Św. Antoni Supraski

Abstract

St. Anthony was Ruthenian and received at baptism the name of Onuphry. His relationship with the first abbot of the monastery of Suprasl Pafnucy Siehen and family Siehen suggest that he came from Bielsk. Life of a martyr from the text that is not always Onuphry lived piously. Onuphry wanted to do penance. He decided to go to the Father Pafnucy, who was abbot of the monastery of Suprasl. The young man was admitted to the monastery of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary after 1508. After a few years in the monastery Onuphry went to Turkey to die there for Christ. Balkan countries were occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Onuphry asked abbot Pafnucy to travel to St. Mount Athos. Pafnucy ordained Onuphry in schima, gave him the new name Anthony. Anthony, after receiving schimy and blessings from Pafnucy, went to St. Mount Athos. There lived in the tower of St. Sava Serbian. Monk Anthony lived at the tower of St. Sava a few years. There he reached information about the martyrdom of George of Kratovo. Monk Anthony, upon hearing of the martyrdom of the young George, martyred by the Turks, decided to follow in his footsteps. To this end, the monk left St. Mount Athos and went to Thessaloniki. Upon arrival at Thessaloniki monk Anthony came to the church of the Theotokos Acheiropoietos, converted into a mosque. Antoni began to pray, made the sign of the cross and stood on his knees. This attitude of the Muslims monk found it insulting their religion, captured and subjected to torture Anthony. Kadis wanted Anthony to renounce the Christian faith. Anthony did not agree to it. Turkish judge ordered Suprasl monk burned and the ashes be scattered in the air. In this way, the Turks wanted to avoid a situation in which the body of Anthony could become an object of worship among Christians. The exact date of the martyrdom of Saint Anthony can be determined on the basis of the indirect data. Appointment of Anthony’s date of death of the Julian calendar at 4 (14) February 1516 r. Day 4 February according to the Julian calendar currently corresponds to the date of February 17, according to the Gregorian calendar. February 17 was adopted as a day of remembrance of St. Anthony in the Orthodox Church.