Who Was St. Athanasius

After that day by the sea, St. Athanasius’ life took a big turn. His father died when he was young—some say his parents were already Christians, others that they were pagans who turned to faith later. Either way, his mom brought him to Bishop Alexander, the same man who’d seen him play bishop. Alexander welcomed them like family, teaching them about Jesus and baptizing them into the Church. They gave away their fancy things to the poor and stayed close to the bishop, who saw something special in Athanasius. Soon, the boy wasn’t just a visitor—he was Alexander’s helper, growing up in the heart of the Church.

Living with Alexander was like going to the best school ever. Athanasius soaked up everything—Bible stories, prayers, and big ideas about God. He learned to read and write like a pro, and Alexander made him a deacon, a job where he helped with church stuff and even wrote letters for the bishop. One tale says that when the Emperor Diocletian was hurting Christians, young Athanasius—maybe 10 or so—hid with Alexander during those years until it was safe again in 313 AD. Through it all, Alexander treated him like a son, as Athanasius developed into a smart, brave follower of Jesus.

This time wasn’t always easy, though. Alexandria had people who didn’t like Christians, and Athanasius saw how faith could cost you everything. But he also saw Alexander stay calm and strong, teaching him that God’s truth was worth any fight. By his teens, Athanasius was ready to take on big challenges—like writing a book about Jesus being God and Man before he was even 20! Raised by a bishop, he grew from a playful kid into a young man with a heart full of faith and a mind sharp as a sword, ready for whatever God had next.