Philotheos of Athos

Venerable Philotheos of Athos was born in Elatia. For fear of the Turks his parents moved to Macedonia, to Chrysopolis, and his father soon died. The child Philotheos, with his brother, was seized by the Turks and thrown into prison, from which he was miraculously delivered by the Mother of God herself. The All-⁠Holy Virgin appeared to the children in the form of a mother and led them to the city of Neapolis (Asia Minor), to the monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God, where the brothers were tonsured monks.

Years passed. Philotheos's mother, Eudokia, who had learned nothing of her children all that time, came by the wondrous providence of God to Neapolis too and entered a convent as a nun. After a time she went with other nuns, for the feast of the church, to the monastery where her sons struggled; they recognised each other at once, and the mother, amazed and glad, asked them how they had come there. The sons answered: "You know better; did you not bring us here yourself, after we were freed from prison?" Eudokia was convinced that the Mother of God had not left her fervent prayers unanswered.

After his mother's death Philotheos went to Mount Athos, joined first the brotherhood of the Dionysiou monastery, then withdrew into complete silence. Through unceasing prayer he reached spiritual perfection and received the gift of foresight. At the age of eighty-⁠four he gave up his soul in peace. Before his death he asked his disciples not to bury his body but to throw it without honour into the forest, to be torn by birds and beasts. The brothers did as the father had blessed, but after the Lord glorified the relics of His chosen one with a wondrous light, they carried them with honour into the monastery. The Church of Georgia commemorates him on 5 December (old style; 18 December new style).