Athanasius Parios

Our venerable and God-bearing Father Athanasius Parios, known as "Master of the Greek Nation," was a hieromonk who was a great and eminent theologian, philosopher, educator, and hymnographer of his time. He was the second leader of the Kollyvades movement, succeeding Neophytos Kausokalyvites (1713-1784). He also authored the lives of various saints. Athanasius was born around in Kostos, a small village of Paros, in the year 1721/22 and died in Chios in 1813. He is commemorated by the Church on June 24.
==History==
*On the island of Paros he received instruction in the "common letters." Desiring higher education, he left his parents and his native place and went to Smyrna, to study at the splendid Greek school of that city. The school was founded in 1717, and was later named the Evangeliki School, and became famous. He resided in Smyrna for six years, diligently applying himself to all the subjects that were taught there.
*1752 - Went to Mount Athos and enrolled in the Athonite School, where he studied under Neophytos Kausokalyvites and Eugenios Voulgaris. He later studied at Corfu under Nikephoros Theotokis.
*1767-1770 - Taught at Thessaloniki, after which he returned to the Athonite School to become director. 
*1776 - Condmened as a heretic, defrocked, and excommunicated by Patriarch Sophronios II and the Holy Synod of Constantinople
*1781 - Successfully defended himself before Patriarch Gabriel IV and the Holy Synod, and restored to communion and the priesthood
*1788-1811 - Principle of the School in Chios.
*At the age of 90, he withdrew to the cell of St. George the Refston and died there on June 24, 1813.
==Bibliography==
*1785 - Antipapas, analyses the work of Mark the Eugenic
*1797 - Paternal Teaching, written by Anthanasius but published under the name of Patriarch Anthimos of Jerusalem
*1798 - Christian Apologys
*1787 - Rhetoric Pragmatics and Metaphysics
*1802 - A Response to the Irrational Zeal of the Philosophers Coming from Europe
*1806 - Epitome, a theology textbook, which was a collaboration with Makarios of Corinth.
==Relationships==
*Athanasius (d. September 8, 1774). Athanasius was from the village of Koliakia, near Thessaloniki, and was provided a good education, studying under Athanasius Parios in Thessaloniki. He later went to Mount Athos to the Monastery of Vatopedi where he became a monk. Athanasius later was martyred for Christ, not willing to convert to the Islamic faith. He was hanged and buried near the Church of St. Paraskeve.
*Minas Minoidis (d. France). Minas was a student of Athanasios Parios. He taught rhetoric and philosophy in Serres and Thessaloniki; he also taught ancient Greek and literature in Paris. He was an interpreter at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Minas was militantly opposed to Korais' ideas on language, his most severe and unfair critic. He was a fervent supporter of the fight for Greek independence. He discovered the verse "Myths of Vavrios" in a Mount Athos manuscript.Greek-Macedonian Scholars (15th-19th century)
*Ierotheos Dendrinos and Christodoulos, Doctor of Philosophy.
*St. Nikephoros of Chios (May 1), was sent to the city of Chios to be educated in its schools by Gabriel Astrakaris. Nikephoros remained close to this priest throughout the period of his education, where he developed a love for learning, and a respect for those who taught others. He also met St. Athanasius Parios, who was the director of the school in the city of Chios.
==References==
==External link==
*St Athanasius Parios (OCA)
==Further reading==
*Saint Athanasios Parios (Modern Orthodox Saints, vol. 15) by Constantine Cavarnos. ISBN 1-884729-78-9
:St. Athanasios of Paros, together with St. Macarios of Corinth and St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite were the three great spiritual leaders of the 18th century in Greece and leaders of the "Kollyvades Movement." The is the first English-language life of St. Athanasios, theologian, hymnographer, writer of lives of saints and philosopher. Also contains reviews and selected passages from his writings, and a brief account of the life of St. Macarios of Corinth. 170pp.
Category:Greek Saints
Category:Modern Saints
Category:Saints
el:Αθανάσιος ο Πάριος