Sophia, the ascetic of Kleisoura

Our Mother among the Saints, Sophia, the ascetic of Kleisoura, or “the ascetic of the Panagia” was born in the region of Pontus. She struggled in Kastoria, Northern Greece, and reposed on May 6, 1974.

Life

Sophia Saoulidi, the “ascetic of the Panagia”, was born of Amanatiou and Maria Saoulidi in Trebizond in Pontus in 1883. As a young girl, she would retreat to the village churches and chapels where she would pray and light the vigil lamps.

In 1907 she married Jordan Hortokoridou with whom she had a son in 1910. The young child died in 1912, and then her husband disappeared, as many other Greeks and Armenians during the forced conscriptions to the ‘work battalions’. These tragedies helped shape her piety and penitent spirit, making her rely solely upon God. Her asceticism began in Pontus on a mountain away from her relatives. It was there that Saint George appeared to her and warned her to notify the villagers of a coming persecution and to flee, and in this way, she saved the village.

As the ship carried the passengers from Asia Minor, a violent storm put the passengers at great risk. Eventually the storm ceased, and everyone survived, but the captain said after making the sign of the cross: “You must have a righteous person among you that saved you”, and everyone looked at Sophia who was standing in a corner the entire journey praying. This incident is recorded on videotape, where she herself recounts what happened:

“The waves were filled with angels and the Theotokos appeared, saying, ‘Humanity will be lost, because they are very sinful.’ And I said: ‘Panagia, let me be lost because I am a sinner, so let the world be saved.’”

When they arrived in Greece the Theotokos appeared to her and said: “Come to my house.” Sophia asked: “Where are you and where is your house?” The Theotokos responded: “I am in Kleisoura.” So it was that she went and settled at the Monastery of the Birth of the Theotokos in Kleisoura of Kastoria when she was 44 years old. There the abbot of the Monastery was Gregorios Magdalis, an Athonite of great virtue. Sophia learned much from him and always spoke his name with the highest respect.

By the command of the Theotokos, Sophia lived within the fireplace of the monastery in the kitchen, which was also used to cook food. As part of her ascetic labours, she would sleep in the fireplace for two hours each night and the rest of the night she spent kneeling in prayer. In the winter it was especially cold, often dropping to -15 degrees. When it rained, water would drip on her. At the window she would always have a candle lit before the icon of the Theotokos. This is where she ate and spent her time. People came from Thessalonica and the surrounding areas, even as far as Athens, to see her. She would tell people their names and their family problems without being told beforehand. Among those who came was Fr Leonidas Paraskevopoulos, who later became Metropolitan, and he would say: “You have a great treasure up there”.

She dressed simply and had a blanket with holes. Visitors would see how she suffered from the elements, and give her clothes, but she would take them with one hand and give them away to the poor with the other. She always wore a black scarf, and never bathed after leaving Pontus. She fasted strictly, and only allowed herself oil on weekends. She ate only to survive, and cared less about cleanliness so that she would even eat food without washing, yet remained healthy. When people would question her about her strict fasting, she would say, “I am training my flesh.”

Visitors would often give her money, which she would hide. Whenever people came to her in need, she would give the money. She cared especially for young ladies, counselling them, and admonishing them to maintain their purity. If any had fallen, she would comfort them and guide them back to Christ. Many elderly ladies of Kastoria recall to this day that Sophia would counsel them and even provided for their dowries.

If people ever complained about other people’s sins and failings, she would say, “Cover things, so that God will cover you”.

Her popularity grew and people came from all over the world to see her. Some villagers made fun of her, calling her “Crazy-Sophia”. She looked like Saint Mary of Egypt, as thin as a bone and all dried up. Within however, she contained the same beauty of Saint Mary.

In 1967, Sophia became very sick and was in great pain. She took the pain courageously, saying: “The Theotokos will come to take away my pain. She promised me.” A video exists explaining what happened soon after:

“Panagia came with Archangel Gabriel and Saint George, as well as other saints. The Archangel said: ‘We will cut you now’. I said: ‘I am a sinner, I must confess, receive communion, then you can cut me’. ‘You will not die’, he said, ‘we are doing a surgery on you’, and cut me open.”

Bearing the gift of clairvoyance, she would approach people, seemingly at random, and ask them to follow her. When they were able to speak freely, she would warn them of their errors, or comfort them during their trials.

As with many Saints, she had a special relationship with wild animals, especially with bears in the forest, but also with snakes and birds.

When the Ecclesiastical Calendar changed in Greece, and people began to become hostile over the calendar, Sophia would keep the fasts of both the Old and New Calendars so as not to be an offense to anyone.

Sophia fell asleep in the Lord on May 6, 1974 and was buried on the grounds of the Monastery of the Birth of the Theotokos. Her relics are kept in the monastery, where they can be venerated by the faithful.