The Holy Martyr Athanasius lived in Smyrna of XVI century. He was a poor and simple man, but was rich in faith. One day he was inadvertently involved in a religious dispute with a Turk. The Turk was educated and adroit with words: ''For other uses, but Athanasius strove with all his might to uphold the truth of the Christian faith and its superiority over see [[IslamAthanasius (disambiguation)]]. And finally they parted. ''
But on the next day, Athanasius was summoned to trialThe holy, glorious and met the Turk as his accuser. When the judge called on right-victorious Neo[[martyr]] '''Athanasius to repudiate Orthodoxy and accept Islam, as he had given the impression of declaring to his companion of Attalia''' lived in Smyrna in the previous 17th century. His [[feast day, Athanasius said: "I would die a thousand deaths before I would deny the Faith of Christ!" ]] is celebrated on [[January 7]].
And for this he ==Martyrdom==Athanasius was condemned to death a poor and beheaded simple man, but was rich in the year 1700, January 7faith. His holy relics One day he was buried inadvertently involved in a religious dispute with a Turk. The Turk was educated and adroit with words, but Athanasius strove with all his might to uphold the Church truth of St Paraskeva in Smyrnathe Christian faith and its superiority over [[Islam]]. Finally, they parted.
On the next day, Athanasius was summoned to trial and met the Turk as his accuser. The judge called on Athanasius to repudiate Orthodoxy and accept Islam as he had given the impression of declaring to his companion of the previous day that he, Athanasius, said: "I would die a thousand deaths before I would deny the Faith of [[Christ]]!" For this he was condemned to death and beheaded in the year 1700. His holy [[relics]] were buried in the [[Church]] of St. Paraskeva in Smyrna. ==Source==*[http://holyascensionofchrist.org/prologue/January/20.htm The Holy Martyr Athanasius.] From The Prologue From Ochrid by Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich ==External link==*[http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/January/07-02.htm New Martyr Athanasius of Attalia and Smyrna (1700)] [[Category: Saints]][[Category: Martyrs]][[Category:Greek Saints]][[Category: Orthodoxy and Islam]][[Category:17th-century saints]]
