Today is the feast day of St. Athanasius of Mt. Athos! 🙂 http://orthochristian.com/113913.html

I met this Abbot during my pilgrimage to Mt. Athos some 19 years ago now, and he was younger and more energetic, but I could tell then that he was a genuine man. A very down to earth and hands on sort of fellow. This short and simple interview only confirms my impression. ˆˆ

The repose day of Elder Dionysius (Ignat), the spiritual father and co-founder/reviver of the Kellion of St. George belonging to the Skete of Kolitsou on Mt. Athos. He died back in 2004. May we have his prayers! Also – if anyone is interested here are some fairly recent memories of a visitor to the Kellia where Elder Dionysius lived. The skete of Kolitsou is also called Colciu: The Kelli of Saint George at the Vatopaidan Skete of Colciu – 1 The Kelli of Saint George at the Vatopaidan Skete of Colciu – 2

Today is the commemoration day of St. Akakios of the Skete of Kavsokalyvia on Mt. Athos. Back when I visited Mt. Athos right around this time of the year there were some monasteries and sketes I visited, and one of them was Kavsokalyvia. While there I was able to visit the cave wherein St. Akakios of Kavsokalyvia labored. Since then I have found myself often remembering the Skete and the Main Church of Kavsokalyvia – a temple that felt really saturated with prayer, ascetic struggle and the living presence of God’s grace and His saints … and praying to St. Akakios as well. https://full-of-grace-and-truth.blogspot.com/2010/04/st-akakios-righteous-younger-of.html

The one in whose honor I received my name when I gave my life vows – he reposed in the Lord on Feb 15/28 in 1984. I had the blessing to visit his kellia where he lived in the skete of Karoulia on Mount Athos back in 1999.