Holy Paisios. About the Monk Paisia ​​the Holy Mountaineer. The life of the elder Paisius the Holy Mountaineer: birth and baptism

Paisius Svyatogorets (Arseny, Averky) mamlas wrote in December 6th, 2015

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Paisiy Svyatogorets

Christ

At baptism, they wanted to give him the name "Christ". But the local priest was indignant and said to the baby's grandmother: “I have baptized so many of your children and grandchildren. Won't you give one of them my name?" The priest's name was Arseny, later he himself would become a saint, going down in history as Arseny of Cappadocia. The future Athonite was also named Arseny. This name was the first of those that he bore in his long life.

The future saint was born in 1924 in Cappadocia, the central part of Turkey, which has been the center of Christianity since ancient times. However, he did not have long to stay in Cappadocia. An exchange of population began between Turkey and Greece - the result of a three-year Greco-Turkish war, according to which Christians of Greek origin were obliged to move to their historical homeland.

At the age of 11 he got Holy Bible and read every day holy gospel. I also took out the Lives of the Saints somewhere and read them. I collected a whole box of Lives. Returning from school, he didn’t even want to eat - he ran to his box, took out some kind of Life and read it. His older brother, despite being a reverent man, hid the Lives from him. The brother was afraid that Arseny would get too carried away with church books and this would reflect badly on his studies, ”his life, compiled by the Athos hieromonk Isaac, says about the childhood of the saint.

He tried to apply what he read in the Lives to himself - he retired, prayed, following the example of Christ he mastered the carpentry trade. In the village, there was a rumor about an unusual youth, they said that Arseny had a vision of St. George, after which the young man fasted for many days. According to a legend, which the elder himself, however, did not confirm, he was invited to the houses of the villagers, and they believed that the mere presence of a God-fearing young man would give the house well-being and happiness.

Paisios the Holy Mountaineer, icon

Arseniy wanted to be a monk since childhood. The priest who baptized him predicted: “Do I not want to, giving the baby my name, leave another monk on earth who would follow in my footsteps?”

War intervened in the plans of monastic life. In 1945, Arseniy was drafted into the army, the Greek government tried to suppress the uprising of communist partisans. “God had mercy,” he recalled. “They made me a radio operator, eliminating the need to shoot at people.”

Later, having already gained worldwide fame, he repeatedly turned to his army past. “Monks,” he said, “are the radio operators of the Church. If by their prayer they establish a connection with God, then He hurries to help and helps more effectively.”

Mountain

For the first time, Arseny came to Athos in 1950, still dressed in military uniform, having arrived there immediately after receiving his leave.

The holy mountain met him with trials. The elders, to whom he wanted to go in obedience, did not accept him. Zealots - zealous monks who broke with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, tried to rebaptize it. The shocked young man returned home.

“As a beginner, I was very tired and exhausted until I found what I wanted. Of course, the reason for this was my many sins. But the second reason for suffering was my rural uncouthness, because of which I entrusted myself to everyone I met, ”recalled the elder.

Arseny returned to the holy mountain three years later, settling in the monastery of Esfigmen. There he accepted the cassock, the first degree of monasticism, and received his second name - Averky.

In 1965, the monastery of Esfigmen refused to commemorate the Patriarch of Constantinople at divine services. The reason was the meeting of the patriarch with the pope and the abolition of mutual anathemas of 1054. As a sign of protest, the monks of Esfigmena locked themselves in the monastery and hung a black flag “Orthodoxy or death” on the wall. By that time, Averky had not been in the monastery for a long time, he went to the Philotheus monastery, where he received the small schema. His new and last earthly name was Paisios.

“Until I spiritually fledged, no one helped me, everyone pushed me away. Then on Athos I met the Saints,” he recalled.

Devil

“At first, the devil “roasted” me with memories of my relatives. He brought me memories of my mother and other relatives. Sometimes he showed them to me in a dream sick, and sometimes dead, ”said St. Paisios.

In the monastery, the elder slept on the bare floor, and used a log instead of a pillow. All year round he fasted without taking food into his mouth until three o'clock in the afternoon. But even after that, in his own words, “for many days in a row he ate one kind of vegetable, until this food got tired, so I ate it already without desire.”

At night he made vigils. I slept for two or three hours a day, sometimes without sleep at all.

“From penance, I became like a skeleton, but one night I again felt the tempter. When I confessed what had happened to the confessor, he told me: “You must have a secret pride in you.” And indeed, having examined myself, I became convinced that sometimes my thought told me that I was something of myself, and as if I was doing, how to say it, well, supposedly I was doing something significant ... "

Paisiy Svyatogorets

In the late 50s, the elder moved to the monastery of Stomion, from where he then traveled to Sinai. He returned to the Holy Mountain in 1964, survived a serious illness - as a result of the operation, part of his lungs were removed - and finally settled in the Panaguda cell of the Kutlumush monastery.

By that time, his fame had become universal. For asceticism, for the special grace experienced from communicating with him, people from all over the world went to Paisius. The life of the elder, compiled by his disciple, cites more than a hundred testimonies of visitors who were helped in one way or another by Saint Paisios.

“In 1993, my husband and I went to the monastery to meet the elder. About 3 thousand people gathered. It was very cold. From nine in the morning until five in the evening we stood in line of those who wanted to meet. When I saw that my husband turned pale, I was frightened because he had recently undergone heart surgery.

Suddenly, I saw a nun come out of the house where the elder was receiving and shout: “Please, who is Mr. Aristidis here, who has a sick heart? Come with me, father is calling you." I realized that the elder heard my prayer and saw us not with ordinary vision, but somehow differently.”

The elder's disciples claim that he could see the future and the past of those who turned to him for help.

The saint himself explained this gift of clairvoyance as follows: “Often I am in an unusual state, all my feelings remain with me, but it cannot be said that I am awake. Being in this state, I answer the questions of some soul asking me for help, and at the same time I feel it near me, while in reality the soul in need is far away.

In the last year of his life, the elder left the Holy Mountain and moved to the monastery of St. John the Theologian near Thessaloniki. Here he died on July 12, 1994. Here is his grave, which has become a place of mass pilgrimages.

“A gray-haired, weak and toothless old man and at the same time a lion,” the author of his life describes the appearance of the old man. His gaze was lively and expressive. The palms are larger than usual, strong, it was felt that this person is engaged in physical labor. And there was something strong, decisive - Divine in him.

Every Christian at least once heard about the elders, whose feat was pleasing to God. Their prayers saved people from illnesses, dangers, troubles. Are there such monks today, in our time? Of course yes! About one old man who lived in the last century, and will be discussed.

The life of the elder Paisius the Holy Mountaineer: birth and baptism

It would be more accurate to say - life. Monk Paisios was canonized in early 2015. So let's take a look at his life.

On the territory of Turkey there is a historical area called Cappadocia. It was here in 1924, on July 25, that a boy was born to Prodromos and Evlampia Eznepidis. The godfather of the child was Arseniy of Cappadocia, now glorified in He called the baby by his own name and said that he wanted to leave the monk behind him.

Subsequently, about the man who was his godfather, the holy elder Paisios Svyatogorets wrote that with his righteous life Arseniy of Cappadocia preached the Orthodox faith, he changed souls and overshadowed Christians and Turks, believers and unbelievers with God's grace.

Childhood and youth of Arseny

During the infancy of the future elder Paisius, Orthodox believers experienced harassment and persecution by the Turks of the Muslim faith. As a result, many families were forced to leave their homes. Among the refugees was little Arseniy with his relatives. In September 1924, forced migrants arrived in Greece. The family of the future saint settled in the city of Konitsa.

Paisius Svyatogorets, an elder in the future, with early childhood dreamed of a monastic life, often ran away to the forest, where he spent time in prayer - selfless beyond his years.

After graduating from school, Arseny worked as a carpenter. In 1945 he was called up for military service. During the war, the future monk was a radio operator. But this did not stop him on the front line from asking the command for the most dangerous tasks instead of comrades who had wives and children.

The monastic path of the elder

In 1949, Arseny was demobilized from the army. He chose to become a monk and decided to go to Mount Athos.

Elder Kirill, who later became abbot of the Kutlumush monastery, in 1950 received Arseny as a novice. After some time, the future saint was sent to another monastery - Esfigmen. Here he ascended to the next step of the monastic path and in 1954 became a cassock monk with the name Averky. He often visited the elders, read the lives of the saints, constantly prayed in solitude.

In 1956, Elder Simeon tonsured Arseniy into the minor schema (the third stage of monasticism). At the same time, the name of the future saint was given in honor of Paisius II, Metropolitan of Kessaria.

Elder Kirill became the spiritual father of the monk. He always foresaw the time of the arrival of Paisius in his skete, knew the needs of the child and helped to find answers to all questions. Through the prayers of Father Cyril, monk Arseniy grew spiritually. He tried to achieve divine grace and believed that for this, any problem must be met with humility, patience, and good intention.

Paisiy Svyatogorets

Although Arseny loved solitude from early childhood, he trusted the providence of the Heavenly Father. Many believers went on a pilgrimage to Paisius the Holy Mountaineer in the hope of advice and support. And the monk did not refuse anyone this.

In 1958-1962, Paisios Svyatogorets, an elder, lived in Stomio, in the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin. Here he began to receive pilgrims who came to him with their spiritual needs.

In 1962, the elder moved to Sinai to the cell of Saints Epistimia and Galaktion. Paisius returned to Athos two years later and began to live in the Iberian Skete.

The elder's illness in 1966 was very severe. As a result, he had to lose part of his lung. But the Lord did not leave the saint in illness - Paisius was well cared for in the hospital. The nuns, who dreamed of building a monastery in honor of John the Theologian, helped the elder to recover and looked after him. Having recovered, Paisiy Svyatogorets helped them find a place for a monastery, besides, he supported the sisters spiritually for the rest of his life.

Blessed Elder Paisius Svyatogorets and love for people

Father Paisius changed his place again in 1967. He settled in Katunaki, in the Lavriot cell of Hypatia.

The elder has special memories of this place. He wrote that one night, while praying, he felt heavenly joy and saw a beautiful bluish light that was very bright. But the monk's eyes held him. According to the elder, he stayed in this light for many hours, not feeling the time and not noticing anything around. It wasn't physical world but spiritual.

In 1968, the monastery called "Stavronikita" became the refuge of Paisius Svyatogorets. The pilgrims found the old man everywhere. Feeling his boundless love for each of the people, receiving from him spiritual relief and necessary advice they called him a saint. But the elder himself quite sincerely believed that he was the last of the sinners, and he never refused support to anyone. He was a cordial and hospitable host, offering everyone who came a Turkish delight and a mug of fresh cold water. But another thirst came to him to quench.

Even in times of illness, Elder Paisios, strengthened by the Lord, received the afflicted. He comforted them all day and helped them gain faith and hope, and spent his nights in prayer, resting only 3-4 hours a day. The elder himself told his spiritual children that goodness only brings benefit and joy when you sacrifice something for it. He accepted the pain of people as his own, knew how to put himself in the place of any person and understand like no one else. Such was Saint Paisius the Holy Mountaineer, the elder, and such was his and the people.

Monk's prayers

Every day the saint completely reread the Psalter, and when everything around fell asleep, he fervently prayed for the whole world, as well as for those who are sick, for spouses who are in a quarrel, for working late and traveling at night.

Once, in the dark time of the day, a revelation was given to the elder that a man named John was in danger. Paisius the Holy Mountain began to offer prayers for him. The next day, the same young man visited the monk, telling how despair filled his soul at night and he decided to get on a motorcycle, leave the city, fall off a cliff and crash. But young man The thought of Elder Paisios stopped him, and he came to the monk for advice. Since then, John has acquired spiritual father loving and understanding. Through the prayers of the holy young man, he embarked on the true path.

Elder Paisios Svyatogorets recited prayer words with such faith and love that many people received healing from diseases through this. Here is one example: the father of a girl who was deaf and mute turned to the saint. He told the elder that before the birth of his daughter, he interfered in every possible way with his brother, who dreamed of becoming a monk. Paisius the Holy Mountaineer, seeing that the man sincerely repented, promised healing to the child and prayed about it. And indeed, after some time the girl began to talk.

Miracles of Healing

Very many people suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and even the disabled, moving with great difficulty, left the monk Paisios healthy. There were cases of healing from infertility of married couples.

The father of the girl who had cancer, turning to the elder with a request for help, heard in response that, in addition to the prayer of Paisius himself, the man himself must sacrifice something to save his daughter. The monk advised him to quit smoking. The man vowed to get rid of the addiction, and through the prayer of the elder, the girl soon recovered. But the father quickly forgot about the promise to God and started smoking again. After that, her daughter's illness returned again. The man again turned to the elder, but the monk only said that the father should first of all try for the sake of the child, and prayer is the second thing.

There are many testimonies about the healing of hopelessly ill patients, who were told by doctors that nothing could be done. The monk's prayers helped people recover here too. But Paisios Svyatogorets himself, the elder, was losing his health more and more.

End of life

Even during a lung disease, in 1966, after taking antibiotics, Paisius developed a complication with severe pain in a stomach. The elder believed that this was only beneficial, since the soul humbles itself through physical suffering. And he endured pain, standing for hours and accepting those who wished to receive his blessing.

In 1988, the monk's condition was complicated by bleeding. But the holy elder Paisius Svyatogorets, not wanting to go to the doctors, continued to receive people, until in 1993 it became completely difficult for him. But even then, to the advice of spiritual children to go to the hospital, Paisius Svyatogorets answered that the disease helps in spiritual life, so he does not want to get rid of it.

The monk endured bodily suffering with patience and meekness and prayed only for others, but he never asked for anything for himself. Yet Paisios succumbed to the persistence of his spiritual children. When doctors examined him, cancer was discovered. Two operations performed in 1994 brought no relief. His soul passed away on July 12, 1994. This date is the day of memory of the elder. Paisios the Holy Mountaineer was buried in the monastery of John the Theologian in Suroti Thessalonica.

But the intercession of the saint did not stop there. Paisius Svyatogorets still works miracles today, helping to heal the soul and body of the sick.

Monk's Labors

Many sayings and thoughts, written and spoken, left behind the saint. All of them arouse the interest of believers and those who are looking for their own path in life. And here the elder Paisios the Svyatogorets will come to the rescue. The books authored by the saint himself are easy to understand. Here are just a few of them:

• "Words" (five volumes);
• "Arsenius of Cappadocia";
• "Return to God from earth to Heaven";
• "Letters";
• "Fathers-Svyatogorsk and Stories of Svyatogorsk";
• "Thoughts on the Christian Family".

I would especially like to note the book "Words". Elder Paisios Svyatogorets put many thoughts on paper, conversations with him were recorded on tape, and his letters were also very interesting. All this material was used in compiling five volumes, each of which is a separate book.

The first volume is called "With pain and love about modern man". The reasoning of the elder in it concerns modern morals, the role of the church today, about the devil, sins and the spirit of our world.

The second volume is called Spiritual Awakening. Elder Paisios Svyatogorets in it speaks of the importance of working on oneself, prudent behavior, victory over today's indifference and irresponsibility of people.

The third book, called "Spiritual Struggle," tells about the sacrament of confession and repentance, as well as about the struggle with thoughts.

Title of the fourth volume. It speaks for itself. Elder Paisios tells about the role of a husband and wife in the family, about raising children, choosing about trials in the relationships of loving people.

In the fifth book, Passions and Virtues, the saint's advice concerns how to recognize passions and get rid of them, as well as how to move on to virtuous deeds.

Prophecies of Elder Paisios the Holy Mountaineer

ABOUT ordeal and the times that are already coming, the monk began to speak back in 1980. In conversations with people, he tried to awaken them from the indifference that embraces the whole world. The elder sought to help get rid of selfishness and infirmities so that the prayers offered to the Lord were stronger, otherwise the words addressed to God would be weak and incapable of helping people, and even himself.

The predictions of the elder Paisius the Holy Mountaineer mainly relate to events that precede the end of time. What John the Theologian wrote about in his book "Apocalypse", the monk clarifies in order to give a guide to what is happening.

According to the elder, it will look like this: the Zionists will present him as their own person - and Buddha, and Christ, and the Imam, and the Messiah of the Jews, and the one whom the Jehovists are waiting for. The latter also recognize it.

The coming of the False Messiah will be preceded by the destruction of the mosque in Jerusalem to rebuild Solomon's temple.

All these events are still postponed by the Lord for the sake of each person. As Elder Paisios said, so that "we may acquire a good spiritual dispensation."

About the number 666, the monk said that it was already being implemented in all countries. Even laser marks are made for people in America - on the forehead and on the arm. This is how the seal of the Antichrist will be placed. Those who do not agree to do it will not be able to get a job, buy or sell something. So the Antichrist wants to seize power over all of humanity. Christ himself will help those who refuse the seal. Accepting the mark would be tantamount to denying Jesus.

The future through the eyes of an old man

There were also predictions made by Elder Paisios the Holy Mountaineer. Books
with his statements contain many prophecies. So, the saint said that Turkey would be occupied by the Russians, and China with a two hundred million army would cross the Euphrates River and reach Jerusalem.

Even the elder claimed that a world war would begin soon after the Turks dammed the Euphrates River and used water for irrigation.

Also, the saint during the time of Brezhnev predicted the collapse of the USSR.

He spoke many more times about the war in Asia Minor, about the collapse of Turkey, about Constantinople.

As can be seen from all of the above, some predictions have already come true, others may soon begin to come true.

By the grace of God, the future was opened to the elder in order to warn Once again living on earth now and to reason, to make them think.

There are many saints in the history of Christianity. But the role of those who live with us or lived quite recently cannot be overestimated. After all, many people were strengthened, and some even believed thanks to the prayers and miracles of the saints. The life of the elder Paisius the Holy Mountaineer just convinces us of this. A bright monk whose love for people was boundless. Such courage in overcoming oneself, one's weaknesses and illnesses can be shown, probably, only by saints.

Blessed Paisius the Holy Mountaineer, pray to God for us!

To Elder Paisius, in his wretched cell, people from all over the world rode, flew, walked for advice, prayerful help and blessings. The word of the elder healed any spiritual wounds, and his truly all-encompassing love was enough to envelop the whole world with an invisible cloud of its beneficial currents.

Elder Paisios the Holy Mountaineer
(7.08.1924 - 12.07.1994)

To Elder Paisius, in his wretched cell, people from all over the world rode, flew, walked for advice, prayerful help and blessings. People were very different - believers and those of little faith, doubting and even denying Christ, rich and very rich, poor and very poor, hopelessly sick and full of health, simple people and clothed with a high social position and power, learned and barely able to write. The grace of God that rested on the elder was so abundant and strong that with any of them he could talk about what worried him the most. The word of the elder healed any spiritual wounds, and his truly all-encompassing love was enough to envelop the whole world with an invisible cloud of its beneficial currents. Truly, God himself spoke through his mouth, from his eyes the eyes of God looked at the world.

Blessed Elder Paisios (in the world Arseniy Eznepidis) was born on August 7, 1924 in the village of Farasy, in Cappadocia (Asia Minor).

The elder's father, Prodromos, belonged to a noble family that ruled in Faras from generation to generation. Having an administrative gift, Prodromos remained the headman for several decades. He was a believer and had special reverence for St. Arseny of Cappadocia (hieromonk Arseny was a priest in the church in Faras), rendering obedience to him in everything. The elder's father was a good craftsman, his hands did an excellent job with any work. He worked in Faras as a peasant, but besides that, having a smelting furnace, he was engaged in iron smelting. The elder's mother was called Evlogia. She was a relative of the Monk Arsenius of Cappadocia. She was a prudent and very reverent woman, brought up on the instructions of the Monk Arseny. These blessed people gave birth to 10 children (Arseniy was the 6th child in the family).

At baptism, the parents wanted to give the baby the name of his grandfather - Christ. However, the Monk Arseny said to the baby's grandmother: “Listen, Khadzhianna, I have christened so many children for you! Won't you give at least one of them my name?" And to the parents of the elder, the Monk Arseny said: “Good. Here you want to leave someone who would follow in the footsteps of his grandfather. Don't I want to leave a monk to follow in my footsteps?" And, turning to the godmother (according to the Greek tradition, the name of the person being baptized is pronounced by his godfather), he said: "Say: Arseny." That is, the Monk Arseny gave the elder his name and his blessing, obviously foresaw that he would become a monk.

At that time, Orthodox families in Cappadocia experienced oppression from Turkish Muslims, many were forced to leave their homeland. In September 1924, the refugees arrived in Greece. The family settled in Konitsa. Little Arseniy from childhood dreamed of becoming a monk, he ran away into the forest and prayed there selflessly. After graduating from school, Arseny got a job as a carpenter. In 1945, he was drafted into the army, where he served for most of his service as a radio operator, showing extraordinary courage during the war. Often he himself asked to be sent on the most dangerous missions to the front line in order to take the place of his colleagues, referring to the fact that he was free, and they had wives and children who were waiting for them. After the end of his service in 1949, Arseniy, choosing the monastic path, went to Mount Athos. In 1950, he became a novice of Elder Cyril, later Abbot of the Kutlumush Monastery. Some time later, Fr. Cyril sent a novice to the monastery of Esfigmen, where Arseny received in 1954 a cassock with the name Averky. He loved solitude, prayed unceasingly, loved to read the lives of the saints. I really liked o. Averky to visit blessed elders.

In 1956, Elder Simeon tonsured Fr. Averky in the small schema with the name Paisius, in honor of Metropolitan Paisius II of Kessaria. Living in a monastery, Fr. Paisius did not lose his spiritual connection with his spiritual father, he often came to the skete to the elder Cyril. It happened that the answer to the exciting question about. Paisios found it in a book, which the perspicacious elder immediately handed him: the necessary words in it were underlined in advance with a pencil. The elder, seeing with his spiritual vision the need of the spiritual child, knew in advance about the time when he would come. Through the prayer of the spiritual father, Fr. Paisius grew spiritually. Having outlined for himself the main goal - "purification of the soul and complete subjugation of the mind by Divine grace", the young monk tried to achieve it by all means. He believed that any problems should be confronted with "patience, good thought and humility, so that the grace of God could help." Having acquired the wisdom of the holy fathers, he later showed with his whole humble life that "the desires of the soul are abolished when its goal is union with the goodness of God." Despite the fact that from childhood he loved solitude, he trusted in the Providence of God, and by command from above began to receive pilgrims.

From 1958 to 1962, Fr. Paisios lived in the monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Stomio, where, by the providence of God, he had to spiritually help thousands of people who came to the monastery with their needs. Since 1962, Elder Paisius has been living in Sinai, in the cell of Saints Galaktion and Epistimius. In 1964, the elder returned to Athos and settled in the Iberian Skete.

Fr Paisios himself never started talking about being tonsured into the great schema, out of humility considering himself unworthy and desiring to keep his monastic vows impeccably in everything. However, after the promptings of his elder Tikhon (Golenkov), he agreed to become a great chemist. On January 11, 1966, in the Stavronikitsk Kaliva of the Holy Cross, Father Paisios received a great angelic image from the honest hands of Father Tikhon.

On December 10, 1966, the elder underwent an operation for a disease of the bronchi and lungs. They took away part of his lung. In the hospital, the elder was cared for by sisters who wanted to found the monastery of St. John the Evangelist. After his recovery, the elder helped these girls find a suitable place for monastic life. Thus was founded the Hesychastirium of St. John the Evangelist in Suroti, not far from Thessaloniki.

In 1967, Fr. Paisius went to Katunaki and settled in the Lavriot cell of Hypatia.

From the memoirs of Elder Paisios: “When I was living in Katunaki, one day during a night prayer, heavenly joy began to take possession of me. At the same time, my cell, whose darkness was only slightly illuminated by the flickering light of a candle, gradually began to fill with a beautiful bluish light. This mysterious light was extremely strong, but I felt that my eyes could withstand its brightness. It was the Uncreated Divine Light, which was seen by many elders of Athos! For many hours I was in the illumination of this wondrous light, not feeling earthly objects and being in spiritual world, completely different from the local, physical. Being in this state and receiving heavenly sensations through that Uncreated Light, I spent many hours not feeling time in comparison with it. sunlight seemed like a full moon night! However, my eyes were able to withstand the brightness of that light."

Since 1968, the elder settled in the monastery of Stavronikita. Having learned about the new place of residence of the elder, the pilgrims rushed to this monastery.

The elder's love for people was boundless, he tried not to denounce anyone publicly, for each he had a piece of sweet delight and a mug of cold water, good advice and prayer support. All day long he comforted the suffering and filled their souls with hope and love for God, and at night he prayed, allowing himself to rest only 3-4 hours. When the spiritual children of the elder asked him to have pity on himself - to rest, he answered: “When I want to rest, I pray. I knew that only prayer correctly frees a person from fatigue. So pray and learn." He said: “I always try not to deal with my pain. I have other people's pain on my mind, and I make that pain my own. Thus, we must always take the place of others... Good is good only if the one who does it sacrifices something of his own: sleep, rest, and the like, which is why Christ said: "from the deprivation of his own..." (Luke 21.4). When I do good, having rested, it is not expensive ... Tired and making a sacrifice in order to help another, I experience heavenly joy ... My own peace is born from the fact that I bring peace to another.

The elder read the entire Psalter every day. At night he prayed for the whole world. Separately, he offered prayers for those who are in hospitals, for quarreling married couples, prayed for all those who finish work late, for all those traveling at night ...

One night, when the elder was praying, it was revealed to him that at that moment a man named John was in danger. The elder lit a candle and began to pray for John. The next day, the same young man for whom he prayed came to the elder. John said that the elder began to pray for the salvation of his soul precisely at the very hour when, out of despair, he decided to commit suicide. Sitting on a motorcycle, a young man rushed out of the city to turn into a cliff and crash. Suddenly, the thought came to him: “So much is being said about this by Paisia ​​on the Holy Mountain, should I go and see him.” Having met the elder, John found a loving spiritual father, through whose prayers he embarked on the true path.

Through the prayers of Elder Paisius, many believers received healing. One day, the father of a deaf-mute girl turned to the elder for help. He said that a few years ago, before the birth of a child, he put obstacles in the way of his own brother, who wanted to become a monk. Seeing the man’s sincere repentance, Elder Paisios prayed for the girl’s healing and promised: “Your daughter will not only speak, but also deafen you!”

After a while, the girl began to speak.

It often happened that people who had difficulty walking, suffered from rheumatic diseases, and the disabled, to everyone's surprise, left the elder healed. To one desperate couple after many years of unsuccessful treatment who wanted to adopt a child, he advised to wait with adoption, while promising: “Now with the help of God you will have a child!” Soon, through the prayers of the elder, the long-awaited child was born.

One day the father of a girl with cancer came to the elder and asked the elder to pray for the healing of his daughter. The old man replied:

I will pray, but you, as a father, must also make some kind of sacrifice to God, because the sacrifice of love greatly “disposes” God to help... Quit smoking out of love for your daughter, and then God will heal her. Through the elder's prayer, the girl recovered. However, after some time, the girl's father, forgetting about his vow, started smoking again - the disease suddenly returned. When the man again came to the Holy Mountain and turned to the elder for help, he said:

If you, as a father, do not have enough piety to sacrifice your passion and save the life of your child, then there is nothing I can do to help you.

Elder Paisius said: “No one wants to control himself, everyone wants to live uncontrollably, according to his own will. But this leads to a complete disaster, because, yes, God gave man the freedom to do as he wants, but he also gave him reason so that he understands his limitations and the boundary between right and wrong. When a person acts presumptuously, not considering his weakness, then he makes mistakes.

Often relatives of those who, according to doctors, were not destined to survive after serious operations and incurable diseases, often turned to the elder for help. There are many testimonies of the miraculous healing of hopelessly ill people through the prayers of the elder. However, the health of the elder himself deteriorated catastrophically from year to year.

Back in 1966, after a lung disease as a result of taking strong antibiotics, the old man developed pseudo-membranous colitis with sharp pains in the abdomen. Despite the pain, he stood for hours, receiving people who wanted to take his blessing. The elder believed that pain greatly helps the soul and humbles it, and the more sick a person is, “the more benefit he derives.”

Since 1988, the old man had an additional complication in the intestines, accompanied by bleeding. By 1993, the elder's condition had become very difficult, but Elder Paisios did not stop receiving pilgrims. When his spiritual children begged him to seek medical attention, he replied that “in the spiritual life such a state helps a lot, so it is unprofitable to cast it out.” The elder courageously endured the suffering that fell to his lot, never asked for anything for himself, prayed only for the healing of others. At the insistence of his spiritual children, he nevertheless went to the hospital for treatment, the doctors established the presence of a cancerous tumor.

In 1994, the elder underwent two operations, but his health continued to deteriorate: on July 11, he took communion for the last time.

On July 12, 1994, the elder gave his soul to the Lord and was buried in the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Suroti behind the altar of the church of St. Arseny of Cappadocia. No one knew about his death, that was his will. He wanted to be buried quietly and unnoticed. Three days later, all of Greece rushed to the grave of the deceased elder ...

Sayings of Elder Paisios

The main duty of a person is to love God and then his neighbor, and most of all - his enemy. If we love God in the right way, then we will keep all of His other commandments. But we love neither God nor our neighbors. Who is interested in another person today? Everyone is interested only in themselves, but not in others, and for this we will give an answer. God, Who is all Love, will not forgive us this indifference towards our neighbors.

Obedience and natural simplicity lead to holiness in a short way.

About prayer

Before prayer, read a few lines from the Gospel or Paterik. Thus your thought will be warmed up and transported to the spiritual land.

A person must constantly pray: "Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." Prayer should be simple... We say a prayer, and our soul is warmed.

Prayer is the oxygen of the soul, its urgent need, and it should not be considered a heavy duty. In order for a prayer to be heard by God, it must come from the heart, be done with humility and in a deep sense of our sinfulness. If prayer is not from the heart, there is no use in it.

Prayer should be joy and thanksgiving, not a forced and dry formality. Prayer is rest. The soul does not get tired in prayer, for, conversing with God, it rests.

Achievements in the spiritual life

Our spiritual success, like salvation, depends on us. Nobody else can save us.

When a person does something with all his heart, that is, he loves what he does, then he does not get tired mentally.

Let us not justify ourselves, so as not to impede Divine grace.

The heart is cleansed with tears and sighs... Let us weep over our sins, always hoping for the love and mercy of God.

About Humility and Patience

God allows a person to endure various trials, illnesses, harm and much more, slander from the people around us, insults, injustice. We must accept them patiently, without frustration, as a blessing from God. When someone does us an injustice, we should rejoice and consider the one who is unjust to us as our great benefactor.

Only by humility can one come to oneself and be saved. Only humility saves.

About thoughts

If our thought is established in faith, no one can change it...

We will have good thoughts when we see everything clean. A pure heart and pure good thoughts bring mental health. A bad thought hinders Divine grace.

Those who have good thoughts and think and see good...

Good start to family life

To start your family life right, you first need to find good girl, which will be to the heart, because the heart of each is disposed towards people in its own way. You need to look not at the fact that the bride is rich and beautiful, but above all that she is simple and humble. That is, our attention should be paid to the inner beauty of the future bride. If a girl is a reliable person, if she is endowed with courage - but no more than it is necessary for a female character - this will greatly help her future spouse in all difficulties to come to full understanding with her and not suffer from a headache. If she also has the fear of God, there is humility, then they can, holding hands, cross to the opposite bank of the evil river of this world.

If a young man seriously looks at some girl as his future bride, then, I think, it is better for him to notify the girl's parents about this through one of his relatives. Then he needs to personally talk with the girl's parents and with her about his intention. If the bride and groom with piety try their best to preserve their virginity before the wedding, then in the sacrament of marriage, when the priest places crowns on them, they will richly receive the grace of God. Because, as St. John Chrysostom says, the crowns of the sacrament of marriage are a symbol of victory over pleasure.

About raising children

Many parents wrongly love their children and cause them spiritual harm. For example, a mother, out of excessive carnal love for her child, hugging and kissing him, says: “What a wonderful child you are,” or: “You are the best boy in the world,” etc. From this, the baby is very early (in age when he cannot yet realize this and object) acquires a high opinion of himself that he is the best and smartest. For this reason, naturally, he does not feel the need for the grace of God and does not know how to ask God for help. Thus, from early childhood, a stone conceit is established in the soul of a child, which he will never be able to overcome and will take with him to the coffin. The evil is that the first ones who suffer from this arrogance are the parents themselves. Indeed, will the children of their parents sit quietly and listen to the instructions of their parents when they are sure that they are the best and know everything themselves? Therefore, parents should be very careful spiritual development their children, for they are responsible not only for themselves, but also for them.

About condemnation

We will never judge. When we see someone fall into sin, we will cry and ask God to forgive him. If we judge the mistakes of others, it means that our spiritual vision has not yet been purified. He who helps his neighbor receives help from God. He who condemns his neighbor with envy and malice has God as his judge. We will not condemn anyone. We will consider everyone saints, and only ourselves - sinners. Condemnation is not only a word, but also the mind, and the inner disposition of the heart. Internal layout sets the tone for our thoughts and words. In any case, it is more profitable for us to be restrained in our judgments, so as not to fall into condemnation; in other words, we will avoid approaching the fire, otherwise we will either burn ourselves or get sooty. The best thing to do is always judge yourself.

Let's understand that we are nothing.

Paisiy Svyatogorets was born on July 25, 1924, in the village of Farasy, in large family. His father, Prodromos Eznepidis, was a man of faith. In everyday life, he was engaged in peasant activities, iron smelting. According to the nature of Prodromos, he was distinguished by courage, patriotism and justice. Mother Paisia, Eulogia, a deeply religious, hardworking woman, came from the Frangopoulos family and was related to the now famous Arseny of Cappadocia.

At Baptism, the parents wanted to name their son in honor of his grandfather, but the Monk Arseny, seeing him future life and wanting to give him his blessing, he insisted on the name Arseny.

In view of the oppression of the Orthodox by Turkish Muslims and due to the exchange of population between Turkey and Greece, the Arseny (Paisia) family, together with their fellow tribesmen, was forced to emigrate. Upon arrival in Greece, the settlers huddled for some time in the port of Piraeus, then in the fortress of the island of Corfu. Here the Monk Arseny died and was buried. Finally, the refugees reached the city of Konitsa, where they settled.

From childhood, Arseny (Paisy) dreamed of becoming a monk, joined in prayer, learned humility and abstinence. Parents often told him about the Monk Arseny, whose name he bore from Baptism, and whom Arseny himself later set as an example.

Having learned to read and write, Arseny often read the Holy Scriptures and the Lives of the Saints. They say that sometimes, returning from school, he immediately took up these sacred benefits, forgetting about food. It happened that his elder brother, seeing Arseny's excessive enthusiasm, as it seemed to him, hid books, but Arseny showed amazing perseverance: it got to the point that he ran away to read in the forest. Even then, he tried to use the experience of the saints in his practice.

He finished elementary school well, but did not continue to study; There was no high school in his village. Imitating Christ, who, as is known, was brought up in a carpenter's house, Arseny began to learn carpentry. At one time he worked with a mentor, and subsequently organized his own carpentry workshop. In addition to household items, he made things for church use and coffins. For the latter, he did not take payment, expressing his compassion and imbued with the pain of heavy losses.

They say that at the age of fifteen, Arseny was honored with the miraculous appearance of the Savior, which further confirmed him in zeal for the Lord and piety. Soon he turned to the diocesan administration with a request to become a monk, but the representative who spoke with him replied that he needed to grow up.

During civil war the communists imprisoned Arseniy, but later, having figured it out, they released him. In view of the participation of the brothers in the war, Arseny was forced to shoulder the burden of peasant work, becoming an assistant and support for his mother. The idea of ​​becoming a monk had to be put aside.

Military service

In 1945, Arseny was drafted into the Army, received a military specialty as a radio operator. The unit in which the future Svyatogorets served participated in the hostilities. Arseny more than once had to experience mortal danger and difficulties, but he did not lose heart, but trusted in God. And God did not leave him.

Once at the shooting range, Arseniy witnessed an unusual glow, invisible to others. It came from the ravine. Later, he found out that convicts were shot at that place, among whom there were probably innocent ones. By the providence of God, Arseny was spared from participating in these executions.

Life on Athos

In 1950, after returning from service and a short stay in Konitsa, Arseniy went to the Holy Mountain. He wanted to find an elder who would take him into obedience. However, the search did not lead to the desired result. In addition, Arseny received news from his father about the difficulties that had arisen. And he decided to go home.

Returning from Athos, Arseny took up carpentry. From the money he earned, he gave to his relatives and donated to the poor. Someone made windows and doors for free. Despite professional activity requiring strength, Arseny fasted, at night he indulged in prayers and bowed, but he slept right on the floor.

In March 1953, following his vocation, Arseny made the final decision to leave the vanity of the world and devote his life to the monastic feat. Having distributed his savings to the poor, he again went to Athos. At first, his choice was at the monastery of Constamonit, but by the time he arrived at the place, a storm broke out on the side of the south coast. Recognizing this as the action of God's Providence, he boarded a ship, the route of which ran along the north side, and went to the monastery of Esfigmene. The monastery was distinguished by a strict order. Here there was someone to learn from, and from whom to adopt spiritual experience.

At first, Arseny fulfilled his obedience in the refectory and bakery, then in the carpentry. Another area of ​​responsibility was two churches that were outside the monastery. There he maintained cleanliness and lit lamps.

No matter how hard obedience was, with the completion labor day, at night, Arseny prayed and glorified the Creator. Gradually, under the control of the abbot, he added others to one of his exploits. In church he tried not to sit down, in winter, in his cell, he did without a stove, and on the street - without warm clothes. Slept on bricks or stone slabs.

Like many famous ascetics, Arseny did not escape the devil's battles and intrigues. At one time, the inventor of sin embarrassed him by warming up memories and feelings for his relatives, showing them in a dream either sick or dead. Then he appeared to Arseny in a sensual form, wanting to frighten him, talked to him. With the help of God, Arseny overcame his deceit, bypassed the nets and traps.

The Beginning of the Monastic Path

March 27, 1954 Arseniy, having passed the test, was tonsured a monk. Since then, he began to bear the name "Averky".

Once, being in the altar and watching the priest performing the Proskomidia, he saw the Lamb on the paten trembling like a lamb.

Another time, at night, during prayer, he felt as if something was descending on him from above and washing him. Averky was filled with tears of joy. It was an act of grace.

In obedience to the elder

Over time, in Averky, the desire for a silent, solitary life matured more and more. And so, one day he asked for a blessing to leave the monastery. Having gone after that to the Iberian Monastery, he kissed the icon of the Mother of God and felt some special tenderness. From this, Averky concluded that his departure was in accordance with God's will.

Having heard about the virtues of the elder hieromonk Kirill, who labored in the Kultumush skete, Averky came to him and asked to be a novice. The elder agreed. In addition to the virtues common to Christians, he possessed the gift of clairvoyance and the gift of casting out demons. Averky treated him with deep respect and thought to stay with him forever. But the devil began to build new intrigues.

At some point, despite the fact that Averky left the monastery not by personal arbitrariness, but with the blessing of the abbot, the antiprosop of the monastery demanded his return. The monastery needed him as a good carpenter, and the antiprosopus used the threat: if Averky did not return, he would be expelled from the Holy Mountain.

Admission to the Philotheus Monastery

At that time a distant relative of Averky, Hieromonk Simeon, labored in the special monastery of Philotheus. At one time he knew the Monk Arsenius of Cappadocia. With this in mind, Elder Cyril advised Averky to go to this monastery and stand under the protection of Father Simeon, which was done.

According to archival evidence, Averky entered it on March 12, 1956. While ascetic at Philotheus, he had the opportunity to visit Elder Cyril and receive from him soulful explanations on pressing issues. It happened that the elder, having foreseen in advance the time of Averky's arrival and the content of the topic of interest to him, instead of a verbal answer, pointed to a fragment he had already noted in the book.

In the monastery of Philotheus, Averky had the obedience of a trapper and a cellarer. Then he was appointed senior in the carpentry. In addition, he worked in a bakery. One day, seeing how one of the elders was locking firewood, Averky was saddened and asked him not to do this anymore, saying that he himself was ready to carry firewood for him and for the other brothers, so long as no one would take someone else's. He traditionally did not heat his own cell.

Once the devil wanted to catch Averky through pride, to which he, having understood the satanic trick, immediately lit a candle and began to pray. Then, in confession, he told his confessor about what had happened. After a conversation with the confessor, he carefully analyzed his thoughts and realized that sometimes he really deviated from the opinion about the significance of his deeds.

From time to time the devil tried to inspire him with blasphemous thoughts about the saints. And once, during Divine Liturgy, he appeared to him in the form of a monster with a dog's head, and, annoyed that Averky then sang "Holy God", threatened him with his filthy paw.

By the summer of 1956, Averky's health deteriorated and the monastery elders sent him to Konitsa for treatment. Having reached the place, he did not want to live in his parents' house, in view of the strict and attentive attitude to the monastic vow taken, and stopped at the church of St. Barbara. Soon, at the invitation of an old acquaintance, he moved into her house. Periodically, he was visited by the attending physician, and Native sister came for injections. Upon completion of the course of treatment, Averky returned to Philotheus.

On March 3, 1957, Averky was tonsured into the mantle. Then he received a new name "Paisius", in honor of Paisius II, Metropolitan of Caesarea.

During his stay at Philotheos, Paisios thought a lot about silence. But all attempts to retire to the desert did not have a successful resolution.

Once he agreed with the boatman that he would transport him to a deserted island, but the boatman did not appear by the appointed time. On another occasion, Paisios intended to become a novice of the elder Peter, but soon the elder died.

And once he agreed with the Filofeyevsky monk, Father F., to go to Katunaki for the sake of silence. They were both stopped by God's intervention. Father F. had a dream: they were running on the roof of the monastery, but before they were supposed to jump, the Wife, dressed in black, held them by their clothes, saying that there was an abyss below, and if they jumped, they would break. Paisios, however, received a special revelation. While he was in his cell and praying, his legs and arms suddenly gave out. Some invisible force shackled him so that he could not move at all. Having been in this state for about two hours, he suddenly saw Katunaki, and on the other hand, the monastery of Stomion in Konitsa. When he looked at Katunaki, he heard a voice Holy Mother of God, which forbade going to Katunaki and commanding to go to the monastery of Stomion. When Paisius noticed that he asked for a desert, and She sent him into the world, he again heard that he had to go to Konitsa. Then he was released from the mysterious bonds, and his heart was filled with grace. When Paisios told his confessor about this, he, advising him not to tell anyone about what had happened, blessed him to leave the Holy Mountain and go to Konitsa.

Monastery of Stomion

In 1958, in fulfillment of Divine will, Paisios ended up in the burnt-out monastery of Stomion. Paisios had neither the money nor the materials needed to restore the monastery. The Christians rejoiced at the appearance of the ascetic and were ready to render all possible assistance to him.

Vladyka blessed Father Paisios to travel around the surrounding villages with the relics of the saints and collect donations. Some people donated a plate of wheat, but Paisius did not save it for sale, but gave it to the priests to distribute it to those in need.

By the intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, people were found who contributed to the restoration of the monastery in cash, construction and finishing materials, transport, personal labor.

In addition to construction work, Paisius made a lot of efforts in the moral education of the population, weaned them from the reckless feasts and dances that used to be held near the monastery. They say that to the right of the entrance he dug a grave and hoisted a cross over it, and then lit a lamp there and censed it.

At some time, sectarian evangelists became more active in Konitsa. They propagated their faith so skillfully that the number of their followers grew steadily. In response, Paisius drew up a written revelation and hung it up to the monastery doors. In addition, he repeatedly talked with listeners of heretical sermons and, with his zealous exhortations, deflected them from the danger of joining the sect.

Along with concern for the spiritual and moral state of people, Father Paisios showed concern for the material support of the poor. By agreement with the authorities, he installed special charitable piggy banks in different quarters of Konitsa, appointed those responsible for the collection and created a board of trustees that managed the distribution of funds. He sent volunteers to take care of the elderly. Leasing the monastery lands to the poor, he did not demand money for it, but only asked that in the event of a good harvest, they would give the monastery as much as they considered necessary.

Through the efforts of Father Paisius, the relics of the Monk Arsenios of Cappadocia were transferred to Konitsa. To do this, he went to Kerkyra, participated in the acquisition of relics and personally washed them with wine and water.

Unfortunately, not everyone treated Paisius with understanding. Someone did not like that he forbade inappropriate entertainment, and someone looked at the monastery property. There were also those who demanded to expel Paisios. Then he went to the Holy Mountain, but the inhabitants began to ask him to return. He returned, and in 1961 he again went to Athos, then returned again.

After some time, having entered into correspondence with the Sinai archbishop Porfiry and having received from the bishop a blessing to live in Sinai, Paisios moved to Mount Sinai. It was 1962.

The life of a hermit on Mount Sinai

They say that at first, after the arrival of Paisius on Mount Sinai, there was a severe drought. When the monastery began to prepare a caravan of camels for sending water, the elder asked not to send it that day. At night he gave himself up to prayer, and it began to rain.

For some time, Father Paisios took part in carpentry work related to the restoration of icons. Then, having asked for a blessing for a solitary life in the wilderness, he settled in the cell of Saints Galaktion and Epistimius. Not far from this place was a small spring. There was little water, but the elder shared it with animals and birds.

On Sundays, and sometimes less often, he visited the monastery: he took communion, helped to sing and read, took part in monastic work, and instructed those who turned to him for advice.

The devil did not leave Paisios here either. Once, when he was shaking an old alarm clock, the devil began to inspire him with the idea that if he were married, he would shake not the alarm clock, but the child. The old man immediately threw it away.

By 1964, Paisius's health had deteriorated greatly. No matter how sorry it was to part with his beloved desert, Paisios was forced to return to Athos.

Deterioration of health

Returning to the Holy Mountain, Father Paisios settled in the Iberian skete. He willingly helped the brethren around him, and, if possible, indulged in silent solitude, engaged in prayer and contemplation.

Meanwhile, the disease progressed. It turned out that the diagnosis made in previous years was wrong. While Paisius was being treated for tuberculosis, in reality he was suffering from bronchiectasis. In 1966, he underwent surgery, removing almost the entire left lung.

In addition to ascetic exploits, he was engaged in carving. He sold part of the products, providing himself with a modest subsistence; distributed most of it.

When the Holy Kinot instructed hieromonks Vasily and Gregory, inhabitants of the Iver Skete, to transform the life of the Stavronikita Monastery, they turned to Paisius for advice. He supported this decision and promised to help. On August 12, 1968, Paisios moved to the Stavronikit Monastery.

On September 10, 1968, Elder Tikhon reposed in the Lord. Before his death, he expressed his desire to Paisius to become his successor in the cell. Paisius himself considered this a great blessing. Having rendered all possible assistance to the brethren of the Stavronikitsky monastery, he moved to the kaliva of the Holy Cross.

On February 21, 1971, Paisius was honored with the apparition of the Monk Arsenios of Cappadocia. At this time, he read the handwritten Life of St. Arseny, compiled by him. He affectionately stroked Paisius on the head. Subsequently, the description of the appearance of the Monk Arseny seen in this phenomenon, as well as the drawing painted by Paisios, formed the basis of his iconographic image.

In 1972, Paisius was honored to visit the place of his birth, Faras. And in 1977, at the invitation Orthodox Church in Australia, he visited this country, together with Father Basil, hegumen of the monastery of Stavronikita.

It is reported that one day the elder became an eyewitness to the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ. He saw Him in a blaze of light.

Cell "Panaguda". The last years of the life of Saint Paisios

After spending about eleven years in the kaliva of the Holy Cross, Elder Paisios moved to the cell "Panaguda". This cell less than others satisfied the conditions of a solitary life, but more than others corresponded to the convenience of pilgrims who sought spiritual support and consolation from the elder. The cell was very dilapidated and in need of repair. Father Paisios put a lot of effort into bringing her into the proper form.

In 1982 Father Paisios visited Jerusalem. And after Jerusalem he went to Sinai, to the monastery of St. Catherine. After staying there for a short time, he returned to Mount Athos.

Lately, the old man was in pain. He sensitively reacted to the cold and from September he began to heat the cell. The bodily strength was gone.

On October 22, 1993, Father Paisios left the territory of the Holy Mountain and went to Suroti Monastery. He never returned to Mount Athos. In Suroti, he became ill and was taken to the hospital. It was discovered that he had cancer. On February 4, 1994, they had an operation, then another.

Father Paisius wanted to go to Athos and complete his earthly journey there, but this was prevented by the deterioration of his condition. He decided to stay in Suroti. On July 11, Father Paisios received the Holy Mysteries of Christ. On July 12, 1994, the ascetic's heart stopped.

On January 13, 2015, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate unanimously decided to rank Elder Paisios the Holy Mountaineer among the saints of the Orthodox Church.

Troparion to the Monk Paisios the Holy Mountaineer

Tone 5

Received the fire of divine love, / with a surpassing feat, thou art all God, / and comforted many people, / punish with divine words, / work wonders with prayers, / Paisie Bogonose, / and now pray esya unceasingly // o all over the world, Reverend.

Kontakion to the Monk Paisios the Holy Mountaineer

Voice 8. Similar: Chosen:

Living like an angel on earth, / you shone with love, reverend Paisios, / a great affirmation of the monks, / the leader of those faithful to the life of the holy, / the sweetest consolation of the universe appeared to you, / for this we call you: // rejoice, father of the world.

Saint Paisius is known for his righteous life, honesty and selfless help to all those in need. In front of his icon, everyone can pray for the acquisition peace of mind and wisdom.

The Monk Paisios was distinguished by great humility, performed the feats of fasting and prayer, but whenever possible he hid them from strangers. To the question of the monks, which virtue is the highest of all, the monk answered: “The one that takes place in secret and that no one knows about.”

History of the icon

The icon "Paisios the Great" depicts a Christian saint who was born in Egypt in the 4th century after the Nativity of Christ. The venerable saint during his lifetime lost his father early, and his mother decided to give him to serve in the church after the appearance of an angel to her. He told the inconsolable widow that the merciful Lord would take care of the children who had lost their father, and advised one of them to give to the service of the Lord. Having reached the age of majority, Paisios took monastic vows from the ascetic Saint Pavme in the Nitrian desert. The novice adhered to all the instructions, kept himself strict and often talked with the prophet Jeremiah, who came to him to reveal great secrets and prophecies. Over time, Paisius went into the desert, where he dug a cave with his own hands and was content with an ascetic life. Over time, the disciples reached out to him, and a monastery was erected on the site of the cave, where Paisios shared the wisdom of Orthodox life with his novices. The saint died in old age, and transfer his relics to the Pelusiot monastery in Asia Minor.

Where is the icon

There are churches erected in honor of St. Paisius the Great in the city of Krasnodar (the chapel of the same name in the Lenin farm), in the Moscow region, the Ramensky district Mikhailovskaya Sloboda (the church of the same name), in the city of Miass Chelyabinsk region, V Yaroslavl region, in Varnitsy, in Uglich. In these temples and many others, you can bow to the icon of the saint.

Description of the icon of Paisius the Great

Since ancient times, Paisios the Great has been portrayed as an old man dressed in monastic robes. On many icons, he holds a scroll in his hands. There are icons on which Paisios is represented praying to Jesus and surrounded by angels.

What does the icon help with?

Before the face of Saint Paisius, the spouses, whose family life has cracked, are asked for help. The desire to protect the family often leads couples to this miraculous face.

The image of Paisius helps everyone to establish themselves in the true Orthodox faith and begin the righteous path, repenting of their sins.

Saint helps to understand inner world, find the strength to fight temptations, bring feelings and emotions to harmony.

Many Orthodox turn to Paisius the Great with pressing questions and concerns when they themselves are at a fork in the road. According to legends that have come down to our times, the saint had the gift of foresight and could predict events that await everyone.

They turn to the elder for advice on how to live on, or ask for guidance in solving some difficult matter.

Prayers before the image

“The winner of earthly passions, the soul-savior of everyone, the Monk Paisios! We call upon you in prayer. Do not reject our words, coming from the depths of our hearts. Help reverend father, to understand pressing matters, but do not leave sincere requests without an answer and help. Lead on the true path, and illuminate the darkness around us with true Divine light. Pray to our Lord for the remission of our sins, of which we repent, and protect us from all evil that seduces us from the path. Amen".

honor days

The memory of St. Paisios is celebrated on July 2 (June 19 according to the old style). On this day, Orthodox Christians participate in a prayer service and offer prayers glorifying Great Paisios, a true believer.

Everyone can offer prayers venerable old man and hope that life will sparkle with new colors. After all, the main thing in prayers is not the words themselves, but their meaning. True faith will become for everyone a guiding thread leading to the righteous happy life.Be happy and don't forget to press the buttons and

04.07.2017 17:13

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