Paisios Basias

Venerable Paisios Basias (Panagis Basias, also called Father Basias, Papa Basias) was a Greek monk and priest of Lixouri on Kefalonia, born in 1801 and died on 7 June 1888. He was numbered among the saints by the Ecumenical Patriarchate by patriarchal and synodal decision on 4 February 1986, and his relics were exhumed in 1976. He is commemorated on 7 June, the day of his repose.

His name in the world was Panagis Basias, of the family Typaldos-⁠Basias. He was born at Lixouri in 1801, of pious parents, Michael and Regina, born Dellaporta. He received a considerable Greek and theological education and spoke French and Italian and also knew Latin. He became a public teacher, but resigned when the English were pressing the Kefalonians and taught at home. In 1827 he decided to leave the life of the world and go to the islet of Dias, south of Kefalonia, where there is a monastery, to live as a monk, probably to find quiet from worldly matters and from the persecuting fury of the English conquerors of the island. In 1828 he returned to his birthplace, where he taught in private schools, and since at that time Anglican rationalist tendencies wished to influence the Kefalonians and to bring forward the spirit of the West, Father Basias was an enlightening teacher, and his ties with other theological personalities kept Orthodoxy by their stand and teaching.

In 1836 he was ordained deacon and priest by the then archbishop of Kefalonia, Parthenios Makris. From then on his whole life was devoted to ministry, worship and service of Christians. He preached the word of God. As a liturgist, ascetic and discerning confessor, he drew the love of Christians. He received from God the gift of prophecy and counselled aptly. He also had the gift of foresight. He sold his property and distributed it to the poor. He himself was housed in the home of a relative, Ioannis Nik. Geroulanos. He was priest of the monastery of Saint Spyridon at Platys Gialos, Lixouri, until his death. Pressed at times by illness, he endured it with patience like the Apostle Paul.

He reposed on 7 June 1888 at Lixouri, at the age of 88, and a multitude of people went to venerate his body for the last time. He was buried in the grounds of Saint Spyridon at Lixouri, from where the exhumation of his relics was made, a great event, whose fragrance confirmed his holiness. His commemoration is on 7 June, the day of his repose. His grace-⁠flowing relics are kept in the church of Saint Spyridon at Lixouri, and the exhumation took place on 6 June 1976. The apolytikion praises him as the offspring of Lixouri and the pride of priests, the newly risen luminary of Kefalonia, an initiate of the venerable Trinity, adorned with the prophetic gift of the Spirit.