First Saturday – St. Athanasius, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor–W (III)

While he was still a deacon, Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 298-373) was present at the Council of Nicaea, during which the true doctrine of the Church concerning the divinity of Christ was defined; and the rest of his life was a heroic testimony to the profession of the Nicene Fathers. After Athanasius had become bishop of Alexandria, he resisted during long years the pressure put upon him to compromise in essentials of the Faith. Five times he endured exile, and in consequence composed most of his great writings from his see city.