Artemios of Grigoriou

Artemios of Grigoriou, upright, brave and valiant, was born in 1848 at Georgitsi in Laconia. He came to Gregoriou in 1878 and was tonsured into the great schema two years later. He passed through many obediences of the monastery with diligence, self-⁠denial and honour. He did not forget daily "for what he left the world." He never judged anyone. He was content with the cheapest clothes. His bed hosted him only a few hours of the day and night; hours before, sitting on his stool, with his cassock and cowl on, he awaited the first toll. At other times he stayed hours kneeling in the chapel of Saint Anastasia. In his stall he always stood, even in old age. He rightly regarded every trial as a divine blessing. Miracles did not surprise him; he held them natural. His love of God and the Theotokos was hidden in the depths of his heart. Appearances of angels strengthened him in his struggle.

He was simple, unaffected, without hypocrisy, upright, brave and valiant. "God reveals himself to the valiant," said Elder Paisios the Athonite. As a young man he had gone to Thrace with other compatriots to fight the Turks. After a betrayal they took refuge on Athos to hide, and were hosted briefly at Iviron. Father Artemios, then Athanasios Fasoulopoulos, confessed to the renowned confessor Papa Savvas of Little Saint Anne's (d. 1908), who foretold his monastic dedication. Once, at a dependency, he went to the market to shop and returned empty-⁠handed, because he gave to the poor and the old everything he had. He always bore everything for Christ. When once he complained in his illness, "My Lord, why must I suffer so much?", he saw Christ showing him his hands and side: "Look how much patience I had. Do you not endure for my love?"

His end was Christian, painless, unashamed and peaceful. He foresaw his death and went toward it with good hope. At his repose Metropolitan Hierotheos of Miletoupolis happened to be there. With calm and the prayer rope in his hand, Father Artemios said: "I am leaving, my master, I am leaving. I want you to bless me that I may find mercy from the Lord." "You will get well. We shall meet again." "I hope we shall meet again where his divine will appoints, but today do me the kindness and stay. Tomorrow you may leave; I still want your last blessing." Two hours later, having communed, he gave up his spirit saying: "Glory to you, my Lord, glory to you." The monastery's register, as always sparing, ends: "He died in the infirmary of the monastery on 8 August 1941, aged 93." He wrote to himself: "Become a monk. A poor monk, a virgin, pure. Fasting and vigil and prayer. Reading of the Holy Scriptures with attention, with understanding, with economy, with obedience, with faith, with great hope, with prudence and with temperance." He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.