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{{cleanup[[image:Philotheos_Zervakos.jpg|Convert from list into paragraphs.}}thumb|Philotheos Zervakos]]Blessed Elder Archimandite [[Archimandrite]] '''Philotheos Zervakos ''' of Longovarda (1884-1980), is a well-known 20th -century [[Church of Greece|Greek Orthodox ]] elder, from Paros island, and spiritual son of St. [[Nektarios of Aegina]]. He was imprisoned twice by the Turks during the final years of the Ottoman occupation of Thessaloniki and many have witnessed the saint to "float/walk on air". Although he has not been [[glorification|glorified]] he is considered a [[saint]] in Greece.

Blessed Elder Archimandrite Philotheos (Zervakos) was born in the small and remote village of Pakia in Sparti, Peloponesse, Greece , in the year 1884 in the small village of Pakia,the Peloponese called Pakia and was given the name of Constantine at his Holy Baptism[[baptism]]. From childhood he demonstrated an exceptional love for God.

He was 18 years old, when he was inspired by the 54th Psalm to follow the monastic life. He departed from his paternal home with neither shoes or any possessions; he only had his tunic and a small gospel. In 1912, [[April 22]], Father Philotheos was [[ordination|ordained ]] to the [[presbyter|priesthood ]] by the [[Metropolitan ]] Gabriel of Trifilia and Olympia. In 1924, he made an extensive [[pilgrimage ]] to the [[Holy land Land]] and Egypt. This is all described in his book published in 1925 ", ''Great and Wondrous Pilgrimages to Palestine and Sinai"''.

In 1930, Elder Ierotheos reposed , and Father Fr. Philotheos succeeded him as [[abbot ]] of Longovarda. At By this stage, Father Fr. Philotheos had the reputation of a Saintsaint. In 1934, he makes made another pilgrimage, this time to Constantinople. He founds returned to Greece and founded the [[convent ]] of the Theotokos [[Panagia Myrtidiotissa|Myrtidiotissa]] ''Thapsanon'' (The Virgin of the Myrtle Tree) in , 4 km from Lefkes on the island of Paros, Greece.

In 1976 he writes a well known Apologetic addressed Throughout his life, the Elder preaches the word of God and heard confessions for 68 years (1912 to Archimandrite Cyprian <ref> 11978). The most reverend CyprianDuring this time, Dr. Theol., is he visited the Metropolitan islands of Oropos and Fili and President of the Holy Synod in ResistanceParos, Antiparos, Naxos, Amorgos, Thera, Syros, Tinos, Andros, Sifnos, Patmos, Rhodes, Chios, Mytilene, Aegina, Hydra, Cyprus, Kefallinia, Zakynthos, Evoia, Skiathos, Orthodox Church of GreecePrigippos. He is the spiritual son of the renowned Elder Philotheosalso visited over 54 cities and towns throughout Greece, including Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Thessaloniki etc.</ref>and internationally including Alexandria, Cairo, Constantinople, Holy Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa.Suez etc

In 1980 During his life, he built 12 churches, two monasteries, three cemeteries and two schools. The money he would receive from the blessed Elder Philotheos dies on the morning of [[May 8]]. His funeral was conducted by Archimandrite Dionysios of Simonopetra Monastery of Mt Athos. His relics were laid faithful he would distribute to rest at the convent in Parospoor, in a place that he chose beside the chapel dedicated to his spiritual mentor, Saint Nexktarios of Aegina [[November 9]]widows and the orphans.

He is classified as On the morning of [[May 8]], 1980, the blessed Elder Philotheos died in his cell at Thapsana, Paros. His funeral was conducted by Archimandrite Dionysios of [[Simonopetra Monastery (Athos)|Simonopetra Monastery]] of [[Mount Athos|Mt Athos]]. His [[relics]] were laid to rest at the convent in Paros, in a Modern Orthodox Saint in place that he chose beside the Greek Orthodox Churchchapel dedicated to his spiritual mentor, St. [[Nectarios of Aegina]] ([[November 9]]).

<!---==In defence of His Spiritual Father, St. Nektarios of AiginaA contemporary miracle==The following letter, written He was imprisoned twice by Philotheos Zervakos, is considered the Turks during the final years of extreme historical importance since it is defence the Ottoman occupation of his Spiritual fatherThessaloniki. On the second occasion, he had sailed to Thessaloniki to venerate the relics of St. Nektarios of AeginaDemetrios. At the port, he was taken to be a spy and put under surveillance. He was later arrested and imprisoned when he went to leave the city and was passing through customs.

:In the year Father Philothos asked another man what his crime was. --->==Relationships==* St. [[Nectarios of our Lord 1976Aegina]], when seven years had already passed since we aligned ourselves with the Old Calendar movement on account of ecumenism 1846-1920. (1969[[November 9]]), we dedicated an entire issue of our periodical Άγιος Κυπριανός (No* St. 87 'Papa' [[March 1976Nicholas (Planas)]]of Athens, pp. 971851-102) to refuting the slanders against St1932. Nectarios of Aegina (1846[[March 2]])* Blessed Papa-1920[[Dimitri (Gagastathis) contained in a blasphemous book]], 1902-1975.

:This most blasphemous book—which was, unfortunately==Quotes==#''"I am proud of the cassock I wear and consider it more valuable and seemly than every other kind of garment, even than the first royal purple robes of kings. I consider myself unworthy to dress in such a series of similar ones—wasmodest, in essencehonorable and holy garb, nothing more than a farrago of invectiveswhich was honored by numberless monastic saints, slanderhieromartryrs, confessors and suspect historical evidenceholy ones. It was written in a supercilious style I am saddened by and contained scurrilous expressions pity those clerics who reject the cassock and was full of provocativenesswho shave their beards."''#''"In this present evil generation, the spiritual father must use oeconomy, for, is he implements exactness (akrívia), animositynone, prejudiceor only a few, cursesof those coming to confession would be found worthy of receiving Holy Communion. The greatest care and discernment is necessary, anathemashowever, and distortionsthe spiritual father must pray fervently to the heavenly God and Father to enlighten him as to how to implement oeconomy. "''

:That same March==Sources==*''The Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos'' by S. Kementzentzidis, in 1976, we had the especial blessing of receiving a very valuable letter, full of godly trans. by Palis and prophetic zealChalice, from the ever-memorable Thessaloniki: 1986. *''Blessed Elder Philotheos (Zervakos)'' by C. Cavarnos, who—as the Confessor of our spiritual FatherInstitute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, His EminenceBelmont, Metropolitan Cyprian—had given his blessing for us MA: 1993.*''A Great and Wondrous Pilgrimages to join the Old Calendar movement Palestine and had encouraged usSinai, in our further journeythe Wayferer'' by P. Zervakos, with many and various letters, which we are intending to make public in due time1925.

:For ===Writings===* From the time beingHoly Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa, Elder Philotheos wrote a well-known [[apologetics|apologetic]] in 1976 addressed to Archimandrite Cyprian.<ref>The most reverend Cyprian, Dr. Theol., on is the occasion Metropolitan of Oropos and Fili and President of the commemoration [[Holy Synod in Resistance]], Orthodox Church of StGreece. Nectarios He is the Wonderworker spiritual son of Elder Philotheos.</ref> This letter (9 Novembercf. External links), we are publishing that momentous letter is considered of multifaceted extreme historical importance of in the most saintly Elder Orthodox Church since it is written in defense of Paros, which he wrote, exactly four years before his holy repose (25 April 1980 [Old Style])spiritual father, in defense of St. Nectarios and to express to us his heartfelt joy over our aforementioned publicationof Aegina.* Sacred War Against Blasphemy.* The Errors of [[Apostolos Makrakis]].

:*** :Holy Monastery of Longovarda, 27 March 1976 :To my spiritual son in the Lord, Archimandrite Cyprian, joy and happiness.  :Last November, on the Feast Day of St. Nectarios, I went to the Holy Monastery of the Panagia Myrtidiotissa, to the venerable Church of our Father among the Saints, Nectarios, spiritual Father to me in my youth, instructor in my spiritual life, and guide in my monastic life, and I celebrated his Feast Day, 9 November.  :About forty days earlier, I had been given the blasphemous book by the proud, deranged, and demonized Abbess Magdalene. I was distressed and at a loss as to how a woman—and a nun, at that—could reach the point that she would crudely revile the most saintly of men, among the adulterous and perverse generation of our day, with invectives that even the worst and most malicious woman would spout only against the worst and vilest criminal.  :I found the answer to my question when I remembered that our Lady and Theotokos Mary, on account of her utmost and immeasurable humility, became the dwelling-place of God. Abbess Magdalene, on account of her immeasurable pride, has become the dwelling-place of the prince of darkness, Beelzebub.  :Nectarios, through his great humility, fervent faith, and wholehearted love, and through prayer, fasting, and vigils, was vouchsafed Heavenly gifts. Abbess Magdalene, through her great pride, received from the prince of darkness demonic gifts: envy, lies, slander, etc.Seeing and hearing the miracles that St. Nectarios performed, and performs for all who call on him with faith and piety, even for the New Calendarists (though she is with the Old Calendar, which she has so struggled to honor, and this as if she were above all the Hierarchs and Patriarchs and Synods), she has professed that the Holy Spirit, Whom the New Calendarists call upon in all of their Mysteries, does not descend because of the absence of the Old Calendar, and, subsequently, their Mysteries are invalid; and the New Calendarists, when partaking of the Mystery of Holy Communion, do not eat the Body of Christ and do not drink the Blood of Christ, but common bread and wine. They eat straw-and grass.  :Oh, what impiety and insanity! Alas, to what heights of impiety and insanity pride impels wretched man. It renders him like unto its father, the Devil. And it renders Magdalene higher than the Devil. For the Devil said, I will be equal to the Most High. But Magdalene is higher than God.And, as one mad, on the last page of her blasphemous and most impious book, the most audacious, most wretched, most irreverent, and most wicked one, as one enraged and demonized, having vomited forth abuse on St. Nectarios, also turns to Almighty God, the Creator and Maker of all things visible and invisible, and says to him: “Hearken, O Heaven, and give ear, O earth!  :May all who recognize Nectarios Kephalas as a Saint have the curse and anathema of the aforementioned Fathers and the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Synod. Amen!”The First to recognize Nectarios as a Saint is God. God showed him to be a Saint. It is the will of God for all of us to become Saints: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” And elsewhere He says: “I said ye are gods and all are sons of the Most High.” Elsewhere again, in the Gospel, He says: “Without me ye can do nothing.” He says these things so that we might always be humble and always have a humble attitude. For the Lord resists the proud, but to the humble He gives Grace.God rendered St. Nectarios wondrous, as David chants: “In the Saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous.” Not so Magdalene, whom Satan corrupted! “Whosoever acknowledges St. Nectarios as a Saint, let him be accursed!” Truly, she knows not what she says. May God restore her to her right mind.  :*** :I was sick at heart in those days, fearing lest the fanatic Old Calendarists had deceived you into accepting their blasphemous and impious belief that the Mysteries of the New Calendarists are invalid because they do not follow the Old Calendar.The Old Calendar is not God, nor the Holy Spirit. It is Tradition, which they ought not to have despised; they ought to have respected it. They did not entirely reject it, however, as the Iconoclasts rejected the Icons and burned them. They did not cast the Saints out of the Church, they did not burn the calendar, they did not deny God, the Mysteries, or the Holy Spirit  :The Holy Fathers, who prescribed that the Feast of Pascha be celebrated according to the Julian Calendar, did not tell us: “With that [the Julian Calendar] you will celebrate the Mysteries; with that you will be saved; if you have that you are able to commit all manner of sins, to cast aside love, to have enemies amongst yourselves, to insult one another, to accuse one another, to anathematize one another, to beat one another, even inside Churches—you are free. You can do all of this, just as long as you keep the Old Calendar.”The Holy Fathers who prescribed the Old Calendar did not become Saints because they kept the Old Calendar. They became Saints because they kept the Orthodox Faith, love, humility, and the other virtues.  :*** :While I was in a sorrowful state and was considering writing to you to be careful to guard yourselves from the errors of various heretics, including the over-zealous and fanatic Old Calendarists, I was forestalled by the arrival of your religious periodical ÜAgiow KuprianÒw, which you dedicated to proclaiming boldly the truth about St. Nectarios, severely criticized the blasphemous book of the most irreverent, demonized reviler of St. Nectarios, whom God glorified while he was alive and after death, on earth and in Heaven, to the disgrace of the visible and invisible enemies who hate him and to the rejoicing of the Faithful who honor, glorify, and celebrate him.The joy, my spiritual child, which you gave me by your defense of the truth and of my holy spiritual Father, may the Lord also grant to you a thousandfold in the time of the just recompense, vouchsafing you and your little flock, through the intercessions of His All-Immaculate Mother, of Sts. Cyprian, Justina, Nectarios, and of all the Saints, the Heavenly Kingdom and the eternal good things, whereof may we all be counted worthy. Amen. :With paternal love and heartfelt wishes, :Archimandrite Philotheos Zervakos  <ref> * Source: Άγιος Κυπριανός, No. 323 (November-December 2004), pp. 114-116 <ref/> ===References===

== Known Relationships External links==* Saint Nectarios [http://www.synodinresistance.org/Theology_en/E3f2003aGerFilotheos-Biograf.pdf Biography of the Venerable Elder of AeginaParos, 1846 - 1920.Archimandrite Philotheos (Zervakos)]* Saint 'Papa' Nicholas [http://www.synodinresistance.org/Theology_en/E3a3b004AgNektariosAK323.pdf Elder Philotheos (PlanasZervakos) Defends His Spiritual Father, St. Nectarios of AthensAegina: A Momentous Letter of Historic Importance (PDF)] Άγιος Κυπριανός, 1851 No. 323 (November- 1932December 2004), pp.* Blessed Papa Dimitri Gagastathis, 1902 114- 1975116.  ==External Sources==* [[http://www.roca.org/OA/147-148/147e.htm Orthodox America - Elder Philotheos Zervakos]] ==Sources==* The Blessed [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/desperate.aspx A Desperate Appeal by the Elder Philotheos] by St. Philotheos Zervakos by S Kementzentzidis, trans*[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/paternalcounsels.aspx Excerpts from Paternal Counsels, Vol. I and II] by Palis and Chalice, Thessaloniki 1986St. Philotheos Zervakos* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/zervakos_repose.aspx Not on the New Calendar!: The Repose of the Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos by C. Cavarnos, Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Belmont MA 1993]

[[Category:Greek SaintsElders]]