Discover the Intriguing World of St. Athanasius: Top 11 Fun Facts You Never Knew!

1. Trinitarian Rock Star Theologian

Hold onto your Habermas because it's about to get Trinitarian: St. Athanasius was a rock star theologian who penned chart-topping hits defending the divine trio against Ariana's grandest feud, securing his place in history's hall of fame with smash tracks like First Letters to Serapion and Life of Antony, impressing even the toughest posthumous critics such as Church Fathers East and West, who just couldn't get enough of his pastoral passion and monastic melodies.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Christian Martha Stewart

Who knew St. Athanasius moonlighted as a Christian Martha Stewart? When he wasn't dealing with the drama of exiles, the good saint was all about the dos and don'ts of burial practices and promoting the hermit lifestyle: St. Athanasius not only played a pivotal role in promoting monasticism but also staunchly opposed the custom of keeping bodies unburied in houses, and insisted on following the law by burying the dead underground, just like he wrote in St. Anthony's biography – whose secret burial wish adds a whole new meaning to "rest in peace."
Source => adfontesjournal.com

Did you know? Aristotle, Plato's star student, not only founded his own school but also made groundbreaking observations on over 500 animal species! Discover more about this ancient intellectual icon.

=> Fun Facts about Aristotle

3. 4th-century IKEA Expert

Assembling flat-pack theology like a 4th-century IKEA expert: St. Athanasius was a key figure in early Christianity dedicated to dismantling Arianism, upholding beliefs about Jesus Christ's divinity, and constructing the foundational principles of the Incarnation of the Word of God.
Source => christianhistoryinstitute.org

4. Five-Time Exile Heavyweight Champion

You may call him the "Five-Time Exile Heavyweight Champion of Alexandria": St. Athanasius, the unbudging bishop, was banished not once, not twice, but a whopping five times for fiercely defending the divinity of Christ, all while penning some major theological hits like On the Incarnation of the Word and Discourses Against the Arians.
Source => onepassion.org

5. Boomerang of Bishops

You might call St. Athanasius the boomerang of bishops, because no matter how many times he was exiled, he always found his way back to spreading his divine wisdom: He was exiled a whopping five times throughout his life as he tirelessly defended the doctrine of the Trinity against Arianism, eventually playing a crucial role in establishing the orthodox foundation of the Trinity within Christianity.
Source => findinghopeministries.org

6. Original Trinity Defender

Picture St. Athanasius as the original "Trinity Defender," cape and all, giving Arian heretics the holy smackdown: This early Christian crusader played a major role in establishing the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, serving as the bishop of Alexandria while facing exile and persecution, yet never compromising his faith.
Source => newadvent.org

7. Opening Act of Arian Controversy

Before Ariana Grande, there was the Arian Controversy: You may know it as a heated theological dispute, but who would have thought it would feature St. Athanasius as the opening act? Turns out, he was a deacon and secretary to Bishop Alexander of Alexandria, playing a major role in the Council of Nicaea and the Arian Controversy.
Source => roman-emperors.org

8. Father of Orthodoxy and Drachma Collector

If St. Athanasius had a dollar for every time he took on the Arian heresy, he'd be rolling in ancient Greek Drachmas: As the "Father of Orthodoxy," St. Athanasius valiantly defended the Nicene Creed and the doctrine of the Trinity for over 50 years, braving multiple exiles and penning numerous works to keep Christianity's theological compass on point.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. The Theological Blockbuster Author

St. Athanasius: the original blockbuster author, making readers question reality way before The Matrix: As a theologian, bishop, and unstoppable writer, he penned numerous works such as "On the Incarnation," which championed the divinity of Jesus Christ, earning him the title "Father of Orthodoxy" and mad respect from both Eastern and Western Churches.
Source => aleteia.org

10. Unshakable Saint and Monastic Influencer

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but St. Athanasius must have been one tenacious pup when it came to defending the divinity of Jesus: Though exiled multiple times for his opposition to Arianism, this unshakable saint continued to write dogmatic and historical works, ultimately becoming a major influence on Western monastic life with his "Life of St. Anthony."
Source => franciscanmedia.org

11. The Great Athanasian Creed Mix-up

In a case of mistaken identity worthy of a sitcom plot twist: St. Athanasius likely didn't author the Athanasian Creed, despite its name! Modern scholars believe it was penned in Southern Gaul during the late fifth or early sixth century and has influenced Western Christianity since then.
Source => en.wikipedia.org