Sainted Athanasias III Patelarios, Patriarch of Tsaregrad, Wonderworker of Lubensk
Commemorated on May 2
Sainted Athanasias
III Patelarios, Patriarch of Tsaregrad, Wonderworker of Lubensk, in the
world Alexis, was born in 1560 on the island of Crete, into the pious Greek
family Patelarios. Despite his education and position in society, the life of
Christian ascetics attracted Alexis. After the death of his father he took vows
as a novice in one of the Thessalonika monasteries with the name Ananias, from
whence he later went to the monastery of Hesthymenes at Athos, where he did
obedience in the refectory. From Athos he undertook a journey to the
Palestinian monasteries and in one of them he took monastic tonsure with the
name Athanasias. Upon his return to Thessalonika he was made presbyter and
spread the teaching of Christ among the Valachs and the Moldovians, for whom he
translated the Psalter from the Greek into their own languages. On occasion the
saint journeyed to Mount Athos for prayerful solitude and the blessing of God
upon his pastoral work. The holiness of his life attracted a multitude of
Christians, wishing to see a true preacher of the Orthodox faith in Christ.
By his remarkable
abilities and spiritual gifts he attracted the attention of the Patriarch of
Constantinople, Cyril I (Lukaris) (1621-1623), who having summoned the ascetic,
appointed him preacher for the Patriarchal cathedra-see. Soon Saint Athanasias was
elevated to the dignity of bishop and made Metropolitan of the Church of
Soluneia (Thessalonika).
At this time
Patriarch Cyril I (Lukaris) was slandered before the sultan and imprisoned on
the island of Tenedos, and Saint Athanasias was chosen upon the Patriarchal
throne on 25 March 1634, on the day of the Annunciation of the Most Holy Mother
of God.
Situated upon the
archpastoral cathedra-seat, Patriarch Athanasias led an incessant struggle
against heretics, Jesuits and Mahometans. Being on the Patriarchal throne but
about 40 days, he was deposed through the intrigues of the enemies of
Orthodoxy, and upon the cathedra-seat Cyril I (Lukaris) was returned. The saint
set off to Athos, where for a certain time he pursued asceticism in solitude.
Then he was again elevated to the Patriarchate, but again after a year he was
deposed, after which he returned to the city of Thessalonika and kept up his
connections with Athos. In view of the intolerable persecutions of the
Christians by the Mahometans, Saint Athanasias was repeatedly obliged to send
(from 1633 to 1643) petitions to the Russian tsar Mikhail Feodorovich
(1613-1645) concerning the bestowing of alms for the hapless Church of
Constantinople.
When dwelling at
Thessalonika became for the saint impossible, he was forced to journey to
Moldavia under the protection of its sovereign, Basilos Lukulos, and he settled
there in the monastery of Saint Nicholas near Galats. And here he constantly
turned his gaze towards Mount Athos, he visited it often and hoped to finish
his life there. But the prescience of God judged otherwise.
In 1652 after the
martyr's death of Patriarch Cyril I (Lukaris), Saint Athanasias was again
elevated to the OEcumenical cathedra. But he was on it for only 15 days, since
this preacher of the Orthodox faith in Christ was not pleasing to the
Mahometans and Catholics. During the time of his final Patriarchal service he
preached a sermon, in which he denounced the papal pretensions to be head of
the OEcumenical Church and the pretensive apostolic pre-eminence. Persecuted by
the Mahometans and Jesuits, physically weakened, he transferred the running of
the Constantinople Church to the Metropolitan of Laureia, Paisios, and he
withdrew to Moldavia, where he received from the sovereign to be administrator
of the monastery of Saint Nicholas at Galats. Knowing the deep faith and
responsiveness of the Russian nation, Saint Athanasias undertook a journey to
Russia. In April 1653 he was met with great honour in Moscow by Patriarch Nikon
(1652-1658) and tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich. Having received generous alms for
the needs of the monastery, in December 1653 Patriarch Athanasias left for
Galats. On the way he fell ill and stayed at the Transfiguration Mgarsk
monastery in the city of Lubno in February 1654. Sensing his impending death,
the saint compiled a final testament and on 5 April expired to God. Hegumen
Petronios with the brethren of the monastery made the burial of the Patriarch.
By Greek custom the saint was buried in a sitting position. On 1 February 1662
Saint Athansias was glorified into the ranks of the Saints and his feastday
established under 2 May, on the day of co-memory of Saint Athanasias the
Great.
The relics of holy
Patriarch Athansias, glorified by numerous miracles and signs, rest in the city
of Khar'kov, in the Annunciation cathedral church.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.
