“I believe that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.”  We use those words whenever we recite the Nicene Creed.  One of the men whom we can thank for that statement of faith is Saint Athanasius of Alexandria.

Athanasius was an African theologian from the 4th century. As a young cleric he attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. These were tumultuous times for the church. Arius and the Arians vehemently opposed the idea of the divinity of Jesus. With their many followers, they asserted that Jesus could not possibly be equal to God the Father.

As Bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius is remembered as one of the pillars of the early church, who spent a lifetime defending the doctrine of the Trinity – three persons, separate but equal.  For his beliefs, he was sent into exile five times by Roman emperors. 

The Nicene Creed was adopted in 325, then expanded to the form we know it in 381.  Reading the Nicene Creed now, we can better understand its strong emphasis on the divinity of Jesus.

Our Almighty Father in his unconditional love has used many men and women to guide and build His church through the years.  Athanasius was one.  He is remembered on May 2^nd of each year.

Judy