Patriarch
Saint Athanasius I, Patriarch of Constantinople, originally from Adrianople, left home in his youth and went to Thessalonica, where he took monastic vows under the name Akakios. He served as a treasurer in the Esphigmenou Monastery on Mount Athos, and then withdrew to Mount Patmos, where he lived as a hermit. In the monastery of Blessed Lazarus, he received the sacred order and became an ecclesiarch. After receiving divine revelation, he was called to pastoral service. After 10 years, he returned to Mount Athos, but due to disturbances, he went back to Galatia, where a women's monastery was established. In 1289, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople. He diligently fulfilled his duties, but in 1293, he was forced to leave the see and return to the monastery. In 1303, he was restored to the patriarchal throne, where he served for another 7 years. In 1308, he appointed Saint Peter as the Metropolitan of Kiev. In 1311, not wishing to be the cause of strife, he left the management of the Church and returned to his monastery. At the end of his life, he was granted a vision of Christ and repented of his cowardice, receiving forgiveness and the gift of wonderworking. He reposed at the age of 100.
