The Monk Athanasii (or Afanasii), Hermit of Pechersk in the Nearer Caves
Commemorated on December 2, September 28 and on the 2nd Sunday of the Great Lent
The Monk Athanasii (or Afanasii),
Hermit of Pechersk in the Nearer Caves, was a contemporary of the
Kievo-Pechersk monastery archimandrite, the Monk Polikarp (+ 1182, Comm. 24
July).
The Monk Athanasii for a long time
was grievously ill. When he died, the brethren prepared him for burial. And on
the third day the hegumen came to bury him. But they all beheld, that the dead
one was alive, – he sat there and wept. To all their questions he replied only
thus: "Seek salvation, in everything have obedience to the hegumen, repent
each hour and pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, to His All-Pure Mother and to the
Monks Antonii and Theodosii, so as to end good the life here. Ask ye no
more".
After this he lived for 12 years
more in solitude in a cave and in all this time he spoke not a word to anyone,
he wept day and night, and only every other day did he partake of a little bread
and water. Only just before his death, having assembled the brethren, did he
repeat his earlier spoken words to them, and then he peacefully expired to the
Lord (in about the year 1176).
The monk Vavilii, many a year having
suffered illness and a weakness of the legs, was healed at his relics.
"One time I did lay there, – he related to the brethren, – and I cried
out from sharp pain. Suddenly to me there came Blessed Athanasii and said: come
to me, and I shalt heal thee. I wanted to ask him, how and when he had come
here. But he became invisible. I however was convinced of his appearance and
besought, that I should be taken to his relics. And indeed, I have been
healed".
The Monk Athanasii was buried in the
Antoniev Cave. His memory is celebrated also on 28 September and on the 2nd
Sunday of Great Lent.
© 1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos.