Paisios of Mount Athos

Venerable Paisios the Athonite was a monk of the Holy Mountain of Athos and a spiritual father to thousands of people from Greece and from all over the world. He lived in the twentieth century in asceticism, humility and love for his neighbour, and reposed in 1994 at the monastery of Souroti near Thessaloniki.

Childhood and youth

He was born on 25 July 1924 at Farasa in Cappadocia, and was given the baptismal name Arsenios by Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, who foretold that he would become a monk. That same year his family was resettled in Greece in the exchange of populations and made its home at Konitsa in Epirus.

From childhood he loved prayer and the lives of the saints. He worked as a carpenter, and during the civil war he served in the army as a radio operator, showing great self-⁠sacrifice toward his comrades.

The monk

In 1950 he came to the Holy Mountain, and in 1954 he was tonsured a monk, later receiving the name Paisios. He lived in several monasteries and cells, spent two years in the desert of Mount Sinai, and endured serious illnesses, including an operation on his lungs. He always returned to Athos, and from 1979 he settled at the cell of Panagouda near the Koutloumousiou Monastery.

People of every kind came to his cell daily: young seekers, grieving parents, the sick and monks. He received them all with love, gentleness and often humour, giving simple and profound counsel. He prayed much for the world, especially at night. He also supported and guided the convent of Saint John the Theologian at Souroti.

Repose and veneration

Gravely ill, he was brought to Souroti, where he reposed on 12 July 1994 and was buried there. His grave is visited by countless pilgrims. The Ecumenical Patriarchate numbered him among the saints in 2015. He is commemorated on 12 July.