Gerasimos of Xenophontos

Gerasimos of Xenophontos, a hieromonk, with the secular name George Theodorakis, son of Nicholas, was born in 1910 in the village of Sellia in Saint Basil, Rethymno, Crete. He was the eldest of nine children of pious parents. From childhood he was industrious and fond of learning. At twenty he entered to become a monk at the monastery of Saint John the Theologian of Preveli. In the monastery too he continued his industry, study and prayer. He was ordained deacon and priest. In the war of 1940-1941 he went voluntarily to the front. On returning to his monastery he continued his sacrifice, helping English, New Zealanders and Greeks escape to the Middle East. For this action he was decorated by the Greek state.

In 1963 he went as a pilgrim to Jerusalem. Then he wished to come to the Holy Mountain. But the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, learning of it, sent him to the Metropolitan of Veroia, who wanted a good hieromonk for the Panagia Soumela monastery. So he stayed at the monastery on Vermion from 1963 to 1968. Then he wished again to leave for Athos, but the metropolitan needed him. He allowed him only a pilgrimage to the Holy Mountain, which charmed and moved him. He remained in a parish of Veroia until 1976. Many faithful passed through his holy stole and were greatly helped.

From 1976 until his repose he stayed in a seaside Xenophontos cell in the Bourazeri area, where he built a church of Saint Nectarios of Pentapolis, whom he especially venerated, because he had helped him many times in life. There he continued his studies and prayers, celebrating daily, digging the garden of his yard and of his heart. His pension he gave for alms and good works. From the many labours of his life he fell ill. The last two years he spent at Xenophontos Monastery, tended with love by the fathers of the monastery. He reposed in the Lord on 8 November 1996, on the eve of the memory of Saint Nectarios, whom he loved exceedingly and in whose hut he lived for almost twenty years. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.