Saint Athanasios the Athonite

The name of Saint Athanasios has always been associated with Mount Athos. The Saint lived a life of monasticism and devotion. He dedicated himself with incredible dynamism and wisdom to the care of the Athonite monasteries during the 20th century.

THE BIOGRAPHY OF SAINT ATHANASIOS THE ATHONITE

The monk Athanasios the Athonite was born in Trabzon in the year 927 AD. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but there are reliable indications that he was born into a wealthy family. His father came from Antioch in Syria and his mother from Colchis in Pontus. He lost his father before he was born and his mother after his birth. He was baptized with the name Abraham. A nun, relative of the family, took care of the boy. She had undoubtedly a significant influence on him, as he himself followed the path of monasticism as he grew up. As a child he stood out for his love of education, but also for his devotion to God.

His spirit, his wealth of knowledge and his honest character made Saint Athanasios the Athonite an important philosopher and teacher of his time. His fame spread quickly and reached as far as the imperial palace in Constantinople. The young Abraham gained quickly many disciples and a reputation as a wise teacher.

Year after year the number of people who followed him and learned from him increased. However, as his life was identified with the principles of Christianity, his main desire remained to devote himself totally to God through the monasticism.

At this time a relative of his took command of a fleet in the Aegean Sea and Abraham sailed with him. When the fleet approached the island of Lemnos, Saint Athanasios saw from afar the peak of Mount Athos. He later referred many times to this first "encounter". Returning to the capital, Saint Athanasios met Saint Michael Maleinus, the founder of many monasteries on Mount Kymina. It was to him that he first formally confessed his desire to begin a secluded life. In Constantinople he was also fortunate enough to meet Nikephoros Phokas, who would later become an emperor. Michael was also present at the meeting. He believed that Abraham was worthy to live a more peaceful and ascetic life in order to indulge in his spiritual struggles and dedicate his gifts to Orthodoxy. Thus, Abraham travelled to Mount Cymina, where he was received by the abbot, the monk Michael. There he entered the monasticism and took the name Athanasios. Under the guidance of his spiritual teacher, the monk Michael Maleinou, Athanasios devoted himself to the ascetic life. Within four years he mastered all levels of asceticism and developed many virtues.

HIS LIFE IN ATHOS

Despite the tranquility that prevailed on Mount Kymina, the fate of Saint Athanasios led him down a different path. He left from there in order to visit Mount Athos.

Almost immediately after his arrival, he traveled to many parts of the Athonite peninsula and met many virtuous monks and ascetics. Saint Athanasios was impressed by the harsh ascetic life, difficult conditions and hardships. He started close to a simple elder at the Holy Monastery of Zygos, without initially revealing who he was.

Saint Athanasios wanted to go unnoticed and so he did not reveal his real name. He was introduced to everyone by the name Barnabas. His desire was to get to know the monks of Mount Athos and to pass to a higher stage of secluded life, to become a hermit. As he himself said, during this period the regulations of Mount Athos did not allow any monk to live as a hermit unless he had first lived on Mount Athos for two or three years. This first period was a test that those who wanted to become hermits would have to overcome.

Saint Athanasios, as later described by those who knew him, considered it his duty to remain discreet and obey his elder. By concealing his knowledge and spiritual abilities out of respect for him, who was almost uneducated, he had the opportunity to learn the world of monasticism, while at the same time he was practicing on how to show his devotion to God in more practical ways.

While Saint Athanasios was practicing on Mount Athos to become a monk, the commander of the troops in the East, Nikephoros Phokas, sought him out in various monastic centers in Central Asia. While he was unable to locate him anywhere, he remembered that the Saint had previously mentioned a possible departure to Mount Athos. Nikephoros Phokas wrote to the Prefect of Thessalonica and asked him to go to Athos. The prefect travelled to Mount Athos and informed the monks, who began to search for Saint Athanasios.

The elders met three times a year: on Christmas Day, Easter and on August 15^th, the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. The meetings were also attended by the fathers who lived as ascetics in Karyes. As Christmas was approaching, Saint Athanasios was finally noticed by the monastic community. The Athonite monks now recognized "Barnabas" as a well-educated monk. However, they never found out who he really was, as he asked for his identity to be kept secret in order to continue in peace his monastic life on Athos. He was thus granted an abandoned cell near Karyes. There Saint Athanasios stayed until the year 959 AD.

Around 960 AD, Nikephoros Phokas' brother Leo Phokas, commander of the western armies, came to Mount Athos after his victory over the Scythians in order to thank God for his successes on the battlefield. It was then that he met the Saint. From this moment his true identity and his relationship with Fokas’ family was learned everywhere. The asceticism with which Saint Athanasios lived all this time, his personality and his relations with the glorious family of the byzantine empire caused a great sensation. Many rushed to meet him.

Saint Athanasios, wanting to avoid the crowds and the commotion, carried out the plan he originally had when he arrived on Mount Athos. He retreated to the depths of Athos to live in contemplation and tranquility. Thus, with the blessing of the monks, he found an extremely inaccessible and deserted place. There he built Agia Lavra (Holy Lavra), set up his ascetic hut as "another laboratory of virtue" and engaged in spiritual struggle.

At the same time, during the liberation of Crete from the Arabs, Nikephoros Phokas led the Byzantine army's campaign. The battles were strong. The Byzantine army suffered from the cold and lack of food, unlike the Arab army. Wanting to boost the soldiers' morale, Phokas reminded them that the purpose of the campaign was to liberate Christian lands and enslaved populations. In addition, the Arabs or Saracens raided the whole Aegean, even Mount Athos, where, apart from loot, they took monks as hostages.

In an effort to raise the morale of the army, the commander decided to send letters to the monasteries of Asia Minor and Mount Athos, asking them to send some monks to support the army. Among the monks he wrote to Saint Athanasios. The monasteries of Mount Athos responded positively. With the blessing of the elders of Athos, Saint Athanasios decided to go to Crete, accompanied by the monk Theodotos. The meeting of the two men was touching. Athanasios was received with great honors by his spiritual brother Nikephoros Phokas. His mission in Crete was a complete success.

Athanasios knew very well that Nikephoros Phokas, as an emperor now, could help Lavra. Among other things, Nikephoros Phokas stated that no one had the right to interfere in the affairs of the monastery except the emperor himself. Thus, Lavra became a royal-imperial monastery.

Nikephoros, as the patron and owner of the monastery, supported it by every means. After his death, the monastery passed to Saint Athanasios, who remained abbot throughout his life. Phokas forbade the transfer of Lavra to a foreign, secular or ecclesiastical body, or to another monastery. At the same time, he granted annually to the monastery the financial sums necessary for its maintenance.

At the same time, thanks to the fame of Saint Athanasios and the impressive growth of the monastery, monks started to arrive from many regions. Among them were natives from Rome, Italy, Georgia, Armenia, etc. All of them found refuge in the Monastery of Great Lavra, which, after Protaton, was at that time (964-972 AD) the most important monastic institution on Athos.

This unprecedented rise of Lavra caused a certain reaction on many Athonite ascetics, hermits and monks. Their main complaint was that with the great economic activity, abundant financial donations, etc., the isolated tradition and character of the ascetic spirit of Mount Athos was being distorted.

The murder of Nikephoros Phokas was the beginning of a new era and brought many changes in the life of Mount Athos. Those who disagreed with Saint Athanasios felt that this was the right time to end his course. They sent a group of monks to the new emperor and expressed their complaints against the Saint.

THE NEW ERA

The new emperor John Tzimiskes (969-976 AD) invited Saint Athanasiοs to Constantinople. During their meeting, the emperor, knowing of Athanasiοs' close relationship with the murdered Nikephoros Phoκas, not only did not show him hostility, as many had expected, but maintained a friendly attitude. This limited the antagonisms and led to the reconciliation of the two sides.

As a result, the emperor sent his representative to Mount Athos to settle the matter once and for all. Additionally, he confirmed all the decisions of his predecessor.

After much discussion, a statute was drawn up which was approved by all the abbots and signed by the Protaton. This text, known as the "Typikon of the Emperor John Tzimiskes" is preserved to this day in Karyes. After its approval, Saint Athanasios the Athonite devoted himself to dealing with the affairs of the Monastery of Great Lavra and his spiritual duties.

He was particularly interested in the administrative organization of the monastery, the proper management of the finances, the orderliness of the work and various other issues of daily life.

THE STATUTES DRAWN UP BY THE SAINT

The statutes drawn up by Saint Athanasios can be divided into three parts. The first paragraphs deal with administrative matters, such as the election of the abbot, duties, powers, obedience, succession, the duties of the monks, etc. Then there is a short text on how the abbot is elected, the appointment of commissioners, etc. The liturgical part describes the celebration of the services during the church year.

The Saint was recognized as the leader of the reform and patriarch of Athonite monasticism. His contribution to the establishment and recognition of the status of the Athonite state was widely acknowledged.

Saint Athanasios died around 1000 AD. He was recognized as a Saint and his memory is celebrated on the 5^th of July.

MIRACLES OF SAINT ATHANASIOS THE ATHONITE

One day on Mount Athos, a miraculous incident occurred. A monk who had the same name as the saint, Athanasios the storekeeper, at the beginning of his monastic life, while in the cell of Milopotamos, fell ill with dropsy. Seeing his condition, the monk suggested that he should go to Lavra to be treated by the monastery's doctor. When he arrived there, the doctors who examined him did not believe he would be cured. Saint Athanasios felt sorry for his condition and, by touching his stomach with his hand, said, "There is no mean in you." Immediately after saying these words, the monk was cured.

THE APPARITION OF THE VIRGIN MARY. THE SPRING OF SAINT ATHANASIOS THE ATHONITE

In the year 963 A.D. a great famine struck the empire. The food was not enough. The construction of the Monastery of Great Lavra had already begun and the supplies of materials and food had been used up. Saint Athanasios decided to go to Karyes to get advice. On the way to Karyes, and while still at a great distance from the monastery, he met a very modest and beautiful woman. The sight alarmed him. The unexpected visitor asked Athanasios: "Where are you from, Athanasios, and where are you going?". Surprised, the saint replied:

"Who are you and how do you know my name?". "I am the Mother of the Lord and your protector," she replied and continued: "But will you not tell me why you left Lavra and where you are going?" The old man replied, "I will not believe that you are the Blessed Virgin Mary unless I see a sign." "You are right, Athanasios. Believe it though." she replied. "Strike this stone crosswise with your rod, saying the name of the Holy Trinity, and you will immediately see abundant and inexhaustible water flowing."

Convinced, the Saint struck the stone before him, and water immediately gushed forth. This place has been called the Holy Spring of Saint Athanasios the Athonite.

WHAT DOES SAINT ATHANASIOS HELP PEOPLE WITH?

Saint Athanasios receives the prayers of people who ask to be curried from serious illnesses, ask for a speedy recovery, deliverance from suffering and decay. Furthermore, he assists in the return of those who are lost, those who have disbelieved or embraced other religions.