Parthenius of Chios

Saint Parthenius of Chios was born in the village of Dafnonas on the island of Chios and fell asleep on 8 December 1883. As a young man he was betrothed and traded between Chios, Smyrna and Constantinople. While he was preparing for the wedding, he heard that his bride had fallen gravely ill, and by the time he came back from his journey she had died.

He wished to see her with his own eyes, went at night to the grave, dug her up and took her in his arms. Looking at the bare bones, he recalled a troparion from the funeral service, left the cares of the world without telling anyone, and became a monk at the Nea Moni Monastery on Chios, where he gave himself to ascetic labours.

With the blessing of his elder he climbed to the top of Mount Penthodos, lit the lamp and looked after the small ruined chapel of the holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark. One day he found a cave on the south-⁠eastern side of the mountain and resolved to live there in fasting, vigil and prayer, day and night. The Lord gave him spiritual gifts, among them foresight; he is said to have foretold the great earthquake on Chios in 1881.

His fame spread, and the chapel of Saint Mark became a skete in which Parthenius lived with his disciples. People came from all parts of the island to hear his words and ask for his blessing. Professor Lazaros Zanaras recorded that he worked many miracles in his lifetime. He fell asleep in peace on 8 December 1883, and his relics rest at the Monastery of Saint Mark on Chios.

He is remembered on 8 December, by the calendar of the Church of Greece (new style).