Christian Journal of Theology
http://www.quodlibet.net/perry-athanasius.shtml
Athanasius was not allowed to sit in on the Council either since he was only a deacon. Yet, clearly it was Athanasius who did the legwork and concluded (as Bishop Alexander conveyed in the Trinitarian defense) that the Son was of the same essence (homoousios) than the Father and was generated from that essence of the Father. A middle party concluded as a way of compromise between the Arian and Athanasian viewpoints that Christ was of a similar essence than the Father (homoiousios). This viewpoint, drawn up by Eusebius of Caesarea, tried to accommodate both parties (where in reality, a similar essence is still a different essence, thus accordingly favoring Arius).[21]
Catholic Encyclopedia1

but Athanasius, in common with the leaders of the orthodox party, loyally accepted the term as expressive of the traditional sense in which the Church had always held Jesus Christ to be the Son of God. The conspicuous abilities displayed in the Nicaean debates and the character for courage and sincerity he won on all sides made the youthful cleric henceforth a marked man (St. Greg. Naz., Orat., 21)








Britannica Encyclopedia
http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-4...int-Athanasius

Athanasius (c. 293–373) bestrides the 4th century as the inflexible champion of the Nicene dogma. He had been present at the council, defending Alexander, the theologian-bishop of Alexandria from 313 to 328, who had exposed Arius; and after succeeding Alexander in 328 he spent the rest of his stormy life defending, expounding, and drawing out the implications of the Nicene...
Apology of our holy Father Athanasius Archbishop of Alexandria to Emperor Constantine
http://books.google.com/books?id=Bbv...iDBw#PPA154,M1
read pages 155 - 160