Saint Athanasius of Jerusalem
Deacon and Martyr
A deacon in Jerusalem in the 5th century, Athanasius courageously opposed the usurper Theodosius who had seized the episcopal see after the Council of Chalcedon. For defending orthodoxy and the two natures of Christ, he was cruelly tortured and then beheaded in 452. His body was dragged out of the city and left to the beasts.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
S. ATHANASIUS, DEACON OF THE CHURCH OF JERUSALEM, MARTYR
Theological and political context
After the Council of Chalcedon, followers of Eutyches sowed unrest in Palestine, contesting the dual nature of Christ and forcing Bishop Juvenal into exile.
Non est mediocris animi fortitudo, quæ sola defendit ornamenta virtutum omnium et justitiam custodit. Strength is not the virtue of a mediocre soul; it alone defends all virtues; it is the guardian of justice.
S. Ambr., lib. Offic., c. xxxix.
Eutyches and his followers, who confounded the natures in Jesus Christ, had been justly condemned at the holy Council of Chalcedon, and the bishops whom they had caused to be deposed at the Robber Council of Ephesus were restored to their sees, among others Saint Juvenal to that of Jerusalem: thes e heretic Jérusalem Holy city where the Cross was lost and subsequently recovered. s stirred up great tumults in the empire. First, they spread the rumor everywhere that the council, by condemning Eutyches, had justified Nestorius, and that by establishing two natures in Our Lord, against the former, it had also established in Him two persons with the latter; a great imposture: for this council had equally fulminated anathema against these two heresiarchs, and had holily defined that "Jesus Christ was one person composed of two natures." After having imbued many minds with this false persuasion, they proceeded to the utmost violence, especially in Palestine and in the city of Jerusalem, where the authority of Eudocia, widow of the Emperor Theodosius the Younger, who was engaged in their party, gave them much power. They made great efforts to force Saint Juvenal to condemn this council: this prelate was compelled to flee from Jerusalem and to withdraw to Constantinople, to place himself under the protection of the Emperor Marcian and the Empress Pulcheria. While he was there, a solitary named Theodosius, a great partisan of Euty ches, seized his see, and po un solitaire, nommé Théodose Heretical monk, partisan of Eutyches and usurper of the see of Jerusalem. sing as patriarch, committed evils there that barbarians and idolaters would not have committed: for, as the orthodox would not consent to his impiety, he exercised unheard-of cruelties against them, according to the genius and character of heresy, which always joins tyranny and fury to impiety and rebellion against the Church. He was not content with stripping them of their goods and setting fire to their houses; he also afflicted them with various torments, in which they lost their lives for the confession of the truth.
The usurpation of the see of Jerusalem
The monk Theodosius seizes the patriarchal see of Jerusalem through violence, persecuting the Orthodox with the support of Empress Eudocia.
He who appeared with the most glory in this new combat was Saint A thanasius, deacon of Jerusalem. Thi saint Athanase, diacre de Jérusalem Deacon of Jerusalem and martyr under the usurper Theodosius. s holy personage, seeing that the false bishop continued his violence, without being stopped either by the fear of God, or by that of the Emperor Marcian and the Empress Pulcheria, who were very orthodox, and whom only distance prevented from punishing such great disorders so soon, addressed him in the middle of the church, and said to him courageously: "Cease at last, Theodosius, to fill this holy city, watered by the blood of Jesus Christ, with murders; cease to make war upon Him Himself, by fighting against the truth of His two natures; cease to throw yourself upon His flock, like a thief, or rather like a carnivorous beast; quit the marks of a shepherd that you bear unjustly, and range yourself with us under the obedience of our legitimate bishop."
The courageous protest of Athanasius
The deacon Athanasius publicly challenges the usurper Theodosius in the church, summoning him to cease his crimes and recognize the legitimate bishop.
At these words, the soldiers who always accompanied this heretical monk to execute his impious orders seized Athanasius and dragged him from the church. They subjected him to all sorts of torments: they tore his body with lashes and broke his limbs with iron pincers; they used burning torches and leaded rods against him, and each soldier took pleasure in tormenting him, just as wolves all throw themselves together upon the same prey. The Martyr's constancy in enduring these tortures was no less than his freedom in rebuking the tyrant; finally, he lost his life by a sword blow; this was the key that opened the kingdom of heaven to him. The rage of the persecutors not yet being satisfied by his death, they tied his feet with a rope and thus dragged his body through the middle of the streets to outside the city, where they exposed it publicly to be devoured by dogs. This cruel execution took place the year after the Council of Chalcedon, that is to say in 452.
The martyrdom of the deacon
Athanasius is tortured and then executed by the soldiers of Theodosius in 452; his body is dragged out of the city and given to the dogs.
We have drawn this story from Nicephorus Callistus, bk. xv, ch. 9. Surius reports it on this day. One may see, in Baronius and in de Veuve, the other wicked deeds of the impious Theodosius, and how the Emperor Marcian punished him for them.
Sources and references
The account is based on the writings of Nicephorus Callistus, Surius, and the annals of Baronius.
We have drawn this history from Nicephorus Callistus, bk. xv, ch. 9. Surius reports it on this day. One may see, in Baronius and in de Veuve, the other wicked deeds of the impious Theodosius, and how the Emperor Marcian punished him for them.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Defense of the Council of Chalcedon against the heresy of Eutyches
- Public confrontation of the usurper Theodosius in the church
- Arrest by the soldiers of Theodosius
- Endured various torments (whip, iron pincers, burning torches)
- Executed by sword
- Body dragged through the streets and exposed to dogs
Quotes
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Cease at last, Theodosius, to fill this holy city with murders, watered by the blood of Jesus Christ; cease to make war upon Him, by fighting against the truth of His two natures.
Source text (discourse to Theodosius)