Sabbath and Rest: Athanasius on Resurrection Rest

Athanasius of Alexandria (d. 373) connected Sabbath rest to the resurrection of Christ. He wrote in his Festal Letters: "The Lord's Day is the day of rest, the day of joy, the day of the resurrection. On this day, death was destroyed, life was restored, and the gates of heaven were opened." For Athanasius, Sunday rest is not merely a cessation from labor but a celebration of Christ's victory over death.

Athanasius taught that the resurrection transforms the meaning of rest itself. Rest is no longer merely recovery from exhaustion but participation in the new creation that the resurrection inaugurated. When Christians rest on Sunday, they are rehearsing the eternal rest that awaits.

Practical application: Make your Sunday rest intentionally joyful, not merely restful. Celebrate something: cook a special meal, listen to beautiful music, spend extended time with loved ones, take a walk in nature and give thanks. Athanasius teaches that resurrection rest is characterized by joy, not just by the absence of work.