The Bishops shared the people's sentiments, so
together they sought him in his desert abode with St.
Antoni and brought him to Alexandria amidst shouts of
joy and exultation. Leading him to the Cathedral, they all
remained until the consecration was completed.^14 Fifty
bishops officiated at his ordination, while the multitudes
cheered.^15
Abba Athanasius and his people enjoyed peace
during the first three years of his papacy. During this
short period, Fromentius, an Egyptian monk, was
consecrated first Bishop of Ethiopia. Both the king and
the people of that country welcomed him with great joy,
and they entitled him "Abba Salama" i.e. Father of peace.
In the Ethiopian annals he is described as the "revealer of
the Light."^16 (Up to the present day, Ethiopia's Primates
are ordained by St. Mark's successors, the Coptic Popes).
- After ordaining Fromentius, Abba Athanasius
made his first Pastoral tour throughout the Egyptian
region of his See. He sailed by boat up the Nile as far as
Aswan, stopping to visit his people along the way. The
people regarded this as a sign of paternal solicitude. They
responded to this act by spontaneously giving him their
love and veneration. Thus a strong link of devotion and
loyalty was created between the Copts and Abba
.Athanasius early in his career as Pope, and it continued
to the end of his life.
While on this journey consolidating his Church and
edifying his people, Abba Athanasius heard that the
Arians were beginning to raise their heads again. He
immediately dispatched a message to his spiritual father
St. Antoni, in his desert abode, and asked him to go to
Alexandria to refute them. The venerable old sage
responded without hesitation and once more entered the