Afanasiy the Confessor
February 22/March 7
Saint Afanasiy the Confessor was born in Constantinople to wealthy and pious parents. From his childhood, he dreamed of dedicating himself entirely to God, and upon reaching full age, he withdrew to one of the Nicomedia monasteries, known as Pavlopetria (that is, in the name of the holy apostles Peter and Paul), where he took monastic vows. His high ascetic life became known at the emperor's court. During the reign of the iconoclast Leo the Armenian (813 - 820), Saint Afanasiy was subjected to torture for venerating icons, underwent exile, sorrows, and sufferings. Confessing the Orthodox faith until the end of his life, Saint Afanasiy peacefully passed away in 821.