Athanasius

Holy Great Martyr Athanasius was a Roman saint of the 3rd and 4th centuries, a friend of the holy martyrs Sergius and Bacchus (commemorated 7 October). In the time of the persecuting emperor Maximian he was appointed eparch and sent to Egypt, where he was soon brought to trial for confessing the Orthodox faith, in the hope that he would "come to his senses". The governor sent him to Klysma, on the Red Sea, with the order to close the Christian churches. Arriving at his post, Athanasius celebrated in church with great joy the feast of the Nativity of Christ. When the governor learned of it, he tried long to turn him from Christ, but, seeing the saint's steadfastness, he ordered his head cut off.

The Church of Georgia commemorates him on 18 July (old style; 31 July new style).