Inscription in Greek: ΑΓΙΟC ΑΘΑΝΑCΙΟC ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΙΑC

The icon depicts the prominent church father and bishop, Saint Athanasios of Alexandria, who was active in the fourth century CE. He is depicted full length in a checkerboard robe with a white omophorion decorated with red crosses. In his right hand he holds a red bejewelled gospel which is slightly open, although the text is illegible. He holds his left hand aloft while making the Orthodox symbol of blessing. We can see the richly jewelled epimankia (cuff) on his left hand. The Hermeneia describes Athanasios as ‘an old man, bald with a wide beard’[1]

Athanasios was Archbishop of Alexandria, a theologian, a philosopher, and a saint. He was born in Alexandria c.295 and died there in 373.’1 He was a delegate to the Council of Nicaea, where he strenuously defended Christ against the Arians who denied his total divinity. His role in developing the theology of the Trinity, with the concept of its co-equal Persons, is central to one of the church’s most important dogmas. He came into conflict with several emperors: Constantine the Great, Julian the Apostate and the Arian, Valens. Such turbulence brought exile on five occasions during Athanasios’ long episcopate. He is one of the Four Doctors of the Church and known as ‘The Father of Orthodoxy’. Single images such as this are rare, but he is almost always included in painted groups of church fathers.

[1] Hetherington P. The Painter’s Manual of Dionysius of Fourna, Sagittarius Press, London, 1974; p. 54