Unknown Saints of Athos

Unknown Saints of Athos

athodforum.org looks into Athonite monasticism objectively and critically. The point of view of this forum is not church theology but natural science and scientific philosophy. We believe that a mass hysteria has overcome Christian crowds and has replaced true communication with God. Today the faithful demand a show, saints, more saints, and miracles.

Being a natural scientist, I am disturbed by these trends. There are few, if any, miracles. Gifted monks and monks of significant achievement do not have to be clothed in supernatural garments. These things detract seriousness from the Christian religion. Islam does not have these problems and this is perhaps the reason that it is growing while Christianity is not.

In this part of the forum, we will add stories of little known monks of Athos that lived in God's company.

The monk in the Kallyva of St. Basil

"I remember how several other monks and I saw a monk in the Kallyva of St. Basil running from his cell to the chapel calling: “Papou! Papou!”—an affectionate term for an elder. Seeing that we had arrived, the monk ran to the chapel to say: “Papou, Papou, rejoice—some monks have come to see you!” And when we entered the chapel after him, this “Papou” was indeed waiting for us… resting in his reliquary for two or three hundred years already! But for this monk, he was still alive! That’s how deep and close their spiritual connection was! And don’t think this is all a figment of an inflamed imagination! Absolutely not! This is communion with the saints through faith. Such is our mutual closeness: Time or death separate us no more than distance!"

Convent of the Transfiguration of the Lord in France, Archimandrite Iliya.

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