Battles and Books

Five Big Escapes

St. Athanasius’ life was like an adventure movie—he got kicked out of Alexandria five times, spending 17 years on the run! While Emperor Constantine first supported Athanasius, later emperors like Constantius and Julian turned against him and didn’t like him saying Jesus is God, so they sent soldiers to catch him. First, in 335 AD, he was sent to cold France after beating the Arians at Tyre. Then, in 356 AD, soldiers stormed his church, and some say God blinded them, and he slipped away to the desert. Another time, in 362 AD, he sailed down the Nile in a boat, hidden by misty angels from Julian’s men!

His wildest escape was in 367 AD, when he hid in his dad’s tomb while the Emperor Valens hunted him. The Copts kept his secret, and Valens gave up. Each time, Athanasius trusted God to save him—like when he prayed in jail, and an angel opened the door! These escapes weren’t just about running; he used the time to help monks and write more about Jesus. For kids, he’s a superhero who never quit, showing that God’s got your back even when the bad guys are close.

Lesson 5 of 21

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