Among all the holy fathers, one of the brightest and most radiant luminaries was the Monk Athanasius of Athos. He was born around 930. He was baptized with the name Abraham. And he was from a noble family that lived in Trebizond (modern Turkey, earlier a Greek colony). Parents died early, and the boy remained an orphan. Therefore, a relative of her mother, Kanita, who was the wife of one of the respected citizens of Trebizond, took up his upbringing.
Athanasius of Athos: Life
When he matured a little, he was noticed by one imperial nobleman. He came to the city on business and took the young man with him to Constantinople. Abraham was taken to the home of the Stratig Zyphinizer. The famous teacher Athanasius began to study with him, to whom he soon became an assistant. Over time, he had a large number of his own students. Wards of Athanasius even began to move to him. This did not happen because he was more intelligent or educated, he simply had a godlike appearance and communicated kindly and affably with everyone.
Emperor Constantine VII wanted to transfer him to another educational institution. However, his students everywhere followed him, who did not want to let go of their teacher. The wards were very attached to him. Abraham was ashamed of all honors and cares. Then he decided to abandon his teaching in order to avoid a quarrel and rivalry with the former teacher Athanasius.
Confessor
For three years, Abraham and Zyphinizer were on the shores of the Aegean. Then they returned to Constantinople, where the stratigus introduced the young man to Saint Michael Malein. He was abbot of a man’s monastery on Kiminsky Hill. He was respected by the whole Byzantine nobility. All these people were subdued by Abraham. And then he talked about his desire to become a monk. After this conversation, his nephew Nikifor Foka, who at that time was the theme strategist Anatolyk, who also immediately liked the pious young man, came to the Monk Michael. And then Abraham finally found himself a spiritual father - the holy elder Michael. After him, he went to the Kiminsky Mountain. There he took tonsure with the name Athanasius.
Hermit
Athanasius of Athos through his great ascetic life from the Lord received the beginnings of contemplation and considered passing to life in complete silence. Father Michael blessed the monk to retire to the hermit's cell, located 1.5 km from the monastery, take breadcrumbs and water every other day, and stay awake at night. In such a solitude found Athanasius Nicephorus Fock. He also wanted to work with him as soon as favorable circumstances developed.
Once, Father Michael made it clear to all the other monks that he was going to make Athanasius his successor. Some of the brethren did not like this idea. They began to bother the young novice with eulogies and flattering speeches. The same, avoiding all sorts of honors and striving for silence, escapes from the monastery, taking with him only the most necessary. He kept his way to Mount Athos. He admired her during his trip to the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea.
Escape to Athos
Athanasius began to live on the Zigos Peninsula. To keep his origin a secret, he introduced himself as the sailor Barnabas, who survived the shipwreck, and even pretended to be illiterate. However, Nicephorus Foka, already in the dignity of a domestic schol, began to search everywhere for the monk Athanasius. Judge Thessaloniki received a letter from him, where he asked to arrange a search on Mount Athos. And he asked the rector of the monastery (prot) Athos Stephen about the monk Athanasius, to which he replied that they did not have such a person.
But on Christmas Eve 958, on Christmas Eve, according to tradition, all the Athos monks had to gather in the Church of Protat in Karey. Priest Stefan, looking closely at the noble appearance of Barnabas, realized that it was he who was being sought. He forced to read the sacred text of Gregory the Theologian. At first, the young monk stammered, but Father Stefan asked him to read as he could. And then Athanasius of Athos did not pretend anymore - all the monks bowed before him in admiration.
Prophecy
The most venerable holy father Paul from the monastery of Xiropotam said prophetic words: "Whoever comes to the Holy Mountain later than all will be ahead of all the monks in the Kingdom of Heaven, and many will want to be under his guidance." After this, prot. Paul called Athanasius into a frank conversation. Having learned the whole truth, he determined for him a secluded cell 4 km from Kareya, so that he could be alone with God. And he promised that he would not betray him.
But the monks did not give him rest. They constantly waited for advice from him. Then he decided to go to the southern cape of Mount Athos Melan, it was deserted and very windy there. Here he began to be attacked by Satan. Athanasius held on for a long time, but then still could not stand it and decided to leave this place. Suddenly, heavenly light pierced him, filling him with joy and sending him the gift of tenderness.
Milan Lavra
Through his brother Leo, Nicephorus Fock learned about Athanasius. When he took command of the Byzantine forces to liberate Crete from the Arab pirates, he sent a message to Athos to send monks-prayers. And soon, through their fervent prayers, victory was won. Nicephorus began to beg Athanasius to begin the creation of a monastery near their desert. And the saint took up this.
Soon the chapels of John the Baptist were rebuilt with two secluded cells for Athanasius and Nicephorus. And after some time - a temple in the name of the Mother of God and the laurel, which was called Milan. It was built exactly on the spot where Athanasius reclaimed, who soon took the schema. And then a terrible famine came (962-963 gg.). The construction was stopped. But Athanasius had a vision of the Mother of God, who reassured him and said that now she herself would become the Housekeeper of the monastery. After that, the saint saw that all the bins were crammed with everything necessary. Construction continued, the number of monks grew.
Emperor Nicephorus II Phocas
Once Athanasius of Athos found out that Nicephorus ascended the imperial throne. Then he entrusts his duties as abbot of the monastery to Theodotus. And with the monk Anthony escapes from a monastery in Cyprus to the monastery of the Presbyters. Lavra gradually fell into decay. When Athanasius found out about this, he decided to go back. The emperor sought them everywhere. Athanasius is back. After that, life in the monastery was reborn again.
The meeting of Athanasius and Nicephorus took place in Constantinople. The emperor asked him to wait with a vow, when circumstances permit. Athanasius foretold him death on the throne. And he called him to be a fair and merciful ruler. Lavra Athanasius received royal status. The ruler transferred significant benefits to its development. But soon Nicephorus was killed by the rival who occupied his throne. It was John Tzimiskes (969-976). After meeting with the wise saint, he assigned benefits twice as much as the previous ruler. By the end of the life of Athanasius, there were 120 people in the monastery. He became a mentor and spiritual father to all. Everyone loved him. He was very attentive in leading the community. The reverend healed many patients. However, hiding his miraculous prayer powers, he simply gave them medicinal herbs.
Revelation of demise
The Lavra temple was decided to expand. It only remained to erect a dome, as the holy father had a divine revelation that he would soon depart to another world. Then Athanasius of Athos gathered all his students. He put on festive clothes and went to the site to see how the construction is going. At this time, the dome collapsed and covered Athanasius and the six monks. As a result, five were dead. For a long time, the mason Daniil and the abbot Athanasius remained alive, who for three hours were under the rubble and prayed to God. When they were released, they were already dead. Athanasius had only one wound on his leg and his hands were folded crosswise. His body was imperishable. And from the wounds, live blood was sharpened. She was gathered, and then she healed people.
The reverend died in 980. The Church honors his memory on July 5 (18). Many hundreds of years have passed since the death, but St. Athanasius of Athos still helps people. An unquenchable lamp is constantly burning at his grave. On July 5, 1981, the Great Lavra celebrated the return to a coherent charter after centuries of idiocy. At this time, a fragrant peace appeared on the grave of the saint on the glass of the icon case, which spoke of the approval of the saint.
Athanasius of Athos what helps?
This saint is prayed that he will help to cope with the temptations and works of life. He is also prayed for the healing of ailments: both mental and physical. For a seriously ill patient he is asked for an easy death. Akathist Athanasius of Athos begins with the words: "The one chosen from the city of Trebizond in Athos is fasting radiantly ..." This is laudatory church singing, in which you can’t sit. This is a kind of hymn, praise to one or another saint.
The unusually beautiful icon of Athanasius of Athos introduces us to the face of the great holy gray-haired ascetic and prayer book, a wise and perspicacious old man who devoted his whole life to serving God and people. He is still the heavenly warrior of Christ, ready at any moment to help a needy person, he should only turn to him with faith and prayer: “Rev. Father Athanasius, a fair man of Christ and the great Athos miracle worker ...”