From his earliest youth Athanasius had stood forth as the champion of Truth and defender of the Faith--a gallant warrior who had not laid down his arms until the day of his death. Where a weaker man would have lost courage, he had stood firm; suffering had only served to temper his spirit, as steel is tempered by the fire. Among men who were capable of every compromise he had remained loyal and true, and few have been more loved or hated than he. To his own people he was not only their Bishop, but a Saint, an ascetic, a martyr in all but deed; above all, he was an intensely lovable personality, whose very greatness of soul only made him more compa.s.sionate. To the outside world he was a guiding light, a beacon pointing straight to G.o.d and Heaven. He was a living example of the truth that a man may be large-minded and yet strong; that he may hate error, yet love the erring--stand like a rock against heresy, yet be full of compa.s.sion for heretics.
Scarcely was Athanasius dead when he was honored as a Saint. Six years after his death, St. Gregory n.a.z.ianzen speaks of him in one breath with the patriarchs, prophets and martyrs who had fought for the Faith and won the crown of glory. His influence is with us to this day, his memory lingers in the words of that Nicene Creed which was his war cry; for it is largely owing to his valor that we possess it still.
And through all his works breathes the same spirit--the spirit that nerved him to fight and suffer--an intense love and devotion to Him who was the Lord and Master of his life--Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.