By Protopresbyter George Efthymios
In the summer of 1975, I was blessed with going for the first time to the Garden of the Mother of God, Mount Athos (Agion Oros). I visited various ancient monasteries; I paid my respects to many of the priceless treasures of the holy place, that is, holy relics of martyrs and saints of our faith as well as holy icons. I participated in the daily all-night long vigils which are concluded with the Divine Liturgy early in the morning. I sat at the simple monastery dining room table, where everything reminds you that you eat in order to survive and fight for your salvation and you do not live in order to eat, where the reading of the devout patristic texts aim at transporting the minds of the table companions to heaven. I associated with conscientious monks who, inspired by divine love and obeying the urging of Basil the Great, "take care of thyself", have denied the world, but not man for whom they pray unfailingly with love and "with many tears" (Act. 20:19) in their cells and the church during the sacred vigils.
During my visit, I did not succeed, despite my wish, to meet Elder Paisios who was then an ascetic at the Stavronikita cell of the Holy Cross. This came later, "when the time was mature" (Gal. 4:4). What I realized about this full-of-grace person during my first pilgrimage to Mount Athos were the characteristic words of another co-pilgrim, today an assistant professor at the Medical School of the University of Thessaloniki, who had met him and told me that "his love breaks you apart", something I verified myself later on.
I will deal with this genuine man of God briefly, as I had the opportunity to do in the past with my dear spiritual fathers, Elder Porphyrios and Elder Iakovos.
On Tuesday, July 12, 1994 , the late Elder Paisios, the Hagiorite, rested in the Lord, at the Holy Cemetery of St. John the Theologian, in Souroti of Thessaloniki.
This genuine man of God, whose secular name was Arsenios Eznepides, was born to pious parents, Prodromos and Evlavia, at Farasa, Cappadocia on the 25th of July, 1924.
Due to the extraordinary and harsh conditions, he was baptized a few days later at Farasa, on the 7th of August, by St. Arsenios Chatziefentis and was given the name "Arsenios".
Barely a month after his birth, he was exiled along with his parents, relatives and other citizens of Farasa away from his paternal home and became a refugee.
The boat with the refugees arrived in metropolitan Greece on September 14. The Elder's family lived for a little while first in Piraeus, then in Castro of Corfu, and in a small village near Igoumenitsa prior to settling down in Konitsa in 1926.
He finished the Konitsa Elementary School and, then, he worked as a carpenter until 1945 when he was enlisted in the army. His military service, during those unlucky years of the civil war, lasted for approximately four years, until 1949, when Arsenios Eznepides, the radio operator, received his discharge certificate marked with "excellent" conduct.
In 1950, he went to Mt. Athos aiming at realizing the dream of his life; that is to receive the angelic schema.
In 1954, he was tonsured at the Monastery of Esphigmenou where he was serving as a novice as a rasophoros monk with the name of Averkios.
In 1956, he was tonsured to the "Small Schema" in Philotheou Monastery taking the name "Paisios".
In 1958, after being asked by the people of Konitsa who were spiritually in danger by a "raid" of Protestants who had managed to proselytize eighty poor families, he went to the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos, at Stomio, next to the Aos River. He stayed there for four years and greatly helped the inhabitants of the area who visited the Monastery.
In 1962, we find him as an ascetic at the Cell of Saints Galaktionas and Episteme, in the desert of Mt. Sinai.
In 1964, he returned to Mt. Athos and took up residence at the Archangels' cell, at the Skete of Ivira.
In 1966, he was operated on and had part of his lungs removed due to a serious illness.
In 1967, he settled down at Katounakia, at the Cell of Ypatios of Lavra, for more intense discipline.
In 1968, Papa-Tychon clothed him in the "Great and Angelic Schema", at the Holy Cross Cell of Stavronikita Monastery. He remained in the Cell after the repose of Papa-Tychon on the 10th of September 1968 , and stayed there until 1979.
In 1979, he moved on to his final home, the Panagouda Cell of the Monastery of Koutloumousiou, near Karyes. He stayed there until 1993 receiving many thousands of people who visited him in order to share their pain with him and ask his advice and prayer.
I was blessed by God to manage to visit him and talk with him during that blessed and fruit-bearing period of fifteen years that he lived in the Panagouda Cell.
I remember my eagerness when I went down the path that led from Karyes, the administrative centre of the Athos State, to the Elder's cell. The sweet expectation of my meeting with this true man of God flooded my heart and gave wings to my feet.
The waiting in front of the yard's gate at the Cell was short or long depending on the case. The Elder took good care to "make this waiting sweeter" having always in the Cell loukoumia or other sweets and water to offer to the pilgrims. The inscription written by him "to eat is a blessing" is characteristic. Apart from all the above, there were also makeshift seats so that the waiting pilgrims could rest and various articles of clothing to be worn by them so that they would not get cold as they were sweaty. Such affection, such love, such providence for everybody!
At some point, the Cell's door, of the old and poor building, would open and the Elder, who had been inside involved in asceticism and prayer of the heart for the salvation of his soul and the souls of his brothers, would appear. His face was always exhilarated and his attitude cordial. He would receive us and ask us to sit in the "outdoors dorter" on seats made of pieces from tree trunks. He would shake our hands and at the same time offer us loukoumia and water according to the tradition of Mt. Athos.
There, under the trees, with the songs of the birds "as the vocal drone", the Elder would start talking to us with "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68) either answering our questions or making comments on his own on the basis of information from "above" about the needs of each one of us. Here is the miraculous thing! The pilgrims were of various ages, professions, characters, spiritual and intellectual levels. Some of them were conscious of who was sitting in front of them and exactly what they were looking for. Some were there because they had heard something about him. Others were there with an ill-tempered and negative mood. He, guided by the Holy Spirit, offered "as every man had need" (Acts 2:45 ).
I will never forget, in relation to the above, the Elder's behaviour towards a Spanish student of Fine Arts, follower of the Pope, who happened to be amongst us in the "outdoors dorter" at some visit. At some point, the Elder turned to him with affection and interest making use of some Italian words and phrases he remembered from the Italian occupation so that he could communicate with him. Then, he gave him many pieces of advice in the Greek language and revealed to him many truths that, as he explained to us, the Holy Spirit would help him feel regardless of the fact that the different language would not allow him to understand. More specifically, when another visitor made the comment that "the foreign student does not understand what you are saying to him in Greek", he answered that "he will understand what he is meant to understand".
His advice to all his visitors was to have a spiritual father. This is why after giving answers and advice to questions or problems put forward by the people, he would finally send them to their spiritual fathers to lay the burden of their sins, which were the cause of all problems, under their stoles.
Many Christians, therefore, leading autonomous lives, selfishly, as orphans, "as sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36 ) took his advice, found a spiritual father and started living according to the Church. Their lives and the lives of the ones around them changed. Here I would like to mention something that the Elder always recommended for his wedded visitors. "Have the same spiritual father with your wife. Because as the carpenter uses the same plane to work on two pieces of wood and make them fit, the same way the spiritual father will use the same "plane" to work on the character of both spouses so as to make them fit. Whereas if you have different spiritual fathers, you will face difficulties."
I would like to mention something else extremely important that the Elder said on another occasion. I was with a group of people in the "outdoors dorter", when another group came, amongst whom there was an assistant professor of the Medical School of the University of Athens who held the Elder in great veneration. The professor asked Fr. Paisios at some point with pain, interest and love: "There are, Elder, many colleagues of mine, doctors, who have good intentions, good feelings, 'bowels of mercies' (Colossians 3:12 ) but do not believe. What can we do for them?" "Listen," said the Elder", "pray for them because under these circumstances they deserve God's mercy." He had said the same about some teachers and professors on another occasion.
The Elder, as a genuine man of God, had consolidated and immovable ideas "in the things he hast learned and hast been assured of" (2 Timothy 3:14 ). He knew and taught "by word and deed" (Romans 15:18 ) that in the issues of faith there is no swaying, negotiation or compromise. He clearly knew that there is no greater unhappiness and bigger danger for the Christian than to deny his faith and accept deceit. As we know, many deceived people, people that did not feel rest, urged by his reputation, went to meet him and discuss their existential problems. It is true that many of those people went there full of delusions and left repented, seeking then guidance in their spiritual fathers. If, therefore, someone gets involved with some of the heresies and false religions that have flooded our country mainly in recent years as well as if someone advances in the initiations, rites and other demonic activities imposed in order to become a member, this means a conscious or unconscious negation of the faith to the Trinitarian God, Christ, the Church and Baptism. I once asked the Elder: "What should we do with these people when they repent and want to return to the Church?" "You will say," he said, "the Service for the One that returns to the Orthodox Church. The people that return will denounce the bad faith with libel, they will confess the faith of the Church by reciting the Symbol of Faith and then you will anoint them with the holy chrism."
All of us are very much concerned about our dear departed, their state and what we can do about them. We used to ask the Elder about this and wanted really convincing answers. He would emphatically advise us to pray a lot for them. "Prayers," he said, "memorial services, liturgies, alms are very much to the benefit of the departed ones." "You should pray more," he added, "for the departed ones than the living. Because there is nothing they can do on their own any more, but we can help them attracting God's mercy through praying and the other means we have mentioned so that their state can be improved or even change, because they are still under judgment." And he concluded by saying in his characteristic way: "Is it a small thing to take our departed one from a sunless basement to a sunny apartment through our prayers?" At some point, I remember, he mentioned something overwhelming as regards the departed ones and our stance for them. There was a suicide once, a person who put an end to his life by falling from a bridge into a river. This man, as the Elder said, repented while he was falling, asked for forgiveness, his repentance was accepted and his soul was received by a Lord's angel. We must learn not to despair; and pray for our brethren asking for God's mercy and according to the words of St. Isidore of Piluseum: "Do not forerun God's judgment" (P. G. 78, 377) and be judges of others
It is unanimously accepted by the ecclesiastical tradition that pride is the biggest enemy of man's salvation. This is also underlined by the Bible where, inter alias, it is said that the "Lord scorneth the scorners…" (Proverbs 3:34) and "everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased" (Luke 18:14). The Elder told the following story which shows that pride is not the unfortunate privilege of the officials, rich and intellectuals only but is found amongst the most insignificant, poor and illiterate people. There was a shepherd who was discussing one day with the Elder when he was an ascetic in the Stomio Monastery near Konitsa. During the discussion, the dog of the flock approached trying to eat the shepherd's food which was in a plate nearby. The shepherd realized the dog's intention and managed quickly and swiftly to cover the plate avoiding thus the damage. Then, he turned to the Elder and boasted: "Did you see, monk, how clever I am and how I managed to save the food?" By mentioning this incident, the Elder pointed out the danger of pride which threatens all of us and the need to be alert and show repentance and humility in order to avoid the temptation stemming from the right.
During one of our visits, we asked the Elder about mercy. His answer was categorical. We have to practice this great Christian virtue suggested by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount when he blesses the ones that practice it and says: "Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy" (Matthew 5:7). He mainly urged us to help widows, orphans and, in general, people that are in great need. He said that upon accepting our help, they make a wish for us and our departed from the bottom of their hearts and say "May God forgive them, may their bones become holy!" and God hears the prayers that spring deep from their souls. In answer to the question that sometimes the idea crosses our mind that the ones begging can be cons or use our mercy for harmful purposes, he used to say that in these cases we should apply Christ's order by giving a small amount of money, and He takes care so that the money goes where it is needed. Furthermore, he referred for long periods to the ways that this is done.
The bleak condition of the world that "lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19) and the difficulties that the conscientious Christian faces "because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life" (Matthew 7:14 ) are very well known. The "enemies of man", the devil that "prowls about as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8), the old man, the one enslaved in the will of the flesh and the world, under the thumb of the devil who promotes his will in an attractive way, fight fiercely against the Christian who, literally, "goes in the midst of snares" (Sirach 9:13). In answer to the agonizing question raised by Christian family men about what they should do in order to face these bleak circumstances, the Elder provided the exit from the stranglehold of the daily reality talking to two different men. He said to the one that we will be saved from these if we "cling to the Church" and on a different occasion, he said to the other, as a clarification to the above: "Go to the church, confess, receive the Eucharist and you will reach the average".
The urging of Basil the Great "take care of thyself" (P. G. 31, 217B) is well known; the same holds for the unanimous advice of the Holy Fathers for continuous self-control exercised by the Christian. Elder Paisios, following this tradition, used to advise us to look into our selves and see "how many carats of Christians we are".
I left for the end two pieces of advice given to me by the Elder when I visited him for the final confirmation of God as regards my entering the holy orders. It was the 1st November 1986, when the Church celebrates the memory of Venerable David the Elder. I walked down with eagerness from Karyes to the Elder's Cell, Panagouda, in the wet autumn afternoon. A bit further down from the Monastery of Koutlomousio, two dogs became my "companions". They were running along the path which I did not know well. When they led me to the gate of the Cell's yard and the Elder came out to welcome me, he said to them and his words were full of meaning: "Ok, you can go now." And the dogs, as good "subservients" left immediately upon concluding their mission. This time the Elder welcomed me inside the cell where the stove with the wood was lit. After the "traditional" treat we went to the small church of the cells. I mentioned the purpose of my visit and after his unreserved and at the same time overwhelming answer for me "of course it is God's will", we talked about other things. There, inter alias, he gave me the following pieces of advice which I am quoting hoping that they will help my brethren as they have helped me. His first piece of advice was: "Do not put your plans before God's plans". These words saved me. They freed me from stress and anxiety. They taught me to put Christ's will always first in my life over my own will, to ask Christ always to lead the way in my life and direct me in everything. I saw, through the daily experience of so many years, that Christ knows and can assume full charge in the best way when we love Him, trust Him and ask Him to do that freely, voluntarily and unquestionably. We all understand the importance of this, especially for the shepherd's ministration of rational sheep and for the faithful that Christ entrusted him with. His second piece of advice was: "Thank God for everything you are; everything you have and everything you achieve. By thanking God you will realize that these are not your achievements but His gifts and, thus, you will feel humble." Without many comments, someone can understand the importance of the Elder's precept who with a simple, but "square" way leads man to self-knowledge and balance, far away from the morbid complexes of handicap and arrogance as well as away from man's lethal enemy, pride. The Elder's words always remind me of what Apostle Paul writes: "What hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).
I know that thousands of pages have been written about Elder Paisios. And I am sure that many more will be written. My work did not aspire to add some pages to the so many others. Stating my personal experience, six years upon the repose of the blessed Elder, is a debt of honor and gratitude for the person who, with God's providence, helped me in critical choices of my life and continues to help me in my pastoral ministration with the prayers and precepts he left me. These lines are also a debt of love for my brethren so that they can get to know this genuine person and the holy will of God as it was formulated through his lips with the wish that it will become their own will for salvation.
