Avvakum of Iviron

Avvakum of Iviron, with the secular name Athanasios Gousis, was born in 1892 at Rodosto in Eastern Thrace to poor parents. Orphaned at eight, he came with a relative to the Holy Mountain and for twelve years served Iviron Monastery. Then, in 1924, he put on the monastic habit and after another twelve years was sent to a dependency of the monastery at Sparta. From this Iviron dependency he went in 1932 to the monastery of the Holy Forty. Then, seeking his own benefit and that of others, he went from monastery to monastery and village to village to help the infirm and sick. The hardworking and benevolent monk helped all in need. During the occupation he saved, at risk of his life, many English soldiers. With his empirical medical knowledge he healed many; he knew three thousand herbs; always without payment, tireless, willing and cheerful. He was distinguished by his great, steady and unceasing compassion.

About 1940 he went to the monastery of the Holy Unmercenaries on Parnon. He never ate meat, but was content with a few greens. He was industrious, hardworking and pleasant in conversation. The end of this philanthropic monk was martyric. For unknown reasons guerrillas seized him, cut off his left leg with a butcher's cleaver and mortally wounded his heart, a heart which from childhood he had dedicated to God without thinking of himself at all. He died on 25 July 1942, the feast of Saint Anne. Many grieved. It was said that "the bullets did not stick to Avvakum," and this is why, it seems, they killed him with a knife. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.