God Cares for Pope Athanasius the Apostolic

Saint AthanasiusSaint Athanasius

We call St. Athanasius “The Protector of the Orthodox Faith” because he was a great Patriarch and he proved the truth of Christianity to the whole world.

His ChildhoodHis Childhood

St. Athanasius was born in Alexandria in Egypt. His parents were pagans. What does the word “pagan” mean?

His father was very rich but he died when Athanasius was still a child.

His mother brought him up. She sent him to a Christian School in Alexandria to learn.

Christian ChildrenChristian Children

He mixed with the Christian children and noticed how they played, talked and how they loved one another.

Christian ChildrenChristian Children

He saw that they were calm and obedient. He watched them while they were praying to Lord Jesus Christ.

Athanasius and the ChildrenAthanasius and the Children

Children: “Hi Athanasaius! What is your Children: “Hi Athanasaius! What is your religion?”religion?”

Athanasius: “I worship Idols.”Athanasius: “I worship Idols.” C: “Idols are not gods. C: “Idols are not gods. Lord Jesus Christ is

God.” A: “This is true. I can see guys how you love A: “This is true. I can see guys how you love

one another, how you are calm and one another, how you are calm and obedient, how you pray to Him, and even obedient, how you pray to Him, and even how you play.”how you play.”

C: C: “Athanasius, be a Christian so that the Lord may be with you wherever you go. The hands of men make idols, so how can you worship them?!”

Playing on the SeashorePlaying on the Seashore

One day, while the children were in the school, the bell rang. There was a long break then. The children ran out to play on the Seashore.

At that time, the Pope (St. Alexandrous) was watching them from the window of his room but they did not notice it.

Athanasius and the rest of the boys were simulating the ritual of baptism.

Pope Alexandrous was happy because the children knew the ritual of baptism. He sent for them and they came and the following conversation took place:

Pope and ChildrenPope and Children P: “What were you doing, kids?”

C: “We were playing, Your Holiness.”

P: “Which game were you playing?” (The boys felt hesitant but he encouraged them)

C: “We were playing baptism ritual with Athanasius.”

P: “What is your name my son and who are you?”

A: “My name is Athanasius… My mother worships idols but I want to be a Christian, your Holiness.”

Athanasius becomes a Athanasius becomes a ChristianChristian

The Pope welcomed him and said to him, “May the Lord be with you”. The Pope was pleased with him. He noticed that he studied the ritual of baptism perfectly. He took him baptized him and anointed him with chrism. He asked his mother to leave him to stay with him at the Patriarchate as a deacon. The mother agreed.

Athanasius prayed and studied the Gospel and became a talented preacher.

The Protector or the Orthodox Faith

At the council of Nicea, when St. At the council of Nicea, when St. Athanasius was only about 27, he Athanasius was only about 27, he defended the orthodox faith against defended the orthodox faith against AriusArius

Arius was a bishop who taught Arius was a bishop who taught wrongly that Lord Jesus Christ was not wrongly that Lord Jesus Christ was not God, but St. Athanasius maintained God, but St. Athanasius maintained that Lord Jesus Christ is Light of Light, that Lord Jesus Christ is Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not True God of True God, begotten not created, of created, of one essence with the one essence with the Father. Father.

So because of St. Athanasius, the So because of St. Athanasius, the Council of Nicea established the first Council of Nicea established the first part of the orthodox creed that we part of the orthodox creed that we have today and the Council also have today and the Council also condemned Arius, degraded him from condemned Arius, degraded him from his position and stopped his evil his position and stopped his evil teachings.teachings.

St. Athanasius Becomes a St. Athanasius Becomes a PPatriarch

Three years later, and according to Pope Alexandrous’ will, the bishops and the people chose St. Athanasius a patriarch after the pope’s death and they blessed him by saying: The Lord be with you.

St. Athanasius became the 20th pope of Alexandria.

The Protector or the Orthodox Faith

St. Athanasius suffered a St. Athanasius suffered a lot to protect our orthodox lot to protect our orthodox faith. He was exiled many faith. He was exiled many times. He was protecting times. He was protecting the faith against everyone the faith against everyone who wanted to destroy it.who wanted to destroy it.

When people said to him: When people said to him: “The world is against you, “The world is against you, Athanasius”,Athanasius”, he said: he said: “And “And I am against the world”.I am against the world”.

See how great faith St. See how great faith St. Athanasius had?Athanasius had?

ConclusionsConclusions

St. Athanasius was transformed from being a pagan to a great saint who protected our orthodox faith. This is because when the Lord sees anyone who wants to know Him, He does not deprive him of His grace. God wants all men to be saved and to know Him because He is the Truth.

The Sacrament of baptism is essential in attaining salvation as by it we become Lord Christ’s children, and through the Holy Chrism with which we are anointed, we become temples of the Holy Spirit and we abide in Lord Jesus Christ, live in Him and bear fruit.

Do you know the difference between baptism and confirmation?

Conclusions (Cont’d)Conclusions (Cont’d) Although St. Athanasius was young, he

was very strong in the faith. He understood the faith and defended it with courage even when the whole world was against him.

We should learn from St. Athanasius to always keep our orthodox faith and protect it. We should understand our faith very well like he did to be able to protect it and not listen or believe in any words that go against our faith. How can we understand our faith very well?

Last ConclusionLast Conclusion

St. Athanasius wanted to become a Christian St. Athanasius wanted to become a Christian when he saw how Christian children behaved. when he saw how Christian children behaved. We are always ministers of God. We show our We are always ministers of God. We show our faith in Lord Jesus Christ by behaving like Him faith in Lord Jesus Christ by behaving like Him and by this we become preachers of and by this we become preachers of Christianity.Christianity.

Who is this Saint?Who is this Saint?

What is he holding What is he holding in his hands?in his hands?

Who are those Who are those people behind him? people behind him?

Whom is he Whom is he stepping on? What stepping on? What does this icon does this icon represent?represent?

QuestionsQuestions

Where was St. Athanasius born?Where was St. Athanasius born? What was his parent’s religion? Where was St. Athanasius educated? What did his friends ask him? What were St. Athanasius and his friends doing on the

seashore? Who was watching them? Where did St. Athanasius study the rites of baptism? What made St. Athanasius love Christ? How many church sacraments are there? How did St. Athanasius become Christian? What was St. Athanasius ordained as first? Then what did

he become after Pope Alexandrous death? What is the title given to St. Athanasius? Why?

Memory VerseMemory Verse

“The Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)