Athanasius was bishop of Alexandria, and a most vigorous defender of
the Catholic religion. When he was still a deacon, he refuted the impiety
of Arius at the Council of Nicaea, and earned such hatred from the Arians
that, from that time on, they neverceased to lay snares for him. Driven
into exile, he went to Treves in Gaul. He endured unbelievable hardships
and wandered over a great part of the world, being often driven from his
Church, and often restored by the authority of Pope Julius and the decrees
of the Councils of Sardica and Jerusalem. All this while, he was persecuted
by the Arians. Finally, rescued, by the help of God, from so many great
dangers, he died at Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Valens. His
life and death were marked by great miracles. He wrote many works, both
of devotion and of catechetics, and, with great holiness, he ruled the
Church of Alexandria, in those most troubled times, for forty-six years.
(From Matins of the feast of St. Athanasius)
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