Founder of the Great Lavra of Mount Athos.
St. Athanasios the Athonite was born in Trebizond in the tenth century. Drawn from a promising career in Constantinople to the monastic life, he came to Mount Athos and there founded the Great Lavra, the first of the great communal monasteries of the Holy Mountain, with the support of the Emperor Nikephoros Phokas.
Under his guidance Athos grew into the chief center of Orthodox monasticism, as it remains to this day. According to tradition he ended his earthly life during the collapse of a church structure under construction at the Lavra. He is commemorated on July 5.
Feast day
On the New Calendar, Athanasios of Athos is commemorated on July 5. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 18 of the civil calendar.
Who celebrates a name day
People with these names keep their name day on this feast:
Athanasios, Thanassis, Thanos, Nasis, Athanasius
Also commemorated on July 5
Kyprianos the New Martyr
Martyr, Κυπριανός ο Νέος
New Monastic Martyr Kyprianos of Koutloumousiou, who suffered in Constantinople.
Finding of the Relics of Sergius of Radonezh
Saint, Σέργιος του Ραντονέζ
Uncovering of the relics of Venerable Sergius of Radonezh, abbot of the Holy Trinity Lavra.
Synaxis of All Saints of Crete
Saint, Σύναξις Κρητών Αγίων
Synaxis of all the Saints who have shone forth in Crete.
Icon: public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.
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