Andrew of New Skete

Andrew of New Skete, with the secular name John Makoulis, was born in 1871 at Topolia (Elaionas) in Phocis and was left fatherless as an infant. His mother raised him with care and sent him to Romania for higher studies, but the ship passed Athos; the young man was captivated by the holiness of the place, got off and stayed. He went to the New Skete, to the cell of Saint Andrew of the Abramaioi, under the obedience of Elder Abramios, in 1889, and was tonsured a monk in 1890. His obedience, courtesy and goodness won the hearts of all the fathers of the skete.

He was a good icon painter, a craft for which he even travelled to Russia, and he had a quick mind and a fine voice in the choir. In 1907, when he went to his home village with his icons, he tonsured his mother a nun at her wish, with the name Elizabeth. From 1930 he was elder of his cell, and he built a new, large and beautiful church, consecrated in 1935. He directed his disciples with a knowledge of monastic order, wisdom, discretion and love. His old age bore much fruit: many came to ask his counsel and blessing. He brought about sixty monks to monasticism and distributed them to the monasteries and sketes of the Mountain.

He reposed on 3 January 1952, after influenza, in repentance and holiness. His compatriot Archimandrite Nectarios Kalyvas calls him the crown of the monks of their region and a model of virtue and holiness. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.