In the words of Athanasius’s biographer, “Trebizonde witnessed his birth (about 920), Byzantium enabled him to grow spiritually, and Kyminas and Athos rendered him pleasing to God.” In 963, he founded the celebrated monasteries on Mount Athos that still house monastic communities—but only after he had overcome the opposition of the hermits who were there first. He died in 1004 when the cupola of his church fell in.PRAYER: Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. Athanasius. Amen.