The heavenly doctor is the Monk Athanasios of Athos. Testament of the Monk Athanasius of Athos Athanasius of Athos from which it helps

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Venerable Athanasius of Athos

Among the many miracles performed by Athanasius during his lifetime, the ambulance to the desperate was especially remarkable.

Prayer to the Monk Athanasius of Athos

Venerable Athanasius of Athos

Prayer to Saint John Chrysostom

The most favorite subject of St. Chrysostom in serving the Word of God was a speech about hope in God's mercy.

First Prayer to Saint John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom

O Great Saint John Chrysostom! You received many and various gifts from the Lord and, like a good and faithful servant, you multiplied all the talents given to you for good: for this reason, you were truly a universal teacher, as every age and every rank is learned from you. You are a youth - an image of obedience, a young one - chastity shone, a husband - a diligence mentor, an old one - a teacher of kindness, a monk - a rule of abstinence, a prayer - a leader from God inspired, wisdom seeking - an enlightener, a good-spoken ornate - the words of a living source inexhaustible, beneficent - star of mercy, rulers - the rule of a wise image, truth zealot - boldness inspirer, truth for the sake of the persecuted - patience mentor: all were thou, but save every one. Over all of these, thou hast acquired love, even if there is a cous of perfection, and by that, as if by the power of God, all the talents in thy single face were united into one, and there love, divided reconciling, in the interpretation of the words of the apostles, preached to all the faithful. But we are sinners, according to each one our own gift of property, unity of the spirit in the union of the world are not imams, we are conceited, irritating each other, envying each other: for the sake of this gift, our divided is not into peace and salvation, but into enmity and condemnation to us are. The same to you, the saint of God, we fall down, we are overwhelmed with contention, and in contrition of heart we ask: with your prayers, take away from our hearts all pride and envy that divides us, so that in many places the church body will be one, but according to your prayerful word we will love each other and with one mind we confess the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity of Consubstantial and Indivisible, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Second Prayer to Saint John Chrysostom

O Great Saint John Chrysostom! You received many and various gifts from the Lord, and, as a good and faithful servant, you multiplied all the talents given to you for good, for this sake, you were truly a universal teacher, as every age and every rank is learned from you. But we, sinners (names), according to one each our own gift of property, unity of the spirit in the union of the world are not imams, but we are vanity, irritating each other, envying each other; for the sake of this gift, our divided, not into peace and salvation, but into enmity and condemnation appear to us. The same to you, the saint of God, we fall down, we are overwhelmed with contention, and in contrition of heart we ask: with your prayers, drive away from our hearts all malice, hostility, pride and envy that divides us, but in many places we will unrestrictedly remain one church body, but according to your word Let us love one another prayerfully and with one mind confess the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, the Trinity of the same essence and inseparable, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

To your guardian angel

They also pray to the guardian angel for approval in faith

First prayer to the Guardian Angel

Holy angel of Christ, I pray to you, my holy guardian, devoted to me to keep my sinful soul and body from holy baptism, but with my laziness and my evil habit, I angered your most pure lordship and drove you away from me with all studish deeds: lies, slander , envy, condemnation, contempt, disobedience, fraternal hatred and malice, love of money, adultery, rage, stinginess, gluttony without satiety and drunkenness, verbosity, evil thoughts and crafty, proud custom and fornication, having self-desire for all carnal lust, my evil arbitrariness, and the beasts of speechlessness do not create it! Yes, how can you rise up at me, or come to me, like a stinking dog? Whose eyes, Angel of Christ, look at me, entangled in evil in vile deeds? But how can I ask forgiveness for my bitter and evil and crafty deeds, I fall into it all day and night and at every hour? But I pray, falling down, my holy guardian, have mercy on me, your sinful and unworthy servant (name), be my helper and intercessor for the evil of my opponent, with your holy prayers, and make the Kingdom of God a partaker of me with all the saints, always, and now, and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Second prayer to the Guardian Angel

Holy Angel, stand before my accursed soul and my passionate life, do not leave me a sinner, depart from me below for my intemperance. Give no place to the crafty demon to possess me, the violence of this mortal body: strengthen my poor and thin hand and guide me on the path of salvation. To her, the holy Angel of God, the guardian and patron of my accursed soul and body, forgive me all, insult you with great insults all the days of my stomach, and if I have sinned this past night, cover me on this present day, and save me from every temptation of the opposite, let me anger God in no sin, and pray for me to the Lord, let him confirm me in His fear, and worthy of showing me a servant of His goodness. Amen.

Third prayer to the Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my holy guardian, given to me by God from heaven! I diligently pray to you: enlighten me today, and save me from all evil, guide me to a good deed, and direct me on the path of salvation. Amen.

Fourth prayer to the Guardian Angel

O holy angel, my good guardian and patron! With a contrite heart and a painful soul, I stand before you, praying: hear me, your sinful servant (name), with a strong cry and a bitter cry crying out; do not remember my iniquities and untruths, image az, accursed, I anger you for all days and hours, and I create abomination to myself before our Creator, the Lord; appear to me mercifully and do not leave me, the filthy one, even until my death; Awaken me from the sinful sleep and help with your prayers the rest of my life without a blemish and create fruits worthy of repentance, moreover, keep me from the mortal falls of sin, lest I perish in despair and lest the enemy rejoice over my death. I truly confess and confess with my mouth, as no one is such a friend and intercessor, protector and champion, like you, holy angel: standing before the Throne of the Lord, pray for me, indecent, and more than all the sinners, may he not take away the blessings of my soul on the day of my hopelessness and on the day of the creation of wickedness. Do not stop, therefore, propitiating the most merciful Lord and my God, may he forgive my sins, even if I have done it in my whole life, deed, word and all my feelings, and, in the image of fate, may he save me; may he punish me here according to His inexpressible mercy, but may he not convict and torture me onamo according to His impartial justice; let me be vouchsafed to bring repentance, with repentance, Divine Communion is worthy of acceptance, I pray for this more and I wholeheartedly wish such a gift. In the terrible hour of death, be relentless, my good guardian, driving away the gloomy demons that have to frighten my trembling soul: protect me from those trappings, when the imam passes through the air ordeals, let us keep you, I will comfortably reach paradise, my desire, where the faces of the saints and The High Forces incessantly praise the all-honorable and magnificent name in the Trinity of the glorious God, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, to whom honor and worship befits forever and ever. Amen.

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Prayer to the Monk Athanasius of Athos.

Prayer to the Monk Athanasius of Athos

Reverend Father Athanasius, a fair servant of Christ and the great Athonite miracle worker! In the days of your earthly life, instructing many on the right path and leading wisely into the Kingdom of Heaven, consoling the mournful, giving a helping hand to those who fall, and the former father is kind, merciful and compassionate to everyone!

You, even now, in heavenly lordship, most of all multiply your love for us, the weak, in the sea of ​​life, variously distressed, tempted by the spirit of malice and your passions, fighting for the spirit.

For this sake, we humbly pray to you, holy father: according to the grace given to you from God, help us to do the will of the Lord in simplicity of heart and humility, conquer the temptations of the enemy and dry up the fierce passions of the sea; yes, let us pass through the abyss of life without interruption and by your intercession to the Lord we will be able to reach the Kingdom of Heaven promised to us, glorifying the Beginningless Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion to the Monk Athanasius of Athos

Even in the flesh of your life, you were surprised at the angelic order, how with the body to the invisible plexus you came out, blessed, and wounded the demonic regiments; from then on, Athanasius, Christ will reward you with rich gifts; For this sake, Father, pray that our souls be saved.

As if the immaterial beings of the viewer are fair and active, the teller is all true, your flock calls out, O God-verbal: do not be poor, praying for your servants, get rid of misfortunes and circumventions, crying out to you: Rejoice, Father Athanasius.

We bless you, reverend Father Athanasius, and we honor your holy memory, mentor of monks and companion of angels.

Akathist to the Holy Monk Athanasius the Wonderworker of Athos Life of Our Venerable Father Athanasius of Athos

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WHAT IS PRAYER ABOUT SAINT ATHANASIUS

The Orthodox Church honors many saints who bore the name Athanasius. Among them, the Monk Athanasius of Athos (X century) stands out with special reverence. The name of this saint is associated with the first cenobitic monastery founded on the Holy Mountain, the Great Lavra, which still exists today. Through the prayers of St. Athanasius and his great labor, this monastery was equipped during his lifetime. The monk devoted himself entirely to building, repairing, writing a cenobitic charter, searching for money for the arrangement, and died under the rubble of the temple's dome that collapsed during the construction. The saint is commemorated on July 18. Saint Athanasius of Athos is prayed for healing or a speedy repose (when there is absolutely no hope for a cure, such a prayer is read only with the blessing of the priest) of hopeless patients, and when despair overcomes.

Prayer of St. Athanasius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria

All men who are named after this saint need to read a prayer to the holy reverend Athanasius the Great (IV century). They should not forget that Athanasius is a great defender of Orthodox dogmas, a fighter against heresies, an archbishop. St. Athanasius the Great devoted his whole life to confronting the heresy of Arianism. During his lifetime, he underwent many persecutions and exiles, despite the fact that he was very loved by his flock, and reciprocated. The miraculous prayers of St. Athanasius the Great are read when there is a threat of a schism in the church, when it is necessary to pray for unbelieving relatives, for their enlightenment and admonition, for the return to the bosom of the Orthodox Church of those who have fallen away and lost, for those who have fallen into sects.

Christian prayer to Saint Athanasius the Seated

Saint Athanasius the Seated (XVI century) got his nickname because of an unusual burial for the Slavs - according to Eastern custom, he was buried sitting, in the same form his holy relics were found, which are now in the same sitting form in the Annunciation Cathedral in Kharkov. Through prayer to Saint Athanasius, miracles of healing occur from his relics. During his lifetime, Athanasius Seated was the Patriarch of Tsaregrad, through his labors many people were converted to the Orthodox faith. Many call Saint Athanasius the Awake not only because of his posture, but also because he helps very quickly and does not leave anyone who comes to him without consolation.

Listen to the video prayer to St. Athanasius for healing

The text of the Orthodox prayer to St. Athanasius in Russian

The Monk Father Athanasius, a fair servant of Christ and the great miracle worker of Athos, in the days of your earthly life of many, instructing the right path and leading wisely into the Kingdom of Heaven, consoling sorrowfully, giving a helping hand and kind to everyone, merciful and compassionate former father! Even now, staying in heavenly lordship, you increase your love for us weak in the first place, in the sea of ​​\u200b\u200blife, the distinction of the distressed, tempted by the spirit of malice and passions that fight on the spirit. For this sake, we humbly pray to you, holy father: according to the grace given to you from God, help us the will of the Lord in simplicity of heart and humility to do: conquer the temptations of the enemy and the ferocious passions of the sea, so let us pass the abyss of life without water and through your intercession to the Lord we will be able to reach the Kingdom promised to us Heavenly, glorifying the Beginningless Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and forever and ever. Amen.

Saint Athanasius of Athos: biography, history, icon and prayer

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, who then lived in Trebizond (modern Turkey, even earlier - a Greek colony). Parents died early, and the boy was left an orphan. Therefore, his mother's relative, Kanita, who was the wife of one of the respected citizens of Trebizond, took up his upbringing.

Athanasius of Athos: life

When he grew up 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 into the house of the general Zifinizer. The most 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. Afanasy's wards even began to go to him. This happened not because he was more intelligent or educated, he simply had a god-like appearance and communicated with everyone affectionately and affably.

Emperor Constantine VII wanted to transfer him to another educational institution. However, he was followed everywhere by his students, who did not want to let their teacher go. Wards were very attached to him. Abraham was ashamed of all honors and cares. Then he decided to give up teaching in order to avoid a quarrel and rivalry with his former teacher Athanasius.

For three years, Abraham and Zifinizer were on the shores of the Aegean Sea. Then they returned to Constantinople, where the general introduced the young man to Saint Michael Malein. He was the abbot of the monastery on the Kiminskaya mountain. He was respected by all the Byzantine nobility. All these people were subjugated by Abraham. And then he told about his desire to become a monk. After this conversation, his nephew Nikifor Foka, who at that time was the strategist of the Anatolicus theme, came to the Monk Michael, who also immediately took a liking to the pious young man. And then Abraham finally found himself a confessor - the holy elder Michael. For him, he went to the Kiminskaya mountain. There he took the tonsure with the name Athanasius.

Athanasius of Athos, through his great ascetic life, received from the Lord the rudiments of contemplation and considered moving on to life in complete silence. Father Michael blessed the monk to retire to a hermit's cell, located 1.5 km from the monastery, to take crackers and water every other day, and to stay awake at night. In such seclusion found Athanasius Nicephorus Fock. He, too, wanted to labor with him as soon as favorable circumstances arose.

One day, 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 pester the young novice with laudatory and flattering speeches. The same one, shunning all honors and striving for silence, runs away from the monastery, taking with him only the most necessary things. He was on his way to Mount Athos. He admired her even during his trip to the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea.

Escape to Athos

Athanasius began to live on the Zygos peninsula. In order to keep his origin a secret, he introduced himself as a sailor Barnabas, who survived after a shipwreck, and even pretended to be illiterate. However, Nikifor Foka, already in the rank of domestic schol, began to look everywhere for the monk Athanasius. The judge of Thessaloniki received a letter from him, where he asked to organize a search on Mount Athos. And he asked the abbot 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, according to tradition, all the monks of Athos were to gather in the Church of the Protata in Kareia. Priest Stefan, looking closely at the noble appearance of Barnabas, realized that this was exactly the one they were looking for. He made me read the sacred text of Gregory the Theologian. The young monk stammered a lot at first, but Father Stefan asked him to read as best he could. And then Athanasius of Athos no longer began to pretend - all the monks bowed before him in admiration.

Prophecy

The most venerable holy father Paul from the Xiropotam monastery said prophetic words: “Whoever comes to the Holy Mountain later than everyone else will be ahead of all the monks in the Kingdom of Heaven, and many will want to be under his guidance.” After that, Prot. Paul called Athanasius to a frank conversation. Having learned the whole truth, he assigned him a secluded cell 4 km from Karei, 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 looked to him for advice. Then he decided to go to the southern cape of Mount Athos Melana, where it was deserted and very windy. Here he began to be attacked by Satan. Athanasius held out for a long time, but then he still could not stand it and decided to leave this place. Suddenly a heavenly light pierced him, filling him with joy and sending him the gift of tenderness.

Milan Lavra

Through his brother Leo, Nikephoros Phocas learned about Athanasius. When he took command of the Byzantine troops to liberate Crete from Arab pirates, he sent a message to Athos to send him prayer monks. And soon, through their fervent prayers, victory was won. Nicephorus began to beg Athanasius to start building a monastery near their desert. And the saint did it.

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 Lavra, which was called Milan. It was built exactly on the spot where Athanasius was a hermit, who soon accepted the schema. And then came a terrible famine (962-963). 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 steward of the monastery. After that, the saint saw that all the bins were filled with everything necessary. Construction continued, the number of monks grew.

Emperor Nikephoros II Phocas

One day, Athanasius Athos learned that Nicephorus had ascended the imperial throne. Then he entrusts his duties as hegumen of the monastery to Theodotos. And with the monk Anthony, he escapes from the monastery to 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 was looking for them everywhere. Athanasius is back. After that, life in the monastery was revived again.

The meeting of Athanasius and Nicephorus took place in Constantinople. The emperor asked him to wait with the vow when circumstances allowed. Athanasius predicted his death on the throne. And he urged him to be a just and merciful ruler. Lavra Athanasius received the status of royal. The ruler transferred significant grants for its development. But soon Nikephoros was killed by a rival who took his throne. It was John Tzimiskes (969-976). After meeting with the wise saint, he assigned benefits twice as much as the former ruler. By the end of the life of Athanasius, there were 120 inhabitants of the monastery. He became a mentor and spiritual father for everyone. Everyone loved him. He was very careful in leading the community. The monk healed many sick people. However, hiding his miraculous prayer powers, he simply distributed medicinal herbs to them.

Revelation of death

Lavra Church decided to expand. It only remained to erect the 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 donned festive clothes and went to the site to see how the construction was going. At this time, the dome collapsed and covered Athanasius and six monks. In the end, five were dead. For a long time, the bricklayer Daniel and Abbot Athanasius remained alive, who were under the rubble for three hours 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 incorruptible. And from the wounds sharpened living blood. She was collected, and then she healed people.

The monk died in 980. The Church honors his memory on July 5 (18). Many hundreds of years have passed since his death, but Saint 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 the cenobitic charter after centuries of idiocy. At this time, on the grave of the saint, a fragrant myrrh appeared on the glass of the icon case, which spoke of the approval of the monk.

Athanasius of Athos helps in what?

This saint is prayed to help him cope with the temptations and affairs of life. He is also prayed for the healing of ailments: both mental and physical. For a seriously ill person, they ask him easy death. Akathist to Athanasius of Athos begins with the words: “Chosen from the city of Trebizond in Athos, fastingly shining ...” This is laudatory church singing, in which one cannot sit. This is a kind of hymn, praise to one or another saint.

The extraordinarily 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 a heavenly warrior of Christ, ready at any moment to help a person in need, one has only to turn to him with faith and prayer: "The Reverend Father Athanasius, a fair servant of Christ and the great miracle worker of Athos ..."

Saint Athanasius 1 , worthy of immortal praise for mortal human life , was produced by the city of Trebizond 2 . In teaching books, Byzantium (Constantinople 3) raised him, and the monastery of Kymenskaya 4 and Mount Athos 5 brought him as a fruit pleasing to God. Athanasius' parents were noble and pious people. His father came from Antioch 6 and his mother from Colchis 7 .

They lived in Trebizond. Athanasius' father died before the latter was born, and his mother, having given birth to Athanasius and reviving him with holy baptism, departed to God after her husband. The boy was given the name Avramia in holy baptism. The child, already in swaddling clothes, after the death of his parents, who remained an orphan, was taken up by one noble black-bearer. Even at adolescence, Avramius showed signs that indicated the way he would live in the future, when he became an adult. As a small child, he behaved like a reasonable and good-natured husband, so that even when he had children's games with his peers, the latter did not appoint Avramius as king or governor, but as abbot. And indeed, already from childhood he got used to monastic life; seeing the black woman who brought him up, constantly abiding in prayers and fasting, and as far as possible for a lad, he tried to imitate her, fasting and praying. He also succeeded more than his peers while going through elementary school at that time.

Thus, growing in body and mind, Abramius came out of adolescence. - At that time, the black-haired woman, who replaced his mother, died. The secondarily orphaned youth Avramius mourned her death as the death of his real mother. Then he wished to visit Byzantium to acquire further education. God, who cares for the orphans, fulfilled his desire in the following way. At that time, the pious emperor Roman 8 reigned in Greece. They sent one of the palace eunuchs to Trebizond to collect trade taxes 9 . The latter, having become acquainted with the plausible and reasonable youth Avramius, took him with him to Byzantium and here entrusted one outstanding teacher, named Athanasius, with the care of his philosophical education. The student soon became equal in knowledge with the teacher. In those years, in Byzantium, there lived one governor named Zefinazer, who betrothed a relative of Avramius to his son; having met Abramius, he took him to his house. The young man Avramius, although he lived in a rich house abounding in delicious dishes, nevertheless did not leave the fasting abstinence to which he was accustomed to by the black woman who raised him. Avoiding the pleasure of brashen, Avramius did not agree to eat at the governor's meal, but satisfied his hunger - and then out of necessity - with uncooked potions and vegetables. He always tried to be cheerful; therefore, wishing to overcome natural sleep and destroy drowsiness, he filled a tub with water, into which he immersed his face; exhausting himself in every possible way, Abraham mortified his flesh and enslaved it to the spirit. For such a virtuous life, as well as for an outstanding mind, Avramius was loved by everyone and became known to people and even to the emperor himself. Avramius was the last to be appointed as a teacher in a state school on equal terms with his former mentor Athanasius. And since the teaching of Abramius was more liked than that of Athanasius, which is why more students gathered to him than to Athanasius, the latter, envying his former student, began to hate him. Upon learning of this, blessed Abraham soon left his teaching position, not wanting to grieve his teacher; he lived in the house of the aforementioned governor, indulging in his usual exploits. After this, the governor received an order from the emperor - to go, according to the requirements of state necessity, to the Aegean Sea. The voivode, who loved Aramius very much, took him with him when he set sail on the order of the king. They sailed to Avid, and from there they reached Limen. Here Abramius, noticing Mount Athos, fell in love with it very much and thought about settling on it. When they, having fulfilled the emperor's instructions, returned home, then, at the Divine discretion, St. Michael, nicknamed Malein 11, arrived in Constantinople from the Kymensky monastery located near Athos. When Abramius, who had heard about the charitable life of the reverend father, found out about this, he was extremely happy and went to him. He received high pleasure from the conversation with the elder; and after his divinely inspired instructions, Abramius was seized by an even more ardent desire to renounce the world in order to serve God in the monastic rank. He revealed his intention and desire to the Monk Michael, at the same time telling about himself - where he came from, who his parents were, what kind of upbringing he received, and why he lives in the house of a military leader. Seeing that Abramius would be a vessel of the Holy Spirit, the monk greatly loved him and taught for a long time about salvation, sowing in his heart, as on fertilized soil, the seeds of the words of God, so that he would bring forth a hundredfold fruit of virtues. While they were having a spiritual conversation, his nephew Nikifor, the military leader of the East, who later became the Greek emperor, came to visit Saint Michael. During a conversation with his reverend uncle, he noticed the young man Avramius and asked the elder about him, who he was. The saint told him everything concerning Abramius, as well as that the latter wished to be a monk; from that time Abramius became known to Nikephoros. A few days later Saint Michael returned from Constantinople to his monastery; Abramius, however, was no longer able to stay amid the vanity of life, but despising everything worldly, carried away by the desire for monasticism and love for the saint, hastily went to him. Having reached the Kimensky monastery, he fell at the feet of the holy elder Michael, with tears begging to be clothed in a monastic image and thereby join the chosen flock of the verbal sheep of Christ. The Monk Michael affably met Avramius: without postponing the fulfillment of his request and without sending him into the category of probationers, the Monk Michael immediately tonsured Avramius with the name Athanasius, as already an experienced ascetic, for he noticed in him an ardent love for God. Although in that monastery there was no custom for monks to dress in sackcloth after being tonsured, blessed Michael, however, clothed Athanasius with it, as if arming the valiant warrior of Christ in armor against adversaries; Athanasius begged the holy elder to put an obedience on him - to eat food only once all week. But the wise mentor, cutting off the will of his disciple, ordered him to take food on the third day. Athanasius diligently went through all the monastic and church obediences assigned to him, being tireless and in monastic deeds. Free time from monastic work, he devoted, on the orders of his spiritual father, to the correspondence of sacred books. For such industriousness, Athanasius was loved by all the brethren; Thus, in the course of four years he showed himself perfect in monastic life. – Then the Reverend Father commanded him to spend his life in silence, in a cell that was in the desert and separated from the monastery by one field 13; At the same time, the elder gave him the following commandment regarding fasting: not on the third day to eat food, as he used to before, but on the second, to eat dry bread and drink a little water; on all the Lord's and Mother of God feasts and on Sundays, he commanded him, from evening until the third hour of the day, to remain without sleep in prayers and glorification of God.

After some time, the aforementioned military leader of the East Nikifor, the nephew of St. Michael, performing the royal service and passing by the monastery, went to his reverend uncle Michael; during a conversation with him, he remembered Avramias and asked:

“Father, where is the youth Abramius, whom I saw with you in the reigning city?”

“He prays to God for your salvation,” the elder answered. - At present, he is already a monk and was renamed from Avramius by Athanasius.

It happened that with Nicephorus was his brother - the patrician 14 Leo. Both of them, having heard about the virtuous life of Athanasius, asked permission to see him, and since the elder did not resist this, they went to the place of Athanasius's silence. Having met them, Athanasius conducted conversations with them, filled with spiritual wisdom, for his lips were saturated with the grace of the Holy Spirit. They were so pleased with his speeches that they expressed a desire to stay with him forever, if only it were possible for them to be freed from their posts and worldly concerns. Returning for this to the Monk Michael, they said to him:

“We thank you, father, for showing us the treasure that you have hidden in the field of your flock.

Meanwhile, the elder, calling on Athanasius, ordered him again to offer those who came an instructive word about the salvation of the soul. And the grace of the Lord acted through the lips of the saint in such a way that those who listened to his speech were touched, contrite in heart and wept. Yes, and the elder himself was amazed at the grace of teaching that comes from the lips of Afanasiev. From that time on, the commander Nicephorus and the patrician Leo fell in love with the blessed Athanasius. And, secluded with him, Nicephorus revealed his intention to him, saying:

—Father, I wish to get away from the worldly storm and, avoiding worldly worries, serve God in monastic silence. This desire and intention was strengthened in me mainly under the influence of your divinely inspired speeches, and I cherish the hope with the help of your holy prayers to get what I want.

Blessed Athanasius answered him to this:

- Mister! Place your hope in God, and He will deal with you as you wish.

Thus, after lengthy conversations, Nicephorus and Leo, with great benefit for their souls, returned to their path.

The Monk Michael had the intention of appointing Athanasius after himself hegumen, for he himself had already grown old and was approaching death. Upon learning of this, Athanasius, although he did not want to part with his beloved father, nevertheless fled from there, fearing the burden of leadership and considering himself unworthy of the pastoral dignity; he wandered on Mount Athos, visiting the desert fathers, and by the example of their virtuous life he was aroused to the highest feats. Finding in the crevices of the rocks several brothers living not far from each other, he settled among them and began to imitate their harsh lifestyle. They did not have any care for the body, there was no shelter, no food, no property, but for the sake of God they willingly and joyfully endured frost, heat, and hunger. The latter they satisfied with wild vegetables that grew in that desert, and then eating a little of them at the appointed hour. At that time, the Monk Michael Malein died. Upon learning of his death, Athanasius wept for him like a son for his father. He also learned that the commander Nicephorus with his brother the patrician Leo would again have to pass by that place, and was afraid that they would not again begin to look for him. Therefore, he left the hermits, for they were known to the other brethren and they were often visited; fearing that those who came to them would recognize him, Athanasius went to a distant monastery, nicknamed in Greek: "Tuziga". Finding here a certain old man, living in silence outside the monastery, he asked the latter to accept him, and in order not to be identified by name, he renamed himself Barnabas instead of Athanasius. Meanwhile, the elder questioned him, saying:

- Who are you, brother, where and for what reason did you come here?

- I was a shipbuilder, answered Athanasius, - and, having got into trouble, I made a promise to God to reject the world and to repent of my sins. For this reason, I put on the holy monastic image and, instructed by God, came here to your holiness, wanting to stay with you and receive guidance from you on the path of salvation. My name is Barnabas.

Having believed the story of Athanasius, the elder accepted him, and the rest of the time Barnabas lived with the elder, obeying him in everything as a father. After some time had passed, he said to the elder:

“Father, start teaching me to read and write so that I can at least be able to read the psalter a little. When I lived in the world, I did not know anything other than sailing on a ship.

Blessed Athanasius then pretended to be illiterate so as not to be recognized and identified by those who would search for him. Then the elder wrote the alphabet for him and taught him like a simpleton who had never learned. Barnabas, meanwhile, pretended that he could not understand and comprehend the alphabet. He did this for a long time, and the elder was sad for him, and sometimes, offended, with anger drove him away from him. The named Barnabas humbly said:

“Father, do not drive away the foolish and evil me, but for the sake of God, be patient and help me with your prayers, may the Lord give me understanding.”

After this, the student, as it were, gradually began to comprehend written syllables and inspired hope in the elder regarding the assimilation of book knowledge by the student in the future. At that time, the most famous eastern commander Nicephorus, having learned that Athanasius had fled from the Kimensky monastery, was very sad and pondered how to find him. He wrote to the judge of Thessalonica 15, so that when he reached Mount Athos, he would definitely find out about Athanasius. Having read the letter, the judge immediately hurriedly went to the holy mountain and, having called the prot, the head of all the abbots of the Athos monasteries, asked him about the monk Athanasius, describing to him the signs of his face and age and book art, as Nicephorus informed him. Prot asserted with certainty:

“The kind of husband you are looking for did not come to this mountain, but, by the way,” he added, “I don’t know for sure. Soon we will have a cathedral, which should be attended by those who live on this mountain. And so, if the monk you are looking for is somewhere on this mountain, then, of course, he will appear among the others at the cathedral, and at that time we will recognize him.

The judge returned to Thessalonica.

At that time, there was a custom on Athos that the brethren gathered three times a year in the so-called Carian Lavra on three deliberate holidays: the Nativity of Christ, Easter and the Assumption Holy Mother of God. Gathering at this time, the monks celebrated together, partaking of the divine Mysteries of the Body and Blood of Christ and eating a common meal. When the feast of the Nativity of Christ came and the fathers and brethren gathered from the monasteries and desert-dwelling cells, that elder also appeared - the teacher of the one who called himself Barnabas with his disciple. Prot peered intently at the brethren, looking for such a monk among them who would fit the signs described by Nicephorus. Noticing this, he asked his name, and since he heard that his name was Barnabas, he doubted - the name of the monk being sought was Athanasius. But by the way, the prot decided to determine the identity of the monk by his book art. And so, when the time came for reading and the book was offered, the prot ordered the monk who was called Barnabas to read the prescribed reading before the cathedral. But Barnabas refused, claiming that he was ignorant and illiterate. His elder, noticing this, smiled and, laughing softly, said to the orderer:

- Avvo 16, leave it, - the brother is inept and at present he is only learning to connect the letters and syllables of the first psalm.

But the prot insisted on his own, ordering to read under threat. Then the blessed Athanasius, noticing that he could no longer hide, and, moreover, being forced by the threat, obeyed the authority established by God, and began to read as best he could, revealing a sonorous voice and unusual expressiveness, so that all who listened were surprised. The elder was surprised, and at the same time horrified, noticing and hearing what he did not expect and was ashamed of his teaching, but at the same time he rejoiced, giving thanks to God with tears for being worthy to be the teacher of such a teaching man. Then Athanasius was recognized, and everyone treated him with respect, and one of the most venerable fathers, named Paul, from the Xiropotamian region, prophetically spoke to the brethren about Athanasius:

“This brother, who came to this mountain after us, has preceded us in virtue and will be the first of us in glory in the kingdom of heaven. He will be for many a father and mentor on the path of salvation.

Prot after this informed Athanasius that Nicephorus and his brother Leo were looking for him. Athanasius begged the archpriest not to report him, so that he would not be deprived of the holy mountain. Then the prot, realizing that losing such a husband would be a deprivation for Athos, promised not to open him to those looking for him. He ordered Athanasius to remain silent in solitude in a deserted cell, separated from Lavra 17 by three fields. Here, working alone for God, the Monk Athanasius had food from his own hands. He copied books, as he was a calligrapher and a scribe, and for six days, without leaving the usual monastic rule, he copied the entire psalter; for the correspondence of books, the fathers supplied him with bread.

When the Monk Athanasius lived in silence, at that time the aforementioned Leo, the brother of Nicephorus, who was already a military leader in the West, returning from the war after the victory over the wild Scythians, won with the help of God and the Most Pure Mother of God, went to Mount Athos to give thanks for the victory over the enemies of Christ God and His Most Pure Mother. After a prayer of thanksgiving, Leo diligently asked about Athanasius and, learning about his whereabouts, went to him in a silent cell. Seeing Athanasius, Leo was very happy, embracing him warmly, and even wept with joy. He spent day and night in conversations with Athanasius, enjoying his God-wise speeches. Noticing the strong love of the military commander for Athanasius, the monks asked the latter to ask Leo to arrange a new vast church for the monks in the Karey Lavra, since the old one was small and could not accommodate all the brethren. Athanasius reported this to the commander. The Christ-loving governor immediately gladly gave them a lot of silver and gold for the construction of the church. After saying goodbye to Athanasius and the other fathers, the lion went his own way to Constantinople, where he informed his brother Nikephoros about Athanasius. From that time on, the Athos fathers began to treat Athanasius with special respect, praising him; many began to come to him for spiritual benefit.

Meanwhile, the monk, loving silence and avoiding human glory from everywhere, withdrew from the place of his settlement and went around the interior places of the mountain desert; instructed by God, he came to the very edge of Athos, to the area called Melana, which had a vast desert and was far removed from the rest of the fasting dwellings. Having set up a hut on one hill, with a platform on top, Athanasius began to labor here, striving for the highest feats. Initially, the devil was an insidious enemy, wishing to expel the monk, to make this new place of settlement hateful for him, arousing in him a persistent, with difficulty overcome, thought to leave. But the good ascetic conquered his doubts with this reflection:

“I will endure here all this year, and at the end of the year I will do as God arranges.

When the designated time had passed, on the last day of the year the ascetic was seized with special force by thoughts that drew him from there, so that he said to himself:

“I’ll leave in the morning and return to the Karey Lavra.

Then he stood up for prayer, singing the song of the third hour, and suddenly the light of heaven shone over him, and the cloud of thoughts immediately dissipated. With a feeling of unspeakable joy and delight, the saint shed joyful tears from his heart overflowing with divine love. From that time on, Saint Athanasius received the gift of compunction and wept whenever he wished. He loved that place as much as it had previously been hated for him, and he lived in it, glorifying God. At this time, the commander Nikephoros was sent by the emperor with an army to the island of Crete 18, which was then taken over by the Muslims. Not relying on the strength of the Greek army, but seeking prayerful help from the holy fathers, Nicephorus sent one of the persons entrusted to him on a ship to Athos, writing to the entire council of the Athos fathers with a request for their prayer to God, so that help would be given to him from above against the Muslims. He also asked to send Athanasius to him, who, as he heard from his brother Leo, lives on Athos. Having read the letter of the military leader, the Athos fathers made non-slothful prayers for him, then, finding Athanasius in the desert and calling him to the council, they ordered him to go to the commander. Initially, Athanasius did not want to go at all and barely obeyed, being prompted by the threats of the elders. Together with him they sent one of the respected elders, whom Athanasius revered as his teacher, following him as a student. Boarding a ship, they sailed to Crete. When they came to the pious commander Nicephorus, the latter, as soon as he saw Athanasius, ran up, threw himself on his neck, kissed him and wept with joy, revering him as his spiritual father. Noticing that Athanasius treats his companion, the elder, as a student treats a teacher, Nicephorus marveled at his humility and, leaving all management of external affairs, spent time in spiritual conversation with the Monk Athanasius. At the same time, he recalled his long-standing promise to renounce the world and become a monk; and begged the monk to first arrange in the desert in which he himself lives, cells for the silent ones. Nicephorus gave Athanasius silver and gold for the construction of these cells, but Athanasius, loving a carefree and silent life, refused to worry about the cells, did not accept silver and gold, which greatly saddened the commander. After spending only a few days together and enjoying mutual contemplation and friendly conversations, they parted. Athanasius returned to Athos, and the commander went to war and, through the prayers of the holy fathers, defeated the Muslims and again annexed Crete to Greece. Soon after, the commander Nicephorus again sent to Athos one of his close associates named Methodius (who later became abbot of the Kymenian monastery) with gold to the Monk Athanasius, to arrange cells. Gold was sent liter 19 six.

Blessed Athanasius, seeing the warm love for God of Nicephorus and his good intention, and realizing that it was the work of God's will, accepted the gold and began to take care of the construction. Having cleared the aforementioned place, he first of all set up cells for silence for Nicephorus, built a temple in the name of St. John the Baptist, and then at the foot of the mountain he erected a most beautiful church in the name of the Most Pure Virgin Mary. When they began to build churches, the envious enemy began to hinder her: the hands of the people building the church became numb and became completely motionless, so that they could not be brought close to the mouth. Realizing that this was the work of demons, the monk fervently prayed to God, drove away the intrigues of the evil one, and thereby freed the hands of the workers from stupor. Such was the beginning of the miracles of the great father. Having finished the church in honor of the Most Holy Theotokos, the monk began to arrange cells around it, in a word, to build a beautiful monastery; he built a refectory and a hospital, a hospice, then a bathhouse for the sick and wanderers, wisely arranging all the other buildings necessary for the monastery; then he gathered a multitude of brethren, giving them a strictly cenobitic charter, drawn up in the image of the most ancient Palestinian monasteries; for the newly gathered verbal flock, the Monk Athanasius appeared as an abbot, who was pleasing to God and to whom the Most Holy Theotokos favored: for one of the monks saw Her visiting the monastery and Her church created by the monk; Monk Matthew, who was worthy of this vision, was an ascetic who impeccably walked the path of monastic life and therefore had pure and enlightened heart eyes. Standing in the church meeting with reverent attention and fear at the morning singing, he saw the Most Serene Virgin, who entered the church with two most luminous angels. One of them walked ahead of Her with a candle, and the other behind; She herself, bypassing the brethren, was distributing gifts. To the brethren who sang on the kliros, She gave one gold coin each, and to those who stood inside the church in other places, She gave twelve tsat, and those who stood on the porch six each. Matthew, who saw this, was himself vouchsafed from Her most pure hands to receive six tzats. After this appearance, Matthew came to the Reverend Father and begged him to give him a place among the singers, and he told the saint what he had seen. Understanding that this was a visit to the Most Pure Virgin Theotokos, the reverend father was filled with great spiritual joy. Regarding the distribution of gold coins to the brethren, he concluded that these were various blessings bestowed by Her on each worthy: those who stood while singing with fervent prayer and attention were given a greater reward, and those who listened less received less. The one who ripened that vision was therefore compared in lesser ones, so that, on the one hand, being saddened by the deprivation of more, he told about the vision, and on the other, so that he would not be proud of his equality with the most worthy, but would be in humility of mind with the lesser ones. Through this phenomenon, it was clearly revealed - what was the goodwill of the Most Pure Virgin Theotokos towards the Monk Athanasius and his monastery. What was the structure of the monastery of the monk, what was the order, charters and legal provisions in it, all of which is described in detail in a separate book of his life 20 - let those who wish read there. We, speaking in abbreviated form, collect special deeds (although they are all unusual).

The Monk Athanasius, having heard that after the death of Tsar Romanos 21, the military leader Nicephorus had been made king in Greece for repeated victories over the Muslims, he became very sad, because in view of his promise to be a monk, he took upon himself the care of the monastery. (Let it be known that this emperor Nikephoros was also called Phocas. But this is not the same Phocas who killed the emperor Mauritius and not the same Nicephorus who reigned after the Empress Irene and was killed in the war with the Bulgarians, but another Nicephorus Phocas is later in years ). The monk, grieving over Nikifor's failure to fulfill his vow, suggested leaving everything and fleeing. Preparing to escape, he informed the brethren that he wanted to go to the emperor to arrange monastic affairs. Taking with him some of the brethren, he actually set out on his journey and, having reached Avid, left three brothers with him, and returned the rest to the monastery, saying:

“It’s enough for me to go with these three to Constantinople.

When they left, Athanasius wrote letters to the emperor, reminding him of his promises to God and reproaching him for the vain change of the most beautiful intention and reporting his grief - namely, that because of him he placed so many worries on himself. At the end of the letter, he added the following:

“I am not guilty before Christ the Lord of your deceit. I leave you the newly gathered flock of God; give it to whomever you wish. For my part, I think that Evfimy is worthy of being a leader, a monk outstanding in life and teaching. Having written in this way, Athanasius did not tell his disciples what he had written, but after sealing the letter, he chose one of the three brothers and, handing him the letter, sent it to the emperor. After a short time, he also sent another disciple named Theodotos from himself to the monastery, under the pretext of visiting the brethren and looking after the order in the monastery. He himself remained with one disciple named Anthony; with him, Athanasius went to Cyprus, where, having visited a certain monastery, called the monastery of the "Holy Ones", he begged the abbot to allow them to live in the desert closest to that monastery. Having received what he asked, he began to live in silence for God, acquiring food for himself by the labors of his hands, precisely copying books, as before. When the brother who had been sent with the letter to Constantinople delivered the latter into the hands of the emperor, the emperor, taking him, was delighted. But having opened and read the letter, he was greatly saddened, on the one hand, because of his unrighteousness before God, and, on the other hand, because the Monk Athanasius left the monastery and disappeared to no one knows where. And the brother, having learned about the contents of the letter, began to weep and sob that he had lost his father. The emperor immediately wrote to the monastery, so that Euthymius took command over it before the time. At the same time, the king sent an order to search for the Monk Athanasius to all the countries of his possessions. This command of the emperor reached the island of Cyprus and was close to being fulfilled. But the monk, having learned about this, immediately, taking a disciple, retired to the seashore and, having met a ship here at the Divine discretion, boarded it and, with the help of a fair wind, soon landed on the other shore. The venerable elder was perplexed as to which direction he should turn. He had in mind to go to the holy places in Jerusalem, but the way there was inconvenient due to the Muslim invasion. He did not want to deviate to the sides of Greece, because of the search for him by the emperor. So he didn't know where to go. As night fell, the monk began to pray, asking God for advice and guidance. And now he had a Divine revelation and a command that he return to Athos to his monastery, because by his labors it has to be brought to the final external and internal completion, and many will be saved through his instructions. Having received such a revelation from God, the monk communicated it to Anthony, and they immediately set off on their journey, returning by land to their original place. From a long journey of many days, Antony's legs became ill and swollen. They were on fire, and he could not walk at all. Then the monk, having collected a little grass growing around and pounded it into handfuls, put it to the disciple’s feet and, having overlaid it with tree leaves, tied it with his headband, and then took the patient by the hand, raised him, and Anthony immediately called out:

- Glory to Thee, Christ God, for the fact that You have eased my illness!

Then he walked as before, having healthy legs. The aforementioned brother Theodotos, whom the reverend father sent to visit the brethren, having come to the monastery, found everyone in it wavering due to the departure of his father and lamented about this in his heart. Unable to bear the loss of his father, he went to Cyprus, looking for him everywhere. Being in Attalia 22 , at the Divine discretion, he met him on the road; when they saw each other, they were overjoyed. The father, having heard about the turmoil among the brethren in the monastery, changed joy to sadness. He immediately released Theodotos to the Lavra, so that he would inform the brothers about his arrival, and he himself went to pray at the monastery located in Lampidia. Here, seeing one brother who had lost his mind and was raging, Athanasius laid his hand on him and healed him. After learning here for a little time, he went to Athos and reached his monastery. The brethren, when they saw him, thought they were seeing the sun, and exclaimed with joy:

- Thank you God!

Everyone, approaching, kissed some of his hands, some of his legs, some of his rags. After this, the monk, as before, again began to manage everything in the monastery, for its creation.

In the course of time, the need arose for the reverend father to personally go to the emperor with troubles on the affairs of the monastery. So he set off and arrived in Constantinople. Upon learning of this, the emperor rejoiced and at the same time was ashamed: he rejoiced, because he wanted to see the monk and was ashamed, because he had to appear to him in the imperial dignity; therefore, he met him not as an emperor, but as one of the ordinary, ordinary people. Taking his right hand and kissing it, he led him into the inner chamber of his palace, and, sitting alone, they kindly carried on a mutual conversation with tears of joy.

“I know, father,” the emperor said, “that I am the culprit of all your labors and sorrows, despising the fear of God and not fulfilling my promise. But I beg you - be patient with me, waiting for my repentance, when God will give me the opportunity to "repay him my promises."

Meanwhile, the monk admonished him to be God-loving, pious, not proud, merciful, generous, and, recalling the future reward in eternal life, taught him all the good deeds that befit a Christian emperor. The monk stayed in Constantinople for many days, often having friendly conversations with the emperor. Releasing him, the emperor gave the monastery everything it needed. Then he approved by decree that the monastery should be given two hundred and forty-four gold coins annually from the island of Limnos. The monk returned to the brethren with generous royal mercy.

While the monk successfully labored and led many brethren on the path of salvation, the devil, who hated the good, rose up against him with all his strength and armed himself for war against the brave warrior of Christ. This was revealed to one of the ascetic elders, who, going into a frenzy, saw a regiment of demons approaching Mount Athos; in this regiment there was one chief, as if a thousand-man - terrible and formidable, showing great power. He divided the aforementioned regiment: he sent a hundred demons to go around the whole mountain and catch the monks, and he himself with nine hundred went with terrible hatred to the Athanasian Lavra. Before this vision was communicated to the reverend, the following illness overtook him. When, as was his custom, he was working with other workers on the sea pier, a huge tree accidentally fell on his feet and broke his joints and legs, so that the saint lay on the sickbed for three years. However, even during his illness, he did not want to remain inactive, but he wrote books, finishing the patericon in forty days. And lying down, he armed himself against the invisible adversary and, winning a victory, reflected his intrigues. Then the enemy, having no success in the Lavra, went and aroused the old simple monks who lived in other Svyatogorsk monasteries and led a hermit life; he inspired them with the following disapproving thoughts about the actions of the monk:

– Why does Athanasius inflict violence on the holy mountain and ruin the ancient laws? He erected buildings of great value, built new harbors, dug out new reservoirs, bought oxen, sowed fields, planted vineyards, in a word, made the mountain a secular settlement.

After consulting among themselves, these elders went to Constantinople to the emperor John, the successor of the deceased Nicephorus 23; slandering Athanasius, they begged the emperor to drive him from Mount Athos. The emperor, through a messenger, summoned Athanasius to himself, who had already recovered from his illness; seeing him and realizing the grace of God resting on him, the emperor, instead of being angry with the ascetic, felt goodwill towards him; he greatly loved the inspired father, showed him honor and showered him with royal blessings. He also confirmed the previous decree given by the emperor Nicephorus, so that a tribute from the island of Limnos in the amount of two hundred and forty-four gold coins was given to the monastery and honorably released Athanasius back. Then those ancient simpleton elders, filled with shame, repented of their plans and, coming to the monk, asked his forgiveness. The adversary the devil was also ashamed, and, inflamed with anger more strongly, again in his legion attacked the Lavra of the holy father. This invasion was seen by the honest Elder Foma, who had pure spiritual eyes. After praying for the third hour, he fell into a frenzy and saw all the mountains and hills, trees and brushwood crowded with small Ethiopians, who, angry and burning with enmity, called each other to war and battle, exclaiming angrily and ferociously:

How long are we going to endure, friends? why don't we tear apart those who settled here with our teeth? Why don't we exterminate them from here immediately? And how long will we tolerate their boss, our enemy? Don't you see how he kicked us out of here and took over our seats?!

As they were speaking thus, the Monk Athanasius came out of the cell. Seeing him, the Ethiopians shuddered and were embarrassed. He attacked them, beat them, wounded and drove them away; he did not stop beating them until he drove everyone away from the Lavra. When Elder Foma reported the vision to the monk, the latter immediately stood up for prayer and with tears implored God to save his flock from the teeth of the enemy. And truly the reverend prayer, as if with an iron rod, beat and drove away the invisible beasts. The latter, although they ran away, but nevertheless, gradually returning again, did not cease to arouse enmity with their machinations. In one monk they instilled such hatred for the monk that he did not even want to look at him, and through the action of the demons, anger grew in him so much that he even attempted to kill him. Having prepared and sharpened his sword, he looked for a suitable opportunity to kill the reverend father. One night, when everyone was sleeping, and the monk was in his cell awake at prayer, the murderer approached the cell of the saint, under the pretext that he had a very necessary word to him; at the same time he held a drawn sword under his arm; he knocked fearlessly on the door, saying:

- Who are you?

And he opened the door a little.

The murderer, frightened by his father's voice, fell to the ground with trepidation. God, guarding His faithful servant, struck the murderer with sudden horror: his hands weakened, the sword fell to the ground, and he himself lay prostrate on the ground before the feet of his father like a dead man. Seeing this, the monk was surprised and horrified, and lifted the one lying from the ground. As soon as he came to his senses, the latter said to his father in a touched voice:

- Have mercy on me, father, your slaughterer! Forgive my malice which I have plotted against you and forgive the wickedness of my heart!

Lighting a candle and seeing a sword sharpened like a razor on the ground, Athanasius understood the monk’s plan:

“Child,” he said, “how did you come out against me with that sword as a robber?! But stop crying, shut your mouth, hide this thing, do not tell anyone about what happened and come to me - I will kiss you; May God forgive you your sin!

Such was the gentleness of the Reverend Father! From that time on, he showed great love for that brother. The latter, always remembering his sin and observing his father’s kindness and love for himself, wept incessantly and could not hide the incident, exposing his sin and glorifying the virtue of the saint. He died with the most sincere repentance, and the monk wept for him as much as for anyone else. And yet another brother, like the first, hating his father, looked for an opportunity to exterminate him from among those living on earth. Not knowing how to arrange it, he indulged in demonic sorcery and charms; having inflicted many deadly magics and charms on his father, he had no success, to his surprise. By chance he asked a certain brother:

- Do sorceries cause death to a person?

The brother answered that a pious and divinely living person cannot be harmed by any charm or sorcery. Hearing this, the magician cursed himself in his conscience. When he then learned how his father forgave his brother, who intended to kill him, he was amazed at his mildness, was touched, fell into the fear of God and, going to his father, fell at his feet, confessing his sin with great sobbing and asking for forgiveness, which he received from his gentle father. . Such was the Monk Athanasius regarding those who sinned against him. For this God glorified him everywhere. Many brethren from various countries gathered in his flock, not only from Greece, but also from Italy, from ancient Rome itself, from Clabria 26 , Amalthia 27 , Iveria 28 , and not only from among the common people, but from among the rich and noble. Even the abbots of many monasteries, having abandoned their command, came under the command of the monk. Not only abbots, but also bishops, leaving their chairs and flocks, came to the flock of the holy father and wished to be his flock. Among those were - the great among the patriarchs Nikolai, he is also Khariton, Andrei Chrysopolitan and Akaki, who shone for many years in fasting. In the same way, the ascetics who had grown old in the impenetrable deserts, having come, according to the Divine structure, to their father, settled in his laurel, wishing to be edified by the example of his virtuous life. Among the latter was the Monk Nikifor, who labored with Saint Fantin in the mountains of Calabria. It was a divine vision that ordered Fantine to go to Thessalonica, and Nikifor to Athos to the Monk Athanasius, in whose place he, after living for a long time, reposed and was buried. After some time, when his relics, accidentally taken out of the earth, were transferred to another place, a source of the most fragrant, incomparable with any aromas of the world, flowed from the dry bones. Such holy fathers were sent by God under the guidance of the venerable father Athanasius, from which one clearly understands his more God-pleasing life compared to others. Just as the root is known from the branches and the tree is known from the fruit, so it is by successful disciples that an experienced teacher is known, and by good sheep their good shepherd. But it is time, after briefly recalling the miracles of Athanasius, to bring the speech about him to an end.

God, glorifying His saints with miracles, did not deprive this great saint of His gift of miracle-working. First of all, let's talk about his insight.

One day a bitter cold came. The monk called to himself one of the novices named Theodora and said to him:

- Brother, having taken food, hasten to Caesarea (that was the name of one locality on Athos). When, walking towards the sea, you will be opposite Trochal, you will meet three men, exhausted from frost and hunger and dying, one of whom is a monk. Fortify them with bread so that strength returns to them, and they warm up, and bring them here.

Having set off, Theodore found everything really as his father had prophetically said, and everyone marveled at the saint's clairvoyance. Once upon a time, the need arose for the monk on monastic business to sail on a ship to the island with some of the brethren. By the permission of God, the invisible enemy, wanting to drown his father and brothers, raised a terrible wind, a storm and excitement, overturned the ship in the abyss, so that everyone was immediately flooded with water. But the right hand of God, hastily delivering its saint from the troubles, at the same moment brought the ship to its former position, tamed the storm, and the saint found himself sitting at the stern and calling the brethren to him. The water carried them to the ship as if on their hands. The Reverend Father, pulling them one by one out of the water, gathered them all alive. Only Peter Kiprianin was not there; not seeing him, the father was agitated in his heart and loudly called out:

- Child Peter! Where are you?

And along with the exclamation of his father, Peter rose from the depths and was brought with water to the ship, where he was received by the hands of the monk. Thus the monk himself and his brethren were saved from drowning; and the evil enemy not only did not rejoice, but was even more ashamed. The blessed father everywhere put the enemy to shame, gaining victory over him and driving him away. He cast out a demon from the monk Matthew, who was cruelly tormented by an unclean spirit. Through the prayers of the saint, invisible tormentors were also driven away from others who were subjected to destructive suffering. The monk also wielded the power of healing and, ministering to the sick, he rendered miraculous help to many with his own hands. He healed a leper brother; He also made well another who had an ulcer. He healed the third, who had a cancerous ulcer, by making with his hand on the ulcer the triple sign of the cross. With his prayer, he drove away the locusts that swooped down on the island and devoured all the greenery without exception. One day, when he and his brethren were sailing on a ship on the sea, there was a lack of drinking water, so that the brethren were exhausted from thirst; Saint Athanasius ordered to draw sea water and, having blessed it, turned it into fresh water, and the brethren quenched their thirst with it. One brother named Gerasim, processing one strong and tall vine in the vineyard, wished, since he possessed great bodily strength, to pull it out of the ground with his hands. Shaking the vine with his hands two and three times, he nevertheless could not pull it out, but injured himself terribly. His stomach ruptured, his insides came out, and he was in great pain. Through prayer and a sign of the holy cross from the side of the reverend father, he received healing. The same Gerasim, bringing God to witness, also narrated the following miracle:

“When I,” Gerasim said, “passed the obedience of cutting bread, I had a need to go to my father and ask about some business. It happened that at that time he was alone at prayer in the Church of the Holy Apostles. I went to the temple and, looking out the window, I saw that the reverend father was praying, and his face was like a flame of fire. I was horrified and stepped back a little. After waiting, I looked again and noticed that his face, surrounded by the likeness of fire, gleamed like the face of an angel. I screamed out of fear and said:

- Oh, father!

He, noticing that I was frightened and realizing why, forbade me to tell anyone about what I had seen.

Gerasim informed the brethren about this after the repose of the monk. A certain brother, being sent by his father to obedience to a worldly village, was deceived by the temptation of the enemy by carnal sin and committed fornication. Realizing then the gravity of the sin, he despaired of his thoughts and, returning to the monastery, fell at the saint's feet with tears and sobs and confessed his sin and despair to him. The monk, having studied him with many useful instructions and urged him not to despair of the love of God, ordered him to remain among the brethren in his initial obedience. Meanwhile, one of the elders, named Paul, having learned about the fall of his brother and the condoling mercy of his father, grumbled both at the first and second: he reproached his brother for daring to commit such a bad deed, violating the vow of purity, and he spoke to his father in the face that it is unjust to forgive such a sinner, but he must suffer numerous and heavy punishments. Then the meek father, looking sternly at the murmurer, said:

- Paul! look what you're doing! Watch yourself, and do not consider the sins of the brethren, for it is written: "whoever thinks he is standing, beware lest he fall"(1 Corinthians 10:12).

From that time, by God’s permission, the invisible tempter began to stab Paul’s heart with arrows of bad thoughts and kindled his flesh with the fire of voluptuousness, and Paul had no rest for three days and three nights, all inflamed with the lust of carnal sin, so that he even began to despair of his salvation. And what was worst of all was that he was ashamed to even reveal his struggle to his father. Knowing in spirit about this, the monk, having called Paul to himself, talked with him alone about some monastic affairs. Through conversation, he gradually attracted Paul to the confession of his carnal passion. Then Paul, falling at his father's feet, told him his misfortune and asked him for relief. The monk, having instructed Paul not to condemn a sinning brother, sent him away into his obedience. He was a cellar. He himself, standing up for prayer, fervently prayed to God for him with tears, and at the same hour Paul was freed from passion. He felt a kind of cold that poured over his head and passed through his entire body to his very feet, and from this the lustful irritation of the flesh extinguished in him. Another brother, named Mark, a native of Lampsakia, was cruelly overwhelmed by the same sinful carnal lust; having come to his father, he confessed his passion before him and asked him for prayerful help. After a few days, he saw his father in a dream, asking him:

How are you feeling, brother?

“I suffer very cruelly, father,” he answered.

“Spread out flat on the ground,” my father said.

When he prostrated himself on the ground, his father stepped on his feet with his foot. He, having risen from the pressure of his foot, felt that he was healed of passion, and from that hour he had peace, no longer experiencing carnal excitement. Having briefly outlined these few of the many miracles of our reverend father, performed by him during his lifetime, we will begin to tell about his repose.

Since, - as already mentioned earlier - a multitude of brethren gathered to the saint from everywhere, then, in order to house the entire cathedral of the brethren, there was a need to expand the church; therefore, porches and chapels were adjusted to the church walls. When the construction of one side altar was not completed, it became necessary for the father himself to go up there and look at the work being done - before setting off on the journey ahead of him then to Constantinople; he was going to go to the emperor on monastic business. So, first of all, having called the brethren, he offered them the teaching of the blessed Theodore the Studite 29 , adding useful exhortations from his pious lips. Then, shutting himself up in his cell, he prayed for a long time. After this, he left the cell dressed in a mantle, having on his head the sacred hood (hood) of his blessed father Michael Malein, which he used to put on himself only on major holidays and during communion of the Divine Mysteries of Christ: and on this day he definitely celebrated the feast and was bright in face like an angel of God. Taking with him six brothers, he went with them to work. When they were already at the top of the building, then, by the unknown fate of God, the top of the latter fell through and dropped everyone down, covered it with earth and stones. Five immediately surrendered their souls to God, and the father and with him one builder, named Daniel, remained alive between the stones. Everyone then heard the voice of the Reverend Father, crying out for three hours or even more:

- Lord Jesus Christ, help me! Glory to Thee God!

The escaping brethren, sobbing and speaking, tore up the stones and the earth with what happened tools, or even with their hands and feet. They dug up the father who had already died in the Lord, not damaged by the body; only his right leg was injured. Near him they dug up the builder Daniel, all broken, and carried them out from there. Such was the death of our reverend father Athanasius, which, perhaps, will seem dishonorable to someone, for he did not die on the bed of illness, but dear in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints!(Ps. 115:6) For the saint of God, his death, about which he was not aware, was the cause of the martyr's crown. Seeing it in spirit, he predicted it for some time to his closest student Anthony:

“I beg you,” he said, “to make the journey that lies before us for monastic needs to Constantinople. I, as it pleases God, will no longer see the king of the earth.

After his death, 30 the monk lay unburied for three days, until the fathers from all the Athogorsk monasteries gathered and gave him an honorable funeral. His honest body did not change, did not swell, did not darken, and his face was, as it were, the face of a living sleeping person; there was no smell of the usual dead man. Everyone was crying about him. And when funeral hymns were performed over him, blood flowed out of his wound, which was on his leg, contrary to nature. Who ever noticed that blood was flowing from the wound of a three-day dead man? Noticing this, some of the venerable elders collected this blood in towels and anointed themselves with it, as a great shrine for blessing. So they buried the honest body of the Reverend Father. The teles of the five brothers, found between the fallen stones, were honestly buried earlier. Broken Daniel remained alive for several days and with a sigh told about the vision that he had on the night before the death of the monk:

- I saw, - Daniel transmitted, - as if, behold, a certain bright ambassador appeared from the emperor, who called his father to him. And indeed, my father, having left the Lavra, with six brothers, including myself, followed the ambassador. And so, when we came to the most beautiful royal palace and approached the doors, the reverend father with five brothers entered the royal chamber, and I was left outside and wept very much. From within I then heard someone say to me:

“You are crying in vain, man, you cannot go inside unless the father with whom you came will allow you.”

I, having heard this, began to sob harder and called on my father in a touching voice. After a little time, my father, coming out, took me by the right hand and led me into the palace, and I was able to see the king and bowed to him.

With these words, Daniel gave his soul into the hands of God.

Let us also recall some of the miracles of the Monk Athanasius that happened after his death. The aforementioned Anthony, a constant disciple of the monk, happened to be in the Gagra region with some of the brethren for monastic needs. Traveling here, in the evening they met a shepherd guarding the sheep, who had an only son, bitten by a beast and already dying. The father wept greatly for his son. Seeing the wandering monks passing by, he begged them to turn to him and, showing them hospitality, offered them what he had for food - bread and milk. The monks were surprised at his virtue that he did not leave his hospitableness even when he was in such sadness, and they sympathized with him in his grief. Among the monks was one brother, named Simeon, who had with him a towel soaked in the blood of the reverend father. With this towel, Simeon tied the wound of the child, and the latter immediately fell into a deep sleep and slept until the morning. Monks also spent the night there. In the morning the child got up healthy, healed of the wound, and asked for food. Then everyone glorified God. Another time, when one of the brethren was again sent to the monastic obedience, he happened to enter the house of a certain Christ-lover, where a woman was lying on a sickbed, who had been suffering from bleeding for a long time. All the men at home mourned for her. Having learned about the reason for their grief, the monk said:

- I have the blood of St. Athanasius on the towel, and if you wish, then we will dip the bloody towel in water, squeeze it out, and let the sick woman drink that water, and she will be healthy.

The sick woman, having heard the speeches of the monk, began to tearfully beg him to fulfill his proposal as soon as possible. Then the monk, having prepared such water with the blood of the saint, gave it to her. The woman took the water and said:

- Saint Athanasius, help me!

And drank it all. Immediately after this, her bleeding stopped, and she became healthy. Again, on another occasion, monk Simeon and monk George were once sent on a ship for some monastic obediences. They sailed to the Pevkian pier, where they found a certain sailor dying, no longer speaking for eight days, mourned by friends and despairing of his recovery - they laid a holy towel stained with blood on him. The sick shipbuilder immediately, as if awakening from sleep, got up healthy. Various miracles were also performed at the tomb of the saint. Namely: unclean spirits were expelled from people, various ailments were healed for those who came with faith and were anointed with oil from the lamp burning at his tomb. Let us also recall the following, what happened to the virtuous monk Eustratius. The latter's entrails were somehow damaged, so that the natural necessary urine flowed out of him, not in the form of water, but in the form of blood. He suffered from this disease for seven years, and despite the fact that he resorted to many doctors, the latter were not able to help him. Refusing doctors, he relied on God, praying for intercession before Him to the Reverend Father Athanasius. As soon as he resorted to this healing doctor, he received healing from him in the following way. - In the dream, it seemed to him that he was at a meal and saw: the reverend father was sitting in the usual hegumen's place, and in front of him was a full bottle of water and a dish of grapes. The monk, taking several grapes, put them into the water, which he gave Eustratius to drink. Eustratius, assuming that this is an ordinary medical remedy (which he renounced), did not want to accept. Then his father said to him:

“Don’t be afraid, drink, and it will be good for you.”

Then Eustratius, having taken and drunk, awoke from the dream, and from that hour felt himself completely cured of this ailment.

But it is time to finish now the word about the life, deeds and miracles of the saint, set out with abbreviations on the basis of a book that tells in detail about the holy man.

May the wondrous God in His saints, who showed His wonderful mercy and power on the Monk Athanasius, infinite glory and honor, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, tone 3:

Even in the flesh of your life, you were surprised at the angelic order, how with the body to the invisible plexus you came out, blessed, and wounded the demonic regiments; henceforth, Athanasius, Christ rewarded you with rich gifts: for this sake, Father, pray that our souls be saved.

Kontakion, tone 8:

Like the immaterial beings of the viewer, the spectator is fair, and the storyteller is all-true, your flock calls out to the god-talker: do not be impoverished by praying for your servants, get rid of misfortunes and circumvention, crying out to you: Rejoice, Father Athanasius.

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1 Athanasius - translated from Greek means "immortality".

2 It was located in the northeastern region of Asia Minor Ponte, on the seashore, west of the Gissa River.

3 Byzantium is a Megarian colony founded in 658 BC. on the European side of the Bosphorus; the bay of the golden horn, remarkable for its conveniences, and its dominant position on the narrow strait connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of ​​Marmara, provided it with an important commercial and industrial importance. Emperor Constantine the Great, appreciating the benefits of the position of Byzantium, moved here (in 330) the capital of the Roman Empire, thanks to which Byzantium acquired world-historical significance; she broke off the connection with the past and began to be called Constantinople, New Rome.

4 See below, life of St. Mikhail Malein, under the 12th number.

5 Mount Athos (Athos) in Greek. Agios Oros - Holy Mountain - a narrow mountainous peninsula jutting into the Archipelago (Aegean Sea), is known as the center of monastic life for the Greek East. Monasticism arose here in ancient times, although somewhat later than in Syria and Palestine. For the Russian Church, almost from the very appearance of Christianity in Russia and until the 17th century, Athos was of greater importance: the father of Russian monasticism, St. Anthony; here, in the large monastic libraries, our monks who went to Athos received the widest religious education for that time (for example, St. Nil Sorsky + 1508). Special translators and scribes were located here, supplying Orthodox Russia from here with translated handwritten works of a church-edifying nature. – As one of the most revered holy places of the Orthodox East, Athos is annually visited by thousands of exclusively male worshipers (women are not allowed to enter the monastery) from Russia, the Balkan Peninsula and the Asian possessions of Turkey. Almost the entire mountain, with the exception of deep gorges and rocks, is covered with rich vegetation: lemon, orange and pear trees grow here interspersed with walnut, olive and chestnut trees; whole fields are planted with various varieties of grapes, there are up to twenty rich monasteries, several sketes and many (hundreds) of individual cells - Greek, Russian, Moldavian, Bulgarian, etc.

6 Probably from Antioch of Pisidia, so named from the region of Asia Minor Pisidia, where this city was located.

7 Colchis is a country located south of Pontus Euxinus (Black Sea) between the Caucasus, Iberia and Armenia.

8 Roman II 957-963

9 In ancient times, eunuchs were people who served in the royal courts as guardians of treasures, the royal treasury, and especially as guards at the bedchambers of the king, queens and princesses. For the most part, eunuchs were eunuchs. At the Byzantine court, the position of eunuchs was very honorable.

10 Or Archipelago.

11 His memory is on the 12th of this month.

12 Nicephorus II Phocas - emperor 963-969.

13 A field is a measure of a distance of approximately 690 fathoms.

14 Until the time of the emperor Constantine the Great, the title of patrician was given only to persons of noble birth, mainly to the descendants of senators; patricians, in view of their origin, enjoyed various kinds of privileges in the use of public land and in private law relations; Emperor Constantine made the patriciate a personal dignity bestowed on high officials and not inherited.

15 Thessalonica or Thessaloniki is a city in Macedonia.

16 Abba is the father.

17 Lavra - from the Greek part of the city, lane - actually a row of cells located around the rector's dwelling in the form of alleys in the city, surrounded by a fence or wall. The monks in laurels led a hermit's way of life and ascetic each in his cell, gathering together for worship on the first and last day of the week, and on the rest of the days they maintained strict silence; life in the laurels was much more difficult than in other monasteries. Since ancient times, the name of the Lavra has been applied to monasteries that are crowded and important in their significance. It first appeared in Egypt and then in Palestine. At present, the name of the Lavra is used in our country exclusively in the sense of an honorary title.

18 Crete or Candia is the largest of the Greek islands in the eastern Mediterranean, south of the Aegean.

19 Liters - a measure of weight, equal to 72 spools.

20 A lengthy biography of St. Athanasius; the great Menaion-Cheti expound his life at length.

21 Roman II 957-963

22 Attalia is the city of Pamphylia, a narrow coastal strip of Asia Minor between Lycia and Cilicia.

23 John Tzimiskes 969-976

24 i.e. this monk acted hypocritically. Wed Gen.27:21-23.

25 Wed. Genesis 4:8.

26 Calabria is a low-lying peninsula stretching from Tarentum to Cape Iapygi. In the Middle Ages, Byzantine writers transferred the name of Calabria to the western peninsula of Lower Italy, the former Bruttia.

27 Amalfia is a seaside town on the Gulf of Salerno in the Italian province of Salerno; probably founded in the 4th century. Constantine the Great.

28 Iberia - Spain.

29 Rev. Theodore the Studite, still at a young age, embarked on the path of monastic life, at the beginning asceticised under the guidance of his uncle, St. Plato (commemorated April 5), defender of icon veneration at the 7th Ecumenical Council. Subsequently, Rev. Theodore became abbot of the Studian monastery in Constantinople; this monastery, under his management, reached an unprecedented height. Rev. Theodore was expelled from Constantinople twice for denouncing Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who illegally divorced his wife Mary and increased the severity of his crime by illegally marrying Theodota. Upon his return from exile to the Studion Monastery, when the persecution of the holy icons broke out, St. Theodore, ignoring the threats of the iconoclasts, openly made religious processions. Then the emperor Leo the Armenian sent him to prison, where he was kept in damp and stuffy dungeons, repeatedly subjected to severe beatings. Under Michael the tongue-tied, St. Theodore was returned from captivity, but did not live long, exhausted by imprisonment. He died 67 years old in 826 on November 11 (when his memory is celebrated). At the moment of the death of Saint Theodore, St. Hilarion of Dalmatia saw a host of angels descending from heaven and heard a voice: "Behold the soul of Theodore, hegumen of Studium, grief ascends in triumph and heavenly forces meet it." – St. Theodore left behind numerous writings in the form of words, announcements, letters, canons, stichera, epigrams and biographies. The most complete edition of the works of St. Theodora in Russian was undertaken by the editors of the journal "Christian Reading" as an appendix to this journal for 1907 and the following years.

30 Followed in 1000-1001

For more see:

The Monk Athanasius of Athos has been revered by believers for more than one century as one of the righteous, pious and wise saints, who made many examples of beneficence and mercy. The prayer of Athanasius of Athos more than once helped desperate believers.

Biography of Athanasius of Athos

Born into a pious family in the city of Trebizond, Saint Athanasius (at baptism he was named Avramius) was distinguished from childhood by piety and prudence. Left an orphan, thanks to his meek disposition and ability to learn, the young man received an excellent education, being brought up in the house of an imperial official. He had a bright future.

But luxury and vanity were alien to Athanasius, and he soon took tonsure in a monastery. All his life he dreamed of solitude, avoiding honors and spiritual orders, even for this he went to the holy Mount Athos to the hermits, calling himself Barnabas. There he hid from worldly temptations, offering prayers to God, thinking about the Kingdom of God.

The fame of the miraculous monk spread throughout the world, and, thanks to his faithful service to the Lord, Athanasius soon managed to build a monastery on Mount Athos with the help of money given to him by his confessor Nicephorus. Soon the Lavra will become a holy place for pilgrims.

However, during the construction of the Lavra, the devil more than once interfered with the holy cause, but the Mother of God herself appeared to Athanasius, promising to become the Housekeeper of the monastery. More than once I had to say a prayer to Athanasius our Lord of Athos, so that he would enlighten and help in the construction, he even left the place of the future Lavra, but the Lord brought him back.

Many buildings were erected on the Holy Mountain, where monks and hermits could study and live. In the Lavra, erected by Athanasius, people came to study from all over the world, hermits went for healing - spiritual and bodily.

Being the abbot of the monastery, Athanasius lived like a real hermit - modestly, without frills, helping the sick and orphans, who with hope lifted up a prayer to the Monk Athanasius of Athos, thanking him for his wisdom and meekness of soul.

The Reverend died when he once again ascended the scaffolding, watching the construction site. The unfinished dome collapsed, dragging Athanasius and five monks with it. For three hours the monks raked the rubble, hearing the voice of the Reverend: Glory to Thee, God! Lord Jesus Christ, help me!

However, Saint Athanasius was dead and buried only on the third day, until three thousand inhabitants of the Athos monastery said goodbye to him. His body was not subject to decay, and from the wound received from the fall, holy blood flowed, which the monks collected in a vessel, and after that it healed many who were suffering.

Miracles of Athanasius of Athos

Thousands of pilgrims offered up prayers to the saint, marveling at the miraculous deeds he performed during his lifetime. With his hand he healed the sick, some for a short time, others for many years. The saint also eased the suffering of believers on their deathbed, therefore many sincere believe in the power of the prayer of Athanasius of Athos for the outcome of the soul, pronouncing them with the hope of forgiveness of the sins of their lives.

Athanasius performed many miraculous deeds: he saved the lives of the monks in a severe storm, when the boat almost sank, he healed the possessed, even cured cancer with one inscription of the cross.

How do the prayers of Athanasius of Athos help?

Many believers know when to read prayers to the holy elder. This is also a prayer for the death of Athanasius of Athos, alleviating the last suffering of the dying. If a person is on the verge of death and life, then they read a prayer in front of the icon of St. Athanasius for the speedy determination of the fate of the patient.

Prayers also help those who wish to believe, strengthening their spirit and thoughts. Leaders who want to strengthen their authority turn to the saint to give them wisdom and experience. In despair and difficult situations, they also turn to Athanasius of Athos, asking him to help and reason.

Prayer to the Monk Athanasius of Athos

Reverend Father Athanasius, a fair servant of Christ and the great Athonite miracle worker! In the days of your earthly life, instructing many on the right path and leading wisely into the Kingdom of Heaven, consoling the mournful, giving a helping hand to those who fall, and the former father is kind, merciful and compassionate to everyone! You, even now, in heavenly lordship, most of all multiply your love for us, the weak, in the sea of ​​life, variously distressed, tempted by the spirit of malice and your passions, fighting for the spirit. For this sake, we humbly pray to you, holy father: according to the grace given to you from God, help us to do the will of the Lord in simplicity of heart and humility, conquer the temptations of the enemy and dry up the fierce passions of the sea; yes, let us pass through the abyss of life without interruption and by your intercession to the Lord we will be able to reach the Kingdom of Heaven promised to us, glorifying the Beginningless Trinity, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer two

Great ascetic, educated Christian, wise leader and shepherd. Having overcome spiritual melancholy and despondency, I received from God the gift of tenderness and joy. His prayer was strong both in healing people from illness, and in casting out demons and their influence on people. He laid the foundation for a cenobitic life on Athos, the construction of monasteries and temples, social and medical care for the sick (lepers). The Monk Athanasius of Athos is approached for prayerful help for zeal in faith and ascetic work, for despondency (depression), lack of faith, in illness, for protection from demonic attacks. Patron saint of monks, abbots of monasteries, temple builders. Christians in leadership positions can pray to him for the gift of wisdom and authority in government in order to serve according to the word of God: “Let the greatest of you be your servant: for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11-12).

Troparion and kontakion to the Monk Athanasius of Athos

Troparion, tone 3

Even in the flesh of your life, you were surprised at the angelic order, how with the body to the invisible plexus you came out, blessed, and wounded the demonic regiments; from then on, Athanasius, Christ will reward you with rich gifts; For this sake, Father, pray that our souls be saved.

Kontakion, tone 8

As if the immaterial beings of the viewer are fair and active, the teller is all true, your flock calls out, O God-verbal: do not be poor, praying for your servants, get rid of misfortunes and circumventions, crying out to you: Rejoice, Father Athanasius.

July 18 is the day of memory of the Monk Athanasius of Athos, the founder of the first monastery on Athos, the Great Lavra. We present to the attention of the readers Testament, the author of which is the great Athonite saint.

Holy Venerable Athanasius of Athos. Fresco of the end of the XIII century in the monastery of Protat on Athos

Beloved and honest fathers and brothers, cherished spiritual children! Since I, the humble monk Athanasius, full of every sin, and by the permission of God, the mentor of your Lavra, erected on a mountain and called Melana, daily and hourly think about the unknown hour of death, which lies in wait for it everywhere, mainly in traveling by sea, for the sake of those who are often at times through incomprehensible destinies God’s shipwrecks, I considered it fair to leave to the Lavra a real written remembrance in the form of a will, or better, a secret instruction, written and signed by me so that it would be kept by the monk and ecclesiarch Michael in the choirs of the church and that, after my death, its contents would be announced to everyone .

I wish, as with a living voice, and with real scripture, to open to everyone my thought and my care, which, constantly baking, in excessive grief, I spent all the days of my life. For knowing exactly the unsuitability of my feeble soul for presiding over others (to the point that I could not even take proper care of my own soul), I constantly prayed to God to show me a person who, according to His Divine will, could adequately preside, lead and graze well the verbal sheep of my flock - even during my lifetime, and I myself would retire to the individual and bake, and take care of my many sins. But I did not achieve the intended goal, whether it was my folly and my inherent stupidity to judge by my own thinness and others, or I already arranged it that way, or rather, God allowed it so for my many many evils.

I want and wish, after my death, to leave as abbot one of our community and brotherhood in Christ, which differs among all in word, and life, and deed, as the letter of the most blessed and ever-memorable king, Mr. from outside, but from the brethren living in it, distinguished by prudence and virtue.

At the same time, I bequeath to all fathers and brothers and my spiritual children, I ask everyone for the sake of love in Christ and I conjure everyone in the name of God and our Most Holy Theotokos to obey and obey the hegumen, my successor, as well as my humility, and live with each other in love and like-mindedness - strong to bear the burdens of the weak, with all their strength and all disposition, everyone who has received Divine grace strives, and in deed and word to rule souls, affirming the brethren and exhortations, and requests, and instructions, - observe the same in St. church of God, and in the meal, and in all other services, the statutes, both in writing and unwritten transmitted, which were laid down by the holy and God-bearing fathers, and we, unworthy, borrowed in parts from their writing and tradition and transferred into the rule and sample of our Lavra.

In addition, I leave behind me the guardian (epitrope) of the Lavra, Mr. John, who worked for many years, serving me with all indulgence and humility. I want him to, after my death, as a spiritual and truly prudent person, having extraordinary love and faith for me, the unworthy, and for the whole brotherhood, living here on the Mountain, having spent the days of his life with us and grown old, come to the Lavra and, if possible, finally settled between the brothers - in order to inspire them and remind them of obedience to the abbot. If this is not possible, then at least he should have more frequent contact with the brethren and guide them. At his death, in order to leave instead of himself the guardian of Mr. Euthymius, my son in spirit, and his in flesh and spirit. This, in turn, at his death, would have left as his successor someone from his Lavra, or from the Mountain in general, if there was a person of words and spirituality. The following would do the same.

I thought it was a good idea to leave the holy king as guardian of our sacred Lavra, but I was afraid, finding it impudent. For he is the king and lord, and lord and father, and the nourisher, not of us alone, and of our fathers and brothers, but of all Christians. He, more than anyone, both laymen and monks, showed his favor to us, the unworthy and poor, and to our Lavra. He made it populous, expanding it and increasing it with his pious letters, with which he confirmed the letters of other kings: Mr. Nicephorus and Mr. John. And besides them, he gave his other diplomas.

Why, as it is said, I did not dare to leave him, the good king, in the rank of guardian. And I left as guardian and patron, and intercessor of our society in Christ and our Lavra, my most pious master, the true Christ-lover and monk-lover, Nicephorus, the most glorious patrician and tutor Caniklia, so that for the sake of a reward from God and for the sake of his sanctified soul, he would protect, help and assist the master John the Georgian, our brother and father in spirit, and to all the brotherhood in Christ in all the sorrows that befall them in life. So that he would thus take care to help them regarding the temporary and perishable side of life, and Mr. John the Georgian and all the brethren would strive for the incorruptible and eternal blessings of the future age with all readiness, love and zeal, praying for him unceasingly. When the time of his death comes, may he leave in his place another guardian of the aforesaid St. Laurels. So let everyone else do the same after his death.

Thus, let them be the patrons and intercessors of the Lavra both in the God-protected city, and in all other incidental deeds and services, for the sake of bribes from God and their honest souls. And these (guardian monks), as belonging to the monastic rank, living on the Mountain, neighboring (and even better living together) with the brethren, let them take care of them with all their might, with their characteristic reverence and virtue, to take care of them, as of various members of one and the same body, may they receive recompense from the great-gifted God on the day of judgment - for having preserved faith and love for me, humble and unworthy, and guilty of every sin, not only during my life, but also after death. - I'm done with the guardians.

But you, fathers and brethren, and spiritual children! If you strive with all diligence and good disposition to keep peace and indissoluble unanimity with each other, if there will be no splits, no divisions, no quarrels, no friendships, no societies between you, but there will be faith and love, and a kindred disposition of one to another and all to the abbot, and the careful preservation of my commandments, charters and rules handed down to you, I believe God that His goodness will open the heart of not only guardians, but also of every other strong person to sympathy with you, to assist and assist the will for the benefit of your souls .

And listen carefully, brethren, if there is between you (which I do not want) someone who tries to cut the body of the brotherhood with cunning, deceit and craftiness, so that none of you interfere with him, but quickly remove him and drive him away from your company, like an infection, like an old leaven - remove him himself from a part of those who are being saved. For he who encroaches on such things is appropriate to wish that his memory be destroyed from the earth and that his name be blotted out from the book of the living, and may not be written with the righteous. If there were someone who stood up for such, then let him be his own part and heritage. I command Mr. John, my overseer, and all the brotherhood to expel such people immediately from the Lavra.

I command you to have the same disposition and the same spiritual love for the Lavra of Mr. John and for his brethren, which, you see, I, a humble and sinful one, have and keep, and which I often instilled in you both in general instructions, and to each one separately, - and not only to Mr. John and his brotherhood, but also to everyone else - not only loving and revering you, but also hostile to you and insulting you sometimes - causing you temptations and bitterness. By the command of God, you should love and have mercy on the one who attacks you and does you harm, because he offends himself more than those who bring you the greatest benefit. I know that from the many cases that have happened to us, you have experienced and convinced yourself that those who wanted to embitter us helped us greatly both spiritually and bodily. But also to Prot, and to the abbots, and to the brethren of our Holy Mountain, preserve love, peace, humility and due honor, as, you see, my humility preserves them.

Whoever serves well, piously and spiritually, for the benefit of his soul, both in the Lavra itself and in its methods, external and internal, and on the islands, let him remain in his position until old age, especially those who, with zeal for God, try to keep unquestioning obedience to the abbot, the successor of my humility - has all the desire and desire to lovingly deliver to the Lavra everything that is needed for his spiritual brothers, considering such a service to be a matter of saving his soul. Let him serve all his life, always acting from the will of the hegumen and guardian, and not from autocracy.
To my guardian, monk John the Georgian, I command and inspire on behalf of the Lord God and our Most Holy Theotokos, so that after my death, in everything that concerns the brotherhood in Christ, and the Lavra, and its belongings, both inside the mountain and outside, he ordered as required by the commandment of God and the teaching of the Divine Fathers.

Let him stay with the brethren in the Lavra for quite a few days, dealing with them all together and with each one separately, performing prayers and litanies both impartially and dispassionately, with all freedom, as it were before the face of God Himself, who observes and guides the secrets of the heart of each; consulting with the elders, the smartest and most spiritual of the brethren, after a long-term test of the opinions and judgments of both them and all others, let him appoint an abbot for them, whom God will indicate and choose - together with the oldest of the brethren.

Participating in the council of the guardian, for the choice of hegumen, the brethren should be no more than 15 people. And better and less.

This is not why we remove others from the advice because they are unspiritual or unintelligent (by the grace of God all things are both spiritual, and useful, and prudent). But since in in large numbers, according to the difference in the properties and opinions of each, some would choose one, others the other, then I considered it fair, as was said above, that there should be few voters. The setting, yes, is as follows. Let the all-night vigil be sent from the evening in the cathedral church of the Most Holy Theotokos. After Matins, when the Divine Liturgy is over, the Divine consecration is given and the prayer behind the ambo is read, let the litany be proclaimed, which says: Lord have mercy 50 times. Then let the delivered one put a bow to the primate before the altar and turn to the assembly of monks. Then let the guardian be the first to bow to him, and after him all the rest. And, as it was said above, let the guardian help and help him with all his strength, but let the brethren show pure and unfaltering obedience. In the course of time, Mr. John the Georgian, visiting and seeing the rank and behavior of the hegumen and the brethren, of course, will notice either diligence, diligence, love, disposition and friendship of his soul for the brethren, while the brethren's obedience and faith, and love of the soul for the abbot, or all contrary to that.

As a result, what is appropriate for the spiritual state, he will establish, and he will correct the indecent and guide him on the true path, and for this he will receive a reward from the philanthropist God in the Kingdom of Heaven. Upon the election and confirmation of the hegumen, I want and desire that he have all power and dominion in all matters spiritual and bodily, not stopped or hindered by anyone, well and God-lovingly shepherding his fellowship in Christ with the Spirit of God.

If, due to my sins, time will later show him acting in corruption, infection and death of the souls of the brotherhood (which I don’t even want to see the abbot in a dream), and convicted of that, he remains incorrigible, then the guardian, with the advice of the elder brethren and according to to his own discretion and prudence, let him take care of the brotherhood and choose another, capable of governing the Lavra and all the brethren, who would remain in his rank until the end of his life.

I want to command the abbot and overseer, and all my spiritual brethren, that my lord Anthony be laid to rest until the end of his life and given him a decent honor, and his brethren looked after as their own members.

It is the same with regard to the monk John the Good Writer, which charter, rite and custom observed in my humility by those serving him, may the abbot and servants, and all the brethren, keep the same after my death, and better, if more than that - by the very deed, let them show him what he deserves. honor and love. The same is true of the monk George the Gruzinets, and the monk Gregory the master, and the monk Dorotheus, and the monk Anthony the Kiminian, and Abba Sergius. Serve the lord Theophan, the presbyter, and give honor, service and peace greater than what he was awarded with my humility, since his body is already inclined towards old age and weakness. The same goes for the other elders, somehow: Mr. Sophrony and everyone in general.

Strive in abundance to deliver to them all the usual needs, meekly and diligently, with a spiritual disposition, so that for their sake you will receive a rich reward from God on the day of judgment.

Most of all, be diligent about hospitality and do not violate the ordinance that I have given you regarding strangers who come to you by land and sea. All the same, both young and old, both the first and the last, try to maintain unfalse obedience to the abbot, obeying his word in every deed. Whoever opposes his command opposes the command of God and me, a humble and sinful one.

In all your prayers, remember me, may I find mercy and the remission of many sins on the day of judgment.

Translation of the will of Rev. Athanasius we borrow from the book of the late Archimandrite Antonin: “Notes of a worshiper of the Holy Mountain” (Kyiv, 1864), giving due justice to the thoughts expressed on this subject by its venerable author. “Nothing introduces us to a person like his own speech, and especially the deathbed speech. After reading the testament of St. Athanasius, we saw him, as it were, passing by us, although at some distance from us. His sketch was strongly imprinted in our imagination. Even facial features in generality are captured by us. Of course, in his will, first of all, the abbot of the monastery is visible, but in the warehouse of speech, the person Athanasius was repeatedly displayed. The original text of the will is printed by Meyer: Die Haupturkunder für die Geschichte der Athos Klöester. Leipzig. 1894. 123-130.

Nicephorus II Phocas, a famous commander in Byzantine history, born in 912, enthroned in 963 and killed on 10 December 11, 969

That is, Nicephorus Phocas and John Tzimisces. From this it is clear that St. Athanasius "holy and good" king calls imp. Vasily Porphyrogenitus, nicknamed the "Bulgarian fighter". It can also be seen that the testament was written after 975, in which Tzimiskes died. There were two emperors then: Vasily and Konstantin were brothers. The expression of St. Athanasius confirms the words of historians that Constantine, although he bore the title of emperor, did not reign while his brother was alive. The fact is remarkable: all three emperors, so different from each other and having so many reasons to act contrary to one another, evenly patronized St. Athanasius.

    Ὀ ἑπί Κανικλείου court position of significance, not quite clear now. Du Cange does not distinguish her from the position of Logothete.

Who was this patrician Nicephorus? It can be assumed with certainty that it was someone from the same surname Fock, and it was the fraternal grandson of Emperor Nicephorus (son of Varda († 989), son of Leo, younger brother of Nikiforov, who was killed on a campaign against the Abkhazians in 1019 or 1020) - Why is the son, and not the father, chosen by St. Athanasius to guard the Lavra, the reason for this could be that in 987 Varda rebelled against Basil and declared himself emperor.

This Lavra is the current Iberian Monastery of Athos. The frequently mentioned St. Athanasius, John is, honored by the monastery, one of its three patrons.

This Anthony is often mentioned in the life of the saint. He was his closest student. St. Athanasius calls him his own.

Both Theophanes, both presbyters, signed the act.

Abbot after St. Athanasius, a certain Eustratius was chosen, as the Greek biography of the saint testifies to.

In holy baptism, Abraham was born in the city of Trebizond and, orphaned early, was brought up by a kind, pious nun, imitating his foster mother in the habits of monastic life, in fasting and prayer. He comprehended the doctrine easily and soon overtook his peers in the sciences.

After the death of his adoptive mother, Abraham was taken to Constantinople, to the court of the then Byzantine emperor Roman the Elder, and assigned as a student to the famous rhetor Athanasius. Soon the student reached the perfection of a teacher and himself became a mentor of youth. Considering fasting and vigilance to be the true life, Abraham led a strict and temperate life, slept little and then sat on a chair, and barley bread and water served him as food. When his teacher Athanasius, due to human weakness, began to envy his student, blessed Abraham left his guidance and retired.

In those days, St. Michael Malein, hegumen of the Kiminsky monastery, arrived in Constantinople. Abraham told the hegumen his life, revealed to him his innermost desire to become a monk. The divine elder, seeing in Abraham the chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit, fell in love with him and taught him a lot in matters of salvation. One day, during their spiritual conversation, St. Michael was visited by his nephew Nicephorus Phocas, a well-known military leader, the future emperor. The high spirit, deep mind of Abraham struck Nicephorus and inspired reverent reverence and love for the saint for the rest of his life. Jealousy for the monastic life consumed Abraham. Leaving everything behind, he arrived at the Kiminsky Monastery and, falling at the feet of the venerable abbot, asked to be clothed in a monastic image. The abbot gladly fulfilled his request and tonsured him with the name Athanasius.

In the monastery, the Monk Athanasius diligently fulfilled his monastic obediences, and in his free time he was engaged in copying the Holy Books. He is known to have copied the Four Gospels and the Apostles.

Through lengthy fasts, vigils, kneeling, night and day labors, Athanasius soon reached such perfection that in the year the holy hegumen blessed him for the feat of silence in a secluded place not far from the monastery on Mount Athos.

Leaving Kimin, he went around many deserted and secluded places, including in a year he lived for six months in the Holy Monastery (Αγία Μονή) near the city of Paphos on the island of Cyprus, and, instructed by God, came to a place called Melana, on the very edge of Athos, far removed from other monastic dwellings. Here the monk built himself a cell and began ascetic labors and prayer, ascending from achievement after achievement to the highest monastic perfection.

The enemy tried to arouse in Saint Athanasius hatred for the place he had chosen, fought him with unceasing thoughts. The ascetic decided to endure for a year, and then, as the Lord arranges, do so. On the last day of the term, when Saint Athanasius began to pray, the Heavenly Light suddenly shone on him, filling him with inexpressible joy, all thoughts were dispelled, and grace-filled tears flowed from his eyes. Since then, Saint Athanasius received the gift of compunction, and he loved the place of his solitude with the same strength as he had previously hated. At that time Nikephoros Phocas, fed up with military exploits, remembered his vow to become a monk and asked the Monk Athanasius to build a monastery at his expense, that is, to build cells for him and the brethren for silence and a church where the brethren would partake of the Divine Mysteries of Christ on Sundays.

Avoiding worries and cares, blessed Athanasius at first did not agree to accept the hated gold, but, seeing the ardent desire and good intention of Nicephorus and seeing the will of God in this, he set about building a monastery. He erected a large temple in the name of the holy Prophet and Forerunner of Christ John and another temple, at the foot of the mountain, in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Cells appeared around the temple, a wonderful monastery arose on the Holy Mountain. A refectory, a hospital, a hospice and other necessary buildings were built in it.

Brothers from everywhere flocked to the monastery, not only from Greece, but also from other countries: ordinary people and noble nobles, hermits, ascetic long years in the desert, the abbots of many monasteries and bishops desired to be simple monks in the Athos Lavra of St. Athanasius.

The holy abbot established a cenobitic charter in the monastery in the likeness of the ancient Palestinian monasteries. Divine services were performed with all strictness, no one dared to talk during the service, be late or leave the church unnecessarily.

During his holy life, the Monk Athanasius was honored from the Lord with the gift of clairvoyance and miracles: with the sign of the cross, he healed the sick and cast out unclean spirits. The Most Pure Theotokos herself, the Heavenly Lady of Athos, favored the saint. Many times he was honored to see Her with sensual eyes.

With the permission of God, there was such a famine in the monastery that the monks began to leave the Lavra one by one. The monk was left alone and, in a moment of weakness, also thought of leaving. Suddenly he saw a woman under an airy blanket, walking towards him. "Who are you and where are you going?" she asked softly. Saint Athanasius stopped with involuntary reverence. “I am a local monk,” he answered, and told about himself and his worries. "And for the sake of a piece of daily bread, you leave the monastery, which will be glorified in childbirth and childbirth? Where is your faith? Come back, and I will help you." - "Who are you?" asked Athanasius. - "I am the Mother of your Lord," She answered and ordered Athanasius to strike a stone with a rod, so that a source broke out of the crack, which still exists, reminding of a wonderful visit.

The number of brethren grew, construction work was going on in the Lavra. The Monk Athanasius, foreseeing the time of his departure to the Lord, prophesied about his imminent death and asked the brethren not to be offended by what would happen. "For people judge differently, the All-Wise arranges otherwise." The brethren were perplexed and pondered over the words of the saint. After giving his last instructions to the brethren and comforting everyone, Saint Athanasius went into his cell, put on a mantle and a sacred cloak, which he put on only on great feasts, and after a long prayer he went out. Cheerful and joyful, the holy abbot went up with six brethren to the top of the church to inspect the construction. Suddenly, by the unknown fate of God, the top of the temple collapsed. The five brothers immediately surrendered their spirits to God. The Monk Athanasius and the architect Daniel, littered with stones, remained alive. Everyone heard how the monk called on the Lord: "Glory to Thee, God! Lord Jesus Christ, help me!" The brethren with great lamentation began to dig out their father from under the ruins, but found him already dead. The death of the saint followed about a year.

Relics and veneration

The body of the Monk Athanasius, having lain unburied for three days, did not change, did not swell and did not darken. And during the funeral chants, blood flowed from the wound that was on the leg, contrary to nature. Some elders collected this blood in towels, and many received healing from diseases through it.