Память преподобного Афанасия Исповедника

The Monk Athanasius was born in the city of Constantinople from pious parents who led a godly life and were very rich. From childhood, he was distinguished by a reverent mood of soul, and the favorite dream of his youth was to spend his life in the monastic rank. Therefore, upon reaching adulthood, he retired to one of the Nicomedia monasteries in 1572 and there took monastic vows. In his monastic exploits the monk reached such heights that he became known to the emperor himself for his piety. During the reign of Leo the Iconoclast in 1573, a denunciation was made against the monk that he revered holy icons, and for this he was subjected to various torments, suffered severe exiles and endured much suffering. But, despite all this, Saint Athanasius remained unshaken. Preserving the Orthodox faith until the end of his life, he departed to the Lord in 1574. The city of Nicomedia was located in Asia Minor on the shores of one of the gulfs of the Propontis, now the Sea of ​​Marmara, and was the favorite residence of the Emperor Diocletian and the place of suffering and death of many holy martyrs during his reign. The monastery where the monk took monastic vows was known as Pavlopetria, because it was dedicated to St. Apostles Peter and Paul. Persecution of admirers of St. icons lasted about a hundred years. Of the three emperors of this period who bore the name of Leo, the title of iconoclast is here given to Leo the Armenian, who reigned from 813 to 820. St. Athanasius died in 821. You might be interested in: