Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Athanasius the Great

Athanasius the Great

9.9
A Greek church leader in the 300s who defended the idea that Jesus is fully God
  • proper noun
translation icon : Atanasio el Grande
  • During his lifetime, Athanasius the Great faced numerous exiles for his opposition to Arianism.

Examples

  • Many theologians consider Athanasius the Great a key figure in shaping early Christian doctrine.

  • The legacy of Athanasius the Great continues to influence the teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

  • Athanasius the Great was a key figure in early Christianity.

  • Many people refer to Athanasius the Great as a champion of the faith.

  • Throughout history, Athanasius the Great has been celebrated for his staunch defense of Christian orthodoxy.

  • Scholars often highlight Athanasius the Great as instrumental in opposing Arianism during the early Church.

  • The teachings of Athanasius the Great laid the foundation for many beliefs in modern Christianity.

Synonyms

Athanasius
vsAthanasius the Great
2 9.9

A Christian leader in Alexandria who defends the church against the Arians

adds a higher honorific status and recognition as Doctor of the Church
St. Athanasius
vsAthanasius the Great
9.9

An early Greek church leader from Alexandria who defended Christian beliefs and is called a saint

uses a more formal title emphasizing historic greatness rather than only honors

Surface Forms

Athanasius the Great main

Morphology

Athanasius + the + great

The epithet 'the Great' is a transparent honorific: combining a proper name with 'the Great' readily yields 'a distinguished or famous person.' This compositional, cross-linguistically common pattern (e.g. Alexander the Great) allows a B1 learner who knows the constituents to infer the general sense even if they cannot derive detailed biographical facts.

Etymology

Athanasius the Great was a church leader who strongly defended Christian teaching and was forced to leave Alexandria many times for his beliefs. People added the title the Great to show respect for his firm stand and long influence, so the name now means 'a very important and respected person'.