Changes

Our venerable and God[[Image:Saint Savvas- Icon from his church.jpg|frame|right|Icon at the Entrance of his church in Kalymnos]][[Image:St-Savas-the-New-bearing father icon.jpg|frame|right|First ever icon of Saint Savvas]]One of the newest contemporary saints of the Eastern Orthodox church, Saint '''Sava the NewSavvas of Kalymnos''' (also spelled known as Saint '''Savvasthe New'' or ''Savas'') is the [[patron saint]] of the Greek Island island of Kalymnos (Calymna), where he lived during the last twenty years of his life as the [[priest]] and spiritual father of the [[nun]]s of the Convent of All Saints. He was a great [[ascetic]], [[confessor]], [[iconographer]], and [[wonder-worker|miracle-worker]]. He is one of the recently recognized saints in the Greek Orthodox Church. The feast of St. Sava the New of Kalymnos is celebrated on various dates in different traditions, including [[February 7]] ([[March 25saint]] s in the [[Old Calendar]]), [[April 7]], [[December 5]] with St. Sava the Sanctified, and the fifth Sunday of [[Great Lent]] with St. [[Mary of Egypt]]Greek Orthodox Church.

==Life==Saint Sava was born in 1862 in Eastern Thrace and was He died on [[baptizeApril 7]]d with the name , 1947, and his remains were exhumed 10 years later in 1957. The feasts dates of VasiliosSt. From a young age he had a calling for ''Savvas the holy New of Kalymnos'' are celebrated on various dates in different traditions, April 7 ([[monasticMarch 25]] life and so he left for according to the [[Mount AthosOld Calendar]] as a teen where he entered [[St. Anne's Skete (Athos)|St. Anne's Skete]]. Along with , and the usual monastic duties, he learned fifth Sunday of [[iconographyGreat Lent]] and with St. [[Byzantine chant|Byzantine musicMary of Egypt]].

After a few years==Saint Savvas Life==Saint Savvas was born in 1862 in Herakleitsa, he traveled to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage to the holy sitesEastern Thrace, and there he entered the [[monastery]] only child of St. George HozevitouConstantinos and Smaragda, both devout people who were very poor. After a period of being a [[novice]], Upon his baptism he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and given the name of SavaVasilios.

In 1902, St. Sava was As a young boy he had a calling for the [[ordainmonastic]]ed a life and secretly left without his parents knowing for [[deaconMount Athos]] and a year later at the age of twelve where he was ordained to the holy priesthoodentered [[St. Anne's Skete (Athos)|St. Anne's Skete]]. He spent almost 10 years in Along with the desert by the Jordan monastic duties, this is where he led an austere life and occupied himself with prayer and learned [[iconography. His dwelling consisted of two cells which he reached by ascending up a rope ladder. This isolation was necessary for successful inner concentration ]] and noetic prayer and he made great spiritual progress there[[Byzantine chant|Byzantine music]].

Due to health reasons and the political situation in Palestine which made life unsafe, St. Sava returned to Greece where he searched for a quiet place to continue his monastic life. He later traveled throughout Greece to Jerusalem for three years but could not find a suitable place. His prayers were answered when another saint, St. [[Nektarios of Aeginapilgrim]], had asked St. Sava to come age to the Holy Trinity Convent holy sites. He arrived in Aegina 1887 and serve as a priest for nuns. There he would also be able to teach them entered the sacred art [[monastery]] of iconography and Byzantine music. St. Sava stayed at the convent George Hozeva and lived there for six seventeen years, from 1919 until 1925. This time at the Convent was one of the most significant events as a hermit in the saint's life due to his association with St. Nektarios who was at the height of his spiritual development. St. Sava had the opportunity to confess deserted and receive counsel from Strugged cliffs. Nektarios. The two had the highest esteem After serving for each other a period as a [[novice]], he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and each considered given the other a saintname ''Savvas''.

As a matter In 1890, he joined the brotherhood of fact, St. Sava painted the first [[iconAbbot]] Kallinikos (from Alatsata of St. Nektarios: One day St. Sava asked the Asia Minor) and in 1902 was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[abbessdeacon]] not to let anyone disturb him for forty days. In 1903, a year later, during which he remained confined was ordained to his cellthe holy priesthood by Archbishop Nikodemos from Diokesaria. After 40 days, He spent almost 10 years in the desert by the Jordan where he came out of his cell holding led an icon of St. Nektariosaustere life and occupied himself with prayer and iconography. He handed it to the abbess and asked her to place it in the church for venerationHis dwelling consisted of two cells which he reached by ascending up a rope ladder. The abbess This isolation was surprised since Stnecessary for successful inner concentration and noetic prayer and he made great spiritual progress there. Nektarios had not been [[glorificationImage:St-savvas2.jpg|glorifiedframe|left|St. Sava the New of Kalymnos]] ("canonized") as a saint yetDue to the irregularities caused by the raids of the Arabs in the Holy Land, and she health reasons, St Savvas was afraid that the convent would get into troubleforced to leave. Although He returned to the saint was always meek and humble, motherland (Greece) where he insisted, and told her in searched for a commanding manner: "You must show obediencequiet place to continue his monastic struggle. Take the icon and place it on Originally he was attracted to the island of [[iconostasis|icon standPatmos]], where he lived for a while in the hermitage of Grava and do not scrutinize later at the will [[Monastery of GodSt." He knew John the holiness and purity Theologian (Patmos, Greece)|Monastery of St. NektariosJohn]]. <ref> This is verified by an inscription on an icon painted by St. Savvas himself at the monastery: "In the month of December in 1914 this icon was painted by the hand of the iconographer, hieromonk Savvas the Hosevite." </ref>

After StHe later traveled for three years, throughout Greece, looking for a suitable place to stay. Nektarios reposedHe visited Mount Athos, then the Monastery of Phaneromenis, more then Salamina and more pilgrims would come to finally the convent due island of Hydra, but in 1919 he was invited to stay at the growing reputation island of Aegina by St. [[Nektarios of Aegina|Nektarios ]], to serve as a miracle-workerpriest at the Convent of the Holy Trinity, and stayed for six years at this convent (from 1919 until 1925). There he taught the nuns the holy art of iconography and Byzantine music. This disrupted period was one of the quiet life that most significant events in his biography due to his friendship with St. Sava lovedNektarios, who was at the height of his spiritual development at this time. St Savvas had the opportunity to confess and receive counsel from the saint, and so he departed the convent two held each other in 1925, again for highest esteem and regarded each other a quieter lifesaint. They were spiritual brothers and the best of friends.

St. Sava spent Savvas, the last years of his life as clergyman who conducted the priest and spiritual father at funeral service for Saint Nektarios, also painted the Convent first [[icon]] of All Saints on the island of Kalymnossaint.:''One day St. As a Savvas asked the [[confessorabbess]]not to let anyone disturb him for forty days, during which he remained confined to his cell in which the nuns could hear constant conversation (between the living saint and the reposed saint). After 40 days, he combined leniency with severitycame out of his cell holding an icon of the saint. He was lenient on certain sins handed it to the abbess and severe asked her to othersplace it in the church for veneration. He remained an ardent spiritual striver until The abbess was surprised since Nektarios had not been formerly [[glorification|glorified]] ("canonized") as a saint, and was afraid that the end of life convent would get into trouble. Although Savvas was always meek and practiced extreme forms of self-restraint with regard to foodhumble, drinkhe insisted, and sleeptold her in a commanding manner: "You must show obedience. StTake the icon and place it on the [[iconostasis|icon stand]], and do not scrutinize the will of God. Sava became a shining example " He knew the holiness and purity of virtue to all who came into contact with himSt. Many smelled a heavenly fragrance in his presence and some even saw him rising above the ground as he stood at prayerNektarios. ''

Towards During the end of his life, St. Sava was in a state of intense prayer and holy contrition. For three forty days he did not receive anyone and he gave his last counsels: requested love and obedience spent locked in Christ. When he was on the point of death taking his last breath, suddenly he received strength, brought his blessed small hands together, and clapped them repeatedly saying his last holy words: "The Lord! The Lord! The Lord!" He went to the Lord in 1948 on the eve of the [[feast]] of the [[Annunciation]]. One nun saw the soul of the saint ascending in a golden cloud towards heaven. After about 10 years when the saintroom where St Nektarios's grave tomb was opened in accordance to , the Greek Orthodox customnuns could hear two voices having conversations, a heavenly fragrance emanated from the grave and this was witnessed by many, including believed the local [[bishop]]. This second voice was a testament to the sanctity that of the saint. Numerous [[miracle]]s and healings have since been attributed to recently departed St. Sava Nektarios, so the New of Kalymnosliving and dead were having discussions.

Soon after the repose of St. Nektarios, the number of pilgrims to the convent increased rapidly due to the growing reputation of the saint as a miracle-worker. This greatly disrupted the quiet life that Saint Savvas loved, and with the encouragement of the influential wealthy Kalymnian Gerasimos Zervos<ref> Gerasimos Zervos, the husband of Anna, who later became Sister Monica, who also went to Kalymnos.</ref>, he departed in 1925 and went to the island of Kalymnos. There, he spent the last years of his life as the priest and spiritual father at the Convent of All Saints. As a [[confessor]], he combined leniency with severity. He was lenient on certain sins and severe to others. For him blasphemy against God and His saints was one of the greatest sins. He remained an ardent spiritual striver until the end of life and practiced extreme forms of self-restraint with regard to food, drink, and sleep. St. Savvas became a shining example of virtue to all who came into contact with him. Many smelled a heavenly fragrance in his presence and some even saw him rising above the ground as he stood at prayer. Towards the end of his life, St. Savvas remained in a state of intense prayer and holy contrition. For three days he did not receive anyone and he gave his last counsels, requesting love and obedience in Christ. When he was on the point of death taking his last breath, suddenly he received strength, brought his blessed small hands together, and clapped them repeatedly saying his last holy words: "The Lord! The Lord! The Lord," then he recited the hymn of the [[Annunciation]] which the nuns found odd as it was not the Annunciation with the new Gregorian calendar, but only did the nuns realise later that at that point those following the old Julian calendar were celebrating the vesperal feast for the Annunciation. Thus, he died on [[April 7]]], 1947 (which was March 25 for the Old Calendar, the eve of the [[feast]] of the [[Annunciation]]. Upon closing his eyes, one of the nuns saw the soul of the saint ascending in a golden cloud towards heaven. After 10 years when the saint's grave was opened, a heavenly fragrance emanated from the grave which covered the whole island of Kalymnos, this phenomenon was witnessed by many, including the local [[bishop]] who upsettingly and initially refused to grant permission to the nuns to exhume his relics (when after three years of his death St Savvas miraculously appeared to the nuns ordering them to exhume him as the side of his head was getting wet being buried with his head at the base of a water deposit (''sterna'' in Greek) and only after following years of torment and dreams did the then-Bishop Isidoros believe and allowed his relics to be exhumed, finding his whole body incorrupt and intact apart from a small section on his skull where a patch of his skin deteriorated because of the water leaking on him&mdash;as the saint had said to the nuns! This was a testament to the sanctity of the saint. Numerous [[miracle]]s and healings have since been attributed to St. Savvas the New of Kalymnos. ==SourceIcons of the Saint's Life ==*''Modern Orthodox Saints<small><gallery>Image:St Nectarios- Kimisi-close-up.jpg|Saint Savvas was the only clergyman to officiate at Saint Nectarios'funeral.Image:St_Savvas_of_Kalymnos-with_Icon6X4.jpg|Icon of the Saint holding the first icon of Saint Nectarios.Image:Saint Savvas- miracle in church.jpg|On many occasions Saint Savvas while liturgising was witnessed levtitating with a sacrificial Christ on the altar table.Image:Saint Savvas -teaching Nuns.jpg|Saint Savvas was also a great teacher of Orthodoxy. Teaching theology, iconography and Byzantine chant.Image:Saint Savvas Confessing.jpg|Saint Savvas was also a very discerning confessor. He was both lenient and severe when requiredImage:Saint Savvas giving child.jpg|Saint Savvas has been quite miraculous in granting childless couples children.Image:Saint Savvas Miracle at sea.jpg|Saint Savvas has saved many storm stricken vessels at sea, with only the mention of his name.Image:Saint Savvas miracle for Bishop.jpg|Here Saint Savvas cures monk Panteliemon Lambadarios (currently a bishop in Alexandria) of cancer, he', Vols a well know healer of cancer. 8Image:Saint Savvas kimisi-2. "[httpjpg|The repose of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos on 7th April 1947 (Annunciation 25th March OC)Image:SAINT_SAVVAS_MIRACLE.JPG|X-ray of healed tumour by Saint Savvas of Kalymnos.</gallery></wwwsmall> == Photographs of Saint's Monastery ==<small><gallery>Image:Saint Savvas Church-Mountain.jpg|Monastery of All Saints.Image:Saint Savvas- church.jpg|Church of Saint Savvas of KalymnosImage:Church entrance.jpg|Entry to churchImage:Saint Savvas Larnaca.jpg|Larnaca of Saint Savvas of KalymnosImage:Saint Savvas-Close-up.jpg|Close-up of saints relicsImage:Saint Savvas-tomb.panagiavlahernonjpg|Original burial place of St SavvasImage:Saint Savvas-entry to cell.org/stjpg|Entry to Saints cellImage:Saint Savvas-savvasroom.jpg|Inside the Saints cellImage:Saint Savvas personal belongings.jpg|Some personal belongingsImage:Saint Savvas walking stick.html jpg|Saints Walking stickImage:StSavvas Kalymnos-Sydney Church. jpg|St Savvas of Kalymnos Orthodox Church, Sydney. Australia</gallery></small> == Notes ==<small><references/></small> ==Hymns==[[Apolytikion]]:Let us faithful praise Holy Savas, the glory and protector of Kalymnos,:and peer of the Holy [[Ascetic]]s of old; :for he has been glorified resplendently as a servant of [[Christ]],:with the gift of working miracles, :and he bestows upon all God's grace and mercy. [[Kontakion]]:Today the island of the Kalymnians celebrates your holy memory with a rejoicing heart;:for it possesses as truly God-given wealth, :your sacred body that has been glorified by God, O Father Savas, :approaching which they receive health of both soul and body. [[Megalynarion]]:Rejoice, thou new star of the Church, :the offspring of Thrace and the Newbeauty of Kalymnos,:O God-inspired Savas, fellow citizen of [[angel]]" s and equal of all the saints. ==Sources==*''Αγιος Σάββας ο Νέος'', revised and written by Fr Savas Pizanias (BTh, BEd) with the use and reference of St Savvas' original biography, Papanikolaou Eds. 1993.*''Modern Orthodox Saints'', Vol. 8., by Dr. Constantine Cavarnos, Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. ISBN 0914744631*Photographs and icons courtesy of Fr Savas Pizanias and Constantine Vellis Cutie-Pie Photo Studio - NSW Australia contact - sales@cutiepiephoto.com.au*[http://www.stsavvaskalymnos.org St Savvas of Kalymnos Orthodox Church and Community - Syndey]

*[http://www.koel-art.com/pics/byz3/45-3.jpg Icon of St. Savas of Kalymnos]*[http://www.abbamoses.com/months/april.html Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos (19481947) (March 25 OC)] (under the entry for April 7)*[http://www.360cities.net/image/the-monastery-of-agios-savvas Virtual Tour of the Monastery of St. Savvas of Kalymnos in Greece]*[http://youtu.be/O9-faBf4ag4 Saint Savvas of Kalymnos - Ἁγιος Σἀββας ο εν Καλὐμνου] video slideshow