Savvas the Esphigmenite

Saint Savvas the Esphigmenite, a venerable monk, came to Athos at fourteen, leaving his parents and his homeland, Philippiada, and entered the Esphigmenou Monastery. The reason for his leaving was the Life of Saint John the Hut-⁠dweller, which kindled in his heart the love of Christ. He was one of the closest friends of Father Tychon and had unceasing prayer, reaching a high spiritual state. He struggled zealously from youth to old age, always thinking of others and trying to give them rest.

Because of long years of asceticism he had health problems, but he celebrated his pains with patience, remembering the martyrs, and thanked God. Asked how his health was, he answered: "Glory to God, very well. I suffer nothing compared to the holy martyrs." The fathers took him to Athens, to a clinic, and he obeyed, but he suffered more from the noise of the world than from his illness and asked to be taken back. They stopped temporarily at the Chrysovalantou convent, where one evening an indescribable fragrance spread through the convent; they found him in his cell, fallen asleep in the Lord. They then brought him back to his hermitage on the Holy Mountain. He is honoured by the faithful, without synodal canonization.