Elder Isidoros the Blind of Philotheou reposed on Sunday November 27, 2022 at the Athonite Monastery of Philotheou at the age of 87.
Thousands of souls found comfort and benefit both with his words and prayers throughout the years when he would come out of Mount Athos twice a year.
The late Elder Isidoros was born in Patras with impaired vision.
At the age of 15, he underwent eye surgery, leaving him completely blind.
At the age of 40, he was tonsured a monk by the late Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona in the Monastery of Philotheou, to whom he confessed as a layman in Patras.
Before he became a monk, he suddenly began to see, and he said to the Panagia: "My Panagia, take the light from me, because I will not become a monk, and when the time for judgment comes, do not ask me for accountability."
Immediately he lost his sight again. He wanted this, because he believed that the disability he had helped him spiritually.
When the Monastery of Xeropotamou was populated in 1980 by the late Elder Ephraim of Xeropotamou and other monks of Philotheou, Father Isidoros was one of those who populated it.
Until his monastic tonsure he sold lotteries in Patras.
Thousands of souls found comfort and benefit both with his words and prayers throughout the years when he would come out of Mount Athos twice a year.
The late Elder Isidoros was born in Patras with impaired vision.
At the age of 15, he underwent eye surgery, leaving him completely blind.
At the age of 40, he was tonsured a monk by the late Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona in the Monastery of Philotheou, to whom he confessed as a layman in Patras.
Before he became a monk, he suddenly began to see, and he said to the Panagia: "My Panagia, take the light from me, because I will not become a monk, and when the time for judgment comes, do not ask me for accountability."
Immediately he lost his sight again. He wanted this, because he believed that the disability he had helped him spiritually.
When the Monastery of Xeropotamou was populated in 1980 by the late Elder Ephraim of Xeropotamou and other monks of Philotheou, Father Isidoros was one of those who populated it.
Until his monastic tonsure he sold lotteries in Patras.
He never complained about his disability. On the contrary, he thanked God for it.
He said: "I have nothing and I lack nothing." It should be noted that Father Isidoros was absolutely obedient to Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, while they were distinguished with mutual love.
He visited his Elder several times in Arizona to get his blessing and confess.
He had a special love for the Person of the Most Holy Theotokos whom he called "Mommy".
When he was asked for his blessing, he answered "our Panagias" or "my Elders".
There are hundreds of testimonies of people who experienced miracles near him.
He was a sanctified soul! We pray his holy soul to rest in peace. Good Paradise!
He said: "I have nothing and I lack nothing." It should be noted that Father Isidoros was absolutely obedient to Elder Ephraim of Philotheou, while they were distinguished with mutual love.
He visited his Elder several times in Arizona to get his blessing and confess.
He had a special love for the Person of the Most Holy Theotokos whom he called "Mommy".
When he was asked for his blessing, he answered "our Panagias" or "my Elders".
There are hundreds of testimonies of people who experienced miracles near him.
He was a sanctified soul! We pray his holy soul to rest in peace. Good Paradise!
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"Learn to trust God! God doesn't know and you know? If God allows it, it is because it is for the benefit of the salvation of your soul! What are these things? Look me in the face! How do you see me? Do you see me unhappy, sad? Aren't you happy to see me? I was born blind! And I glorify the Panagia because that way I commit fewer sins! At some point, the Panagia gave me my sight, but when I saw that it didn't help me, I asked her to take it back... And she listened to me!''
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.