Euthymius the Athonite ( ka, ექვთიმე ათონელი ''Ekvtime Atoneli''; 955–1024) was a Georgian monk,

philosopher Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

and scholar, who is venerated as a

saint In Christianity, Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of sanctification in Christianity, holiness, imitation of God, likeness, or closeness to God in Christianity, God. However, the use of the ...

. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is

May 13 Events Pre-1600 * 1344 – A Latin Christian fleet defeats a Turkish fleet in the battle of Pallene during the Smyrniote crusades. *1373 – Julian of Norwich has visions of Jesus while suffering from a life-threatening illness, v ...

. Euthymius was a Georgian, the ethnonym used by the Byzantines as ''Iberian'', that came from the

Kingdom of the Iberians The Kingdom of the Iberians ( ka, ქართველთა სამეფო, tr) was a medieval Georgia (country), Georgian monarchy under the Bagrationi dynasty which emerged circa 888 Anno Domini, AD, succeeding the Principality of Iberi ...

. The son of John the Iberian and nephew of the Tornike Eristavi, Euthymius was taken as a political hostage to

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

but was later released and became a monk joining the

Great Lavra The Monastery of Great Lavra () is the first monastery built on Mount Athos, on the Athos peninsula in geographical Macedonia, northeastern Greece. It is located on the southeastern foot of the Mount at an elevation of . The founding of the ...

of Athanasios on

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; ) is a mountain on the Athos peninsula in northeastern Greece directly on the Aegean Sea. It is an important center of Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox monasticism. The mountain and most of the Athos peninsula are governed ...

. He subsequently became the leader of the Georgian

Iviron monastery The Monastery of Iviron ( ka, ათონის ივერთა მონასტერი , tr; ) is an Eastern Orthodox monastery in the monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, ...

, which had been founded by his father, and emerged as one of the finest

Eastern Christian Eastern Christianity comprises Christianity, Christian traditions and Christian denomination, church families that originally developed during Classical antiquity, classical and late antiquity in the Eastern Mediterranean region or locations fu ...

theologians Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

and scholars of his age. Euthymius labored as abbot of the Iviron Monastery on Mt. Athos for fourteen years before stepping aside to concentrate on his translations."St. Euthymius of Athos the translator", Orthodox Church in America
/ref> Fluent in Georgian,

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

and other languages, he translated many religious treatises and philosophical works. Among his major works was the translation of ''sibrdzne balavarisa'' (Wisdom of Balahvari), which some believe to be a Christianized version of episodes from the life of

Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...

that became very popular in

Medieval Europe In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

as the story of

Barlaam and Josaphat Barlaam and Josaphat, also known as Bilawhar and Budhasaf, are Christian saints. Their story tells of the conversion of Josaphat to Christianity. According to tradition, an Indian king persecuted the Christian Church in his realm. After ast ...

. Of equal importance was Euthymius’ work to prepare Georgian translations of various Greek philosophical, ecclesiastical and legal discourses. He died near Byzantium, when a mule on which he was riding, startled by the approach of a beggar made to bolt and Euthymius fell. His relics are buried in the Church of Saint John the Baptist at the Iveron Monastery on Mt. Athos.

References

Sources

* Theodor Dowling
Sketches of Georgian Church History
Adamant Media Corporation (October 9, 2003), {{DEFAULTSORT:Euthymius Of Athos 11th-century people from Georgia (country) 10th-century people from Georgia (country) 11th-century Byzantine monks 11th-century Christian saints 10th-century Byzantine monks Calligraphers from Georgia (country) Athonite Fathers Nobility of Georgia (country) Christian saints from Georgia (country) Philosophers from Georgia (country) Eastern Orthodox theologians Translators from Greek Translators to Georgian Byzantine people of Georgian descent 950s births 1020s deaths 11th-century philosophers People associated with Great Lavra People associated with Iviron Monastery