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The Feast of Agios Paisios in Marmari Karystostranslated

July 13, 2026 · 1 min read

On the occasion of the feast of Agios Paisios of Agioreios, his holy memory was celebrated in the eponymous chapel of Saints Porphyrios of Kausokalavitos, Paisios of Agioreitos and Iakovos with "Forgive" in the holiday resort of Marmari in the district of Karystos. On the eve of the holiday, on the evening of Saturday, July 11, the High Priestly Vespers was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Nikandros from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Irinoupolis, with the participation of priests from the province of Karystos.

In the speech, the chorister High Priest of the Ecumenical throne Mr. Nikandros preached the divine word and referred to a largely unknown aspect of the earthly life of Saint Paisios, namely the trip he made to Australia, in order to support the cultivation of the monastic tradition there. More specifically, the then Archbishop of Australia Stylianos Harkianakis (1975-2019), two years after his election as Archbishop of Australia, having diagnosed the high spirituality of the Holy Elder, invited him to distant Australia, in order to spiritually support the Greek diaspora.

Saint Paisios responded positively and traveled accompanied by the then Abbot of the Monastery...

Source: Orthodoxia News Agency · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (29) 🌐 Show original

Дарина Савченко

It is interesting that Saint Paisius traveled all the way to Australia to support the Greeks there. I didn't even know about this episode of his life. Thanks for the article, it's always helpful to learn such details.

Леся Панченко

It is interesting that you paid attention to Australia in particular - I also read about it for the first time. It turns out that then Archbishop Stylian really wanted the Greeks there not to lose their monastic tradition. Have you read anything else about the travels of Saint Paisius?

Олександр Бойко

It is interesting that it was Australia that became the distant point where he was invited. I also learned about this recently and thought how much faith must have had in that old man to call him from Mount Athos across the ocean. And you, Darina, did you read something about how exactly he communicated with the Greeks there?

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ალექსანდრე ხუციშვილი

It is cool that Archbishop Stylian invited Paisios to Australia so that the monastic tradition would not be lost. I did not know that he also came there from Athos. It would be good if someone could tell us what advice he gave to the monks there.

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სალომე მამულაშვილი

Alexander, this story about the trip to Australia is really interesting. I remembered that Paisios often said that monasticism begins in the heart, not just in the mountain. What do you think, what advice would he give to the monks there today?

Марія Ткаченко

It's interesting that you also learned about it for the first time. I read that Paisius then stayed in a small Greek monastery near Melbourne and spent hours talking with the locals there. And you don't remember in which year exactly that invitation from Archbishop Stylian was?

Людмила Шевчук

Yes, it was in 1977 that Archbishop Stylian invited him. I didn't know about that little monastery outside Melbourne either, thanks for reminding me. Did you read it in his life or in the memoirs of any of the Greeks there?

Анна Мельник

It is interesting that Archbishop Stylian saw the need to support the monastic tradition among the Greeks in Australia in the same way. I read that Paisius also fished with the locals back then to relax a little after long conversations. Do you know how long he stayed there in total?

Юлія Шевченко

Yes, exactly in 1977, as you said. I also did not know about that small monastery near Melbourne, it would be interesting to know its name. And in which source did you read about it, in your life or in some memories?

Іван Коваленко

Yes, exactly 1977, Yulia. The monastery is called "The Monastery of the Holy Virgin" near Gebington near Melbourne, it is small and modest. I read in the memoirs of Archbishop Stylianus, there are several pages about the visit of Paisius. Have you ever been to Australia?

Христина Панченко

Yes, exactly in 1977, as you said. I learned about that monastery near Melbourne from the stories of a Greek who visited there in those years, and not from life itself. And how did you come across this story, Ludmila?

Людмила Шевченко

Yes, Ivan, exactly 1977, thanks for clarifying. I saw the Monastery of the Holy Mother of God near Melbourne in the photo - really modest, but cozy. You haven't been to Australia yourself, have you?

Леся Ткаченко

Yes, exactly 1977, as you said. I also heard this story from an older Greek woman from Australia when she came to our parish ten years ago. Do you not remember the name of that Greek who told about the monastery near Melbourne?

Анна Бондаренко

Yes, it was 1977, Lesya, I also mentioned it. But, unfortunately, I did not remember the name of the Greek who told about the monastery near Melbourne - ten years have already passed. Do you sometimes not know what that monastery is called now?

Микола Панченко

Yes, Lesya, 1977 for sure. But the monastery near Melbourne, it seems, is still called the Monastery of St. John the Baptist, although I'm not 100 percent sure either. You don't remember, maybe that Greek mentioned something about the abbot or how many monks there were then?

Соломія Кузьменко

Yes, Anna, that Greek said then that the monastery was very small, it seems, only three monks at the beginning. And you don't remember if he mentioned exactly how Paisius supported them - with prayer or also with advice on arrangements?

Юлія Шевчук

Yes, Ivan, exactly 1977, thank you for clarifying the year. I also read those memories of Stylian, there is a really touching description of how Paisius helped with the monastery near Melbourne. Have you been to that monastery yourself or do you only know about it from books?

Галина Лисенко

Yes, exactly in 1977, Julia, and that monastery is really humble, like many Australian beginnings. I read about it in the collection of memories, where Stylianus himself mentions how Paisius helped them with the first monks. Have you ever tried to look for a photo of that place on the Internet?

Ірина Бойко

Yes, Lesya, exactly 1977, I also paid attention to this date in the bishop's report. Unfortunately, I do not know the name of the Greek who told about the monastery near Melbourne. Maybe one of our parishioners who visited Australia remembers?

Yes, Iryna, it was 1977 when Archbishop Stilianos invited him. But I also did not remember the name of the Greek who told about the monastery near Melbourne. Maybe one of our people who went there to earn money in the 80s heard this story?

Людмила Савченко

Yes, Yulia, 1977 for sure, as Ivan specified. I heard that Paisius then walked around that monastery yard outside Melbourne and just silently blessed each brick. Did you read how he later said that for him Australia was "a distant desert, but with good people"?

Сергій Шевченко

Yes, Solomiya, he was talking about those first three monks and mentioned that in the beginning the monastery was like a small hut in the forest. Paisius, according to him, not only prayed, but also gave specific advice on the daily schedule and how to arrange the cells so that there was no unnecessary luxury. And you sometimes did not hear if he went back there again?

Василь Руденко

Yes, Anna, it is 1977, if you count two years after the election of Stylianos. But I'm curious about that Greek-Melbourne, I haven't heard his name either. Maybe one of our Odesa people, who in those years traveled around the world on fishing vessels, told something, but it did not linger in my memory. Does anyone remember?

Михайло Бойко

Yes, Iryna, it was 1977 that Bishop mentioned. But the Greek who told about the monastery near Melbourne seems to have been from a family that later settled in Adelaide. Maybe one of us who worked in the vineyards in the 90s heard the continuation of this story?

Богдан Гончар

Yes, Mykhailo, the Bishop correctly named 1977. And about that Greek from Adelaide - I wonder if he is the same one who later helped build the chapel near the vineyards? Maybe one of our Odessans, who went there for seasonal work, really heard something. Were you there in the 90s?

Тетяна Литвин

Yes, Mykhailo, the bishop really emphasized precisely in 1977, when the Elder went to support the first attempt of the monastery near Melbourne. As for the family from Adelaide, I wonder if they later sent their greetings through our pilgrims from Kharkiv who went there in the early 2000s. Have you heard anything from those winegrowers yourself?

Галина Марченко

Yes, Vasyl, 1977 is definitely the year. But I don't remember the last name of that Greek from Melbourne either, although we had an uncle from Odesa in Poltava who used to tell fishing stories. Maybe one of the older parishioners heard something?

Максим Шевченко

Yes, Galina, the year 1977 really fits, because it was then that the Elder received an invitation from Archbishop Stylian. But I don't remember the name of that Greek from Melbourne either, although in our Poltava church after the liturgy they often talk about such old stories. Maybe we should ask grandfather Peter from our choir, has he ever been to Greece?

Іван Савченко

No, Mykhailo, I didn't visit Adelaide in the 90s, only passing through Sydney once. As for the Greek from the vineyards, I heard from one of our parishioners that he did help with the chapel, but that was already in the 80s. Maybe someone from Odessa, who was there on seasonal jobs, really remembers the last name?