Athanasian

Athanasian describes things related to Athanasius of Alexandria or to doctrinal positions associated with him. It is most often encountered in reference to the Athanasian Creed, a medieval Western Christian confession named for its traditional association with him, though scholarly consensus does not credit him as its author.

Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373) was a prominent bishop and theologian who defended Trinitarian orthodoxy and the full divinity of the Son against Arianism. His writings and leadership helped shape early Christian doctrine, and his reputation as a staunch defender of orthodoxy gave rise to later attributions of authority, including the use of his name for doctrinal formulations.

The Athanasian Creed, also known as the Quicunque vult (from its opening Latin line), is a comprehensive statement of Christian faith concerning the Trinity and the Incarnation. Although it bears his name, most scholars believe it was composed in the Western church between the 5th and 7th centuries and was not authored by Athanasius himself. The creed emphasizes the unity of God in three persons, the consubstantial nature of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and the two natures of Christ, fully divine and fully human.

In practice, the Athanasian Creed has played a historical role in catechesis and certain liturgical contexts within Western Christianity, particularly in medieval and early modern settings. It remains part of traditional teaching in some communities, but it is not universally used and is viewed differently across denominations; many Eastern churches and some modern Western denominations do not include it in standard worship.

In scholarship, the term Athanasian can also refer more broadly to writings or ideas associated with Athanasius or his school, even when precise authorship is uncertain.