If You Throw Enough Mud, Some of It Will Stick

Today's Reading was about St. Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, June 27th.  Cyril talks about Athanasius' letter defending the motherhood of Mary. I was wondering about Athanasius and googled.  First, he was black.  Nowadays, that is significant, Black Lives Matter. He was also very short or a real dwarf.  He was called the Black Dwarf.    He like Cyril became Bishop of Alexandria and both became doctors in the church, due to their very significant contributions.  Some of which are:

He held that not only was the Son of God consubstantial with the Father, but so was the Holy Spirit, which had a great deal of influence in the development of later doctrines regarding the Trinity.

He defended the dignity of the Holy Spirit.

Active at the First Council of Nicaea, affirming the Jesus is the Son of God, and of a distinct substance from the Father.

He is the first person to identify the 27 books of the New Testament that we still use today.

 He personally was exiled 5 times!  The first time was around the time of the Council of Nicaea.  The Arians convinced the emperor Constantine that Athanasius was cutting off grain supplies to Constantinople.  When the Arians' plotting was exposed, Athanasius was called back from exile.

The second time, Constantine's son banished him.  Pope Julius argued in favor of Athanasius and gradually won Constantius II over.  It wasn't easy.  Athanasius had many enemies and was accused of everything under the sun.

The third time, proved Constantius II to be an Arian, himself.  Athanasius was in exile, again.

The fourth time Athanasius was sent into exile by Emperor Julian who was anti-Christian.

The fifth time, Arianism was again the cause.  Many held its beliefs and Athanasius was in disfavor.

Athanasius finally returned to Alexandria in 366.  He spent his final years repairing the damage done by violence, dissent and exile.  Athanasius died May , 373, peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by friends and faithful supporters.