Homily: May 2-2026 Memorial of St.Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

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 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.”

Jesus is one with the Father. Jesus is not just a teacher or a prophet. He is the eternal Son of God— fully divine and fully human.

He took on our human nature to save us, to redeem us, to bring us back to the Father. Today, the Church celebrates Athanasius of Alexandria, one of the great defenders of this truth.

He lived in the 4th century and served as the bishop of Alexandria. At that time, a serious error began to spread in the Church. A priest named Arius taught that Jesus was not truly God— that He was only a creature, that He was created,

and not equal to the Father. This teaching was very popular. Many people followed it. 

St. Athanasius stood firm. Even as a young deacon, he defended the true faith.

In the year 325, the Church gathered at the Council of Nicaea. There, the bishops proclaimed clearly: I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.

Arius did not accept correction. His ideas continued to spread. And Athanasius paid a high price for standing for the truth.

He was exiled five times. He spent many years away from his people. He suffered, not because he did something wrong,

but because he refused to compromise the truth.

There is a famous phrase associated with him: “Athanasius against the world.” Even when many were confused, even when powerful leaders opposed him, he remained faithful. Today, we also live in a time of confusion.

There are many voices that try to water down the faith,

to make it easier, to make it more acceptable to the world. But the truth of Christ does not change.

Jesus is still the Son of God, our Savior, our Lord. Athanasius teaches courage to stand for the truth— not with anger, but with conviction. Not by compromise, but with faithfulness. 


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