The Monks Euthymius and Neophytos of Dochiar, uncle and nephew, belonged to the highest Byzantine aristocracy. The Monk Euthymius, while still in the world, received the honor of being a friend of the Monk Athanasius of Athos (July 5), and subsequently became a tonsure and disciple of the great ascetic. For sincere brotherly love, meekness and special zeal in the ascetic life, Saint Athanasius awarded the monk the position of dochiar (housekeeper), which the monk Euthymius fulfilled as entrusted to him by God Himself.
With several monks, Saint Euthymius settled in the town of Daphne, where he founded a monastery in the name of Saint Nicholas, which he named Dochiar, in memory of his obedience. Instructing his small brotherhood, the Monk Euthymius taught the need for deep attention to oneself, to all movements of the soul, explaining that the struggle of Christians, according to the Apostle Paul, is not “against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, and against the powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world” (Eph. 6:12). The peaceful ascetic life of the monks was disrupted by the Saracens. The monk took all the brethren into the forest. When the monks returned, they found the monastery destroyed to the ground. The Monk Euthymius did not lose heart, and the monastery was rebuilt.
The Monk Neophyte in the world was a close associate of Emperor Nikephoros Phocas (963-969). After the death of his parents, he arrived on Athos, where he took monastic vows at the monastery of his uncle, the Monk Euthymius. Before his death, Saint Euthymius transferred control of the monastery to his nephew. Under the spiritual leadership of the Monk Neophytos, the small monastery grew into a Lavra. Having offered Emperor Nicephorus to become a ktitor (investor) of the monastery, the Monk Neophytos increased the monastery to the current size of Dochiara. The Monk Neophytos was awarded the election of prot (the head of the protate - the council of elders of the Holy Mountain) and worked there for many years. After his dismissal from the protate due to old age, the monk returned to the Dokhiarsky monastery, where he peacefully departed to the Lord (X).
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St. Myrrh-Streaming Nile, Mount Athos, Hierom. († 1651, commemorated May 7, November 12)