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'''Paisios (Eznepidis)''', the '''Elder Paisios of Mount Athos''', (Greek: Γέροντος Παϊσίου του ΑγιορείτουΓέροντας Παΐσιος ο Αγιορείτης) is was a much revered monastic of [[Mount Athos]]. A devout An [[asceticism|ascetic]], he was known by his visitors for his gentle manner and acceptance of those who came to receive his advice, counsel, and blessing endeared him to his visitors. His popular words of counsel continue to be published. [http://noctoc-noctoc.blogspot.com/2008/08/elder-panteleimon-of-hamatouraa-hidden.html?showComment=1217990940000]

==BiographyLife==On Arsenios Eznepidis was born on [[July 25]], Arsenios Eznepidis was born 1924 to pious parents in the town of Farasa, Cappadociaof Asia Minor, shortly before the population exchange between Greece and Turkeyfollowing the Greco-Turkish War of 1919-1922. Arsenios' name was given to him by St . [[Arsenios the Cappadocian]], who baptised baptized him, named the child for himself and foretold Arsenios' [[monasticism|monastic]] future. After Very shortly after his [[baptism]] the exchange, young Arsenios and his family were forced to leave Asia Minor in accordance the peace Treaty of Lausanne. St. Arsenios guided his flock along a 400-mile trek to Greece. The Eznepidis family finally settled in the town of Konitsain Epirus in northwestern Greece. As he had prophesied, EpirusSt. Arsenios reposed forty days after the group settled in Greece, leaving, as his spiritual heir, the infant Arsenios. Arsenios grew up here, in Konitsa and learned carpentry after completing intermediate public school, he learned carpentry.

During the civil war in Greecefollowing World War II, Arsenios served as a radio operator. He worried While concerned about his compatriots who had family, whereas he didn't worry for himself because he was single and had no children. He was noted for his bravery, self-sacrifice and moral righteousness. After the civil war ended, he wanted to begin the enter a monastic life, but had to provide for consider his sisters, who were as yet unmarried. In By 1950, this was accomplished, and he went to Mt Athos: first to Fr Kyril, the had provided for his sisters' future abbot of [[Koutloumousiou Monastery (Athos)]], and then to [[Esphigmenou Monastery (Athos)|Esphigmenou Monastery]] (although he was not supportive of their later opposition free to the [[Church of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]])begin his monastic vocation.

He arrived on [[Mount Athos]] in 1950, first to Fr. Kyril, the future [[abbot]] of [[Koutloumousiou Monastery (Athos)|Koutloumousiou Monastery]], and then to [[Esphigmenou Monastery (Athos)|Esphigmenou Monastery]]. In 1954, Arsenios, having been a [[novice ]] for four years, was tonsured [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and was given the name Averkios. Soon after, Fr Averkios went to the (then) He was a conscientious [[idiorrhythmicmonk]] brotherhood of [[Philotheou Monastery , finding ways to both complete his obediences (Athoswhich required contact with others)|Philotheou]]and to preserve his silence, where so as to progress in the art of prayer. He was always selfless in helping his uncle brethren. He was a monkunwilling to rest while others worked (though he may have already completed his own obediences) as he loved his brothers greatly and without distinction. While thereIn addition to his ascetic struggles and the common life in the [[monastery]], he was in obedience to Elder Symeonspiritually enriched through the reading of soul-profiting books. In 1956particular, he read the lives of the Saints, Elder Symeon was to tonsure Fr Averkios to the [[small schemaGerontikon]], giving him and especially the name Paisios[[Ascetical Homilies]] of St. [[Isaac the Syrian]].[http://elderpaisios.com/Life/index.htm]s.

==Early life==On Soon after his tonsure, monk Averkios left Esphigmenou and joined the then idiorhythmic brotherhood of [[July 25Philotheou Monastery (Athos)|Philotheou Monastery]], 1924 the future Elder Paisios (Eznepidis) where his uncle was born a monk. He placed himself under obedience to pious parents in the town of Farasa, Cappadocia of Asia Minor. The family's spiritual fatherElder Symeon, who gave him the priest monk Arsenios (the now canonized St. [[Arsenios of Cappadocia]])Small Schema in 1956, baptized with the babe with his new name, prophesying his future profession as monkPaisios. Fr. A week after Paisios dwelt deeply on the baptism (thought that his own spiritual failures and barely a month after lack of love were the cause of his birth) Arsenios was drivenneighbor's shortcomings, along with his family, out as well as of Asia Minor by the Turksworld's ills. St. Arsenios guided He harshly accused himself and pushed himself to greater self-denial and more fervent prayer for his flock along their 400-mile trek to Greecesoul and for the whole world. After a number He also cultivated the habit of stops along seeking the way, Arsenios"good reason" for a potentially scandalous event and for people' family finally ended up in the town of Konitsa in Epiros (northwestern Greece)s actions. StIn this way he preserved himself from judging others. Arsenios had reposedFor example, as he pilgrims to Mt. Athos who had prophesiedbeen scandalized by the strange behavior and stories told by a certain monk would when they met Elder Paisios, forty days after their establishment in Greeceasked him what was wrong with the monk. He warned them not to judge others, and he left that this monk was actually virtuous and was simply pretending to be a fool when visitors would come, so as to preserve his spiritual heir the infant Arseniossilence.

The young Arsenios In 1958, Elder Paisios was wholly given over asked to God spend some time in and spent around his free time in home village so as to support the faithful against the silence proselytism of natureProtestant groups. He greatly encouraged the faithful there, helping many people. Later, in 1962, he visited [[St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)|Sinai]] where he would pray stayed for hours on endtwo years. Having completed his elementary education, During this time he learned became beloved of the trade of carpentry. He worked Bedouins who benefited both spiritually as well as a carpenter until materially from his mandatory military servicepresence. He served in The Elder used the Army during the dangerous days of money he received from the end sale of World War II. Arsenios was brave and self-sacrificing, always desiring to put his own life at risk so as to spare his brother. He was particularly concerned about his fellow soldiers who had left wives and children carved wooden handicraft to servebuy them food.

Having completed his obligation to his countryIn 1964, Arsenios received his discharge in 1949 and greatly desired to begin his monastic life on the Holy Mountain. Before being able to settle there, however, he had to fulfil his responsibility to his family, to look after his sisters, who were as yet unmarried. Having provided for his sisters' future, he was free return to begin his monastic vocation with a clean conscience. He arrived on Mt. Athos in 1950, when he learned his first lessons in the monastic way from the virtuous ascetic Fr. Kyril (Elder Paisios took up residence at the future [[abbot]] Skete of [[Koutloumousiou Iviron Monastery (Athos) |Koutloumousiou MonasteryIviron]]), but was unable to stay by his side as he had hoped, and so was sent before moving to Katounakia at the [[Esphigmenou Monastery (Athos)|Monastery southernmost tip of Esphigmenou]]Mt. He was Athos for a novice short stay in the desert there . The Elder's failing health may have been part of the reason for four yearshis departure from the desert. In 1966, after which he a part of his lungs was [[tonsure]]d a monk in 1954 with the name Averkiosremoved during an operation. He It was a conscientious monk, finding ways to both complete during this time of hospitalization that his obediences (which required contact long friendship began with others) and to preserve his silence, so as to progress in the art young sisterhood of prayerSt. He was always selfless [[Apostle John|John the Theologian]] in helping his brethrenSouroti, unwilling to rest while others worked (though he may have already completed just outside of Thessaloniki. During his own obediences), as operation he loved his brothers greatly needed blood and without distinctionit was then that a group of novices from the monastery donated blood to save him. In addition to Elder Paisios was most grateful, and after his ascetic struggles and the common life in the monasteryrecovery, he was spiritually enriched through the reading of soul-profiting books. In particular, did whatever he read the lives of the Saintscould, the [[Gerontikon]]materially and spiritually, and especially the to help them build their [[Ascetical Homiliesmonastery]] of St. [[Isaac the Syrian]].[http://elderpaisios.com/Life/index.htm]

==Monastic Life==Soon after his tonsureIn 1968, monk Averkios left Esphigmenou and joined he resided at the (then) idiorhythmic brotherhood of [[Philotheou Stavronikita Monastery (Athos)|Philotheou Monastery]], where his uncle was a monk. He put himself under obedience to the virtuous Elder Symeon, who gave him the Small Schema in 1956, with the new name Paisios. Fr. Paisios dwelt deeply on the thought that his own spiritual failures and lack of love were the cause of his neighbor's shortcomings, as well as of the world's ills. He harshly accused himself, pushing himself to greater self-denial and more fervent prayer for his soul and for the whole world. Furthermore, he cultivated the habit of always seeking the "good reason" for a potentially scandalous event and for people's actions, and in this way he preserved himself from judging others. For example, pilgrims to Mt. Athos had been scandalized by the strange behavior and stories told by a certain monk, and, when they met Elder Paisios, they asked him what was wrong with the monk. He warned them not to judge others, and that this monk was actually virtuous and was simply pretending to be a fool when visitors would come, so as to preserve his silence. In 1958 Elder Paisios was asked to spend some time in and around his home village so as to support the faithful against the proselytism of Protestant groups. He greatly encouraged the faithful there, helping many people. Afterwards, in 1962, he left to visit [[St. Catherine's Monastery (Sinai)|Sinai]] where he stayed for two years. During this time he became beloved of the Bedouins who benefited both spiritually as well as materially from his presence. The Elder used the money he received from the sale of his carved wooden handicraft to buy them food. On his return to Mt. Athos in 1964 Elder Paisios took up residence at the Skete of Iviron before moving to Katounakia at the southernmost tip of Mt. Athos for a short stay in the desert there. The Elder's failing health may have been part of the reason for his departure from the desert. In 1966, he was operated on and had part of his lungs removed. It was during this time of hospitalization that his long friendship with the then young sisterhood of St. [[Apostle John|John the TheologianStavronikita]] in Souroti, just outside of Thessaloniki, began. During his operation he greatly needed blood and it was then that a group of novices from the monastery donated blood to save him. Elder Paisios was most grateful, and after his recovery did whatever he could, materially and spiritually, to help them build their monastery. In 1968 he spent time at the Monastery of Stavronikita helping both with its spiritual as well as material renovation. While there he had the blessing of being in contact with the ascetic [[Elder Tikhon]] who lived in the hermitage [[Hermitage]] of the Holy Cross, near Stavronikita. Elder Paisios stayed by his side until his repose, serving him selflessly as his [[disciple]]. It was during this time period that Elder Tikhon clothed Fr. Paisios in the Great Schema. According to the wishes of the Elder, Fr. Paisios remained in his Elder Tikhon's hermitage after his repose. He Fr. Paisios stayed there until 1979, when he moved on to his final home on the Holy Mountain, the hermitage Panagouda, which belongs to the Monastery of Koutloumousiou.

It was here at Panagouda that Elder Paisios' fame as a God bearing elder grew, drawing to him the sick and suffering people of God. He received them all day long, dedicating the night to God in prayer, vigil , and spiritual struggle. His regime of prayer and asceticism left him with only two or three hours each night for rest. The self-abandon with which he served God and his fellow man, his strictness with himself, the austerity of his regime, and his sensitive nature made him increasingly prone to sickness. In addition to respiratory problems, in his later days he suffered from a serious hernia that made life very painful. When he was forced to leave the Holy Mountain for various reasons (often due to his illnesses) he would receive pilgrims for hours on end at the women's monastery at Souroti, and the . The physical effort which this entailed in his weakened state caused him such pain that he would turn pale. He bore his suffering with much grace, however, confident that, as God knows what is best for us, it could not be otherwise. He would say that God is greatly touched when someone who is in great suffering does not complain, but rather uses his energy to pray for others.

In addition to his other illnesses he suffered from hemorrhaging which left him very weak. In his final weeks before leaving the Holy Mountain, he would often fall unconscious. On [[October 5]], 1993 , the Elder left his beloved Holy Mountain for the last time. Though he had planned on being off the mountain for just a few days, while in Thessaloniki he was diagnosed with cancer that needed immediate treatment. After the operation he spent some time recovering in the hospital and was then transferred to the monastery at Souroti. Despite his critical state he received people, listening to their sorrows and counseling them.

After his operation, Elder Paisios had his heart set on returning to Mt. Athos. His attempts to do so, however, were hindered by his failing health. His last days were full of suffering, but also of the joy of the martyrs[[martyr]]s. On [[July 11]], 1994, he received [[Holy Communion]] for the last time. The next day, Elder Paisios gave his soul into God's keeping. He was buried, according to his wishes, at the [[Monastery of St. John the Theologian (Souroti)|Monastery of St. John the Theologian]] in Souroti. Elder Paisios, perhaps more than any other contemporary elder, has captured the minds and hearts of the Greek people. Many books of his counsels have been published , and the monastery at Souroti has undertaken a great work, organizing the Elder's writings and counsels into impressive volumes befitting his memory. Thousands of pilgrims visit his tomb each year.

* ''Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian'', translated into English and published in 1989 and 2001 by Holy Monastery "Evangelist John the Theologian", Souroti, [[Thessalonica|Thessaloniki]], Greece.

== External link links==* [http://elderpaisios.com Elder Paisios devotional page]* [http://www.pigizois.grnet/agglika/paisios/10.htm Elder Paisios: A short biography]