St. Athanasius the Athonite

Oxford University Library

Athanasius the Athonite (c. 920 – c. 1003; Greek: Ἀθανάσιος ὁ Ἀθωνίτης), was a Byzantine monk who is considered the founder of the monastic community on the peninsula of Mount Athos; which has since evolved into the greatest center of Eastern Orthodox monasticism. He built the Great Lavra (Megisti Lavra). first monastery on Athos

"Saint Athanasius of Athos, in holy Baptism named Abraham, was born in the city of Trebezond. He was orphaned at an early age, and being raised by a certain good and pious nun, he imitated his adoptive mother in the habits of monastic life, in fasting and in prayer. Doing his lessons came easily and he soon outpaced his peers in study."
Vita A (MS BHG 187), written by the monk Athanasios of the Panagiou Monastery, Constantinople, during the early 11th century[3]
Continue reading the biography here
https://web.archive.org/web/20060206091138/http://www.monachos.net/patri...

There is also one more early biography
Vita Β (MS BHG 188), written by an anonymous at the Great Lavra, between 1050 and 1150; translated into English by Alice-Mary Talbot (2016)


Vita Athanasii, B, ch. 23-26 : The Foundation and Rules of the Great Lavra Monastery at Mount Athos, AD 961

Life of Athanasios of Athos B, ed. J. Noret, Vitae duae antiquae Sancti Athanasii Athonitae (Leuven, 1982)

Vita Athanasii, B, ch. 23-26

[c. 23, p. 149] Saying these things the father [Athanasios] greatly saddened Nikephoros [Phokas, general and subsequently emperor]. After a short while enjoying the benefit of seeing a friend, they took leave of each other. Athanasios, for his part, returned to Athos, while the most powerful Nikephoros, becoming more ardent about his aim of constructing [a monastery] was unable to bear it for long, and sent one of his entourage to Athanasios, named Methodios who shortly afterwards became abbot of the Kyminas monastery, bearing with ....
https://web.archive.org/web/20060513232243/http://www.monachos.net/patri...



Critical analysis of both Vitae

Notable biographies

ΟΣΙΟΣ ΑΘΑΝΑΣΙΟΣ ΑΘΩΝΙΤΗΣ: Ο μοναχός που άλλαξε την ιστορία του Αγίου Όρους https://ikivotos.gr/post/446/osios-athanasios-athwniths-o-monaxos-poy-al...

Icons of St Athanasius

A codex labeled Life and Testament of Agios Athanasios Athonite, from the 15th century contains a full-page image of the founder of the Lavra and three decorative furniture. Unlike the earliest portrait of the saint, preserved in an 11th century Lavra manuscript, the founder of the Monastery holds a cross in front of his chest and an open scroll

Research

Bibliography for St. Athanasius (2004-2014) https://www.academia.edu/16354063/Bibliography_for_St_Athanasius_2004_2014_
ADOPTING A SAINT: ATHANASIUS OF LAVRA
AND HIS HAGIOGRAPHER ATHANASIUS ‘OF PANAGIOS’ https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/parekbolai/article/viewFile/7200/6958 Contains original text of Vita A with translation.

https://www.google.gr/books/edition/Thesaurus_Linguae_Graecae/LvZyEAAAQB...



Ο Άγιος Αθανάσιος ο Αθωνίτης. Ο Άγιος Αθανάσιος ο Αθωνίτης. Τοιχογραφία του Μανουήλ Πανσέληνου από τον Ιερό Ναό Πρωτάτου Καρυών (1290).

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