Hierarch 18th century

Saint Athanasius the New Archbishop of Christianoupolis

c. 1640 – 1707

Also known as Athanasios of Christianoupolis · Anastasios Korfinos

Archbishop of Christianoupolis in the Peloponnese (b. ~1640, d. ~1707), remembered for holiness and pastoral care under Ottoman rule.

Feast Day

May 17

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Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints Athanasius the New, Wonderworker and Archbishop of Christianoupolis

Life

Athanasius the New was a hierarch of the Peloponnese who served as Archbishop (Metropolitan) of Christianoupolis during the period of Ottoman rule. He is venerated as a wonderworker and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on May 17. He is distinguished by the epithet 'the New' from earlier saints of the same name.

By tradition he was born around 1640 in Karytaina, in the region of Gortynia in the southern Peloponnese, and bore the secular name Anastasios Korfinos. Sources name his parents as Andreas and Euphrosyne and relate that he had several siblings. He was educated in his hometown and at the school of the Philosophou Monastery, and is said to have continued his studies later in Constantinople.

Although his parents pressed him toward marriage, the saint sought the monastic life. According to the hagiographical account he set aside his wedding arrangements, traveled to Constantinople, was tonsured a monk with the name Athanasios, and was ordained deacon and priest. He was raised to the episcopate as Metropolitan of Christianoupolis and Exarch of Arcadia around 1680 or 1681, succeeding the Metropolitan Eugenios.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

c. 1640 Born in Karytaina Born in Karytaina of Gortynia in the Peloponnese with the secular name Anastasios Korfinos.
c. 1680–1681 Made Metropolitan of Christianoupolis Ordained Metropolitan of Christianoupolis and Exarch of Arcadia, succeeding Eugenios.
1707 Repose Died after a brief illness and was buried in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Christianoupolis.
1710–1713 Relics exhumed His relics were exhumed and found largely incorrupt and fragrant.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Episcopal Ministry under Ottoman Rule

As bishop, Athanasius governed his metropolis during the hardships of the Ottoman occupation of the Peloponnese. The sources remember him as a shepherd attentive both to the worship of the Church and to the material sufferings of his people. He arranged for the repair and maintenance of churches and supported the monasteries of his region, which served as centers of education and charity.

He is credited with establishing schools for the training of priests and with waiving the customary episcopal fees, easing the burden on his flock. His charitable care extended to orphans, widows, the needy, the elderly, and the persecuted and aggrieved. He himself is described as living an ascetic life of fasting, vigil, and prayer.

Repose and Relics

Athanasius died after a brief illness; the date is generally given as 1707 (with some sources noting 1707-1708), and by one account he reposed on a Sunday after the Divine Liturgy on November 9, 1707. He was buried in the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Christianoupolis.

Between 1710 and 1713 his relics were exhumed and reported to be largely incorrupt and fragrant, which contributed to his veneration as a wonderworker. Portions of his relics are kept in the Holy Monastery of the Holy Forerunner (Prodromos) of Gortynia.

Notes

Distinct from Athanasius of Lubensk (Patellarios, May 2) and Athanasius of Thessaloniki.

Sources: GOARCH calendar; OCA / J. Sanidopoulos cross-check