Six Disciples of Athanasius the Athonite

The Six Disciples of Athanasius the Athonite were virtuous monks, from different places, who died with their father about 1001-1004 in the church of the Great Lavra on Mount Athos, when the dome under construction fell. They are commemorated on 5 July (new style).

The disciples had gone up with Saint Athanasius to watch the building of the church, and the fallen dome covered them all. The saint had foreseen his end and prepared for it. His disciples, monks living in good works, were counted worthy to repose in the Lord together with their father, in the very church of the daily prayers. The Great Lavra, founded by Athanasius in 963, remained the first and most important monastery of Athos.