Hieromartyr 3rd 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.

Feast Day

August 22

Draft

Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.

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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.

Timeline 3 moments Read Hide

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

Contributions & Legacy

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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.

Notes

Named group kept as one row.

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