Hieromartyr Athanasios, Venerable Anthousa, and others

Commemorated on August 22.

Saint Anthousa lived during the reign of Emperor Valerian (253-259) 1 and was from Seleukeίa in Syria. She was the daughter of wealthy pagan parents, Antoninos and Martyria (Maria). Desiring to see her teacher Bishop Athanasios at Tarsus in Cilicia, she persuaded her mother to let her go there with two servants, Kharisimos and Neophytos, under the pretext of visiting her nurse. When she found Bishop Athanasios, he baptized her, then tonsured her as a nun. She withdrew into the desert and after living there for 23 years as an ascetic, she reposed in peace.

Saint Athanasios was brought before Valerian, and since he would not agree to sacrifice to idols, he was beheaded with a sword. Anthousa's servants, Kharisimos and Neophytos, who had been baptized with Saint Anthousa, courageously confessed Christ before the Emperor and were beheaded as well.

1 Some sources say that these Saints died during the reign of Emperor Aurelian (270-275).

Troparion

HIEROMARTYR ATHANASIOS
By sharing in the ways of the Apostles,
you became a successor to their throne.
Through the practice of virtue, you found the way to divine contemplation, O divinely-inspired one; by rightly dividing the word of truth without error, you defended the Faith,
even to the shedding of your blood.
O Hieromartyr Athanasios, entreat Christ God to save our souls.

Kontakion

HIEROMARTYR ATHANASIOS
(Podoben: “You were lifted up...”)
As one who lived piously among Hierarchs and who underwent martyrdom, O divinely-wise one,
you abolished the sacrifices of idolatry and showed yourself to be a protector of your flock.
Therefore, we cry fervently to you:
“By your intercessions, deliver us from all misfortunes,
O Athanasios, our Father.”