Saint Peter of Atroa

Peter of Atroa (773–837) was an abbot who was later canonized as a saint. He was born the eldest of three children. His given name was Theophylact. At eighteen, he determined to become a monk and joined Paul the Hesychast at his hermitage in Phrygia, where he took the religious name "Peter". The two of them started a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but, reportedly because of a vision, they went instead to Bithynia. There Paul established a monastery at the church of St. Zachary in the area of Atroa. The monastery grew quickly, and Paul named Peter as his successor on the former's death in 805. Leo V the Armenian was in power at the time, and supported the Iconoclasts in their efforts to destroy religious imagery. Peter was forced to disband the monastery for the safety of the monks during these persecutions, himself travelling first to Ephesus and later Cyprus. His reputation as a thaumaturge and spiritual director had become widespread by this time, and he was rarely left to pursue the secluded life he sought in peace. He wandered throughout the area in his efforts to find seclusion, ultimately finding some privacy in the area of Coracesium in Cilicia. Upon the death of Leo V, the iconoclast persecution dissipated, permitting internal struggles within the church to rise to the forefront. One of these involved accusations by several bishops and abbots that Peter exorcised demons not by the power of God, but rather the power of Beelzebub. Peter tried to convince them otherwise, unsuccessfully, and ultimately had to seek the help of Theodore the Studite in persuading them. Theodore wrote a letter to all the monks of the area, telling them that Peter was in fact above reproach in conduct, teachings, and beliefs, and was as good a monk as could be found. This letter survives to this day. Peter then returned to St. Zachary's and helped to reorganize two other monasteries he had established. During this time, he himself resided at a hermitage in Atroa.