THE PROTECTRESS OF THE HOLY MOUNTAIN

Source: 'AnAthonite Gerondikon"-—St. Athanasios of Holy Mountain is commemorated on July 5th.

Agreat while after St. Athanasios of Athos had started constructing the Great Lavra (around 961), he faced a great economic difficulty: he had neither the money to pay the craftsmen's wages, nor did he have any food. So he started out for Karyes, the Holy Mountain's capital, to find out what he ought to do.

After he had walked for two hours, suddenly there appeared before him a glorious lady, who asked him, "Abba Athanasios, where are you going? Why have you abandoned the project which you have started, a project which pleases God? Go back and finish it!"

Astonished, he looked at her with awe and asked, "Who are you? My lady, how do you know me, and how do you order me to return? With what can I continue the monastery's construction, since no means are left for it?"

Then she 'told him that she was the Mother of God. She ordered him to return, and she promised that she would take care of the money and the food supplies. The saint asked her to give him a sign in confirmation of this. "Here, hit with your staff this rock," she told him, and immediately ftesh water sprang from the rock - which to this day is still flowing.

St. Athanasios returned to his monastery where he found money, and his storage bins were full of food, even as the Iheotokos had promised. With renewed desire and zeal he continued, and soon the monastery was completed (963), and he gave thanks and glory many times to her blessed name.