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Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Saint Vlasios: My Communication with Saint Paisiustranslated

July 14, 2026 · 1 min read

Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Saint Vlasios

I extend my most heartfelt thanks to Most Reverend Metropolitan Alexios of Drivast, Pogon, and Konitsa for his invitation to visit Konitsa after many years, particularly on this significant day of the feast of Saint Paisius the Athonite, who glorified the Church through his life, words, miracles, and prayers. I must first emphasize that I owe much to Saint Paisius, for his words sustained me through a period of great trials. I publicly confess, without elaboration, that my position as Metropolitan is due to him, for he gave me wise counsel.

Therefore, since 2004—ten years after his repose, twenty-two years after his passing—I submitted a request for his canonization to the Ecumenical Patriarch, His Holiness Bartholomew, and have repeatedly written to confirm what all know: that he was a saint, a vessel of the Holy Spirit, and a bearer of God’s Grace.

With this in mind, I would like to share, in brief, my impressions from my meetings with him.

1. The...

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Андрій Шевченко

Father Hierofey, thank you for remembering how Saint Paisius helped you precisely at the time of great temptations and how he gave wise advice, thanks to which you became a metropolitan. I especially remembered that you submitted a request for his canonization back in 2004. This shows how early you saw the "vessel of the Holy Spirit" in him. Pray for us, so that we do not miss such a grace in our ordinary life.

Валентина Соловьёва

Thank you, Father Hierotheus, for telling how Saint Paisios kept you in difficult temptations and gave you advice, thanks to which you became a metropolitan. I especially remember that already in 2004, ten years after his death, you submitted a petition for canonization. This shows how clearly you saw him as a vessel of grace.

Bogdan Rusu

Thank you, Your Highness. I was particularly impressed that you submitted the application for canonization as early as 2004, only ten years after he fell asleep, and that you sent letters repeatedly. That shows you really got to know him. I read St. Paisius later, but his words have also held me through some tough times fishing, when I was ready to argue with my neighbor.

Юлія Гончар

Thank you, Andrei, for paying attention to those lines about temptations and advice. I also liked how Bishop Ierofey directly said that he became a metropolitan thanks to St. Paisius - it is very concrete and humane. Have you ever experienced such help from him in a difficult moment?

Григорий Зайцев

Thank you, Valentina. Yes, it was in 2004 that he clearly saw Elder Paisius as a vessel of grace and immediately submitted a petition. I also had moments when his words literally pulled me out of despondency, especially when fishing, when you sit alone and your thoughts are spinning. In what year did you first read his books?

Марина Павлова

Thank you, Valentina. It’s good that you celebrated exactly 2004 - this really shows how early he saw in Elder Paisius a vessel of grace. I also had cases when his simple words helped me stay on the path, especially when I was knitting in the evenings and thinking about my grandson. Have you ever been to the Cavalry or Mount Athos?

Анна Бондаренко

Yes, Yulia, it was those lines about temptations that touched me too - without too much sentimentality, just in a human way. In the 90s, when my son was small and there was no work, his words from the book "Spiritual Father" helped me not to break down and not to do stupid things. And you yourself turned to him with something specific?

Григорий Макаров

Thank you, Gregory. Yes, it was in 2004 that he immediately filed a petition, this is important. It also happened to me that the words of Elder Paisius while fishing helped me collect my thoughts, especially when the crucian carp doesn’t bite and there’s all sorts of nonsense in my head. Which book of his did you open first?

Ольга Смирнова

Thank you, Gregory. Yes, 2004 was right after his death, it’s important that they didn’t delay it. My first book was “Spiritual Advice”, it’s about thoughts and patience. And when you were fishing, what exactly did he help you with - about fuss or about not being nervous?

Юрій Марченко

Yes, Anna, those lines about temptations stuck with me. In the 90s, when it was difficult with electricity and I had to take contracts in the villages, I also reread his advice - simply, without pathos, just so as not to fail. And where did you get that book "Spiritual Father", were you already in Kharkiv then?

Алексей Петров

Thank you, Marina. Yes, the year 2004 is important, it shows how quickly he saw in the old man what everyone later saw. I didn’t go to the Cavalry myself, but in 2010 I was on Mount Athos, in Suroti, where Paisius’s grave is, and there I also felt how his simple words still hold. How about your grandson, has he already grown beyond the age when you knitted in the evenings and worried about him?