Saint Athanasius I, Patriarch of Constantinople (†1311) — October 24 / November 6 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 24 according to the Julian Calendar (November 6 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Athanasius I, Patriarch of Constantinople (†1311).

Saint Athanasius I, Patriarch of Constantinople (1289–1293; 1303–1311), known in the world as Alexios, was from the Greek city of Adrianople. Already in his youth, having advanced in the knowledge of Christian wisdom, he left his native home, went to Thessalonica, and was tonsured a monk in one of its monasteries with the name Akakios. From there the saint soon moved to the Holy Mountain of Athos and joined the brotherhood of the Esphigmenou monastery, where for three years he diligently performed the duties of refectorian. By constant labor and his virtues the blessed one won universal goodwill.

The humble Akakios, fleeing the praise of men, left Athos, venerated the holy places of Jerusalem, and then went to Mount Patmos and took up the labor of a hermit. From there the ascetic moved first to Mount Auxentios, and then to a monastery on Mount Galesios, where he received the great schema with the name Athanasius, was ordained a priest, and was appointed ecclesiarch. Here the saint was granted a divine revelation: a voice of the Lord coming from the crucifix called him to the episcopal ministry.

Ten years later Saint Athanasius moved again to Athos, but other circumstances forced him to return to Mount Galesios. There too the blessed one did not find the solitude he desired: crowds of people came to him for counsel and instruction. Thus a women’s monastery arose at that place. At that time, after the turmoil and disorder of the time of Patriarch John Bekkos, the see of Constantinople was widowed. At the proposal of the pious Emperor Andronikos Palaiologos, in 1289 a council of bishops and clergy unanimously elected Saint Athanasius as head of the Church.

The blessed father zealously took up his new duties: he labored diligently to eradicate heretical teachings from his flock and sternly rebuked the vices of the imperial court and the clergy. All this provoked the displeasure of influential churchmen, and in 1293 the saint was forced to leave the see. The blessed one returned to his secluded life in his monastery. In 1303, by the will of the Lord, the patriarchal staff was entrusted to Athanasius a second time. The chosen of the Lord bore the heavy cross of chief shepherd for another seven years, but in 1311, when discontent among the clergy again appeared, he did not wish to become the cause of church turmoil and withdrew to his monastery.

At the end of his life Athanasius was once more granted a revelation of Jesus Christ: the Lord rebuked him for not having fulfilled his pastoral duty to the end. The saint repented with tears of his faintheartedness, for which he received forgiveness of sins and the gift of wonderworking. Hierarch Athanasius reposed at the age of one hundred, at the beginning of the 14th century.