8 February 356 A.D. Athanasius Exiled Again
8 February 356 A.D. Athanasius Exiled Again Graves, Dan. “Athanasius Exiled Again.” Christianity.com. May 2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/301-600/athanasius-exiled-again-11629666.html . Accessed 14 Jul 2014. Five thousand troops surrounded the church of St. Theonas in Alexandria, Egypt on this date February 8, 356. Inside, an all-night service had begun in preparation for communion the next day. Calmly Bishop Athanasius sat down and ordered a deacon to read Psalm 103. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me praise his holy name." The soldiers burst through the doors, swords flashing, arrows flying. Christians screamed and tried to flee. "Get out, get out," hissed the monks to Athanasius. The Bishop refused to leave until the people were safe. In horror he watched as those who stumbled under the heels of the soldiers were trampled to death. He fainted. The monks seized him ...