Euthymius and Neophytus

The venerable Fathers Euthymius and Neophytus, the founders of Docheiariou Monastery on the Holy Mountain, were uncle and nephew and belonged to the highest Roman aristocracy. Euthymius was from Constantinople and, while still in the world, was a friend of Saint Athanasius the Athonite; later he became a novice and disciple of the great ascetic. For his sincere love of the brethren, gentleness and zeal in the ascetic life, Athanasius gave him the obedience of cellarer, the keeper of the storehouse, which Euthymius fulfilled as though entrusted to him by God.

Euthymius settled with a few monks in the place called Daphne and built there a monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas. It received the name Docheiariou, in memory of his obedience (docheiares means cellarer). The peace of their struggle was disturbed by a raid of the Saracens: Euthymius led his brethren into the forest, and on their return they found the monastery razed to its foundations. He did not lose heart, and the monastery was rebuilt in a safer place, north-⁠west of Daphne, again in honour of Saint Nicholas.

Saint Neophytus, in the world Nicholas, was a patrician and secretary of the Emperor Nicephorus Phocas (963-969). After the death of his parents he came to Athos, gave away his wealth and was tonsured with the name Neophytus in his uncle's monastery. Before his death Euthymius handed the leadership of the monastery to him and withdrew to quiet and solitude, where he fell asleep in peace at over a hundred years old. Under Neophytus' guidance and at his expense the small monastery grew a great deal; at his request the Emperor Nicephorus supported it. Neophytus was chosen protos, the head of the Council of Elders of the Holy Mountain, and laboured in that office for many years. Towards the end of his life he returned to Docheiariou and fell asleep in the Lord. Because of the visions and miracles of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, the dedication of the monastery was changed from Saint Nicholas to the Holy Archangels. The two are remembered on 9 November.