Sur la date de la mort de S. Athanase l’Athonite et sur ses premiers successeurs

Abstract

The publication, after 1982, of two volumes of the Archives de l’Athos makes it possible to better position the death of St Athanasius: it happened on 5 July, in 997 at the earliest, in 1000 at the latest. It also enables us to correct the order of his successors: after Anthony’s short and problematic hegumenate, there was at first Eustratius, who “quickly gave up his charge” but nevertheless remained at his post for at least two years; while becoming again a simple monk, he retained something of his former authority and occasionally was led to represent one of his successors. After Eustratius came Theoctist, followed, from 1010 to at least 1018, by Theodoret.