You and I will learn about what happened from books or history lessons. But future events that arouse constant interest among the public are covered with an invisible veil. Not everyone is able to break through it. Only a few clairvoyants have the opportunity to spy on the main trends of the future. Paisiy Svyatogorets is rightfully considered one of the most perspicacious. His prophecies are popular, interpreted and retold by many. There is a lot of incomprehensible and strange things in the words of the Elder. Although time puts everything in its place. The incredible prophecies of Paisius the Svyatogorets about Russia have already come true to some extent. Consequently, there is reason to expect the further embodiment of the wonderful path that the Elder dedicated to this Great Power. Let's take a closer look at what Paisiy Svyatogorets was talking about, whose prophecies became so popular in connection with Turkey's aggressive step towards the Russian military aircraft.
Prophecy of Paisius the Holy Mountain about war
It should be noted that the Elder is revered both in his homeland - in Greece and in other countries. He is not particularly trusted in Turkey. And there is a reason for this. The Turks do not like the prophecies of Paisius the Holy Mountain about the Third World War. The Elder said that hostilities would take place in the Middle East. By the way, we see this on TV and computer screens. But the characters in this bloody massacre are not the same yet. According to the Elder, two hundred million Chinese must take part in the battles. They will come when the Euphrates becomes shallow. The saint pointed out to his listeners that everyone could see the signs of the impending Armageddon. He called for reflection. After all, such a powerful river as the Euphrates cannot dehydrate itself. A miracle of the Lord will not happen. All people will accomplish with their own hands. There will be indications that the final battle is near construction works in the upper reaches of the river. They will block it with a dam and the waters will subside. Then the army will be able to overcome the obstacle without a bridge. The Chinese will reach Jerusalem and take it. And in the Turkish expanses, Russians and Europeans will meet in battle. Isn’t it true that the provocation in which the Russian Aerospace Forces pilots died looks like the beginning of these tragic events, some starting point before the start of a terrible war?
Prophecies of Paisius the Holy Mountain about Russia
The Elder often told pilgrims that on Mount Athos they pray for Rus', asking the Lord for the revival of the people of this country. People have gone through a lot of troubles. And they are connected not only with the loss of material things. The people are like the crew of a ship thrown ashore by the waves. People panic, having lost faith in God, they do not know where to expect help, as Elder Paisiy the Svyatogorets saw. His prophecies about Russia are connected with the awareness of believers living in the country of their divine destiny. They will remember what it means to be true Orthodox, kind to the world and fierce with their enemies. From this moment the objection of the Great Power will begin. And the whole world will rejoice, and the enemies will be terrified. But until this moment, Christians will have to endure many more terrible things. They will be persecuted in all lands. The Jews will seize power and begin to destroy Orthodoxy. Their goal will be to create a world in which there is no compassion and true faith, said Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets. He rarely made prophecies about Russia. But he was sure that the Lord would not abandon these people. He will always help him, wait until people turn to faith and understand that their strength lies in it. And then Rus' will stand up for its Orthodox brothers - the Greeks. At this moment, Turkey will go to war against the Elder’s homeland. The moment of the great battle will come. The servants of the Antichrist will try with all their might to prevent the reunification of the Orthodox, their strengthening, but nothing will come of it. The Lord will help his beloved children overcome the darkness.
About the collapse of the USSR
Pilgrims and guests were surprised by some of the Elder’s statements. So, a certain gentleman tried to find out what would happen to the USSR. And this happened during the time of Brezhnev. The country was strong and looked confidently into the future. However, the Elder told this gentleman that the Union would soon disintegrate. To the surprised objection, he replied in the sense that you will see for yourself. And this gentleman, it should be noted, was no longer a young man at that time. And so it happened. The elder said that such a tragic event for the people is only a test before great battle, in which Russians (meaning people of all nationalities) must take part. But until they return to the Orthodox faith, they have no chance of victory.
About Constantinople
Now, as you know, this formerly Greek city is called Istanbul and is the capital of Turkey. The prophecies of Cosmas of Aetolia and Paisius of the Holy Mountain speak about him. Or rather, the first expressed his thoughts on the return of the city to the Greek banner, and the second deciphered them. Cosmas of Aitolia said that the time would come when there would be a big war. Then “the mountains will save many souls.” The Elder deciphered these words with the following advice: when the ships enter the Mediterranean Sea, all women and children need to leave the city. This will mean imminent bloodshed. And the military should indicate exactly where the city is located. The Greeks will not have time to take part in the battle. But they will enter Constantinople as winners. Such circumstances will arise in world politics that the Russians will not be able to keep the city for themselves, they will decide that it is better to transfer it to other hands. Here they will remember the Greeks. And the glorious city will return again under its native banners. Turkey is waiting for collapse. According to the Elder, the fate of this people is unenviable. A third of the Turks will become Orthodox, the rest will die or move to Mesopotamia. There will no longer be such a state on the map. This is the prophecy of Paisius the Holy Mountain. He said about the last times that the signs will be clear, we will all see them. As the Mosque of Omar is destroyed, one should prepare for great battles. It stands on the site where Solomon's Temple once stood. The Jewish people dream of reviving it, because only it is the real House of the Lord for them. And for this it is necessary to wipe the mosque off the face of the earth. This is what the followers of the Antichrist will do. The destruction of the Omar Mosque is a sign of the end times.
About spiritual and material
Many prophecies of Saint Paisius the Holy Mountain concerned life ordinary people. He said that you need to trust the Lord sacredly, despite any trials. And the Elder saw many more of them ahead of the Orthodox. In difficult times, when the Antichrist almost dominates the world, only faith will save people. Demons will not be able to overcome this last outpost of light in souls. To a modern person these words may seem strange, and the power of faith may seem insignificant, however, he will be mistaken. When you read the prophecy of Paisius the Holy Mountain about the last times, remember that no one will escape the answer. Everyone will have to choose which side to fight on. Those who support the forces of darkness will bow before the Golden Calf and fall. The light in the souls of these people will fade, and the flames of Hell will consume them. But nothing will affect believers. They are under the protection of the Lord and are his warriors. Every person will have to choose. Neutrality, as they say now, cannot be maintained. The final battle will be a confrontation with the flames of souls standing different sides good and evil. The prophecies of Paisius the Holy Mountain about the Antichrist indicate that it will be difficult for people to resist his will. He will use cunning to win hearts. Only real, ardent trust in Jesus Christ, following His commandments, will protect you from the power of the Antichrist.
Revival through trials
People at all times strive for a calm, prosperous life. There is no sin in this. But the fate of humanity is such that only those who will not betray the Lord can enter the Kingdom of God. And everyone will have their own “front”. There is already a war going on in our souls. The Antichrist is trying to win people over to his side. If you think about it, you will see it yourself. We are constantly fed other people's goals, unnatural desires and dreams. Is it possible for a person to resist the “golden calf” when everyone around him considers the possession of wealth to be true happiness? This is how the Antichrist works. He needs to erase thoughts about Orthodoxy and God from human souls. Then he will become the owner of our world. But the earth will be different, cruel and bloodthirsty. Don’t we now see in ISIS (an organization banned in the Russian Federation) signs of a diabolical ideology? Blood flows like a river, people die without trial or investigation. Do those who are the creation of God dream of such a world? But the battle is already underway. It is, we repeat, in the souls of people. Which side will you take?
Is the wealth worth losing your soul?
Nowadays people are looking for the prophecies of Paisius the Holy Mountain about money. Do they think that the Elder predicted exchange rates? Of course not. He looked deeper at the essence of the world and believed in humanity. He tried to bring light and kindness to people. It is these qualities that are the basis of a new, reborn world. There will be no worship of money. And they themselves will lose the significance that they have today. When the Antichrist is defeated, we will begin to think, dream and act differently. There will be no people left on earth for whom gold will be valuable. In fact, is it the meaning of our existence? They say in its quantity. But this is just a joke. People need to understand that they come into this world to create, to help the Lord improve the planet. And for this you need to look into the soul, see the abilities there. This is exactly how the Elder saw our common future.
About the Russian Tsar
Interestingly, many prophets associated the revival of Russia with God’s anointed. And Elder Paisios said that the king would return. He described his vision of a ship washed ashore. It was Russia. In the hold and on the decks of the frigate, people are panicking, there is fear and lack of hope in their eyes. And then, as the Elder said, people saw that a horseman was rushing towards them straight across the waves. This is an Orthodox king, appointed by the Lord to the people. And under his leadership, the ship returns to the surface of the sea and safely takes the desired course. This is how Paisiy Svyatogorets described the revival of Russia. His prophecies, by the way, echo the thoughts of other clairvoyants. We (or our descendants) will see whether they come true. After all, by all indications, the end of times is near. And you shouldn't be afraid of it. You need to follow the advice of the Elder, trust the Lord and he will protect.
Conclusion
You know, people are often carried away by all kinds of prophecies and predictions. Some criticize them, others firmly believe them. Whether the events described by the Elder will come true apparently depends on those people who live on earth. Is not it? And not the last battle should be expected after reading the comments. The elder said all this with one purpose - to warn people about the machinations of the Antichrist. What everyone needs is not to buy weapons or dig a bomb shelter, but to build the Temple of the Lord in the soul. Paisiy Svyatogorets never tired of warning that believers and only they will be saved! This is precisely the main meaning of his prophecies. Whether Constantinople will fall, whether the Chinese will cross the Euphrates, will be decided by those who will stand next to the Lord against the army of the Antichrist. Is not it?
Reverend Father Paisius the Svyatogorets was born in the Cappadocian city of Faras in 1924, shortly before the inhabitants of the city fled from their native lands to Greece. He was baptized in honor of the Monk Arsenios of Cappadocia. The aged Faras priest, adorned with the holiness of his life, named him Arsenios, in order, in his own words, “to make him his successor.”
In Greece, the family of little Arseny settled in the city of Konitsa, Epirus region. Here he spent his childhood and youth years. Having absorbed with his mother's milk the stories about the miraculous life of Saint Arseny, from the age of five he talked about becoming a monk. And when the boy learned to read, his favorite pastime was reading the lives of saints, whose ascetic deeds he imitated with great zeal.
Having received an education, he did not want to continue his studies and preferred, in imitation of Christ, to master the craft of a carpenter, which he subsequently practiced diligently and skillfully. At the age of fifteen, he was honored to see the Lord for just one pious thought, with the help of which he was able to repel the attacks of demons tempting him with unbelief. Since then, the flame of love for God and the desire to take the path of monasticism flared up in his heart even more.
But years of great unrest and upheaval for Greece followed: foreign occupation and civil war. But the Monk Paisius, as a citizen and soldier performing military service, showed extraordinary courage and self-sacrifice.
Every moment of his life, Paisiy was ready to sacrifice himself to save others. He often had to be in a barrage of deadly fire, where he saved many soldiers with his heartfelt prayer and was miraculously saved himself.
And after these numerous vicissitudes, Paisius, inspired by holy love, wished to join the angelic ranks of monks. So, in search of a spiritual mentor and Divine silence, he arrived on Athos. However, he was not able to immediately fulfill his desire. In addition, his relatives, who were in a difficult financial situation at that time, asked him to help them. Paisiy returned to Konitsa and began working as a carpenter. But three years later, when Paisius was twenty-nine years old, he retired from worldly vanity and returned to the Holy Mountain.
Having visited many monasteries and kalyvas, Paisius eventually followed the advice of one venerable elder and joined the brethren of the holy monastery of Esphigmen, known for its strict rules. Here he lived in complete obedience and indulged in immeasurable asceticism, surpassing the other brothers in the struggle for Divine grace. But, possessing an unquenchable zeal for a quiet and serene life, he, having received the blessing of the abbot, went to the Philotheus monastery, which at that time was self-governing. Here Paisius, under the guidance of a prudent and wise elder, prepared for the life of a hermit. In those years, he became a stavrophore monk, taking the name Paisius.
Submitting to the Divine will, Paisios settled not in the desert, but in the destroyed monastery of the Mother of God Stomiu, located next to Konitsa. Here he spent four years, leading an equal-angelic life, fighting temptations, helping local residents, saving many people from the teachings of the Protestant communities operating there, and with great difficulty restoring the monastery.
When the work to restore the monastery was completed and the threat from the Gentiles had passed, the monk, daily overcome by many temptations, began to fervently ask God to show him the right path. Thus, Paisius considered the offer of a certain hierodeacon to go with him to the God-walked Mount Sinai as divine providence. And in this dry and arid place, in the monastery of Saint Episteme, he finally comprehended what he had desired for so long - holy solitude.
Through great humility, constant fasting, vigil and unceasing prayer, Paisius managed to overcome all the traps of the misanthropic enemy and enjoy unity with God. Filled with the joy of divine consolation, Paisius enjoyed this holy happiness in the midst of the sultry and merciless desert.
And there would be no reason to leave this field of virtue if - alas! - he was not overtaken by a physical illness caused by the harsh climate and forced Paisius to return to his homeland. Returning again to the Holy Mountain, the monk did not reduce his ascetic deeds, despite the loss of strength, since his spirit retained the same zeal. Living on earth as a wanderer and alien, he became a heavenly resident.
Thus, overcoming theory through practice, he reached immeasurable heights and became a participant in the divine mysteries. He enjoyed the beauty of the Lord, but also received the blessing of the Mother of God. Elder Paisios talked with the saints who appeared to him, saw his Guardian Angel, heard angelic singing and was enlightened by heavenly light.
His name soon spread throughout the world, attracting many exhausted people of all ages and social status. They flocked to his poor kaliva, called “Panaguda,” located next to Karies. Here Elder Paisios spent the last fourteen years of his earthly life. Of course, he did not want to lose the silence he loved so much, thinking about going to an unknown place and praying unnoticed by everyone, pitying and supporting this world.
And again God revealed to him that his mission was to bring comfort to all people, as the words of the prophet say: “Comfort, comfort my people!” (Isa. 40:1). So Paisius devoted himself to consoling and calming people. At night, like a burning candle, he prayed with great pain for all of humanity, remembering a huge number of names of both the living and the deceased.
But during the day he was exhausted, bringing peace to the many pilgrims who flocked to his kaliva, honing the great gifts that the grace of God had endowed him with. He, like a wise housekeeper, prayed and cared for their salvation. The elder saw the secret depths of their hearts, predicted the future, healed spiritual and physical ailments, had power over unclean spirits, freeing those possessed by calling on the name of God. His words were “like the words of God,” as the apostle put it (1 Pet. 4:11).
He revealed to everyone that the true purpose of earthly life is preparation for our true homeland - Heaven, as Saint Kavasila says about it. Paisius tirelessly called on his visitors to repentance, confession and “good deeds.” He was kind, simple and pleasant to talk to, merciful and long-suffering. Having great love for sinners, he nevertheless became a “lion breathing fire” in relation to those who, citing various excuses, turned away from their holy path and patristic traditions. He zealously fought against the spirit of worldliness, considering it the most formidable enemy of human salvation.
A tireless ascetic who suffered from physical illnesses from a young age, with courage and gratitude until the end of his days he endured the martyrdom of cancer, from which he died on July 12, 1994 at the age of seventy. He reposed in the Lord in the monastery of St. John the Theologian in the Souroti region of Thessaloniki, of which he remained the spiritual mentor for twenty-eight years. In this monastery, near the temple of St. Arsenius of Cappadocia, there is also his grave, where his laborious body rests. But from heaven, the Monk Paisius shows people even greater mercies, having great boldness before the Humane God, whom he glorified throughout his life.
Translation from Modern Greek: editors of the online publication
Paisius the Svyatogorets or Venerable Paisius of Athonite is a great ascetic of the 20th century. For all of Greece, he became a true spiritual light. Many sayings of Elder Paisius have been preserved. His word filled souls with warmth, from which the flowers of virtue blossomed in them. As a great spiritual mentor, he knew how to convey the deepest truths in a simple language that everyone could understand. Vivid examples and comparisons, the sparkling humor of Father Paisius touched both the mind and the soul. Considering humility and love to be the spiritual foundation, he encouraged everyone with their help to discover a “new man” in themselves, defeating the “old” man mired in passions. The word of Paisius the Holy Mountain inspires to fight passions and gain spiritual freedom.
Venerable Paisius of Athos. Photo from the site - orthodoxanswers.gr
The worldly name of the Monk Paisios is Arsenios Eznepidis. Arseniy was born on July 25, 1924 in the Cappadocian village of Farasy shortly before the start of the Greek-Turkish population exchange. His parents' names were Prodromos and Evlampia; in addition to Arseny, there were eight more children in their family.
Arseniy Eznepidis with his parents Prodromos and Evlampia
In August 1924, exactly a week before the inhabitants of Faras began resettlement from Turkish territory to Greece, the child was baptized. The sacrament was performed by Arseny of Cappadocia himself, who would later be canonized by the church. The parents wanted to name their son Christ in honor of his grandfather, but the Monk Arseny insisted and gave the child his name in order to “leave the monk in his footsteps.” Thus, the monk predicted the monastic future of one of the most famous ascetics of the 20th century.
Five weeks after Arsenios’ baptism, the Eznepidi family, along with other Greek settlers, arrived at the port of Piraeus, from where they were sent to Kerkyra. In another year and a half, the family will move and finally settle in the city of Konitsa, not far from Ioannina. Here Arseny will graduate from primary school. Even during his school years, the boy began to study the Holy Scriptures and the lives of saints. From a young age, his desire to become a monk became obvious. Everyone who knew him as a child already noted the special light in his eyes and the stamp of grace on his forehead.
After graduating from school, Arseny mastered the profession of a carpenter, and, after working for several years, went to the front of the civil war that was blazing in Greece. He was discharged in 1949, after serving as a radio operator for three and a half years. In many publications dedicated to the life of Saint Paisius, he is called “God’s signalman,” since the elder himself once compared monastic service to military service: “Monks are radio operators of the Church. If through their prayer they establish a connection with God, He rushes to the rescue.”
Arseniy Eznepidis during his military service
Having completed his service in the army, Arseny finally decided to perform another service, “military service to the Heavenly King” - as the Monk Nil the Myrrh-Streaming called monasticism.
Immediately after leaving the army, he went to Athos for the first time, but did not stay there long, as he promised his father to return and help in family affairs.
A year later, Arseny will again go to the Holy Mountain. In the monastery of St. Panteleimon he will meet Father Cyril, the future abbot of the Kutlumush monastery, and will remain a novice with him. He will continue his further spiritual path in the Esphigmen monastery, where he will take monastic vows with the name Averky. The brethren of the monastery will note the great love and humility with which Monk Averky carried out obedience.
Four years later, Father Averky will leave Esphigmen and move to the Philotheus monastery, where in March 1956 he will be tonsured a monk with the name Paisios, in honor of Metropolitan Paisios II of Caesarea, also a native of Faras.
Father Paisius sought solitude, and even intended to retire from people to a deserted island, but God had a different plan. People needed Paisius. Therefore, after some time he will find himself completely far from the solitude of the Holy Mountain. Having received the “internal notification”, he will go to Stomio, where he will begin to restore the Monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
While in Stomio, Father Paisiy was engaged not only in the establishment of the monastery. He also carried out enormous spiritual work: through his efforts, many families who had strayed into Protestantism returned to Orthodoxy. For his wisdom, philanthropy and modesty, Father Paisius gained universal love and respect. He helped those in need, giving his own without sparing; listened, consoled and supported the desperate, filling their souls with faith.
Spiritual search will force Father Paisius to leave the monastery in Stomio. His path lay to Sinai. The elder will settle in the desert in the cell of the holy martyrs Galaktion and Epistimia. He prayed fervently, kept a strict fast, and also did manual labor - he made wooden crosses for sale to pilgrims, and with the money he fed the Bedouins, who loved him very much.
Venerable Paisios of Athos
After Sinai, Elder Paisios will return to Athos again and settle in the Iveron monastery. In 1966, a misfortune happened: due to a serious illness, part of his lungs would be taken away, and surgical intervention would cause complications in his eyes.
The elder will humbly accept everything and even thank God for bringing benefit to the soul from his bodily illness: “Previously, reading in the Holy Scriptures about the Passion of the Lord, I perceived it as historical fact. And about the torment of the saints - also. From now on, I will empathize with them, because I myself have experienced a little pain.”
Even before the operation, when Father Paisiy was in the hospital, he was approached with a request to organize convent with the Athonite charter. After being discharged from the hospital, the elder found a place to build a monastery - not far from Thessaloniki in the settlement of Suroti. The Monastery of St. John the Theologian will be founded here, where sisters will immediately begin to settle. Father Paisisius remained in Suroti until he returned to Athos, until his health finally improved, helping the sisters in setting up the monastery. Subsequently, Abbess Filothea recalled that even then, at a relatively young age, Father Paisius possessed truly senile wisdom and delved into the most complex spiritual experiences. He always helped the nuns with advice, and even after settling again on Mount Athos, he corresponded with the sisters. Until his death, Elder Paisios took care of the monastery of St. John the Theologian.
Convent of St. John the Theologian, Suroti. Photo from the site - 2.bp.blogspot.com
Having finally recovered from the operation, Father Paisiy returned to the Holy Mountain, where he settled in the Ipatiev cell of the Great Lavra Monastery. Meanwhile, the fame of his wisdom and virtue spread far beyond the Holy Mountain, and hundreds of people began to come to him for advice and blessings.
In 1979, Elder Paisios will again go to Kutlumush. He will settle as a hermit in the abandoned cell of Panaguda. Crowds will come here to talk with the elder. There were so many people that soon even special signs appeared indicating the way to the elder’s cell. They not only came to him, but also sent letters asking for help. Father Paisiy did not refuse anyone, resting only a few hours a day. Despite the crowds of pilgrims and his illness, he continued to lead a harsh ascetic life, which affected his health.
During his lifetime, Elder Paisios the Svyatogorets gained fame among people all over the world - and this despite the fact that the media did not talk about him, he was not shown on TV. His fame was spread through word of mouth - word of mouth. To see the Elder or get advice, people came from different parts of the planet - Australia, Africa, USA, Canada, France, Romania, Germany. The veneration of Elder Paisios in Greece is comparable to the fiery love of the Russian people for. Now in Russia, often without knowing the Elder during his lifetime, without being acquainted with him, many pious Christians managed to fall in love with him with ardent love, effectively feeling the prayerful intercession of Father Paisius, his intercession for people before God, his boundless love, kindness, mercy, ambulance and gracious consolations. Eyewitness testimonies of the Elder's prophetic and theological gifts, miraculous events associated with him, healings, including those of cancer patients and the paralyzed, fill entire book volumes. The teachings and conversations of the Elder were reverently recorded by those whom the Lord led to seek consolation and spiritual experience from this ascetic, and today we have the opportunity to fall again and again to this inexhaustible spiritual source.Who cares about others today? Nobody. Only about myself. We will give an answer for this. Therefore, before God, Who is Love, we will answer for this indifference.
God wants men to be taught by men.
About the life of Elder Paisius
The blessed elder schemamonk Paisiy Svyatogorets (secular name Arseniy Eznepidis) was born on July 25, 1924 (old style) in the village of Farasy, in Cappadocia (Asia Minor). As an infant he was transported to Greece due to the Asia Minor disaster, as a result of which the Greek population after about 2.5 thousand years permanent residence in this region they were forced to move to the territory of modern Hellas as refugees in order to avoid persecution and massacre by the Turks.
In addition to little Arseny, there were nine more children in the family. Before leaving for Greece, the boy was baptized by Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia and gave him his name, prophetically saying: “I want to leave behind me a monk.”
The Elder's family eventually settled in Konitsa in Epirus, in the northwestern part of Greece. There Elder Paisius spent his childhood years.
A special spiritual calling, chosenness, was discovered early in him, as Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia prophesied about him. From childhood, Arseny lived as an ascetic, enjoyed reading the lives of saints, and zealously, with extreme zeal and amazing uncompromisingness, sought to imitate their exploits. He had a great love for Christ and the Mother of God, and really wanted to become a monk. Arseny devoted himself to unceasing prayer, trying to develop in himself the main Christian qualities: love, humility, patience. In great spiritual sobriety, in prayers and fasting, young Arseny prepared with ardent zeal for an ascetic life.
I went to the mountains... and climbed onto some rock to pray there, like the ancient stylites
“I went to the mountains in the morning, taking some water with me, and climbed onto some rock to pray there, like the ancient stylites. As a teenager, I didn’t hang out with my peers; they went and killed birds and did other things that I didn’t like. And I interacted with small children. They, as the eldest, respected me as their leader and rejoiced at our friendship. I kept fasts - they wanted to fast too, so I had problems with their mothers. “Don’t hang around with him, he’ll drive you to consumption,” mothers told their children,” this is how the Elder told Afanasy Rakovalis, the author of the book of memoirs about the Elder “Father Paisiy Told Me...”, published in 2003, with a smile.
IN adolescence the future elder learned the craft of a carpenter, wanting in this to be like Christ, who until the age of 30 worked as a carpenter in the house of His father Joseph, before going out to preach for three years. When the civil war between the government army and communist rebels began in Greece (1944–1948), Arseniy Eznepidis was drafted into the active army, received a military specialty as a radio operator and served his homeland for 3.5 years. In the army, he continued his ascetic life, distinguished by courage, self-sacrifice, high Christian morality and diverse talents.
“When some dangerous operation was planned,” said Elder Paisius, “I tried to participate in it. If I had shown indifference and someone else would have gone instead of me and would have been killed, then I would have been killed all my life (that is, I would have been killed many times), but in the war I would have been killed only once...
Once our camp was bombed. I found a ditch nearby and took refuge in it. Soon someone passes and says: “Can I come here?” "Let's!" - I say. And there is just enough space for one person. In fear, wanting to protect himself, he squeezes me out. Then another one came up. I was forced to get out of the ditch completely. “Nothing,” I say, “don’t worry, God won’t leave you!” As soon as I left, a bullet flew by and shaved my head. (The elder laughed.) Just like that, it almost touched the skin and cut a stripe in my hair. A centimeter lower - I would have killed. I marveled."
Ruthless conscientiousness, courage, courage, reckless, unconditional dedication - this is what Elder Paisios was in his youth. “He won the love and respect of everyone - both soldiers and officers. The Elder's self-sacrifice, even before he became a monk and took the path of a warrior of Christ, extended to his readiness to accept death for the sake of love for his neighbor! How far are we, modern people, from this,” notes Afanasy Rakovalis.
Having repaid his debt to his fatherland, at about 30 years of age Arseny embarked on the path of monastic life - the one to which he had strived since childhood. Note that at the same age Christ came out. The elder endured many trials, but was not abandoned by the Lord. While still a layman, he more than once experienced divine experiences of life in Christ. But when he became a monk, the special favor of the saints, the Most Holy Theotokos and the Lord Himself towards him became most obvious, as the sisters of the monastery he founded in Suroti say. At the same time, he led a truly ascetic life and open warfare with the human enemy. “I think the ascetic deeds of the Elder go far beyond the boundaries of our era, with its characteristic effeminacy of people who are spoiled even in terms of their way of thinking,” says Athanasius Rakovalis. “Therefore, the exploits of Elder Paisius are comparable only to the exploits of the ancient ascetics of the 4th century. In our relaxed state, it can be scary to even hear about these exploits!”
In 1950, Arseny became a novice of the gracious confessor - Father Kirill, later abbot of the Kutlumush monastery († 1968). Some time later, Father Kirill sent the novice to the Esphigmen Monastery, where in 1954 Arseny accepted the ryassophore with the name Averky. The novice monk resignedly and joyfully carried out any obedience, and having completed his own, he helped other brothers to finish their work. Averky constantly prayed, trying so that those around him would not notice. In the same year, on the advice of his spiritual father, he moved to the monastery of Philotheus and became a student of Father Simeon, known for his virtue. Two years later, Father Simeon tonsured Father Averky into the minor schema with the name Paisius - in honor of Metropolitan Paisius II of Caesarea, who was also a native of Farasa of Cappadocia. In the new place, Father Paisius led his former life: he labored out of curiosity and helped the brethren as much as he could.
Father Paisios asceticised in the Stomion monastery in Konitsa, where he fed wild bears from his hands, spent three years in solitude in the desert of the holy Mount Sinai (in the cave of St. Epistimia), only on Sundays going down to the monastery of St. Catherine, and spent most of his life in the kaliva on St. Mount Athos. He spent his life in obscurity, completely surrendering himself to God, who revealed and gave him to people. Many, many came to the Elder and found guidance and consolation, healing and peace for their tormented souls. The Divine overflowed from the sanctified soul of the Elder, the radiance of Divine grace emanated from his venerable appearance. For days on end, Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets tirelessly took away their pain from people, lavishing divine consolation around him.
On June 29/July 12, 1994, after truly martyrdom, which, according to the Elder himself, brought him greater benefit than the ascetic work of his entire life, he rested in the Lord. The place of his blessed death was the St. John the Theologian Convent (founded by the Elder himself), located near the village of Suroti, not far from Thessaloniki, in Greece. Elder Paisios is buried to the left of the altar of the monastery church of St. Arsenios of Cappadocia, who baptized him in childhood. Nowadays, in church shops you can find amazing icons with the image of St. Arseny, on back side in which a photograph of Father Paisius is pasted, which evokes a touching feeling of unity between two ascetics, an inextricable spiritual connection between teacher and student, who will also be solemnly glorified by the Church in the near future.
An interesting detail: today Father Paisius is revered by many as an intercessor on the road, especially for drivers on the road at night. At the monastery in Suroti, pious drivers, and not only drivers, of course, can purchase photographs of the Elder with a sticker specifically for the car, so that the Elder will prayerfully keep them on the road.
On the grave of Father Paisius, on a white marble tablet, his modest, humble testament to people is written: to pray unceasingly. The line to the Elder’s grave is not decreasing...
“I am the monk Paisius, having examined my life, I saw that I had transgressed all the commandments of the Lord, that I had committed all the sins. And it doesn’t matter if I committed some of these sins to a lesser extent, because I have no extenuating circumstances at all, since the Lord has shown me great benefits. Pray that Christ will have mercy on me. Forgive me, and may all those who believe that they have upset me in some way be forgiven by me... I am very grateful and again I ask: pray.”
Hundreds and thousands of pilgrims flock to Suroti every day, walking in an endless stream, as it was during the life of Elder Paisius, to pray, collect soil from his holy grave, see with their own eyes those places where the Elder carried out his ascetic feat, breathe the same air, enjoy view of the picturesque plateau at the foot of the valley, a breathtaking view of which opens from the mountain where the St. John the Theologian Monastery is located.
“People today are spiritually sick”
- Tell us something, Geronda.
– What can I tell you?
– What does your heart tell you?
“My heart tells me this: “Take a knife, cut me into pieces, distribute them to people and then die.”
One can talk endlessly about the talents of Father Paisius. “The Elder himself is for the people. Don't think this is an exaggeration. No, this is reality,” says Athanasius Rakovalis, author of several books about the Elder. – Who, if not God, adorned and honored him with so many gifts! And just as He Himself is infinite and unlimited, so can the gifts of God be.”
Of all the Elder’s gifts, love made the greatest impression on people who had the chance to come into contact with the Divine Light pouring out from his heart. “Love without boundaries, without internal hesitation, with absolute self-sacrifice,” says Rakovalis. – Love is fiery, sweet, omnipotent. Divine. Love pouring out from the depths of his soul, without reasoning, equally warmly accepting into its embrace good and evil, friends and enemies, close and distant, worthy and unworthy, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, people and animals, and even plants, but most of all directed towards God. It was inhuman love. Only the Holy Spirit can give birth to such love in a person’s heart. Our human “loves” are so insignificant and self-interested, so temporary and fickle, so selfish and despotic, so easily turning into antipathy and hatred, that it is shameful and wrongful to compare them with the love of the Elder.”
A contemporary of Paisius the Holy Mountain, Elder Porfiry said the following about him: “The grace that Father Paisius has is worth more, because he acquired it through his exploits, while God gave it to me from an early age to help people. God sends such saints (like Father Paisius) to earth once every 400 years!”
Blessed Elder Paisios left a spiritual testament to the world - conversations with nuns and laymen, which resulted in a six-volume publication of the Elder's teachings. Just recently, the long-awaited sixth volume of the series, “On Prayer,” was finally released in Russia; You can purchase the book at the Sretenie store.
“Words” are conversations about everything that may concern a modern person on his spiritual path. These are the answers to all the questions that may worry people in our turbulent times. This is a good guide-friend in the search for truth and finding love for God. These are books about the most important things in the lives of each of us. It is impossible not to become attached to these books with all your heart.
A simple monk, who received only an elementary education in elementary school, but was generously blessed with wisdom according to God, Father Paisius truly exhausted himself for the sake of his neighbor. His teaching was not preaching or catechism. He himself lived according to the Gospel, and the teachings flowed from his own life, characteristic feature which was love. He “educated himself” according to the Gospel and, first of all, taught his contemporaries with his whole appearance, and only after that - with his Gospel love and God-enlightened word.
The “words” of Elder Paisius are extremely relevant. This is understood by everyone who discovers for the first time this spiritual wealth left to us by the great love of the Lord. The “Words” of Elder Paisius can and should become a reference book for us – a good friend and adviser. However, the Elder always emphasized and insisted on the importance of applying the teachings in practice, because spiritual work is needed on what is heard and read. Otherwise, a lot of knowledge will not bring any benefit.
We are all one big family and brothers among themselves, because all people are children of God
The uniqueness of Elder Paisius’ personality also lies in the fact that he spread his own gift of speech mainly in Greece. His wise teachings and instructions were addressed primarily to his compatriots - the Greek people. However, later they turned out to be extremely in tune with the needs and requirements of people of various nationalities. And of course, the literary heritage of Father Paisius Svyatogorets resonated with a warm chord in the hearts of the Russian people. During his lifetime, the Elder himself gave a simple explanation for this phenomenon: “We are all one big family and brothers among ourselves, because all people are children of God.” In Russia, Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets is perhaps the most famous of Athonite elders. Just like the most famous Russian saint in Greece.
“Words” – a spiritual storehouse
During the life of Elder Paisius, no books were written about him. There was no mention of him on radio, television or in the press. However, advice, consolation and stories about miracles that happened through the prayers of Elder Paisius were passed on from person to person. In addition, the prudent sisters of the monastery of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Suroti, which Father Paisius founded and looked after until his death, wrote down his words and wise instructions. First by hand, and then last years the life of the Elder - using a tape recorder. In addition, each nun of the monastery, immediately after her personal conversations with the Elder, wrote down their contents in detail. The letters that Father Paisius sent to the monastery have also been preserved. Subsequently, these verbal treasures grew greatly and are now a truly priceless repository, a golden spiritual fund, a pearl of great value.
Thanks to the efforts of all those pious people who made efforts to preserve the living monument to the Elder - his words - the unique spiritual heritage is now systematized and published in the form of separate thematic volumes, united in the series “Words” of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain.
In 1998–2001, the first three volumes of the “Words” of Elder Paisius were published in Greek. It was decided to begin translating the complete collection of teachings into Russian from the second volume, “Spiritual Awakening,” since its topic is especially topical today. The translator of almost all the volumes into Russian, Hieromonk Dorimedont (Sukhinin), especially noted the importance and poignancy of the Elder’s instructive legacy, since people in modern world spiritually sick, distorted, distorted, involved in a web of negligence, indifference, petrified insensibility, despondency and other passions. And the kind “Words” of Elder Paisius, carrying the warm message of heartfelt love, are a truly unique, powerful weapon in “resisting evil efforts to plunge humanity into a sinful sleep.”
The language of “Words” is surprisingly lively, imaginative, replete with dialectisms, phraseological turns, jokes, sayings... The structure of the text is such that the books are read easily and quickly - literally “swallowed”. After reading each volume, I can't wait to pick up the next one. And it’s a pity that there are only six of them so far. After all, every time it is a Meeting, after which you feel a long aftertaste.
I would also like to note the excellent design of the six-volume book: a convenient large book format (60x100/16), pleasant to the touch white binding, convenient for visual perception text, color illustrations, highlighting of individual mini-chapters and subheadings in the text in red italics, which allows you to quickly navigate the search for the right topics, convenient pointers. The circulation of each book is 5–7 thousand copies.
Each volume of the Words can be considered a separate book. The first - entitled “With pain and love about modern man” - is divided into four thematic sections: about sin and the devil, about modern culture, about the spirit of God and the spirit of this world, about the Church in our era. The second volume - “Spiritual Awakening” - consists of five parts: about the responsibility of love, about asceticism and reverence, about spiritual courage, about dependence on Heaven, about spiritual weapons. The third volume - “Spiritual Struggle” - talks about the battle of thoughts, about justice and injustice, about sin and repentance, about the power of confession, as well as about the black forces of darkness. The fourth book, “Family Life,” is the Elder’s reasoning about how to create a family, about parents, children and their responsibilities, about spiritual life, trials, death and the future life. In the first section of the fifth volume of “Passion and Virtue”, Father Paisius examines under a magnifying glass such important sins as selfishness - the mother of all passions, pride - the root of evil, condemnation - the greatest injustice. In the second part of the volume, the story is about the virtues opposite to these passions: patience, love for one’s neighbor, nobility, curiosity and reasoning, which the Elder calls the crown of all virtues.
Reasoning has always been the measure of the words and actions of Paisius the Holy Mountain. The ultimate goal for him was to save the soul of a person who turned to him with his pain, problem, insoluble situation. Those who knew the Elder remember the tenderness that appeared in the heart from his words, no matter how strict they sometimes were. This happened because Father Paisius’s task was always to heal evil, and not to brand a person with shame. He did not pillory his interlocutor’s passion, but helped him free his soul from it. The Elder treated any person - a perfect creation of God - with comforting love, heartache and humble disposition.
Do you know what kind of spiritual profit and spiritual experience a person gains if he spiritually works on everything that comes his way?
Nun Filothea, abbess of the monastery in Suroti, says: “The Elder’s communication with the sisters of the monastery was usually structured in the form of his answers to questions. The main topic of personal conversations has always been spiritual achievement. The elder knew how to extract benefit from everything for the soul. Any little thing or trifle could become a reason for a conversation on a serious topic. He said: “I use everything to connect with the heavenly, with Heaven. Do you know what kind of spiritual profit and spiritual experience a person acquires if he spiritually works on everything that comes his way?” When meeting people who were so different from each other, the Elder did not just patiently listen to what they trusted him. With his characteristic simplicity and reasoning, he penetrated into the very depths of human hearts. The Elder made their pain, anxiety, and difficulties his own. And then - in an inconspicuous way - a miracle happened: a person changed.”
Elder Paisios hoped that his instructions, stories, parables, histories and examples from life, which for 28 years were collected bit by bit and carefully preserved by the monastery community, would instill good concern in the nuns and laity. So that we strive with curiosity, and evil recedes and the peace of God reigns on earth. In the teachings of the Elder we find answers to many pressing, insoluble, in our opinion, questions. Questions that concern and worry everyone who thinks about their life and their own salvation. Anyone who is not indifferent to the spiritual horrors and sorrows in which humanity is mired. Anyone who seeks light in the darkness of the spiritless. Everyone in whom the fire of creativity burns, who is “languished with spiritual thirst.” In the hearts of caring, responsive readers, the spiritual seed of Elder Paisius will find good soil and will certainly bear abundant fruit. “They hear the word and accept it, and are fruitful” (Mark 4:20).
With pain and love about modern man
God works a miracle when we share our hearts in another person's pain.
Blessed Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets
According to Elder Paisius, the task of spiritual life is to discard one’s own selfishness, selfishness and self-obsession. Precisely those “virtues” that are now especially promoted in a society where the postulates are the slogans “We only live once!”, “Take everything from life!”, “Live for yourself!” And here, like a sip from a pure life-giving source, are the bright, joyful words of Elder Paisius, breathing with faith, hope and sincere love: “When you throw out your “I,” Christ rushes into you.” The elder repeatedly emphasized that without developing the spirit of sacrifice in oneself, it is impossible to partake of the life of Christ. Without sacrifice, one can only become a formal Christian, a person without inner life.
“The good God first of all cares about our future life and only then about earthly life,” noted the Elder. He himself, as nun Philothea writes in the preface to the first volume of “Words” of the monastery of the holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, communicating with people, had the same goal: helping a person to know the will of God and unite with his Creator, Father Paisius prepared him for. Citing examples from the field of nature or science, art or everyday human existence, the Elder did not consider them abstractly, in isolation from spiritual reality. He sought to awaken the souls of his interlocutors from sleep, with the help of a parable he helped them to comprehend the deepest meaning of life and “grab hold of God.” “I warm you like the sun,” said the Elder, meaning that the warmth of the sun is necessary for flower buds to bloom, and a gentle pastoral touch to the soul helps it to reveal itself and heal from illness.
“This was truly a divinely enlightened pastorate,” notes Abbess Filothea. – It often prepared the ground for the soul to accept a stern word about the gospel truth that does not allow compromise. Therefore, even the stern word of Elder Paisius is perceived by the heart as healing dew.”
The depth of the spiritual theological content of the Elder’s letters, which he wrote to the monastery in Thessaloniki, suggests that they are the fruit of Divine enlightenment. “The Word of God is born, not written.”
Elder Paisios wanted every person—whether he was a monk or a layman—to seek “monastic life,” which comes from a person’s total self-giving to God. Thus, a person is freed from the feeling of insecurity generated by faith in his “I”, and even in this life he tastes heavenly joy.
“How people suffer!”
If people have not trusted God enough to fully rely on Him, then they cannot avoid suffering.
Father Paisiy was sympathetic to the events that took place and continue to happen in the world. He was heartbroken for people and had compassion for them. “The world is tormented,” said the Elder, “it is perishing, and, unfortunately, all people are forced to live in the midst of this worldly torment. The suffering of people has no end. General decomposition - entire families, adults, children. Every day my heart bleeds. Most people feel great abandonment, indifference - especially now - they feel it everywhere. People have nothing to hold on to. Just like the proverb: “A drowning man grabs his own hair,” that is, a drowning man is looking for something to grab onto, how to save himself. People are looking for something to lean on, something to grab onto. And if they do not have faith to rely on, if they have not trusted God enough to fully rely on Him, then they cannot avoid suffering. - a great thing."
With his wise instructions, the Elder gives consolation and hope, speaking about the only possible way out of human suffering - this hell on earth. He once again reminds us of the need to break away from our selfhood: “If you get sick and worry about others, and not about yourself, then the whole world is visible, as if on an x-ray, which is illuminated by spiritual rays. The years we are going through are very difficult and dangerous, but in the end Christ will prevail. Amid the reigning laxity, an ascetic spirit is needed. Saints, and not people of this world, should be models in spiritual life.”
“God does not leave us to our fate”
Father Paisiy constantly emphasizes that today every person does what he wants and what comes into his head. But he notes that God does not abandon His creation, He helps people. With this, the Elder gives us hope for salvation, that we will finally “come to our senses,” awaken spiritually and rise up against the human enemy. But the realization of this salvation is possible only if the person himself makes an effort. He will make his own choice in favor of light and goodness.
God protects the present world with both hands, whereas in former times - only with one
This is how the Elder spoke about the position of man in the modern world: “Today, if a person wants to live honestly, spiritually, then there is no place for him in the world, he has a hard time. Others captivate him and lead him along with them. If everyone is going to the same place, then it is difficult for one person not to go along with everyone - even if he does not want to. And if he is inattentive, he will roll downhill, he will be carried down by the worldly stream. Despite the fact that we have brought ourselves to this state, God does not abandon us to our fate. He protects the present world with both hands, whereas in earlier times he protected it with only one. Today, when a person is surrounded by so many dangers, God protects him, like the mother of a child starting to walk. Most people are in such a state that it’s scary to say. One is drunk, the other is disappointed with life, the third is dizzy, the fourth is exhausted from pain by insomnia. All these people drive cars, ride motorcycles, do jobs that involve risk, and work on dangerous machines. How many people could have been injured long ago! How God protects us, but we don’t understand it.”
The elder protected people from the spirit of rationalism prevailing in the countries of Western Europe: “You must think that you - and you should be like your Creator in everything. If it is this thought that motivates a person to action, then he is moving in the right direction. Otherwise, he runs the risk of falling into humanism.”
The saddest thing is that people now really don’t understand, don’t realize and, unfortunately, don’t want to realize where the world is heading. The world has turned upside down: moral values have been turned upside down, they are distorted, and young people’s moral guidelines are generally distorted. Indifference, insensitivity, suffering, disunity of souls and loneliness are constant companions of modern man. But this applies to a non-believer. A spiritual person, according to the Elder, has no sorrows: “When love multiplies in a person and his heart is scorched by Divine zeal, then sorrow can no longer find a place in him. People cause such a person pain and suffering, but their great love for Christ overcomes them.”
Father Paisius warned that we should not draw conclusions about a person based on what is visible, since we are not able to discern what he hides within himself. This is very important note. “A person is a mystery to another person,” he often repeated. “Let us not draw conclusions based on appearances without checking everything, especially if we lack Divine enlightenment or experience.”
Spiritual struggle
He who truly knows himself has humility.
Blessed Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets
Who am I? Why am I living? What is the meaning of my life? There is probably no person who has not asked these questions at least once. To get closer to understanding the purpose that the Creator intended for His creation, Elder Paisios invites a person to constantly immerse himself in introspection: “Exploring oneself is the most useful of all other studies. A person can read many books, but if he does not take care of himself, everything he reads does not bring him any benefit. But if he takes care of himself, then the benefit he receives is great, even if he reads a little. In the latter case, a person’s actions and behavior become more refined, no matter what he does. Otherwise, he makes gross mistakes and doesn’t understand it.”
According to the Elder, man’s task is to know himself. Without realizing his old man, it is impossible for a Christian to learn humility - the mother of all virtues. If a person does not have humility, he will not be able to enter the spiritual orbit. Thus, man remains in the worldly orbit. “A person who does the work necessary to know himself,” explained Father Paisiy, “is like someone who digs deep into the ground and finds minerals in it. The more we delve into self-knowledge, the lower we see ourselves. Thus, a person humbles himself, but the right hand of God constantly exalts him. And when a person finally knows himself, humility becomes his state and necessarily has the right to “renew the lease” in his heart. Pride is no longer a threat to such a person. And the one who does not do this to himself constantly adds more and more new things to his spiritual garbage, increases his garbage heap, sits proudly on top of it for a short time and ultimately falls down.”
From conversations with the Elder:
“- Geronda, what helps a person improve most of all?
– First of all, will. Will, the desire to improve is, in some way, a good initiative. Then the person must realize that he is sick and begin to take the appropriate spiritual antibiotics."
Elder Paisios lovingly points out to us, the careless children of the Lord, that the main thing is a person’s awareness of the fact of the need to know and recognize his ailments. In addition, a prerequisite in the process of studying one’s own essence is a feeling of joy: all our actions must be accompanied by inner joy. Only after this can a person begin “treatment” - when he is internally ready to take spiritual pills. And then Christ will begin to strengthen him. It is extremely important for a person to realize his own weakness and sinfulness. Elder Paisios affectionately reminds a person that without admitting one’s mistakes and shortcomings, it is impossible to “turn” oneself inside out and see one’s true face – one’s old self. And without this, as mentioned above, neither knowledge of oneself, one’s own “I”, nor salvation are possible. However, if a person admits his weaknesses, he will be freed.
Good self-knowledge brings God to tenderness and gives us Divine help and heavenly joy
“Knowing yourself well,” said Father Paisius, “brings God to tenderness and gives us Divine help and heavenly joy.” But he immediately warns that there is also the opposite of self-knowledge - unkind. This happens when a person justifies himself and calms his thoughts. That is, he has an erroneous knowledge of his inner man. “We must always make at least a little effort to improve,” the Elder noted. In order for a person to correct himself, there must be internal contrition with sincere repentance.
From conversations with the Elder:
“- Geronda, is it possible to realize your mistake and not succeed?
– When a person realizes his sinful mistake and again, unwillingly, commits it, this means that he has pride or a predisposition to pride. And so God does not help him succeed. If a person realizes his sinfulness, then this great power, great thing. Then a person begins to abhor, humbles himself, attributes all good things to the love of mankind and the goodness of God and feels great gratitude to Him. Therefore, God loves sinners who realize their sinfulness, repent and live with humility, more than those who struggle a lot, but do not admit their sinfulness and have no repentance.”
Experience from our falls
In studying ourselves, as the Elder reasoned, it will be very useful to look at your life from time to time: step by step, starting from childhood. This is necessary in order to see where a person was before, where he is now and where he should be. Without comparing the past with the present, it is impossible to understand that, even being in more or less good condition, a person is still not where he should be. And he will not understand what upsets God.
Falls help you to know yourself. Everything comes out and is slowly happening. useful work above oneself
When a person is young, he has the excuse that he is not in very good condition. However, he has no excuse if, after leaving a young age, he remains in the same state or does not improve enough. Elder Paisios emphasizes that the more years pass, the more spiritually mature a person should become. He spoke about falls and mistakes as benefits for a person that one must be able to extract: “Often, even changeable ups and downs in spiritual struggle help a person to fruitfully and confidently make his spiritual path to God. By carefully monitoring everything that happens and using everything for good, we gain experience, using which we receive considerable help. Falls help you to know yourself. Everything comes out, and little by little useful work is done on oneself.”
In order not to spill, preserve and increase spiritual wealth, you should “catch yourself at the scene of the crime,” as the Elder liked to say. The one who does this puts off his old man and enters the right spiritual path. Our old man plunders what the new man does. Having learned to catch our old man in the act of crime, we catch with him all the other thieves who steal the good things that God gives us. Thus, spiritual wealth remains with us.
Spiritual doing with a magnifying glass
“Our old man is the evil “tenant” living within us,” said the Elder mockingly, whose speech was always distinguished by the apt use of epithets. – In order for this “tenant” to leave, we must destroy his home and begin to erect a new building - to build a new person. But this grandiose construction (which can be called the main work of our life) must begin with updating the foundation on which the entire building will rest. While our old man acts as a foundation, it is dangerous to erect a new building due to its instability and lack of reinforcement.”
It is impossible to be born again, to be resurrected without repentance - this is where the renewal of the old man begins. How is that old leather, like dried paint that peels off layer by layer to reveal a smooth, clean canvas, ready to accept a new palette of colors. “We have no excuse when we do not want to repent and confess,” noted Father Paisius, “but we want to remain dirty. There are people who, thinking that they will fall into the same sin, do not confess, that is, they add new dirt to the old one (however, if their clothes get dirty, they wash them).”
From repentance comes the Divine. Elder Paisios explained that one must learn to give oneself to the world and one’s neighbor, then peace and tranquility will reign in a person’s heart. In those moments when we truly forget about ourselves (doing deeds of mercy and charity, giving our time to our neighbors, helping the sick, caring for a child), we find the true meaning of life.
Give, give without thinking about yourself. The more you give, the more you will receive!
“Give, give without thinking about yourself. The more you give, the more you will receive, because God will abundantly give you His grace and love. He will begin to love you deeply, and you will love Him, because you will stop loving yourself, your “I”, which requires that it be nourished by pride and selfishness, and not by the grace of God, which supplies the soul with all the necessary juices, changes the flesh with divine change and makes a person shine immaterial light."
Elder Paisios calls those people who do not want to repent the most unreasonable in the world - not only because “they constantly have a heaviness in their souls, since they do not repent in order to free themselves from this small hell, leading to an even worse, eternal one, but and because they are deprived of heavenly joys on earth, which are much stronger in heaven, near God.”
Feat
“Since our body is connected with the soul and the task of the flesh is to submit to the spirit and obediently serve it to bring the soul into a good dispensation, from the body we need only partly its strength, and not its excesses,” reasoned Elder Paisius.
“Therefore, caring for the foal (flesh) should be done with judgment. We must feed him suitable barley so that we can keep him in check and so that he does not run amok, does not kick or otherwise - God forbid! – didn’t throw us into the abyss. The trouble is that the flesh casts the soul into hell, while the colt of a donkey, at most, can throw its rider into the abyss, which will not harm the soul of its owner.”
Love
Conscience is the main law that God wrote deep in the heart of man. This law, according to the Elder, each of us, when born, receives from our parents, like a photocopy. “Those who refine their conscience through daily self-examination already feel like strangers to this world, and their refined behavior seems strange to worldly people. However, those who do not examine their conscience do not benefit from either spiritual reading or the advice of elders. They cannot keep God’s commandments because they become insensitive.”
The elder said that every person passes exams in this life in order to get into another life, the eternal one.
The ardent love of Christ nourishes better than any material food, giving the soul and body many calories.
“Ardent spiritual love makes sensitive people even more sensitive, and shameless people more shameless. The ardent love of Christ nourishes better than any material food, giving the soul and body many calories, and often heals incurable diseases without drugs and calms souls.”
“The Elder pushed us to heaven with him”
It's like when you are next to a fireplace, you feel warmth, although there is no action on your part.
Afanasy Rakovalis
Studying the literary heritage left to us by Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets and carefully collected by the people who loved him, it is impossible not to be imbued with reciprocal love. Love with a hint of heartache. From how much we do not understand and how little love we give to God, the world, our neighbor. While every word of Elder Paisius is permeated with the breath of bright, sincere love for the world and man.
In every verbal message that, out of the Lord’s great love for man, was left from Elder Paisius, there is a father’s quiet pain for his careless children. No matter which page of his letters or conversations with laymen and nuns one opens, the spirit of love and joy is clearly felt everywhere. The elder instructs us with the love that he was gifted with, teaches us with a pure, open, sincere heart. No matter in what mood a person turns to the help of the Elder, from the pages of his teachings he invariably receives light, joy, and a feeling of peace. And Elder Paisius’s sense of humor is simply impossible not to notice and feel – it is amazingly insightful. Like well-aimed arrows, lubricated in the oily solution of the Elder’s love, they hit the target exactly, echoing in the soul with quiet joy and jubilation.
It is especially worth noting the amazing speech of the Elder, which the translator of the “Words” series, Hieromonk Dorimedont (Sukhinin), tried to convey to us. It is very lively, rich, the tone is soft, joyful and optimistic. It is also for this reason that after coming into contact with the works of Father Paisius, there is always lightness and peace in the heart. Every time there is a smile on my lips. Even the words themselves, interjections, exclamations, figures of speech, diminutive suffixes, with which the Elder’s speech abounds from an excess of love, are colored in warm, gentle tones. In which there is love. Love for the world, man, animals, plants, even grains of sand - every Divine matter on earth.
The words of the Elder glow with endless inner light. This light and these words are from God. When you comprehend and accept these speeches and words, all human problems and problems seem insignificant and ridiculous, they lose their meaning, often far-fetched due to the weakness of human nature. With his wise teachings, parables, stories, stories, jokes, Elder Paisius, at first glance, easily and without difficulty managed to “raise” a person above everyday life, to make him go beyond his shell, his “I” and look around. I turned my face to the world, at least for some time I was able to forget about my own selfishness, to see myself and my neighbor as in a mirror. And at least for a moment to touch the Divine love that emanated from the Elder in order to feel true joy - the joy of contemplating the amazing beauty of every moment of life.
Elder Paisios taught me to see this beauty in every creation of God. Nothing in our life happens by chance. Therefore, I am grateful that it was Elder Paisios who, through the written word, became my first “spiritual mentor.” But love is not a corporeal matter; it has no body, no flesh. It was through the word that the Lord brought us to the Church - through the radiant “Words” of Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain, which, like a luminous cloud, envelop the human soul. This cloud is the warm embrace of the Elder, his feat of prayer for us to the Lord, his sparkling love that fills the world and the hearts of people, in which pain, the pangs of loneliness, despondency, and oblivion disappear, even for a moment. And this once again proves that the Holy Spirit can shed His light into the heart of each of us. But for this we need to work hard, and not “blow to our own tune,” as the Elder loved to jokingly scold those lucky ones whom God vouchsafed in earthly life to join the unique personality of the blessed Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain.
Among the huge number of Orthodox saints one can find amazing ascetics of all times of Christianity. These are the martyrs of the first centuries, when faith in Christ was mercilessly persecuted and punished by death; these are the holy fathers of the Church, who systematized the Christian doctrine and described all its dogmas; these are the new martyrs who suffered during the years of Soviet repression and many others. Sincere heartfelt prayer before each of them can work miracles. However, almost every Christian believer has his own, especially revered saint, whose prayer is most ardent. For many Orthodox Christians he became such a saint Athonite elder Paisiy Svyatogorets, who was canonized as a saint quite recently, in 2015. However, even during his earthly life, Saint Paisius the Svyatogorets was revered by many people as the true bearer of Christian wisdom and love.
Family and childhood of the future ascetic
All the ancestors of Elder Paisius were from the village of Farasy - a settlement whose inhabitants have always been famous for their careful storage Orthodox faith and traditional culture. A large number of From time immemorial, Christian churches and monasteries have supported the spark of faith among the entire population.
Important. The entire family of the future ascetic was distinguished by its special spirituality.
Thus, his grandmother even belonged to one of the local churches, in which she often retired for long prayers. The father of the future elder came from a noble family, whose members occupied commanding positions in Faras. Being a strong and courageous man, Father Paisiya more than once stood up with arms in his hands to defend his native village. In addition, he was a noble jack of all trades - he smelted iron for various products, and did not avoid peasant labor.
Arseny of Cappadocia and Paisius of Svyatogorsk
The elder’s mother came from the noble family of St. Arsenius of Cappadocia. She had a special reverence and was raised as a hardworking and prudent girl. She was married at a very young age, but at the same time managed to become an exemplary wife and mother. The Lord vouchsafed these spouses to give birth to ten children. The first two girls, unfortunately, died in early infancy. Their third daughter was named Zoya, which means “life,” and after that all the children grew up in health. The future elder Paisiy, named Arseny by birth, was born to the couple as the sixth surviving child. This happened on July 25, 1924.
The historical exchange of populations led to the fact that the Greeks living in Asia Minor were forced to go to Greece. The family with the baby Arseny ended up on the island of Kerkyra, where the Monk Arseny of Cappadocia reposed in the Lord, baptizing the future elder and predicting the path of monasticism for him.
An unusual child
Venerable Paisius of Svyatogorsk
War and trials
Having spent his youth in prayer and preparation for monasticism, Arseny also had a time of testing. Difficult war years came and the Greco-Italian War began. When the occupation happened, Arseniy’s family helped the poor, shared bread with the hungry, and helped in every possible way to everyone who needed it. The future elder very much regretted that, due to his young age, he could not help the suffering more - he strove for this with all his soul.
Coming next Civil War brought new challenges. Arseny was arrested and put in prison. The terrible living conditions of the prisoners, the extreme cramped conditions in the small cells, greatly exhausted the young man. There were some temptations - the prison authorities transferred Arseny to solitary confinement, where they brought two practically naked young girls. Having started to pray, the young man felt his passionate thoughts leaving him and he was able to look at the girls completely calmly. Moreover, he managed to talk to them in such a way that the girls were ashamed and left him in tears.
The communist prison authorities interrogated Arseny, accusing him that his older brother was fighting in the enemy army. To this the ascetic replied that his brother, by right of seniority, does not account to him for his actions, and that Arseny himself cannot influence his brother’s choice. Having found nothing else to accuse him of, the young man was released.
Icon of Paisius of Svyatogorsk
Interesting. After leaving prison, the future elder helped everyone he could - both the communists and their opponents - because he believed that any person was worthy of help and compassion.
The war and the difficulties associated with it forced Arseny to temporarily postpone entering the monastery, since the family was in great need of help. But the young man’s inner spiritual life was still very intense and intense. Strict fasting, tireless prayer, forcing oneself to help and sacrifice for the sake of one's neighbor - all this gradually prepared the soul for monastic obedience.
Debt to the Motherland
But seeing that the Motherland was in danger, Arseny went to defend it with arms in hand. In addition to sincere faith, in young man there was both patriotism and duty to the Fatherland. The only thing Arseny prayed for before joining the army was that he would not have to kill any person.
The Lord heard his prayers, and miraculously Arseny received the military specialty of a radio operator, which saved him from the need to kill. During his service, he never stopped serving his neighbors - he happily did other people's work and replaced soldiers on leave. Some took advantage of his kindness and abused it, but Arseny rejoiced at this too. People far from faith laughed at him, considering him strange, but over time the ridicule faded away and was even replaced by respect. Many considered him a blessing to their unit, almost a talisman in the war.
Icon of Paisios in the temple
The war brought many trials to the future monk. Together with his colleagues, he had to endure hunger, thirst, and cold. Once Arseny had to dig out frostbitten soldiers from under the snow rubble, and he saved as many as 26 people. He himself received severe frostbite on his legs, threatening amputation. But by God’s grace everything worked out, and the young man recovered.
Miracles in War and Standing in Faith
Of course, severe military trials could not but affect the spiritual state of the future monk. Trying to endure all the hardships of war without complaining, Arseny derived spiritual benefit from everything. Every moment he was ready to give his life to save his neighbor. Participating in any of the most dangerous tasks, the ascetic never abandoned prayer and sincere faith. And the Lord protected both himself and many people from his inner circle from death.
So, one of his colleagues told how two soldiers from his battalion asked to go into a small trench where Arseny was hiding from bullets. Seeing that there was not enough room for everyone, the ascetic got out of the trench, giving way to others. At that moment, a shell exploded next to him, and the young man felt one of the fragments hit him on the head. Having felt and examined his head later, Arseny saw that the fragment did not leave even the slightest scratch, but flew in such a way that it only carefully shaved off a strip of hair to the very root.
In another battle, when Arseny’s battalion was encircled and the hope for salvation was becoming less and less, the future monk suddenly crawled out of the trench, stood up to his full height in the midst of whistling bullets and shells, crossed his arms on his chest and began to pray. A few minutes later, attack aircraft arrived and completely destroyed the enemy.
Icon of Paisius of Svyatogorsk and Arsenius of Cappadocia
Saving a life
Many people with whom Arseny fought side by side owe their lives to him. Thus, one of his colleagues with tears in his eyes told how during the retreat he fell and lost consciousness. They noticed his absence only when the soldiers reached their shelter. No one even thought about saving the poor fellow, considering him dead, and only Arseny rushed back. He put his comrade on his shoulders and dragged him to the location where he came to his senses. Until the end of his days, he thanked Arseny for saving his life.
After serving a total of 5 years, the future elder was transferred to the reserve and could return home. Friends in the service offered to settle nearby in one of the villages and start families, but Arseny firmly told everyone that, having repaid his debt to the Motherland, he would go to a monastery.
Visit to the holy mountain and long-awaited monasticism
Almost immediately after leaving the army, while still in military uniform, Arseny decided to fulfill his old dream - to visit Holy Mount Athos. Being completely inexperienced in spiritual life, the first trip did not bring the expected spiritual benefits. Arseny was ready to trust anyone who spoke to him on the topic of faith. In addition, shortly after his arrival, he received a letter from his father asking for help. Considering this as yet another obedience, Arseny returned to his father’s house and again began to work for the good of his family, without abandoning strict fasting and tireless prayer.
Having done everything in his power to help his family, several years after his first visit to the Holy Mountain, the young man goes there again. Having chosen one of the monasteries, he begins the novice life there, for which he so carefully prepared himself. Arseny met amazing monks and fathers in his monastery, who instructed him and confirmed him even more in the faith.
Paisiy Svyatogorsky
Interesting. Already as a novice, with the blessing of the abbot, Arseny fulfilled difficult ascetic rules that were beyond the strength of many experienced monks.
During the day he worked obediently as a carpenter, and in the evening and at night he prayed. He slept on stones or bricks and did not heat himself in his cell. In winter, he wore only a cassock, and wrapped his body in paper under it. I slept for half an hour or an hour a day, and in order not to fall asleep at night while praying, I stood with my feet in a basin of cold water.
Finally, on March 27, 1954, after undergoing all obediences, the young man took his first tonsure with the name Averky. A difficult monastic life began, full of obediences and trials. So, monk Averky ended up working as a carpenter for one of the senior monks. This monk was not particularly pious, he was arrogant and angry. The brethren of the monastery suffered a lot from him, but he was the only carpenter, so they could not kick him out. The young monk Averky remained in his obedience for more than 2 years, and humbly endured all the reproaches and unfair punishments of his mentor. Later the ascetic will say that during this period of time he received enormous spiritual benefit.
After several years of simple monasticism, Father Averky was tonsured into a mantle with the name Paisiy - it was under this name that he became famous as great Elder, and later as a saint.
Photo of the Venerable Elder Paisius the Holy Mountain
Miracles of Saint Paisius the Svyatogorets and help through his prayers
The whole life of the righteous old man from childhood was filled with amazing miracles that pointed to God’s special Providence for this man. But most of all, Father Paisius felt the presence of God when he lived in the monastery.
Prayers to other Orthodox saints:
So, one day he was returning from work very tired and hungry. While waiting at the pier for a boat, he was afraid that he would pass out from exhaustion. Then he took a rosary and wanted to pray to the Most Holy Theotokos to give him food, but changed his mind, finding such a request too petty for Mother of God. At that same moment, one of the monks came out of the monastery gates and handed Father Paisius a bundle of food with the words “Take this food for the sake of the Mother of the Lord.”
Important. Father Paisius was honored to personally see the Mother of God and even our Lord Jesus Christ himself.
They appeared to him at different periods of his life, always strengthening and supporting the elder. Father Paisius said that the grace given to him from above was felt in his soul for years, which allowed him to humbly endure any hardships of monastic life.
Celebrations in honor of the canonization of Paisius the Holy Mountain
Living in a separate cell, where the elder could continually pray to the Lord, people constantly flocked to him, seeking consolation and spiritual guidance. There were also cases of healing when hopelessly ill people came to the elder and completely recovered.
Pilgrims who came to him testified that the ascetic spoke with animals and birds, who listened to him unquestioningly. So, one day a group of guests were sitting in the courtyard of the elder’s cell. One of the pilgrims suddenly jumped up and shouted in horror: “Snake, snake!” And indeed, everyone saw a large poisonous snake crawling right to the monk’s feet. Father Paisiy calmed the guests, took an empty tin can, filled it with water and gave it to the snake to drink. After that, he asked her to crawl away and not scare the visitors. To the silent surprise of all those present, the snake obediently crawled away.
It is impossible to list all the miracles performed through the prayers of the elder, both during his life and after his blessed death. By sincerely and from the bottom of our hearts praying to Paisius the Holy Mountain, we find a reliable and faithful intercessor before the Lord. The elder helps in any matter and life circumstances, as long as the prayer is pure and the request does not harm the person’s soul.
The elder reposed in the Lord peacefully after a long, serious illness in 1994. After just two decades, he was canonized in 2015, and many Christians around the world are now able to offer their prayers to him.
Reverend Father Paisius the Holy Mountain, pray to God for us!
Watch the video about Paisius's predictions
