Saint Athanasia of Aegina
FOUNDRESS OF THE MONASTERY OF TIMIE, IN GREECE (860).
Widow and Foundress
Twice widowed on the island of Aegina in the 9th century, Athanasia dedicated her life and possessions to God by founding the monastery of Timie. Renowned for her humility and devotion to the Virgin, she died on the eve of the Assumption after a heavenly vision.
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SAINT ATHANASIA, WIDOW,
FOUNDRESS OF THE MONASTERY OF TIMIE, IN GREECE (860).
Origins and education
Athanasia was born in the 9th century on the island of Aegina into a noble and pious family who provided her with a solid Christian education.
Coming from an ancient Greek family, Athan asia was Athanasie Widow and founder of monasteries in the 9th century. born at the beginning of the 9th century on the isla nd of Aegin île d'Égine Island in the Aegean Sea, birthplace and site of the saint's first foundation. a (Aegean Sea ). Nice Nicétas Patrician and prefect of Alexandria, close to the saint. tas, her father , and Irène Daughter of Saint Spyridon. Irene, her mother, were people distinguished by their quality, their wealth, and above all by their exemplary life and their good works. Their entire focus was to give their daughter a Christian education: at the age of seven, she knew by heart all the psalms and the lives of the greatest Saints. This study gave her a pronounced taste for virtue, in which she was seen to make rapid and solid progress. The exercises of piety, which were the best part of her occupations, were the preludes to the eminent holiness she later attained.
Marriages and first foundation
After two successive marriages, the second of which ended with her husband entering a monastery, she transformed her house into a religious community.
However, when she was of age, her family demanded that she take a husband, and they offered her a young officer of high birth. He soon died on a battlefield. Athanasia's father forced his daughter to enter into a second marriage: our Saint obeyed with regret; but she had cause to rejoice almost immediately: her husband, touched by grace, shut himself away in a monastery. Free once again, Athanasia no longer delayed in giving herself entirely to God. She distributed a portion of her goods to the poor, and changed her house into a monastery, where she received a great number of widows and pious maidens. A holy priest gave them a rule, a form of clothing, the religious veil, and took charge of directing them. Placed at the head of this community, our holy widow regarded her position as superior as an obligation to be more humble, more fervent, and more mortified than all her companions.
Foundation of the Monastery of Timie
Fleeing notoriety and slander, Athanasia and her companions settled in a deserted place to found the monastery of Timie.
After a four-year stay on the island of Aegina, weary of the marks of esteem, veneration, and trust lavished upon her by people of distinction, and also tired of the insults and slander of the wicked, she inspired in her companions the desire to withdraw into solitude. They chose for themselves a deserted place, which a holy priest procured for them, and there they raised a monastery, which took the name of Timie and became one of the most flourishing. The reputa tion of A Athanasie Widow and founder of monasteries in the 9th century. thanasia attracted from all parts, into this pious enclosure, a crowd of souls desirous of attaining perfection.
Asceticism and Marian devotion
The saint ended her life in increased austerity, marked by a deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Towards the end of her life, she redoubled her austerities, and her prayer became continuous; her tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin was more ardent than ever; almost all her conversations with her daughters had as their object her life and her imitation, and her great desire was to die on the eve of her feasts. She obtained what she desired.
Passing and Posterity
Athanasia died around 860, on the eve of the Assumption, after a heavenly vision and twelve days of contemplation.
On August 3rd, having fallen ill, she had a vision which announced her approaching end. She saw two men dressed in white coming toward her, who placed these words in her hand: 'Here is the recall of your exile; rejoice.' Hoping to die on the eve of the Assu mption, sh Assomption Principal feast of the sanctuary celebrated on August 15. e spent the following twelve days in continuous contemplation, and without any food. On the twelfth day, she called her sisters, who came to surround her, bursting into tears. 'I am leaving you, my dear daughters,' she said to them; 'but let us hope that the God of mercy will reunite us all one day in heaven, our true homeland. Live in charity.' She fell silent, closed her eyes, and gently rendered her soul to God, on the eve of the Assumption, around the year 860. Her miracles, before and after her death, made her memory very famous in the Church.
La vie d'une Sainte pour chaque jour, by M. le curé de Vitel M. le curé de Vitel Author of the biographical source. .
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Born on the island of Aegina in the early 9th century
- First marriage to an officer who died in combat
- Second forced marriage, followed by husband's entry into a monastery
- Transformation of her house into a monastery
- Retreat in the solitude of Timie
- Vision of two men in white announcing her end
- Died after twelve days of fasting and contemplation
Miracles
- Vision of two men dressed in white announcing her recall from exile
- Unspecified miracles before and after her death
Quotes
-
Here is the reminder of your exile; rejoice
Heavenly vision reported in the text -
I am leaving you, my dear daughters; but let us hope that the God of mercy will reunite us all one day in heaven, our true homeland. Live in charity.
Last words to the sisters