Venerable (Monastic) 5th century

Venerable Andronicus and his wife Athanasia of Egypt

5th century

Also known as Andronikos · Athanasia

A married couple who gave to the poor and entered monastic life after the deaths of their children; Athanasia lived disguised as a male monk, and they were reunited only near death.

Feast Day

October 9

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Fathers Andronicus and his wife Athanasia

Come to them for

Marriage

Life

Andronicus and Athanasia were a married couple of the fifth century whose shared pursuit of holiness carried them from a prosperous life of charity into the monasticism of the Egyptian desert. Andronicus worked as a goldsmith (silversmith) in Antioch during the reign of the emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), and both husband and wife were known for their devotion and their disciplined almsgiving.

After the death of their two children, the couple renounced the world and entered monastic life in Egypt separately. By the most widely related tradition, Athanasia later lived disguised as a male monk, and the two were reunited only in their final years without at first recognizing one another, her true identity becoming known only after her repose. They are commemorated together on October 9.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide

4th-5th century Life in Antioch Andronicus worked as a goldsmith in Antioch during the reign of Theodosius the Great (379-395). He and his wife Athanasia were noted for their devotion and divided their earnings into three parts: a third to the poor, a third to the Church, and a third kept for their own needs.
5th century Death of their children The couple had two children. According to the tradition, both children died on the same day. Athanasia grieved deeply until, by tradition, the martyr Julian appeared to her at the grave with the assurance that the children were in the Kingdom of God.
5th century Departure for Egypt After the loss of their children, Andronicus and Athanasia left everything behind and traveled to Egypt to take up the monastic life, seeking out the elder Daniel of Scetis.
5th century Separate monastic vocations Andronicus received the monastic habit under the elder Daniel at Scetis, while Athanasia entered a women's monastery (associated in the sources with Tabennisi). By tradition Athanasia afterward took up the solitary life dressed in the habit of a man.
5th century Repose After many years of ascetic life, Athanasia reposed first; Andronicus reposed a short time afterward, and he was buried near her. They are commemorated on October 9.

Contributions & Legacy

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Life in Antioch

Andronicus is remembered as a goldsmith, or silversmith, who lived and worked in Antioch in the time of the emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395). One account holds that he was an Alexandrian by origin. Both he and his wife Athanasia were devout and gave themselves to a life of charity.

The couple ordered their finances around their faith, dividing what they earned into three parts: one part given to the poor, one part given to the Church, and the remaining part reserved for their own household needs. After the birth of their two children, tradition records that they resolved to live thereafter as brother and sister.

Loss and Renunciation

The couple had two children. According to the tradition, both children died on the same day, plunging Athanasia into deep grief. The synaxarion relates that the martyr Julian appeared to her at the grave and comforted her with the news that the children were in the Kingdom of God.

Following this loss, and, in one account, a vision in church, the couple resolved to renounce the world entirely. Tradition relates that they left the door of their house open as an act of charity. They then traveled to Egypt to take up the monastic life.

Monastic Life in Egypt

In Egypt the couple sought out the renowned elder Daniel of Scetis. Andronicus received the monastic habit under Daniel at Scetis, while Athanasia entered the monastic life apart from him, the sources associating her with a women's monastery at Tabennisi.

The most widely related tradition holds that Athanasia afterward took up the ascetic life dressed in the habit of a man, living as the monk "Athanasius." By this account, after about twelve years, Andronicus encountered the beardless monk "Athanasius" while on his way to pray at the holy places in Jerusalem; the two grew close and eventually settled together in adjacent cells, living in silence without Andronicus recognizing his wife.

Repose

According to the tradition, Athanasia's identity became known only after her death, when a hidden writing revealed that the monk "Athanasius" had in fact been Athanasia, the wife of Andronicus.

Athanasia reposed first, and Andronicus reposed a short time afterward, the sources placing his death about eight days after hers; he was buried near her. They are commemorated together on October 9, and their veneration is shared across the Byzantine and other ancient Christian traditions.

Notes

Named married pair kept as one row.

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