Today is the feast day of Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and doctor of the Church. Athanasius plays a large role in introductory theology classes for his role in the Christological debates around the Council of Nicea in 325, when the early Christian church formally decided that Jesus Christ must be fully divine as well as fully human.
Athanasius is recognized by Christians today as a defender of orthodox Christianity against the claims of Arians, who denied the full divinity of Christ. He was sent into exile multiple times as Arians continued to hold sway over much of the Christian world for decades after Nicea. And while a number of Athanasius’ writings survive today, most scholars do not consider him the author of the Athanasian creed, which contains anachronisms (including a filioque clause).
In one of the church choirs I belonged to, some members noted that there was a dearth of hymnody about Athanasius, and, when the director was distracted, began working on just such a hymn. It was they who came up with the line “Goodness gracious, Athanasius!” After I began studying theology, I adapted and extended their idea, and crammed as much theological nuance as I could into the following hymn (87.87 D; I recommend the tune HYMN TO JOY).
Goodness gracious, Athanasius! How you fought that Arius!
“Christ’s a creature – but, he’s featured,” was his claim nefarious.
Arius yelped, “God needs no help. He’s the only source of stuff.
Christ is fine, but not divine, well, not quite fully, but enough.”Goodness gracious, Athanasius! This, your bold, insightful stance:
“It is not odd; Christ must be God to effect deliverance.
If he’s not, then problems we’ve got; hon’ring idols ain’t our style.
Don’t start Christ’s fate with his birthdate! He existed all the while.”Goodness gracious, Athanasius! For you we’ve affinity;
Your thoughts precious: how God meshes human with divinity.
At Nicea, your ideas were the answer to the fuss.
Athanasius, so loquacious, now from heaven, pray for us.Goodness gracious, Athanasius! So you didn’t write your creed.
All your writing, wrong indicting, gave the Church the Christ we need.
You did not live to see us give your ideas their recompense;
Still we study you, good buddy: thanks for your obedience.© 2008 Chris Ángel.
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