Lazarus studied and became a monk at the monastery of Saint Aaron, in the vicinity of Callisura, a town near Melitene.[4] Lazarus' sobriquet "Salhoyo" is interpreted by Aphrem Barsoum to reflect his origins in the town of Ṣalāḥiyya, east of Yarpuz, as opposed to the village of Ṣalaḥ in Tur Abdin.[5] He was chosen to succeed John VII Sarigta as patriarch of Antioch and was consecrated on 21 October 986/987 (AG 1298) by Lazarus, archbishop of Anazarbus, at the village of Qattina in the province of Homs, upon which he assumed the name Athanasius.[nb 2][8]
The monastery of Barid, the residence of Athanasius' predecessor John and located near Melitene, was renovated by Athanasius and became the latter's residence also.[9] According to the histories of Michael the Syrian and Bar Hebraeus, Athanasius was praised for his piety by Agapius II, the Chalcedonian (later termed Greek Orthodox) Patriarch of Antioch, in spite of their religious differences, who subsequently put an end to the persecution of non-Chalcedonians.[8][10] The monk Gabriel is attested as syncellus (secretary) to Athanasius from 994 to 999.[11] He served as patriarch of Antioch until his death in 1002/1003 (AG 1314) at the monastery of Saint Barsoum, where he was buried in the sacristy.[12] As patriarch, Athanasius ordained thirty-nine bishops, as per Michael the Syrian's Chronicle,[12] whereas Bar Hebraeus in his Ecclesiastical History credits Athanasius with the ordination of thirty-eight bishops.[10]
Works
In 1000, Athanasius compiled lectionaries from both the Old and New Testaments that were then recorded by his pupil the monk Romanus (Brit. Mus. MS. 258).[13]
Episcopal succession
As patriarch, Athanasius ordained the following bishops:[12]
