Gerasimos of Esphigmenou

Gerasimos of Esphigmenou, with the secular name George Smyrnakis, was a hieromonk, a noble soul and a fine man. He was born at Nafplio, where he finished the gymnasium, then the military school in Athens, from which he emerged an officer. In 1887 he reached the Holy Mountain. In 1902 he was ordained deacon and priest, having earlier been tonsured a monk at Esphigmenou. From 1906 to 1908 he was abbot of the monastery. He then lived two years at the New Skete. Between 1910 and 1913 he was in the Greek Orthodox communities of America. In 1913 he became a brother of the monastery of Saint John the Theologian on Patmos, "charmed by the holiness of the island and the piety of the fathers of the monastery and the island." In 1920-1923 he was superior of the Holy Cave of the Apocalypse. In 1923-1925 he carried out teaching and spiritual work on Rhodes, where he was also president of the ecclesiastical courts. In 1925-1926 he was elected, enthroned and served as abbot of the Panormitis monastery on Symi, where he introduced the Athonite typikon and carried out necessary building works. It is said he was elected abbot by the vote of the whole people of Symi. He was called an innovator and "a holy man distinguished by his severe morals."

He was also a good writer. His most important work is his history of the Holy Mountain, full of useful information, written, he says, at the urging of many friends of good and piety, as a small tribute of respect and devotion to the holy place, "one of the acropolises of Greek Orthodoxy." He reposed on 22 March 1935. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.