Theodore of Grigoriou

Theodore of Grigoriou, with the secular name Theodore Kakounis, was born in 1885 in the village of Kastri in Laconia. With his twin brother Demetrius, later the Kavsokalyvia monk Hierotheos (d. 1968), he went young to America to work for their poor family. One day, going to a theatre to relax, they saw a terrible sight: a chorus of demons circled the building and cast young men and women into sin. Terrified, they left for the Holy Mountain, longing for salvation.

In 1903 Theodore came to Little Saint Anne's Skete, to the hut of the Dormition of the Theotokos, to the pious company of the hieromonks Stephen and Theodosios. He was tonsured a monk in 1907 and ordained deacon in 1912. In 1923 he entered Gregoriou Monastery, and in 1931 was ordained priest. In this strict cenobium he was a model of obedience, patience and humility and, for his virtue, was elected abbot, although older hieromonks were there. In 1937 he was made archimandrite and confessor and enthroned as abbot; in 1943 he resigned. He was always devout and fond of the services; earlier he had served as prosphora baker and vestment maker. He showed great love to pilgrims and gave them time for spiritual conversation.

He reposed peacefully in his monastery on 8 February 1964, after two years of hemiplegia, and was buried in the cemetery among the other fathers. Archimandrite Bessarion (d. 1974) succeeded him as abbot. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.