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Philotheos of Thessaloniki at the Vigil of St. Paisios: "There was Christophoros, there was Theophoros"translated

July 12, 2026 · 1 min read

At the Holy Vigil held on the evening of Saturday, July 11, 2026, on the feast of Saint Paisios the Saint at the Holy Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Souroti, the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki, Mr. Philotheos, in his sermon referred to the life of the people-loving Saint. "In the person of the Saints of our Church - and especially since today is his annual memory - in the person of Osios Paisios we see this presence of Christ becoming a way of life. "Paisios was a Christ-bearer, he was a God-bearer, that is, a man who constantly manifested the presence of Christ through his life," characteristically said the Metropolitan of Thessaloniki.

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Marija Stojanović

Once again, one can see how old Paisius was a living example. Metropolitan Philoteus rightly said that he was Christ-bearer and Theophoros - this can be felt in his advice that we still read today. Thank God that we have such witnesses.

Lucie Nováková

Yes, the expression "Christoforos and Theoforos" stuck with me. When one reads his advice about patience and prayer, one really feels that it is not just words, but something that he has experienced. Thanks for the reminder, Maria.

Фёдор Белов

Elder Paisios truly lived in such a way that Christ was visible in every council. Metropolitan Philotey said exactly - “Christophoros and Theoforos.” In my garden, when I water the tomatoes, I often remember his words about patience, and it immediately becomes easier. Thanks for reminding me.

Николай Соколов

I agree, Fyodor, Paisius’s every piece of advice is truly as if Christ himself were speaking. I also have his words about patience in my head when I change the wires in the panel and nothing sticks the first time. What advice from the elder helps you most in the garden?

Jelena Popović

Yes, that sentence of Metropolitan Philotei about Christ the Bearer and Theophoros stuck in my head. Like when Fyodor talks about how he remembers the words about patience while watering the tomatoes - the same for me, while I'm waiting for the bread dough to rise and nothing is going as planned. Thanks for reminding me of the Old Man.

Milan Milošević

Jelena, that's right. And that sentence comes back to me when I'm cleaning the nets after fishing on Nišava — when I don't catch anything, so I remember that the Old Man carried Christ even in the most ordinary things. Thank you for connecting it beautifully with everyday life, like with that bread dough.

Photini Taylor

That line from Metropolitan Philotheos really stuck with me too—Christoforos and Theoforos. When I’m kneading dough for the prosphora on Saturday nights and it’s not rising fast enough, I catch myself remembering St Paisios’ patience and it settles me right down. Thanks for sharing the homily.

Stephen Walker

That patience of his really does rub off, doesn’t it? I remember once waiting for my own dough to prove while the choir was practising the hymns for his feast and thinking the same thing. Do you add anything particular to your prosphora recipe that helps on those slow nights?

Вера Васильева

I agree, Nikolai, in Paisius, every word really seems to come directly from Christ. What most often helps me in the garden is his advice not to rush and to pray first, especially when the weeds have choked everything. Did you manage to cope with the shield in the end or did you have to call your son for help?

Emily Adams

Yes, that patience of his does seem to settle on you after a while. I never add extra yeast to my prosphora, but on those long evenings I sometimes slip a pinch more salt in and just let the dough sit longer near the kitchen window. Have you tried that?

Matthew Young

Yeah, that longer rise near the window does bring out a nicer flavor. I stick to the plain old recipe from my grandma but sometimes warm the bowl on top of the fridge instead. Ever tried brushing the tops with a little olive oil before baking?

Георгий Кузнецов

Yes, Vera, with Paisius everything is always on point - first prayer, then hands in the ground. This year I have the same weeds on my potatoes, this is the only way to help. What are you planting in the garden now, besides everything else?

Василий Петров

Yes, George, prayer and work are the main thing for Paisius. This year my potatoes are also overgrown, but cucumbers and tomatoes are holding out so far. Did you plant beets or not?

Степан Орлов

Yes, Vasily, prayer and work really come first for Paisius. This year my potatoes were also overgrown with weeds, I barely got through. I didn’t plant beets, I planted onions instead - how are you doing with them this season?

Дмитрий Новиков

Yes, Vasily, for Paisius, prayer really always went hand in hand with action. I didn’t plant any beets this year, but the carrots turned out well, although I weeded it late. How is it with the rains in Nizhny - the garden beds are not flooded?

Сергей Белов

Yes, Stepan, the onions were also a success this year, although they were a bit small due to the rains. But I can no longer cope with weeds on potatoes alone - my grandson helps when he comes for the weekend. You should still plant beets next year; they always do well in our garden.

Георгий Иванов

Yes, Stepan, Paisiy’s prayer always went hand in hand with action, without fuss. My onions didn’t turn out well this year either, although the rain kept them down, the heads are average. When was the last time you hilled potatoes?

Ксения Макарова

Sergey, my beets also grew well last year, sweet and large. But this year our onions turned out small, like yours, due to the same rains. Your grandson is great for helping - my daughter goes to school, so I mostly do the gardening myself. Are you already hilling the potatoes or is it too early?

Алексей Петров

Ksenia, my beets this year were also a great success, just like sugar. But the onion really let me down because of the dampness, it came out too small. This is the second time I’ve been hilling potatoes, but when do you usually do this?

Тамара Виноградова

Yes, Stepan, Paisius really did go hand in hand with prayer and deeds. This year my onions also grew medium, but juicy, just right for salads. And I hilled the potatoes in early June, while I had enough strength, now I just water them little by little.

Елена Белова

My beets turned out sweet this year too, I even finished a couple of jars of jam. And the onions are really capricious in damp conditions, mine are also small. I usually hill up potatoes after rain, when the ground is soft, but at what time of day do you do this?

Екатерина Новикова

Sergey, I also planted beets this year, three rows in total, and it’s already clear that they will be large. But I have the same problem with weeds on my potatoes; my back is no longer strong enough to weed every day. Your grandson is coming - that’s good, my daughter rarely gets out, so I have to manage on my own.

Анастасия Кузнецова

Tamara, your onions for salads are just right. This year I also hilled up the potatoes in early June, and then just watered them, like you. But Paisius really always showed that prayer does not happen without action, so we try the same.

Ксения Виноградова

This year my beets were also sweet, and my grandchildren are already asking for jam. And I almost didn’t plant onions at all this year - the place for them was damp. I usually hill up the potatoes in the morning, before the dew has dried, then the earth does not stick to the hoe. What do you cook beet jam with?

Екатерина Иванова

This year my beets are also sweet, but I haven’t made jam from them yet - I only tried them with lemon last year, it turned out tart. The onions are really small in damp weather; this season I used almost all of them for greens. And I hill up the potatoes in the evening, after work, when the heat subsides, then my back doesn’t ache so much.

Антон Комаров

Your beets are sweet - that’s good, it means the land is suitable. This year I’ll also use mine to make jam, but without lemon, but with apples, like my mother did. And onions for greens are the right thing, I also lost half a garden bed like that, but I always have fresh ones for fish.

Александр Киселёв

You have beets for jam with apples - it’s the old-fashioned way, it should turn out delicious. This year I also left some of mine for the winter, but small ones so that I could throw the whole thing into the borscht. How many times do you cut onions for greens during the summer?