Athanasius of Radonezh

Holy Venerable Athanasius of Radonezh is one of the disciples of Saint Sergius of Radonezh who bore the name Athanasius. He is commemorated in the Synaxis of the Saints of Radonezh, which is kept on 6 July by the old calendar.

The menologion of Dimitry Sambikin points out that Saint Sergius had several disciples named Athanasius: the igumen Athanasius the Elder and Athanasius the Younger of Vysotsk (Serpukhov), Athanasius of Cherepovets and, finally, Athanasius "Iron Staff". Of the last the Book of the Saints says: "Venerable Athanasius the hermit, called Iron Staff, disciple of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, reposed in the year 6896 (1388)". He is thought to have struggled at Ustyuzhna, in the Resurrection monastery. It is not known which of them is the one called "of Radonezh", and nothing else of his life has been preserved.