Phanourios of Kapsala

Phanourios of Kapsala, with the secular name Basil Mantreas, was born in 1898 at Tecuci in Romania. He came from Romania to the Holy Mountain in 1913. His father, on leaving, said to him: "My son Basil, we dedicate you to the Mother of God; live in obedience and patience, please God, so that God may save us too, your parents, by your holy life." He went first to the Romanian skete of Saint John the Forerunner, where he lived thirty years. Then to the Romanian skete of Saint Demetrius-⁠Lakkou. He returned to the skete of the Forerunner. In 1915 he was tonsured into the great schema. Then he went to Kapsala.

Finally he settled in the cell of Saint Basil at Kapsala. From childhood he had great devotion to Saint Basil. In this cell saints had lived of old. He stayed in this saint-⁠bearing cell about forty years. While repairing the cell he seems to have neglected his monastic duties. Saints Basil and Theophilos then appeared to him in a dream. The latter said to him sternly, as he himself related: "Do not leave your monastic duties; we shall take care of the cell."

He was very ascetic. He recalled the ancient ascetics. Many days and nights he prayed ceaselessly. An extreme faster, he ate almost nothing. Very studious. He loved Saint Isaac the Syrian much. He slept very little on boards, with a stone for a pillow. The winter nights seemed endless to him. He was a true monk and lover of the services. As soon as the sun set, he began his service. He continued with the prayer rope until morning. He prayed for the whole world: for those he had known even a little, for those who had asked him. He prayed with fervent tears, seeking God's mercy for the whole human race. He rejoiced to commemorate names and to learn of their progress. He had no idea of himself. He did not want anyone to regard him as anything. Therefore he often feigned foolishness. Some misunderstood him and held him feeble-⁠minded; but he knew well what he was doing. He lived afflicting his body, without any rest. In winter without heating. He went to ask forgiveness of the others at Kapsala for his definitive departure. He reposed on 18 December 1986. They found him dead in his cell; outside much snow had fallen. His compatriot, Elder Herodion (d. 1990), his friend and fellow struggler, said: "Elder Phanourios did not die, he passed from one life to another. Make prostrations for him, so that we may have peace. He is a saint." He lived, as we said, with every exactness the monastic rules and promises of his tonsure. He gave himself no material comfort. He said with grace: "If only people had as much zeal for good things as they have for bad ones..." He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.