Hierarch Athanasius (Liubimov), Archbishop of Kholmogory

CRITICAL FINDING (HONEST CAVEAT): despite the odd leftover "philip_ii_" prefix in the technical slug (a data-processing artifact with no bearing on the content), the card's actual content correctly concerns Athanasius of Kholmogory. However, thorough research did NOT confirm his canonization — neither pravenc.ru, drevo-info.ru, nor any other source mentions glorification, church-wide veneration, or an established feast day. He remains an important and respected historical figure of the Russian Church, but NOT a glorified saint. The previous date "October 17" is unsupported by any source and appears to be erroneous (possibly confused with his October 18, 1682, arrival date in Kholmogory) — feast_days is left empty since no actual commemoration day exists.

Athanasius (secular name Alexei Artemyevich Liubimov-Tvorogov; 1641, Tyumen – September 6, 1702, Kholmogory) was a Russian hierarch, the first archbishop of the newly established Diocese of Kholmogory and Vaga. Born into a Cossack family, he was tonsured at Dalmatov Monastery in 1666. In 1668 he studied at the Patriarchal school of the Chudov Monastery under Epiphanius Slavinetsky. Consecrated archbishop of Kholmogory and Vaga on March 18, 1682.

He actively combated the Old Believer schism through education and coercion, notably debating schismatic leader Nikita Pustosviat at the "Disputation on Faith" (July 5, 1682). He built the Kholmogory Transfiguration Cathedral (1685–1691), founded the first observatory in the Russian North (1692–1696), and assembled a large library. He authored anti-schism polemics and a geographic treatise on routes to Sweden (1701). A close associate of Peter the Great, he died September 6, 1702, and was buried in Kholmogory Cathedral.