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Hieromartyr3rd century

Hieromartyr Athanasios and Venerable Anthousa and those with them

3rd century

Also known as Athanasios of Tarsus · Anthousa of Seleucia · Charisimos · Neophytos

Anthousa, a woman of a wealthy pagan family, sought baptism from Bishop Athanasios and embraced ascetic life; Athanasios and others with her suffered for Christ.

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Life

This commemoration gathers a group of saints of 3rd-century Syria: the Hieromartyr Athanasios, Bishop of Tarsus in Cilicia; the Venerable Anthousa of Seleukeia; and two martyrs associated with them. They are kept together as a single commemoration on August 22.

Anthousa was born at Seleukeia in Syria to wealthy pagan parents, named in the tradition as Antoninos and Martyria (also called Maria), during the reign of Emperor Valerian (253-259). Drawn to Christ, she contrived a journey to Tarsus to reach the bishop Athanasios, who baptized her and tonsured her as a nun; she then withdrew into the desert and lived an ascetic life for twenty-three years before reposing in peace.

Athanasios himself was arrested in the persecution and, refusing to sacrifice to idols, was beheaded. His two servants, Kharisimos and Neophytos, confessed Christ before the emperor and were likewise beheaded. Anthousa is therefore venerated as a Venerable (a monastic ascetic who reposed naturally), while Athanasios, Kharisimos, and Neophytos are venerated as martyrs.

Troparion & Kontakion4 hymnsReadHide
TroparionTone 4

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.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

TroparionTone 8

(Podoben: “Come, let us worship the Word...”) With the streams of your tears, you cultivated the barrenness of the desert,
and by your sighings from the depths, your labors bore fruit a hundredfold,
and you became a luminary of the world, radiant with miracles,
O Venerable Mother Anthousa, intercede with Christ God that our souls may be saved.

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

KontakionTone 4

(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.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

KontakionTone 2

(Podoben: “You sought the heights...”) Having divinely armed yourself with purity of soul
and firmly grasping unceasing prayer as a spear, you slew the hordes of demons.
Therefore, we beseech you, O Venerable Mother Anthousa:
“Always intercede for those who honor you.”

Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).

Timeline3 momentsReadHide
  1. 253-259Reign of Emperor ValerianAnthousa lives at Seleukeia in Syria during the reign of Valerian, the period to which the tradition assigns these saints.
  2. c. 257Martyrdom of AthanasiosAthanasios, Bishop of Tarsus in Cilicia, refuses to sacrifice to idols and is beheaded; his servants Kharisimos and Neophytos confess Christ and are likewise beheaded.
  3. after baptismAnthousa's ascetic lifeBaptized and tonsured by Athanasios, Anthousa withdraws into the desert and lives as an ascetic for twenty-three years before reposing in peace.

Contributions & Legacy

3 contributionsReadHide

Anthousa of Seleukeia

According to the tradition, Anthousa was the daughter of wealthy pagan parents at Seleukeia in Syria. Desiring to see her spiritual teacher, Bishop Athanasios, who served at Tarsus in Cilicia, she persuaded her mother to travel there under the pretext of visiting her nurse.

On reaching Tarsus, Athanasios baptized Anthousa and then tonsured her as a nun. She subsequently withdrew into the desert, where she lived as an ascetic for twenty-three years and reposed in peace. Because she died a natural death rather than by martyrdom, she is commemorated as a Venerable.

Athanasios, Kharisimos, and Neophytos

Athanasios, Bishop of Tarsus in Cilicia, was arrested during the persecution and brought before the emperor. The sources place his suffering in the reign of Valerian (253-259), with an alternative dating to the reign of Aurelian (270-275); his beheading is reckoned at about the year 257. Refusing to sacrifice to idols, he was put to death by the sword.

His two servants, Kharisimos and Neophytos, courageously confessed Christ before the emperor and were also beheaded. The three are venerated as martyrs.

Commemoration

These saints are commemorated together on August 22. Churches following the Old Calendar keep their feast on September 4.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints