Cosmas of Bithynia

Holy Venerable Cosmas of Bithynia was an abbot, formerly a synkletikos, that is, a member of the imperial council, and founded the monastery of Trajan on the river Sangarius in Bithynia. The Azbyka page mentions him in the account of the Venerable Athanasius of Bithynia († 925), with whom he is honoured on 18 October.

Athanasius was born in a poor family in the theme of the Kibyrrhaiotai in Asia Minor. When he came of age, he left home, taking with him, in the Saviour's words, only one tunic. Going about the monasteries, he received instruction from spiritual men and elders. One day he met the abbot Cosmas, a former synkletikos, who had founded the monastery of Trajan on the Sangarius. The hard-⁠hearted brethren, however, forced Athanasius to leave. Seeing in him a messenger of God, Cosmas returned with him to his monastery.

Full of virtues, Athanasius by his example turned the monks to the fear of God, and soon received the great schema and was made a priest, also occupied in copying books. He fasted strictly, tasting nothing until evening, endured many temptations from demons, but by his humility was freed from the passions. He looked at no one and spoke with no one, meeting the brethren only on Saturday and Sunday. Later, having copied many books for the abbot, he lost his sight. He prayed fervently to God: "Lord, if I am worthy, grant me light as it was at the beginning, and whatever I write, by the strength given by You, shall go to feed the poor and needy". Counted worthy of healing, in twenty-⁠eight years he distributed to the poor nine hundred gold nomismata earned by his labour.

He reposed in 925, in deep old age, led by the apostles Andrew and John, which was revealed to the abbot Cosmas in a vision. During his life the Venerable Athanasius made various prophecies, which always came true, and after death he worked many miracles. His life is found in the Greek synaxaria, and the vision of the abbot Cosmas is included, on 5 October, in the Slavonic prologues. A service to them is not known; in the printed Menaia used today in Greek churches, at the sixth ode of the canon of matins, a mention of the Venerable Athanasius is found, without a synaxarion.

Saint Cosmas is commemorated on 18 October, in the new style.