Athanasius, St (c.296–373). Bishop of Alexandria and important church father. He opposed any compromise with Arianism at the council of Nicaea (325), and so was repeatedly deposed and exiled from his see while that party was in the ascendant. He was finally restored in 366. Athanasius's most important work (written before c.318) was On the Incarnation. Athanasius's (probably genuine) Life of Antony stimulated the monastic movement in Egypt and made it known in the West.

Athanasius, St (c.296–373), Greek theologian and upholder of Christian orthodoxy against Arianism. He aided the ascetic movement in Egypt and introduced knowledge of monasticism to the West. His feast day is 2 May.
Athanasian Creed a summary of Christian doctrine formerly attributed to St Athanasius, but probably dating from the 5th century. It is included in the Book of Common Prayer for use at morning prayer on certain occasions.

Athanasius, Saint (d.373) Early Christian leader. As patriarch of Alexandria he confuted Arianism, and in various writings defended the teaching that the Son and the Holy Spirit were of equal divinity with God the Father and so shared a three-fold being. He is no longer considered the author of the Athanasian Creed, but he did write the Life of St Anthony. His feast day is May 2.