Peter the Athonite

Venerable Peter the Athonite, first known hermit of the Holy Mountain.

Saint Peter was a Byzantine soldier taken captive by the Arabs who, tradition relates, was freed through the prayers of Saint Nicholas and vowed to become a monk. Directed by a vision of the Theotokos, he went to Mount Athos in the ninth century and lived there in a cave for many decades in complete solitude.

He is honoured as the first hermit of the Holy Mountain, and his life was written by Saint Gregory Palamas.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Peter the Athonite is commemorated on June 12. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on June 25 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on June 12

• 

  Onuphrios the Great

  Venerable, Ονούφριος

  Great Venerable Onuphrius the Egyptian.

  Name days: Onyfrios

• Antonina of Nicaea

  Holy Woman, Αντωνίνα

  Holy Virgin Martyr Antonina of Nicaea, who suffered under Diocletian.

  Name days: Antonina

• Arsenius of Konevets

  Venerable, Αρσένιος Κονεζίας

  Venerable Arsenius, founder of the Konevets monastery on Lake Ladoga.

• Synesios, Benedict and Timothy, Monk-Martyrs of Thessaloniki

  Martyr, Συνέσιος, Βενέδικτος και Τιμόθεος

  Monk-Martyrs Synesios, Benedict and Timothy, monastics put to death in Thessaloniki.

• Zeno the Venerable

  Venerable, Ζήνων

  Venerable Zeno, an ascetic whose memory is preserved in the synaxaria.