Tomorrow, Eastern churches commemorate St. Athanasius. So this is a good time to mention that
I have begun reading his Festal Epistles.
As Bishop of Alexandria, it was his responsibility to
announce to the church in Egypt the date of Easter each year. By Athanasius’ time, most of the rest
of the church as well delegated this task to Alexandria in part because of the
reputation of Egypt’s astronomers.
When writing his letters announcing the date of Easter,
Athanasius also exhorted the faithful to keep the feast and preceding fasts
rightly and with godly living. And
having read the first three epistles, I can already testify that it is edifying
and, yes, convicting reading. I
heartily recommend it for pre-Lenten and Lenten reading and reflection.
The Festal Epistles are also interesting in the study of
church history. He makes mention
of his numerous conflicts and takes on heretics. And his 39th Epistle (367 A. D.) has at least one
of the earliest lists of the New Testament Canon. (I’ve read that it is the earliest such list extant, but have not
yet studied enough to confirm that.)
So as the Pre-Lent season nears, (Septuagesima is January 27th
this year.) I heartily recommend Athanasius’ Festal Epistles and look forward
to continuing to read them myself.
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