St. Paisios the Athonite

Today we commemorate St. Paisios the Athonite, who is one of the most beloved of the modern saints in the Eastern Orthodox Church.  I remember the first time hearing about St. Paisios.  I was an immature 15 year old at St. Stephen’s Summer Camp in Salem, South Carolina, on the edge of my seat listening to Fr. Micah tell story after story of St. Paisios.  My favorite of all of his miraculous works was how St. Euphemia would visit him on Mount Athos.  Here is a saint that was martyred in 303 AD repeatedly visiting and building a friendship with a monk in the mid to late 20th century.  And to make matters even crazier, she visits him when he lived on Mount Athos (for those who don’t know, women have not allowed on the Holy Mountain since 1046 AD).

In honor of St. Paisios my parish held a Divine Liturgy for him this morning.  And yesterday (on the day in which St. Euphemia is commemorated on) we held a Small Paraklesis service to St. Paisios.

May Saint Paisios intercede for us all!

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