Barsanuphius of Zographou

Holy Venerable Martyr Barsanuphius of Zographou on Mount Athos is numbered among the venerable martyrs of Zographou. In 1274 the emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos entered into union with Rome, but most Athonite monasteries refused to betray Orthodoxy and rebuked those who did. For this the Holy Mountain was attacked by Latin troops and mercenaries, who killed many monks. The Zographou monastery, inhabited by Bulgarians, was especially vulnerable, since the emperor did not wish to estrange the Greeks and preferred to vent his anger on monasteries of other peoples.

Learning wonderfully that soldiers were approaching the monastery, the abbot Thomas warned the brethren that those who wished to survive should flee, and those who desired martyrdom should stay. Twenty-⁠six remained: the abbot Thomas, the monks Barsanuphius, Cyril, Micah, Simon, Hilarion, Jacob, another Jacob, Job, Cyprian, Sabbas, Martinian, Cosmas, Sergius, Menas, Joasaph, Joannicius, Paul, Anthony, Euthymius, Dometian and Parthenius, and four lay workers whose names are not known. They shut themselves in the monastery tower. On arrival the Latins set the tower on fire. While it burned, the martyrs of Christ sang psalms and the akathist to the Mother of God, and so gave their souls to God on 10 October, between 1274 and 1284.

Saint Barsanuphius is commemorated on 4 July (a movable date) in the Synaxis of the Athonite Venerable Fathers, in the new style.