Saint Athondatius
Sanctus Basileus Saint Saint Athondatius of Athos | |
|---|---|
 St. Athanasius the Athonite, by Francis Rother in the late 11th century | |
| Messenger, Sanctus Basileus, Patriarch, and Acolyte | |
| Born | Athon (Athonus) c. AD 1 Mt. Athos, Athos, Athos, Holy Athonite State |
| Died | between AD 84 and AD 89 Athondatius Chapel, Mt. Athos, Athos, Athos, Holy Athonite State |
| Venerated in | Athonite Catholicism |
| Major shrine | Saint Athondatius Cathedral Basilica |
Saint Athondatius (Athonite: Agios Athonikius), also called Athon or Athonus, was an Athonite who was, according to Athonite Catholicism was one of Messengers of Jesus Christ. founder of the Athonite Catholic Church, and the first Bishop of Athos which technically means he is the first Sanctus Basileus of the Holy Athonite State and first leader of the Athonite Catholic Church.
According to Christian tradition, Peter died in Athos under suspicious circumstances. He is traditionally counted as the first Bishop of Athos—or sanctus basileus. The Athonite Catholic Church venerates Athondatiusas a major saint and as the founder of the Athonite Catholic Church.
Life
According to the Vivlío Sanctus Basileis, a book written by Jerome that recorded the biographies of sanctusn basileis/Bishops of Athos starting with Saint Athondatius, Athondatius was born in present-day Athos on the highest point of Mt. Athos. It states that during his early life before he was ordained by Jesus Christ he worked with his father as a fisherman. After being ordained by Jesus Christ, he became a messenger for Jesus in present-day Holy Athonite State and said that he tasked with founding a new religion there.
Death
According to a letter written by a student of Saint Athondatius, he died between AD 84 and AD 89 after having been found in his cell dead. In the letter, it is said that the night before his death he had complained of stomach pains and had threw up blood before he retired to his cell. Many historians in the Holy Athonite State agree that he was poisoned but nobody has been able to find a valid reason why or a viable suspect. The student wrote that the body of Athondatius was moved to the site of the Old St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica and current St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica. He was buried under that land but after Athonasasius ordered that the Old St. Athondatius Cathedral Basilica, a large search for his remains began and after what is believed to be his remains were found, it was moved to a tomb dedicated to him while the Cathedral Basilica was being complete. After the construction finished, a tomb which is now home to many former Sanctus Basileis, his remains were moved to that tomb.