Page "Athanasius of Alexandria" Paragraph 68

Richard E. Rubenstein and Timothy Barnes have painted a less than flattering picture of the saint.

They argue that his ascension to the station of bishop in Alexandria occurred under questionable circumstances.

Upon the death of his predecessor Alexander in 328, more than fifty bishops gathered to choose a new leader to the Alexandrian see.

While Alexander had been priming Athanasius to assume the bishopric after his death, it is said, he was not unanimously supported, and questions of his age ( the minimum age to become a bishop was thirty, and questions remain to this day whether he was yet that old ).

Having less than overwhelming support as well did not help his candidacy.

According to recent academics, Athanasius, growing impatient, took a small number of bishops who supported his claim, and held a private consecration making him bishop.