The World's Orators Volume 3; Comprising the Great Orations of the World's History with Introductory Essays, Biographical Sketches and Critical Notes (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1905 Excerpt: ... ATHANASIUS Athanasius was born at Alexandria, about 297 A. D. Of his family nothing is known. At an early age he attracted the attention of Alexander, the Bishop of Alexandria, who employed him as his secretary and superintended his education with the view to his entrance into the ministry. He was present at the Council of Nicaea, in 325, as attendant of Alexander, and being permitted to take part in its discussions, distinguished himself by his erudition and eloquence. At the death of Alexander in 326, he was elected to the primacy of Alexandria. Owing to his opposition to the restoration to communion of Arius the heretic, Athanasius was in 336 deposed from office and banished to Treves. In 338, he was restored to his primacy by Constantius, but the enmity of the Arians forced him to fly from Alexandria for safety on several occasions. He was finally restored to the primacy by the Emperor Valens, and died in office in 373. As a theologian Athanasius is distinguished principally by his advocacy of the essential divinity of Christ as co-equal in substance with the Father. His other writings are either historical or moral. His style is simple, forceful, and clear. The most important of the writings of Athanasius are the Discourses against the Arians, written among the solitudes of Upper Egypt. Other well-known works are the Festal Letters, the epistles in defence of the Nicene Creed, and the Apologia de Fuga. The most complete edition of his works is that published at Padua in 1777. Cardinal Newman's translations of the epistles of Athanasius (Oxford, 1842) are interesting and valuable. Athanasius. The following sermon is a most admirable example of the best style of St. Athanasius. While there is much in it, as in most of the sermons of the day, which sounds...