Hieronymos of the Great Lavra

Hieronymos of the Great Lavra, with the secular name John Roussos, was born in Athens in 1894. In 1930 he came to the Great Lavra and, after a year of trial, was tonsured a monk with the name Hieronymos. After a time, for a greater struggle, he moved to a dry hut in the area of Chairi, where he struggled quietly and humbly, in great want and poverty.

Bishop Chrysostom of Rodostolon relates in his memoirs that in 1944 his brother from America, a well-⁠off man, visited him; he was amazed at his austere life and wanted to help him with money so that he might live more comfortably. Hieronymos refused: the money should be given to the poor, who need it more, for he had Christ and the Mother of God. At his tonsure he had promised to keep non-⁠possession all his life. Only at the brother's insistence and tears did he agree that he buy him a small donkey for transport, but he would not touch the money himself.

He was always willing and simple. For years he made it his rule to wait for passers-⁠by at the crossroads, to give them something from his bag and show them the way; for this reason he wore shoes with soles from car tyres, so as to run without constant repairs. He reposed on 8 January 1959, poor in worldly goods and rich in spiritual ones. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.