Chrysostomos of the Great Lavra (d. 1964)

Chrysostomos of the Great Lavra (d. 1964), with the secular name John Makareas, son of Athanasios and Maria, was born in 1885 at Dresna in Eleftheroupolis. He came to the Great Lavra in 1909 and was tonsured a monk in 1912. For many years he lived in the monastery's Kathisma of Saint John Chrysostom. He had the obedience of caretaker of the animals, which he loved much and cared for as best he could, for the fathers were always served by them without complaint.

Some monks of the monastery accused Chrysostomos, because they did not see him going regularly to church and communing often. The thought troubled them that he was not enough of a lover of services and especially devout. When at last the days of his sojourn in this world were fulfilled and the Lord of glory called him to the heavenly dwellings, something unusual and wonderful happened. After the reading of the funeral service, the fathers accompanied him to his resting place, to the grave in the cemetery. Then all the mules of the monastery gathered and followed the dead man's body to the grave. During the burial they struck the ground with their front feet and neighed strangely. This sight made a great impression on the fathers who saw and heard it. At the same time it made them afraid and reproach themselves that perhaps they had judged their brother unjustly, for surely he had a hidden spiritual life. The monk Chrysostomos of the Lavra reposed in the Lord Jesus, our Saviour and God, on 22 November 1964. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.