Saint
Athanasius
Venerable Athanasius, founder of the Great Lavra and Coenobitic Monasticism on Mount Athos, and his six disciples
New Calendar July 5 Old Calendar July 18
Why they are a saint
The Monk Athanasias of Athos, in holy Baptism named Abraham, was born in the city of Trapezund. He was early left orphaned, and being raised by a certain good and pious nun, he copied 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.After the death of his adoptive mother, Abraham was taken to Constantinople, to the court of the then Byzantine emperor Romanos the Elder, and was enrolled as a student under the reknown rhetorician Athanasias.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Athanasius as a patron when they bear the name Athanasius at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on July 5. As a monastic, he is also asked for help in prayer, fasting, and repentance.
Prayer
O holy Athanasius, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.