Athanasius III of Constantinople

Athanasius III of Constantinople
Saint, Enlightener
Born	1597 Retimon, Crete
Died	5 (15) April 1654 Mhar Monastery
Venerated in	Russian Orthodox Church
Canonized	1670s
Major shrine	relics at the Annunciation Cathedral, Kharkov
Feast	Synaxis of Athonite Venerables: 2 (15) May
Patronage	Dubna, Kharkov

Athanasius III Patellarios (to the world Alexios Patellarios, Greek: Αλέξιος Πατελλάριος, Russian: Алексий Пателла́рий; 1597 – 5 April 1654) was the Patriarch of Constantinople in 1634, 1635 and 1652. Before his patriarchate Athanasius was metropolitan of Thessaloniki. He participated at Patriarch Nikon's book editing reforms in 1653.

Athanasius was canonized as an Enlightener into the Synaxis of Athonite Venerables by the Russian Church in the 1670s. His feast date is on 2 (15) May, on the 2nd Week after Pentecost, canonized alongside Athanasius the Great.

Alexios was born to a noble family with roots dating back to the Paleologos Dynasty. His father Georgios was a scientist and publisher, and his elder brother Eustaphios was a physician. For 26 years he lived in Crete in the Arkadi Monastery, which was then under Venetian rule, and received there his education. Alexios knew well philosophy, Ancient Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arab and Italian language.

In 1631 Alexios was consecrated as metropolitan of Thessaloniki; he was under patronage of Patriarch Cyril Lucaris. In early 1634, a third opposition against Lucaris regarding the publication of Eastern Confession of the Christian faith on March 1629 was formed in Fanari, as the document had Calvinist theological lines. In February 1634, Athanasius became Patriarch of Constantinople and was enthroned on 25 March.

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