ATHANASIUS ATHELSTAN 53 first notices of it are from the 7th century, and do not mention the author. It made its ap- pearance first in France, in the Latin language, became generally known througfkmt the West, and was adopted last of all in the East. The Greek writers immediately succeeding St. Ath- anasius make no mention of it. In the MS. editions of his works it is usually not found at all, or, if it is, with the remark, "commonly" or "incorrectly ascribed to St. Athanasius." Subsequently, however, it was ascribed to him by all ecclesiastical writers. Durandus (1287) states that it was composed by St. Athanasius at Treves during his exile in the West, and Mayer thinks this account not improbable. Modern critics generally suppose that it was drawn up as a summary of the doctrine of St. Athanasius, from which circumstance it ob- tained the name of Athanasian creed, and in process of time was attributed to the great Alexandrian doctor. It has been attributed, on conjectural grounds, to Hilary of Aries and Venantius Fortnnatus, to Vincent of Lerins, and to Vigilius, bishop of Thapsus in Africa. This creed is an authoritative formulary of faith in the Roman and Greek churches. Its author- ity does not rest on the presumption that it was composed by St. Athanasius, but on its general acceptance as a correct enunciation of Catholic faith. In the Roman Catholic church it is recited at the office of prime on Sundays, when the office is dominical. In the church of England it is accepted as of equal authority with the Apostles' and Nicene creeds, and or- dered to be recited on certain festivals at the morning prayer. In the 39 articles of the Prot- estant Episcopal church of the United States all mention of it is omitted, and the creed itself has no place in the prayer book. ATHANASIl'S, Saint, patriarch of Alexandria and doctor of the eastern church, died there in 373. He was born at Alexandria about 296, of Christian parents, was educated under the direction of Alexander, afterward bishop of the city, and spent some time in the desert as a disciple of the hermit St. Anthony. At the age of 23 he received deacon's orders, and in the discharge of his office so signalized himself as a foe to every kind of heresy, that he was chosen by Alexander to accompany him to the council of Nice (325). To the subtlety, learn- ing, and eloquence of Athanasius in that coun- cil was principally attributed the condemnation of Arianism. His bearing on this occasion, not less than the dying request of Alexander, secured his election as bishop of Alexandria in 32G. His uncompromising orthodoxy subjected him to bitter persecution from the adherents of Arius. The emperor Constantine summoned him before a synod at Tyre in 335 and declared him deposed. A synod at Jerusalem the next year confirmed this sentence and banished him to Treves. Constantius recalled him in 338. An Arian council at Antioch condemned him again in 341 ; but a larger orthodox council at Alexandria sustained him, and another at Sar- dis, with the Roman bishop at its head, replaced him in his episcopal chair in 349. Deposed for a third time, through the influence of Con- stantine, by the synods of Aries (353) and Milan (355), he was dragged from the altar by a band of soldiers, and fled into the desert with a price upon his head. Under Julian the Apostate he was again exiled, and spent some time in the wilderness of the Thebaid ; and under Valens he suffered his fifth banishment, concealing himself four months in his father's tomb. He was finally restored to his see and died in peace. His festival is kept in both the Greek and Latin churches on May 2, and in the Greek church also on Jan. 18. The life of Athanasius has historical importance mainly from its connec- tion with the Arian controversy, and the estab- lishment and defence of the Nicene creed. With the exception of his "Discourse against the Pagans " and his treatise on " The Incar- nation," all his writings have a direct bearing upon Arianism. His style has the merits of strength, clearness, conciseness of expression, and exact logical order. It is praised even by Erasmus, the most fastidious of critics, above the style of Chrysostom and Gregory. What it lacks of finished grace it makes up in nervous vigor. Bold, unbending, confident even to dogmatism, severe against what he believed, to be heresy, suspicious of the promises and pro- fessions of all who were not friends of the truth, he was yet courteous, kind to the poor, pious, just, and patient. The best edition of his works is that of Paris, 1627-'8, 3 vols. folio. ATHELING. See ANGLO-SAXONS. ATHELXEY, Isle of, a tract of about 100 acres in Somersetshire, England, 7 m. S. E. of Bridge- water. In the time of Alfred the Great it was an island at the junction of the Tone and Par- ret rivers. Alfred concealed himself among its marshes during the Danish invasion, and after- ward founded an abbey there, about 888. ATHELSTAN, the first who called himself king of the English, born about 895, died at Glou- cester, Oct. 25, 941. He was a grandson of Alfred the Great, and illegitimate son of Ed- ward the Elder ; but as the only legitimate son of Edward who was of age died a few days after the death of his father, Athelstan was preferred by the witenagemote to his legiti- mate brothers, who were"under age, and he was crowned king of the Anglo-Saxons at Kingston on the Thames in 925. He annexed the terri- tory of Cornwall and Devon, and exacted trib- ute from Howel Dda, pendragon of Wales. When Sigtric, king of Northumbria, died, Athelstan seized upon his territory also. Au- laf, the son of Sigtric, obtained the assistance of the Danes and Norwegians, and was aided also by the Irish, Scots, and Welsh, who saw with dislike the increase of the power of the South Saxon king ; but Athelstan signally de- feated the allies at Brunanburg or Brunsbury in Northumbria. After this event Athelstan enjoyed great consideration on the continent of Europe. His sisters were given in marriage
