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Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos

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==Greece 1903-1960==
===Childhood years===
Rev. Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos was born Christos Papasarantopoulos in 1903 in Vasilitsi, [[w:Messenia|Messenia]], Greece to Theodoros Papasarantopoulos and Stavroula Trigourea (''afterwards [[Nun]] Sebastiani''), the seventh child of the family. He was born into a devout Christian home, and from childhood he devoted his life to Christ. At the age of 10 he lost his father, and was forced to leave school in order to work.  At 15 years of age he left his family home in secret and went to settle at the [[w:Koroni|Koroni]] [[monastery]] in order to pursue his longing for the spiritual life; however he soon left this monastery since his relatives would visit him and beg him to return to the family.  Afterwards, he went to Kalamata, to the then well-known Hermitage of Panagoulakis (Holy Monastery of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary),<ref group="note">Hermitage of Panagoulakis in Kalamata, Greece (Greek: Ιερά Μονή Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου Παναγουλάκη). This monastery is currently [[Old Calendarist]] and not in communion with the [[Church of Greece]].</ref> known for its strict [[asceticism]]; here he became a [[monk]]. The excesses of the [[Igumen]] there and the very strict lifestyle of that Hermitage overcame him and left him with a permanent health problem.
===Later years===
<blockquote>"I love the Africans and am fully convinced that the Lord has brought me here. I hope to use the few remaining days of my old age preaching and teaching here. The place I am now located in is a large city (Kananga) of 50,000 people near the central part of the Congo. The people are eager to learn about Orthodox Christianity. But I am old and alone and my capacities are now limited. I don't know how I'll manage, but the Lord Jesus will show me, as He always has in the past. Remember me in your prayers."<ref name=VERONIS/></blockquote>
[[File:Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos - gravesite.png|right|thumb|Archimandrite Chrysostomos' gravesite in Kanaga.]]
===Death===
Undaunted, Father Chrysostomos continued his labours until his death. On December 13, 1972 while travelling from [[w:Kananga|Kananga]] to [[w:Lubumbashi|Lubumbashi]] he was overcome by profuse nose-bleeding. He returned to Kananga, celebrated the [[Divine Liturgy]] on [[Nativity|Christmas Day]], and ultimately fell asleep in the Lord on [[December 29]], 1972.<ref group="note">A very close co-worker with Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos in East Africa had been a Greek Archimandrite named [[Athanasios Anthidis]], who offeried his mission work there for many years. On Christmas 1980, Father Athanasios traveled to India to begin a systematic Orthodox Mission in the rural area of Arambah, in West Bengal. After he passed away in 1990, he was suceeded a year later by priest-monk Fr. [[Ignatios (Sennis) of Madagascar|Ignatios Sennis]], who came to Calcutta to continue the mission. (''[http://www.cs.ust.hk/faculty/dimitris/metro/DEC98.html Censer], Dec. 1998'')</ref>
 
By July 1973 he was succeeded in the missionary echelon of Kananga by his old friend and partner, the Archimandrite [[Chariton (Pneumatikakis)]] (1908-1998).<ref name=ENORIA>{{el icon}} ''[http://www.agiosandreas.gr/news/ierapostoli/papasarantopoulos.html Ο πρώτος Έλληνας Ιεραπόστολος της Αφρικής μακαριστός π. Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος].'' Ενορια Άγιου Ανδρέα Παγγαιου. Retrieved: 2013-04-19.</ref>
 
On [[December 29]], 1985 the [[Metropolis of Messenia]] erected a bust of Father Chrysostom in his honor.<ref name=ENORIA/> And on December 29, 1987 the [[w:Academy of Athens (modern)|Academy of Athens]] posthumously awarded him the silver medal of honor.<ref name=ENORIA/>
==Legacy==
==External links==
* {{el icon}} [http://ierapostoli.gr/ Πανελλήνιος Χριστιανικός Όμιλος Ορθοδόξου Ιεραποστολής] (''Orthodox Missionary Website - in Greek'')
[[Category:Priests|Papasarantopoulos]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Missionaries|Papasarantopoulos]][[Category:University of Athens Theology School Graduates|Papasarantopoulos]]
[[el:Χρυσόστομος Παπασαραντόπουλος]]
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