came about. Pope Athanasius wrote several works about the Arians and the Incarnation. Anba Cosmas praised these writings, saying: "Whoever finds any of them, let him write it immediately on paper, and whoever does not find it, let him write it on his clothes." This Pope was the first to wear the monastic habit from the hand of Saint Anthony and made it the attire for all patriarchs and bishops. He ordained Saint Anthony as a priest and a monk and departed in peace after serving on the Markian seat for forty-five years. May his prayer be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever. Amen.

On this day is the commemoration of the nativity of Anba Shenouda, the Chief of the Hermits. May his prayers be with us, and to our Lord be glory forever and ever. Amen.