Early Christian asceticism was far from being wholly other-worldly. This new and illuminating study of the life and thought of Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria (328-73), one of the central figures of the church at the time, shows just how deeply political ascetic theology could also be in the struggle to form a united and dominant church in Egypt under the Roman Empire. The book includes the first-ever English translations of the original writings of Athanasius.