St. Athanasius Monastery

According to tradition, it is considered the oldest active monastery in Europe. It was founded in 344 by St. Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria.

Saint Athanasius was born in 295 or 296 in Alexandria, Egypt, in a family of Christians. Excellently educated, he devoted himself to the study of the Holy Scriptures. Because of the virtues he mastered as a young man, he was accepted into the household of Alexander, Archbishop of Alexandria, as a spiritual son and secretary. In 319 he was ordained a deacon. Meanwhile, in Alexandria, the local priest Arius (280-336) gave rise to one of the most dangerous heresies in Early Christianity, disputing the nature of the Son. In the fight against this heresy, several local councils were organized, leading to the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325. St. Athanasius attended it together with Archbishop Alexander and took an active part in the overthrow of the Arians and the perception of the Nicene Creed.

After the death of Archbishop Alexander, St. Athanasius was ordained Archbishop of Alexandria in 326.

Despite the opposition, Arianism gained territories and minds, including some of the Byzantine emperors. Another council was organized – in Serdica (now Sofia) in 343, where the debates continued. Part of the Eastern Fathers, followers of Arius, left the council and organized a counter-council in Philippopolis (today Plovdiv). St. Athanasius inspiredly defends the Nicene Creed. In 344, after the end of the council in Serdica, St. Athanasius, at that time sent into exile by the followers of Arius, traveled through today’s Bulgarian lands. Studies of his life suggest that he stayed for a while near Beroe, today’s Stara Zagora. Then he founded the monastery that bears his name.

In the East the power of the Arian heresy was strong and St. Athanasius was condemned and sent into exile several times. He died in 373 in Alexandria.  He has left a rich written legacy. His outstanding contribution to Early Christian theology earned him the designation of Father of Orthodoxy. Besides other merits, St. Athanasius brought and spread monasticism from Egypt to Europe. Although his mother tongue was Greek, he also preached in Coptic. Because of his exploits, he was called the Great.

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