Auxentios of Grigoriou

Auxentios of Grigoriou was born in 1892 at Mandra in Attica. He was tonsured a monk at the monastery of Saint Meletios on Kithairon. He came to Gregoriou in 1920 and in 1921 received the great schema. He served the monastery with obedience as sacristan, miller, cook, steward of the dependencies and gardener. Everywhere he was a lover of God, of the brothers, of work and of honour. He especially loved the Philokalia and loved the services beyond measure: sick and old, he ran daily to the katholikon before the service began.

The Jesus Prayer had become one with his breathing. He said: "Often I see a light on the right side; I see it when I do the rule with the prayer rope; I see it regularly, then it goes away. One feels union with God. One understands that everything is God. Only he exists and nothing else. The chief thing is the love that comes into the heart for Christ. That is it and nothing else. I, unfortunately, am insensible." To a candidate for the priesthood who asked him for counsel he said: "Have deep humility and avoid scandal. If someone wrongs you, go and be reconciled and then celebrate. Never accept thoughts, but drive them away and say continually 'Lord Jesus Christ.' That is everything. Christ himself will then teach you and enlighten you. Only see that your mind is in your heart. When you are tired, say 'Lord Jesus Christ' with your mouth too. So you will defeat thoughts. If a thought persists and you cannot drive it away, go to the abbot, fall down and confess. I have nothing else to tell you but 'Lord Jesus Christ.' Go to the Elder and confess regularly. He knows much, he is a theologian; I am blind in soul and body."

No one in his monastery remembers him speaking idly, laughing, contradicting or slacking. He was serious, prudent, modest, walked slowly, stood upright in church, crossed himself with reverence and never let go of his prayer rope. It never crossed his mind that he was virtuous. He had sincere self-⁠reproach. He prayed even in his sleep. He ate little and simply. In one old patched shirt and one pair of shoes he spent six decades of monastic life. He reposed in peace on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, 1 March 1981, after communing and saying the prayer of dismissal. No one had anything to say, not even the slightest reproach, about this true monk; he never grieved anyone. The abbot, Archimandrite George, began his funeral address by saying that all felt the need to give thanks. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.