Athanasius was born of a Christian, Egyptian family around the year 297. His parents made sure that Athanasius received a classical education. A priest named Alexander saw the potential in Athanasius and personally set out to cultivate it. Alexander encouraged Athanasius in his studies and employed him as a secretary. When Alexander was consecrated bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius, who was quickly discerning that he was called to the priesthood, accompanied him.
Around the year 315, Athanasius heard about St. Anthony of the Desert and set out to follow his example in the eremitic lifestyle. This time with Anthony eventually flowered into a biography of the saint, which is still in print, and the deepening in faith and piety of St. Athanasius. Around the year 319, Athanasius left the direction of Anthony and returned to the city of Alexandria to be ordained.
Athanasius soon gained a widespread reputation for his preaching and teaching and was used by the bishop as a tool for education and battling heresy. One of the major heresies that Athanasius attacked was that of Arianism. For this he was exiled five times from his home and lived with an almost constant threat of death. In the year 326 the bishop of Alexandria died and Athanasius, against his will, was chosen as the new bishop. He served as bishop of Alexandria for 45 years and in that time used his influence, in both word and writing, to stand up for the orthodoxy of the faith and to defend the divinity of Christ.
Though he was firm in defense of the Faith, he was meek and humble, pleasant, beloved by his flock, unwearied in labors, in prayer, in mortification and in zeal for souls. Athanasius died in 373, but left behind a large body of writings to continue his instruction of the faithful. Some of the titles include, On the Incarnation, the Discourses Against the Arians, and the Life of Anthony. He is honored as one of the greatest of the Doctors of the Church and is called the "Doctor of the Incarnation."
Brethren, how fine a thing it is to move from festival to festival, from prayer to prayer, from holy day to holy day. The time is now at hand when we enter on a new beginning: the proclamation of the blessed Passover, in which the Lord was sacrificed. We feed as on the food of life, we constantly refresh our souls with his precious blood, as from a fountain. Yet we are always thirsting, burning to be satisfied. But he himself is present for those who thirst and in his goodness invites them to the feast day. Our Savior repeats his words: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.
He quenched the thirst not only of those who came to him then. Whenever anyone seeks him he is freely admitted to the presence of the Savior. The grace of the feast is not restricted to one occasion. Its rays of glory never set. It is always at hand to enlighten the mind of those who desire it. Its power is always there for those whose minds have been enlightened and who meditate day and night on the holy Scriptures, like the one who is called blessed in the holy psalm: Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or stood where sinners stand, or sat in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Moreover, my friends, the God who first established this feast for us allows us to celebrate it each year. He who gave up his Son to death for our salvation, from the same motive gives us this feast, which is commemorated every year. This feast guides us through the trials that meet us in this world. God now gives us the joy of salvation that shines out from this feast, as he brings us together to form one assembly, uniting us all in spirit in every place, allowing us to pray together and to offer common thanksgiving, as is our duty on the feast. Such is the wonder of his love: he gathers to this feast those who are far apart, and brings together in unity of faith those who may be physically separated from each other.
from an Easter letter by Saint Athanasius
The Word of God, incorporeal, incorruptible, and immaterial, entered our world.
Out of his loving-kindness for us he came to us, and we see this in the way he revealed himself openly to us. Taking pity on mankind's weakness, and moved by our corruption, he could not stand aside and see death have the mastery over us. He did not want creation to perish and his Father's work in fashioning man to be in vain. He therefore took to himself a body, no different from our own, for he did not wish simply to be in a body or only to be seen.
By dying for others, he immediately banished death for all mankind. The corruption of death no longer holds any power over mankind, thanks to the Word, who has come to dwell among us through his one body.
from a talk by Saint Athanaius
It becomes you to be mindful of us,
as you stand near him who granted you all graces,
for you are the Mother of God and our Queen.
Help us for the sake of the King,
the Lord God and Master who was born of you.
For this reason, you are called full of grace.
Remember us, most holy Virgin,
and bestow on us gifts from the riches of your graces,
Virgin full of graces.
-Saint Athanasius
For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.
-Saint Athanasius