Repose of the New-Hieromartyr Kosmas of Aitolia, Equal of the Apostles (24 August)

The great Equal to the Apostles, the enlightener of the enslaved Nation, the wondrous, holy, glorious and beloved by the people Hieromartyr, was born in the village of Mega Dendron of Aitolia in 1714. Specifically he was from between the villages of Mega Dendron and Taxiarchae of the Trichonida Mountains in a district called Apokouro. His parents were from Epirus: “The parents of a pious son, by whom he was brought up and educated in the education and admonition of the Lord, as the Apostle says.”

He learned his first letters in the Monastery of Panagia Segditsa in Parnassidos near Hierodeacon Gerasimos Lytsikas and in Lampotina Nafpaktia with the Hieroteacher Ananias Dervisanos, where he also taught. Then he went to the famous school Vrangianon Agrafon, which was founded by his compatriot Saint Eugenios the Aitolos (+ 1682). In this school he taught senior classes in philosophy, ancient Greek, theology, mathematics, medicine and other forms of encyclopaedic knowledge.

He then came to Mount Athos where he attended the Athoniada School. According to St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite: “Because during those times there began with great fame the school of Vatopaidi on Mount Athos, he…