One of the holiest figures in the 20the century is the Elder Paissios of the Holy Mountain. Filled with God’s love and joy, just seeing his bright face was like seeing the face of an angel, the face of the Lord Himself. Even if he would not speak a word just seeing him made each person feel refreshed and strengthened internally, spiritually and physically. After his falling asleep in the Lord many texts that he either wrote himself, or spoke and were recorded have been made available. His words shine with the warm fire of the Holy Spirit who dwelt in him while he was on earth, and now in heaven.
Refresh yourself my beloved friend in the Elder Paissios’ words and simple wisdom. He spoke to God as a Friend speaks to his own friend while on earth, in Heaven the Elder prays for those that call upon him before the throne of God, with much love and tenderness.
Here is a brief biography for your refreshment, of Elder Paissios’ life:
Elder Paissios was born in Cappadocia on July 25, 1924. Almost immediately his family was forced to flee with the general exodus of Greek refugees from Asia Minor. They settled in Eperos in Northwestern Greece. He first visited Mt. Athos in 1949 after his time in the army.
He returned in 1950 and, after a short time in the neighborhood of Karyes, settled in the Monastery of Esphigmenou. In 1954 he was tonsured there as rasophoros monk with the name Averkios. That same year he moved to the Monastery of Philotheou. After two years he was tonsured to the small schema in Philotheou and given the name Paisios.
In 1958 Fr. Paisios left the Mountain and went to the Stomio Monastery of Konitsas north of Ioaninna. He stayed there four four years and in 1962 went to Mt. Sinai where he lived in the Skete, (small dwelling or hut in a remote area), of St. Epistime on Gebel Mugufa. In the two years that he stayed there he gave himself to strict physical asceticism which he later said was the breaking of his health. In 1964 he returned to Mt. Athos and lived in the Cell of the Archangels in Iveron Skete. He was hospitalized in 1966 and while on the mainland became acquainted with the nuns of the Hesychastirion of St. John the Theologian, whom he helped greatly in years to come and where he died and was buried.
In 1968 he went to Stavronikita Monastery on Mount Athos and was tonsured to the great and angelic schema by Papa-Tychon of the Kelli of the Holy Cross. After Papa-Tychon's passing he left the kelli to Elder Paisios and the elder remained there from 1968 to 1979.
In 1979 he moved to the kathisma of Koutloumousiou Monastery known as Panagouda, (The Little Most Blessed Lady), near Karyes, (the capital of Mount Athos). Many of his monastic spiritual sons settled nearby in huts of Koutloumousiou Skete, ( a small village of huts with distance between them), but the elder lived alone. Many, many pilgrims came to visit him there. He finally died and was gathered to the Lord on July 12, 1994. Within a year two books about him and recording his teaching had been published in Greek.
Come and see there are many more pages for you to think and pray about.
Many more pages in this humble site for you to see...
Words from one who walked with HIM...
The life in Christ is a struggle...
HE dwells in HIS temple...YOU...
All creation is filled with wonder
Walk with joy in HIM....