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Extracts from Athanasius' Works
The following documents contain quotations from Athanasius grouped around some of his characteristic themes:

The Word and Creation		Monastic Wisdom from The Life of Antony
The Achievements of the Incarnation		The Trinity

All of the above quotations are included in this document Athanasius - All Quotes

Books About St Athanasius

	*K. Anatolios, Athanasius* (London: Routledge, 2004) ISBN: 0415202035**
	This book has a very good introduction section on the life and times of St Athanasius, followed by a selection of new translations of excerpts taken from various important texts, including his “Orations against the Arians” and “Letters to Serapion”. If you’re after just one book on St Athanasius for your bookshelf, this is it.

	*T. D. Barnes, Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire* (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2001) ISBN: 067400549X**
	The interaction between the Church (newly enjoying not just toleration, but also State sponsorship) and the Empire is a fascinating area of study, and Athanasius’ career, which spanned numerous emperors, an excellent vehicle for that enterprise. The following review is from Amazon.co.uk… "Barnes focuses on Athansius's long struggle with Constantius, who ruled the East from 337 to 361, a struggle amply documented in the works that Athanasius composed to defend himself against charges of treason and murder. Repeatedly condemned and deposed by church councils, the Bishop persistently resurfaced as a player to contend with in ecclesiastic and imperial politics. Barnes's work reveals that Athanasius's writings, though a significant source for this period, are riddled with deliberate misrepresentations, which historians through the ages have uncritically accepted. Untangling longstanding misconceptions, Barnes aims to reveal the Bishop's true role in the struggles within Christianity, and in the relations between the emperor and the church at a critical juncture. As this book strives to demonstrate, religious policy and ecclesiastic politics were a constant and central concern to the emperors of the fourth century - despite their absence from many historical accounts." Listed as hard to find on Amazon, so you may want to search Abebooks as well.

St Athanasius' Works in Translation

	P. Schaff and H. Wace (editors), The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church: Second Series, Volume 4: Athanasius: Select Works, Letters
	A great "one stop shop" containing English translations of his classic texts. This volume includes, "Against the Heathen" (Contra Gentes), "On the Incarnation" (De Incarnatione), "Apology against the Arians" (Apologia Contra Arianos), "Defence of the Nicene Council" (De Decretis), "Life of Antony" (Vita Antoni), 4 books of "Orations Against the Arians" (Contra Arianos), "On the councils of Ariminum and Seleucia" (De Synodis), many letters and whole lot more. Unfortunately, the Victorian translation sometimes makes it less easy to read than should be the case. But great value for money at approx. Ł10 second hand. Alternatively, view, download and print the texts for FREE! See the CCEL website.

	*R.C. Gregg (translator), The Life of Antony and the Letter to Marcellinus* (New York: Paulist Press, 1980) ISBN: 0809122952**
	Whether St Athanasius actually wrote the Life of Antony is still debated, but the balance of scholarly opinion would seem to be in favour of his authorship. Either way, the text is the earliest example of a new genre of Christian literature – hagiography. A picture is painted of Antony the monk and his ascetic pattern of life (both as a hermit and also in the role of a spiritual father overseeing monastic communities) and vivid descriptions of some of his struggles against various temptations are given. Although this work is also in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers (NPNF) volume above, this translation is more modern and therefore an easier read. Listed as hard to find on Amazon, so you may want to search Abebooks as well.

	On the Incarnation. The treatise De Incarnatione Verbi Dei translated & edited by a Religious of C.S.M.V. with an introduction by C.S. Lewis (New York: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press , 2003) ISBN: 0913836400
	St Athanasius’ classic text on the subject, and used as a source of inspiration by other greats in the Early Church within a few decades (e.g. St Gregory of Nyssa draws on it for his own "Catechetical Oration"). This edition has the bonus of a superb introduction by C.S. Lewis on the relevance of reading Early Church books today! Again, although also in the NPNF collection, this is a more modern & readable translation and worth acquiring. Listed as hard to find on Amazon, so you may want to search Abebooks as well.

	*L.W. Barnard (translator), The Monastic Letters of Saint Athanasius the Great* (Oxford: SLG Press, 1994) ISBN: 0728301385**
	This small booklet contains translations of six short letters which St Athanasius wrote to a number of individual monks, as well as entire monastic communities, of his day. Shows another, complimentary and more pastoral, side to the bishop who is better known for his spirited defence of doctrinal issues. The booklet is Fairacres Publication 120, and is available at Ł2.00 directly from SLG Press, Convent of the Incarnation, Fairacres, Oxford OX4 1TB.

	*W.G. Rusch (translator/editor), The Trinitarian Controversy* (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980) ISBN: 0800614100**
	This book contains a selection of key texts surrounding the fourth century Trinitarian debate, by various authors. Amongst the modern translations provided is Book 1 of Athanasius’ "Orations against the Arians" (Contra Arianos) as well as other important works including three of Arius’ own letters, Gregory of Nazianzus’ "Third Theological Oration" and Gregory of Nyssa’s "On Not Three Gods". Listed as hard to find on Amazon, so you may want to search Abebooks as well.