Belgrade, Serbia – The Serbian Orthodox Church and its faithful celebrate today Saint Athanasius the Great, the most persecuted saint in the history of Christianity.
Saint Athanasius the Great was devoted to faith from an early age. As a deacon of Archbishop Alexander, he attended the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea. At this gathering, the saint distinguished himself with his learning, piety, and zeal for Orthodoxy.
He greatly contributed to the suppression of Arianism and the establishment of Orthodoxy. He is believed to have been born in the city of Alexandria or perhaps in the nearby city of Damanhur in the Nile Delta, sometime between 293 and 298 AD. He wrote the “Symbol of Faith,” which was adopted at the Council. After Alexander’s death, Athanasius was elected Archbishop of Alexandria. He remained in the archiepiscopal office for over 40 years, and throughout almost his entire life, he was persecuted by heretics. The emperors who persecuted him the most were Constantius, Julian, and Valens; among the bishops were Eusebius of Nicomedia and many others; and among the heretics were Arius and his followers.
He was forced to hide from his persecutors even in a well, in a tomb, in private houses, and in the desert. On two occasions, he had to flee to Rome. Only before his death did he live for some time peacefully as a good shepherd in the midst of his good flock, which truly loved him. Few saints were so ruthlessly slandered and so criminally persecuted as he was, yet his great soul patiently endured everything for the love of Christ and finally emerged victorious from that terrible and long-lasting struggle. For advice, comfort, and moral support, he often went to Saint Anthony, whom he revered as his spiritual father. He died in 373 AD. Shortly before his death, he ordained his successor, Bishop Peter.
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Folk Beliefs and Customs
In southern Serbia, a legend still lives on about how the devil tempted Saint Athanasius by disguising himself as the most beautiful girl who lured him to renounce God and join her in worshiping the evil one. Saint Athanasius saw through this deception and asked the girl to show him the devil’s power by jumping into a small pot. She did so, and the monk immediately closed the pot and threw it into the sea. Legend says that the pot floated for years until fishermen found it and opened it.
The old folks say that as soon as thunder rolls, the devil thinks it is Saint Athanasius coming, gets scared, and immediately jumps into vessels. That is why it is important to keep all containers tightly closed on this day.
In some parts of Serbia, Saint Athanasius is celebrated by millers who believe that on this day, devils lurk in whirlpools, so the watermills do not work then.
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Source: Kurir; Foto: SPC