Death has become like a tyrant who has been completely conquered by the legitimate monarch; bound hand and foot as he now is, the passers-by jeer at him, hitting him and abusing him, no longer afraid of his cruelty and rage, because of the king who has conquered him. So has death been conquered and branded for what it is by the Saviour on the cross. It is bound hand and foot, all who are in Christ trample it as they pass and as witnesses to Him deride it, scoffing and saying, “O Death, where is thy victory? O Grave, where is thy sting?”
Athanasius, De Incarnatione, xxvii
This quote is particularly amazing when you consider the fact that Athanasius’ childhood was spent in the time of the great persecution under Diocletan.
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I had to repost this quote.
