Saint Athanassios of Alexandria (c. 296–298 – 2 May 373), also called Athanassios the Great, or Athanassios the Confessor was the twentieth bishop of Alexandria (as Athanassios I). His episcopate lasted 45 years of which over 17 were spent in five exiles ordered by four different Roman emperors. Athanassios was a Christian theologian, a Church Father, the chief defender of Trinitarianism against Arianism, and a noted Egyptian leader of the fourth century.
Within a few years after his death, Gregory of Nazianzus called him the "Pillar of the Church". His writings were well regarded by all Church fathers who followed, in both the West and the East, who noted their rich devotion to the Word-become-man, great pastoral concern, and profound interest in monasticism. In the Orthodox Church, Athanassios he is considered as the "Father of Orthodoxy". Some Protestants label him as "Father of the Canon". Athanassios is venerated as a saint, whose feast day is January 18th in the Orthodox Church.
