Saint Athanasius the Great, Archbishop of Alexandria
(January 18th / 31st)
Born in Alexandria in 296 A.D. ; renowned for his learning, devotion to and zeal for Orthodoxy; contributed greatly to destroy the heresy of Arius and to strengthen Orthodoxy; wrote The Creed which was accepted at the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, 325 A.D. ; persecuted by heretic emperors throughout his life; often visited St. Anthony the Great (January 17th), whom he respected as his spiritual father;
reposed in Lord as His faithful servant in 373 A.D.