Gerasimos of St Paul's

Gerasimos of St Paul's, with the secular name Spyridon Menagias, was born at Lixouri on Kefalonia and came from a wealthy family of Corfu. He went to Athens and studied chemistry in Zurich. Unfortunately he was carried away by materialism, atheism and spiritism, but the grace of God did not abandon him. The study of Holy Scripture, his meeting with Elder Avimelech of Little St Anne's (d. 1966) and with Elder Kallinikos of Katounakia (d. 1930), and his pilgrimages to the Holy Land and to Athos converted him.

At forty he was tonsured a monk by the hesychast Kallinikos, in 1920. With his blessing he then went to Saint Basil's Skete, for greater stillness and a better climate on account of his poor health. The wealthy son of Athens and the scientist of Europe lived gladly in goat huts. Fasting and continual prayer gave him joyful sorrow, tears from the heart, joy-⁠making mourning, remembrance of death and deep repentance. He judged no one, was merciful, sober, quiet, gentle and patient. To humble himself he wore old clothes and shoes and played the ignorant, cutting off his own will. He fought ceaselessly to uproot the vainglory that worldly learning often begets.

From 1953 he struggled in community at Saint Paul's. He communed often and prayed unceasingly; the Jesus Prayer was loved beyond measure by his repentant soul. After communing for the last time, on the eve of his repose, he made the sign of the cross and reposed blessedly on 30 January 1957, the feast of the Three Hierarchs. In a letter he wrote: "The earth is the place of patience, of temptations and tribulations. Nothing is more pleasing to God than a soul that suffers all crosses with patience and peace." He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.