Athanasius only on the presumption that this was the best
means for establishing peace within the Church, but
finding that the absence of St. Mark's Successor only
aggravated the situation, and receiving his son's letter in
his favour, he thought it wiser to recall him from his exile.
These thoughts crowded into his mind as he lay sick and
near death. He died, however, before accomplishing this
act of redress.
- Upon the death of Emperor Constantine, his
Empire, was divided among his three sons: Constantine,
the Younger, who took over the rule of the West;
Constance, who took Italy, North Africa and Illyrian, and
Constantius, to whose lot fell Egypt and the Orient. The
rule of Constantine the Younger was very short-lived, for
his two brothers plotted against him, and killed him, then
divided the Empire among themselves. - During his very short reign, Constantine the
Younger ordered the release of Athanasius from his exile,
and sent a letter to the Church of Alexandria to inform
them of that release.
Abba Athanasius returned to his See among
demonstrations of great joy from his people, who received
him with acclamations and prayers of thanksgiving. - No sooner had Athanasius returned to his native
land than he embarked on a second pastoral tour, up the
Nile. At the town of Esnah, north of Aswan, he was met
by Pakhoum (father of Cenobitism). He and his monks
went out to meet their Patriarch chanting psalms and
hymns of joy. Wherever he went, Athanasius did what the
Apostles of Christ did three centuries earlier-teaching,