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Sabbas the Father Confessor of Mount Athos

136 bytes added, 10:01, September 16, 2014
Life: removed the words explaining the reason of delusion that were my guess not literaly present in the letter
His forbearance, generosity, the ability to conciliate, console, instruct on the right path, together with the sanctity of life, made father Sabbas an incomparable confessor. He knew when he ought to be condescending and when - moderate, when - strict and precise. He treated the contrite and humble souls very leniently. But when he saw the emotional recalcitrance, he avoided making concessions. Then he acted according to the canons of the Church, but it was always done in a nice way, so that the people obeyed the canon without the slightest disturbance. Especially he could be strict with those who caused any damage to their neighbor.
Elder Sabbas was very strict in matters that concerned the priesthood. If a candidate to the clergy had an obstacle in the form of some sin, Father Sabbas in no case did not show showed him compassion and mercy. Conversely, if any cleric fell into serious sin, the Elder knew that beforehand.
- Father - he said to him - take off your epitrachelion not to aggravate the soul even more.
Besides the gift of counsel, Elder Sabbas had the power over demons. He helped many people who suffered from demon possession and [[prelest]].
In particular, Elder Sabbas helped to reveal the delusion of one hierodeacon. This story is also available in a letter of Elder [[Daniel Katounakiotis‎]] to Markianis Markianus "About rejection of dreams"(in: Angelic Living). Elder Daniel wrote about this as an example that sometimes it is very difficult to reveal the demonic tricks. That hierodeacon was young and arbitrarily started to pray a lot in the night with many prostrations. And then he started to see visions and receive revelations about the sins of other brethren. Though he confessed everything, nobody of the confessors understood the delusion because he looked humble and was making the sign of the Cross during the visions. Then At first, Elder Sabbas did not understand what was going on. He advised: "I have some thought in my mind. If you have a true vision of Christ and Angels, ask what I was thinking of because only the Lord knows everything." During the next vision, that hierodeacon asked imaginary "Christ" about that and the delusion was revealed. Even though the visions ceased after repeated exorcism, the soul of that hierodeacon was seriously injured because he was in delusion for a long time. Elder Daniel Katounakiotis‎ writes that later he gave up all his monastic vows.
==Repose==
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