Herein we consider info on Satan in Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373 AD). The fuller complete result consists of quotations of those sections within the text that refer to Angels, Cherubim, Seraphim, Devil, Satan, demons, serpent and dragon. The point is not to elucidate these references but to provide relevant partial quotations and citations. See my section on Angels here, Cherubim and Seraphim here, Satan here and Demons here.
Satan in Athanasius of Alexandria’s Vita S. Antoni / Life of St. Anthony, Ad Episcopus Aegypti et Libyae / To the Bishops of Egypt and Libya, History of the Arians, Four Discourses Against the Arians and Letters.
Vita S. Antoni / Life of St. Anthony
37 But the Lord did not suffer us to be deceived by the devil, for He rebuked him whenever he framed such delusions against Him, saying: “Get behind me, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.”
40 Nor was it I that stayed them and destroyed their power, but it was the Lord, who said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven;but I, children, mindful of the Apostle’s words, transferred this to myself, that you might learn not to faint in discipline, nor to fear the devil nor the delusions of the demons.’
41 ‘And since I have become a fool in detailing these things, receive this also as an aid to your safety and fearlessness; and believe me for I do not lie. Once some one knocked at the door of my cell, and going forth I saw one who seemed of great size and tall. Then when I enquired, “Who are you?” he said, “I am Satan.” Then when I said, “Why are you here?” he answered, “Why do the monks and all other Christians blame me undeservedly? Why do they curse me hourly?”
Ad Episcopus Aegypti et Libyae / To the Bishops of Egypt and Libya
3 And whereas Scripture showed this, when relating his wicked artifices against Eve in Paradise, so the Lord also reproved him—first in the mount, when He laid open ‘the folds of his breast-plate ,’ and showed who the crafty spirit was, and proved that it was not one of the saints , but Satan that was tempting Him. For He said, ‘Get behind Me Satan; for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve.’
History of the Arians Part VII
60 He perished rejoicing, having obtained the glory of martyrdom. But the miscreants were not even yet ashamed, but in the words of Scripture, ‘having bowels without mercy,’ they acted accordingly, and now again perpetrated a satanic deed.
Four Discourses Against the Arians Discourse 2
69 He Himself has said, where He is, there shall we be also; and henceforward we shall fear no longer the serpent, for he was brought to nought when he was assailed by the Saviour in the flesh, and heard Him say, ‘Get behind Me, Satan,’ and thus he is cast out of paradise into the eternal fire.
Discourse 3
40 For He of Himself rebuked Satan, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan Luke 4:8;’ and to the disciples He gave the power against him, when on their return He said, ‘I beheld Satan, as lightning, fall from heaven.’ And again, that what He said that He had received, that He possessed before receiving it, appears from His driving away the demons, and from His unbinding what Satan had bound.
Letters
Letter 10 Therefore the Gospel rebukes Satan, saying, ‘Get behind Me, Satan.’
Letter 20 For this reason, they are bidden to ‘lay hold with delight ,’ because, having the choice between faith and pleasures, they steal the sweetness of truth, and disguise their own bitter waters [to escape] from the blame of their wickedness, which would have been speedy and public. On this account, the wolf puts on the skin of the sheep, sepulchres deceive by their whitened exteriors. Satan, that is.
Letter 24 And at that time when they went forth and crossed over Egypt, their enemies were the sport of the sea; but now, when we pass over from Earth to Heaven, Satan himself henceforth falls like lightning from Heaven.
In the next segment, we will consider Angels in Athenagoras of Athens.