Athanasius Zoitakis, ascetic of Athos

The saint was born in the city of Trebizond, in present-day Turkey, on the very border with Georgia.
He lost his parents early and was raised a good nun (according to some sources, his own aunt). The monastic life left its mark: the boy was early addicted to reading theological literature, loved to reflect on spiritual truths, often prayed and fasted.
In his youth Abraham (the name of the saint in the world) found himself in Constantinople. There he met the abbot of the Kiminsky monastery, Father Michael. Abraham used every minute to converse with the abbot, listen to his instructions, and follow his teachings. His mentor was also visited by the spiritual son of Father Michael, the famous Byzantine military commander Nicephorus Phocas. Young people became friends and often spent time in conversations.
After a while, Father Michael returned to the monastery. Abraham remained in Constantinople, but soon went to a monastery, where he asked Father Michael to cut his hair as a monk. At the initiation he was given the name Athanasius.
The monastic life was to the liking of Athanasius. He prayed a lot, ate only barley bread and water, slept on a chair. He loved to rewrite books, read a lot, but did not avoid physical labor.
After 2 years, the abbot believed that Athanasius had grown sufficiently in faith to become a hermit. The place for the feat was chosen in the most uninhabited, deserted part of Mount Athos. There the saint spent a year and every day felt the desire to leave this place. On the last day of the year, he prayed, asking the Lord to show him the way. During the prayer, a miraculous phenomenon occurred: the whole area seemed to be washed with sunlight, the colors became brighter, the air more transparent. As the veil slept out of Athanasius’ eyes, he became convinced that the place he so disliked was actually beautiful.
During this time, his friend Nikephoros Phocas was making a quick career. He fought the Saracens in Crete. Athos elders decided to support Orthodox soldiers, several monks went to the troops. Among them was Athanasius.
The friends met and Nikephoros told about his dream: to arrange a monastery on Mount Athos like the Lavra. He asked a friend to be his representative on the mountain.
Soon, Nicephorus Phocas was proclaimed emperor. He allocated huge funds for the construction of a new monastery.
However, not everyone was happy with this. Wealth and life on Athos were not well combined. Too many pilgrims who are used to luxury rather than austerity, too much gold.
It started murmuring. At this time, Nikephoros died and his brother took the throne. The opponents of Athanasius hoped that he would close the Lavra, but he fully supported the abbot, the Lavra remained.
The saint felt his death, warned the brethren. But everyone thought he would die in his bed or while praying. But it was different. Together with other monks and several builders, Saint Athanasius climbed to the roof of the cathedral under construction. It collapsed. And when they came to the Lord, they all went to the Lord.
While awaiting burial, the abbot’s body did not change. Moreover, from the towels with which the blood was washed from him, many monks received healing.
The relics of the saint still rest in the Lavra, where pilgrims from all over the world strive to get.