Athanasius and the Pope

[Neil_Anthony]

I’ve read here a few times that Athanasius is a hero of some traditionalists because he resisted the pope when it came to some heresy. I just read about the life of Athanasius but couldn’t find anything about that. Could someone explain exactly what Athanasius did that is similar to what traditionalists are doing now?

 

[palmas85]

At that time the Church was embrolied in the Arian heresy which basically claimed that Christ was a created being and not equal to the Father. Athanasius was a fierce opponent of Arianism and in got him into trouble with numerous Bishops who were Arians, which led to Athanasius being exiled on several occasions. The Church in trying to placate the Arians had played around with the idea of changing the Nicene Creed slightly so it would not conflict with the Arian philosophy. With Arians comprising up to 75% of the Bishops and Clergy at that time it was a distinct possibility that could have happened.

Despite being tried on trumped up charges in ecclisiastical courts and being exiled, Athanasius never wavered in his fight for the orthodox view of the Trinity espoused at the Council of Nicea. He correctly saw that by giving ground on this essential issue the Church would be making a grave error.

In other words he went against the popular opinion of the laity of his day, against the majority of the Churchs Bishops and Clergy and the Roman Emperors, several of whom were Arians. He fought relentlessly against the forces that wanted to change the direction of Christianity into the Arian model and mindset.

He fought for the orthodox ,traditional faith as it was at that time, which is probably why he is admired by many traditionalists today who see parallels in what has happened to the Church in the past fifty years or so and the situation that existed in his lifetime.

Deviation from the true faith and traditional Catholicism in the interest of placating those who don’t adhere to the same beliefs.

 

[Neil_Anthony]

At that time the Church was embrolied in the Arian heresy which basically claimed that Christ was a created being and not equal to the Father. Athanasius was a fierce opponent of Arianism and in got him into trouble with numerous Bishops who were Arians, which led to Athanasius being exiled on several occasions. The Church in trying to placate the Arians had played around with the idea of changing the Nicene Creed slightly so it would not conflict with the Arian philosophy. With Arians comprising up to 75% of the Bishops and Clergy at that time it was a distinct possibility that could have happened.

Despite being tried on trumped up charges in ecclisiastical courts and being exiled, Athanasius never wavered in his fight for the orthodox view of the Trinity espoused at the Council of Nicea. He correctly saw that by giving ground on this essential issue the Church would be making a grave error.

In other words he went against the popular opinion of the laity of his day, against the majority of the Churchs Bishops and Clergy and the Roman Emperors, several of whom were Arians. He fought relentlessly against the forces that wanted to change the direction of Christianity into the Arian model and mindset.

He fought for the orthodox ,traditional faith as it was at that time, which is probably why he is admired by many traditionalists today who see parallels in what has happened to the Church in the past fifty years or so and the situation that existed in his lifetime.

Deviation from the true faith and traditional Catholicism in the interest of placating those who don’t adhere to the same beliefs.

Oh… so he never fought with the pope? The pope was never Arian, right?

 

[palmas85]

Oh… so he never fought with the pope? The pope was never Arian, right?

Pope Julius 1 actually tried to save Athanasius at the Council of Sardica in which the eastern Bishops that were to attend did not stay and left. They then held their own council at Philippopolis and excommunicated Julius 1. Some say that they merely deposed him as Pope. The evidence is sketchy. The eastern Bishops claimed that the findings of one council, in which they had deposed and exiled Athanasius, could not be changed at another and as such the case against Athanasius was closed. They also drew up a new creed and signed off on it as having been done at the Council in Sardica. In retaliation, several of the eastern Bishops were excommunicated also. Athanasius was re-instated along with several other Bishops deposed by Arian forces, but these re-instatements didn’t last due to the incredible influence of the Arians.

The Council at Sardica was pretty unsuccesful in what it tried to do and is not recognized as a true Ecumenical Council by the Church. Its failure actually helped the spread of the Arian heresy.

 

[bpbasilphx]

The Church in trying to placate the Arians had played around with the idea of changing the Nicene Creed slightly so it would not conflict with the Arian philosophy.

I don’t know where you got this idea. The Nicene Creed was written to COMBAT Arianism. It didn’t exist UNTIL the Arian heresy came up.

 

[JuanCarlos]

The Church in trying to placate the Arians had played around with the idea of changing the Nicene Creed slightly so it would not conflict with the Arian philosophy.

I don’t know where you got this idea. The Nicene Creed was written to COMBAT Arianism. It didn’t exist UNTIL the Arian heresy came up.

I thought Arianism became more popular as time went on, even after the Council of Nicaea

 

[palmas85]

The Church in trying to placate the Arians had played around with the idea of changing the Nicene Creed slightly so it would not conflict with the Arian philosophy.

I don’t know where you got this idea. The Nicene Creed was written to COMBAT Arianism. It didn’t exist UNTIL the Arian heresy came up.

Quite right to a point. The council at Sardica, convened well after Nicea, with the intent of restoring Athanasus and solidifying the Nicene Creed, was the council that played around with the idea to change the Nicene Creed in order to placate the Arians. That council was the one at which the eastern Bishops withdrew formed their own council and wrote their own Creed. In addition they either excommunicated or deposed the current Pope. Or at least they said they did.

The Arian heresy lasted for a long long time, well into the 6th century before it was finally suppressed. . Both the Nicene and Sardica councils were held in the early 300’s.