Venerable Athanasius of Vatopedi (10th–11th centuries), abbot, one of the founders of Vatopedi Monastery
Commemorated on December 17 and in the Synaxis of the Saints of Vatopedi (Greek).
According to monastic tradition, in the mid-10th century, three archons (nobles) from Adrianople—Athanasius, Nicholas, and Anthony—arrived on Mount Athos. At the urging of St. Athanasius of Athos, they restored the ancient, ruined Vatopedi Monastery.
Subsequently, the founders were buried in the narthex of the catholicon, and their memory is celebrated on December 17.
Many critical researchers considered the three Adrianopolitan ktetors (founders) to be legendary figures and the number three itself to be symbolic. However, in 1992, during excavations in the catholicon of Vatopedi, a tomb was found beneath the arcosolium on the southern side of the mesonyktikon (the part of the narthex where the Midnight Office was performed). The remains of three monks were discovered inside, along with a lead tablet bearing a strict prohibition in the name of Abbot Athanasius, who was buried there, against burying anyone else in that tomb. This proves that the three founders were real historical figures. Two of them can be identified as the first abbots of Vatopedi, Nicholas (c. 985 – c. 1012) and Athanasius (c. 1020 – c. 1048). From the inscription on the tomb, it can be concluded that Athanasius was the son of Nicholas, suggesting that Vatopedi originated as a family monastery. However, not all the individuals whose names are preserved by tradition lived at the same time. According to D. Papachryssanthou, the third founder of the monastery should be identified with Abbot Anthony, who is mentioned in historical acts under the year 1142.
In modern iconography, they are depicted holding the sacred relics of Vatopedi: the "Vimatarissa" (Ktetoressa / Foundress) Icon of the Mother of God, the Cross of Constantine the Great, and the lit candle, all of which were found in the well where St. Sava the Sacristan had hidden them in the 10th century.
