Venerable Andronicus and his wife Athanasia, of Egypt

Andronicus was a goldsmith of Antioch, and his wife Athanasia the daughter of another. Their Life says they divided their income into three parts — for the poor, for the Church and for the household — and cared for the sick with their own hands. After twenty years of marriage both their children, aged twelve and ten, died on the same day.

The couple freed their slaves and went to Egypt. Andronicus became a monk in Scetis under Abba Daniel; Athanasia, dressed as a monk, lived as “Athanasius”. Years later the two met on the road and lived together in one monastery for twelve years without his recognizing her. According to the Life, he learned the truth only from a note found after her death, in the 5th century.