But since it was too cold on the mountain during the winter, especially in the northern part, and the brethren suffered a lot from the cold, then, with the blessing of the elder, they went down to the western side, and, having built kalivas for themselves, planted vineyards there, and among other things, they built themselves a small ship, because with the increase in the brethren they began to need food for life and for communication with other places of the Holy Mountain. If they happened to unload wheat or any other things, the saint, as an example of hard work, himself participated with the brethren in obedience - especially since he was naturally strong and powerful. He said at the same time that the leader should be an example for the brethren in all respects. Often the monk spent his nights on the embankment of the kaliva, and while the brethren, as usual, got up at midnight to perform matins in the open air, without having a church for that, he also, throughout the entire service, stood without entertainment, like a motionless pillar, ascending in thought and heart to God.
One day during Matins, Dionysius, at the place where the monastery was later built by God’s will, suddenly saw a wondrous lamp that burned brightly until dawn. At first, believing that this was the action of a hostile force, the saint did not tell anyone about his vision, but since it continued to repeat itself for many nights in a row, he told about it to one perspicacious and inspired elder, Hieromonk Dometius, who lived at the church of the Most Holy Theotokos. To believe the vision, the wise Dometius himself went to Saint Dionysius: the vision was repeated three times in the presence of Dometius. Thus convinced of the reality of the Divine miracle, they revealed it to all the brethren.
Everyone gathered to the stone where an extraordinary light appeared, they examined whether there was some luminous body here, under the influence of a physical action, and when nothing was discovered, Dometius prophetically spoke to the Divine Dionysius: “God wants a holy monastery to be built here, where the monks will gather, and God will be glorified in them; therefore, do not hesitate to begin it, without worrying about material needs; Almighty God will send you everything you need, and I, for my part, will help as much as I can.” The brethren said the same thing, promising to help their elder in building the monastery.
Thus, having prayed, they cleared the place and first of all tried to erect a tower to protect themselves and, subsequently, the monastery from sea robbers. As for the food and money needed in such a case for complex needs and expenses, the glory of the name of Dionysius and his high life attracted him not only from the places of the Holy Mountain, but also from the distant world, people thirsty for his words, consolations and elder advice - and these spiritual children of his generous hand showered him with money and everything necessary for his emerging monastery.
While Dionysius was working on the foundation of his monastery, his brother Theodosius, abbot of Filofeevsky, one day before the Feast of the Annunciation went out with other brothers to fish. While fishing at night, robbers attacked them and, capturing them, took them to Brussa, where they sold them (into captivity) to the local Christians, who, having bought them, gave them complete freedom, allowing them to go wherever they wanted. While others were returning to the Holy Mountain, the divine Theodosius, by God's dispensation, arrived in Constantinople. The Patriarch and others who knew him before were very happy at his arrival, especially since one of the Byzantine monasteries did not have an abbot. However, Theodosius did not stay there long. After he arrived in Constantinople, the metropolitan died in Trebizond. At that time, Emperor Alexei Komnenos was in this city, by whose command the patriarch was ordered to elect to the orphaned department of the Church of Trebizond someone worthy to bear the rod and burden of hierarchical service.
So, not heeding the apologies of Theodosius, who denied such a high title under the pretext of his own unworthiness and the difficulty of church government, the patriarch ordained him and elevated him to the degree of metropolitan. Thus, Theodosius had to go to his destination, to his flock, to Trebizond, where he was received solemnly and with joy by the emperor and the entire Church. Hearing about this, the divine Dionysius rejoiced that his brother was elevated to the degree of metropolitan, glorifying God, who so wonderfully and contrary to our plans and will disposes of the destinies of our lives.
Knowing also from rumors that Theodosius enjoyed the special attention and favor of the emperor, Dionysius subsequently undertook a trip to Trebizond, to his brother, through whose intercession he expected royal benefits and provision for his newly emerging monastery. The brothers' meeting was touching. Theodosius listened to him with sympathy and then presented him personally to the sovereign. After gracious inquiries from the emperor about the situation of the Holy Mountain, Dionysius, encouraged by his attentiveness and condescension, decided to present his own needs to him and finally invited him to be the ktitor of his emerging monastery. The emperor, touched by the tears of the elder, gladly accepted his offer and, having provided the monastery with the charter given to it from his royal treasures, obliged the successors of his throne to take care of it. And besides, in addition to the amounts allocated to Dionysius, the emperor, by the same letter, ordered that the monastery be given annually a thousand silver coins from the royal treasures, which was carried out for a long time.
Thus, Dionysius, having spent some time with his brother and being kindly treated by the emperor, cheerfully departed from them, glorifying the Providence of God, which had so wondrously arranged his affairs.
But, while in the Black Sea, suddenly he and the others noticed several Turkish ships rushing towards them. At the sight of the barbarians, fear fell on everyone, but Dionysius, firmly trusting in God, said to his companions: “Do not be afraid of anything, wait a little - and you will see the power of God. Let us place all our hope in the Lord, and He will turn away the danger from us.” Meanwhile, the barbarians, approaching them, began to shoot. Then the saint, raising his hands to heaven, prayed with tears like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, our God, ever glorified with the Father and the Spirit! Hear me, Thy unworthy servant, and, for the sake of the intercession of Thy Most Pure Mother and Forerunner and Thy Baptist, deliver us from our enemies.” During prayer (how great is the monk’s boldness before God!) the great Forerunner suddenly appeared, with a staff in his right hand, and calmed everyone who was with Dionysius; The barbarians were threatened with death if they dared to approach and did not go back. And the Forerunner’s threats were accompanied by the actual execution of the barbarians: their hands suddenly lost strength and became numb.
Seeing such a glorious miracle and immediate help from above, everyone who was with the saint thanked the Lord, crying out: “Glory to Thee, Almighty King, who through His Baptist and Forerunner delivered us from mortal danger!”
Saved in this way, Dionysius and his disciples arrived safely at the Holy Mountain, to their monastery. When the brethren learned how the Lord had helped them, everyone joyfully glorified His Divine Providence. And Dometius remarked to the monk that every good deed only needs a beginning, as well as the foundation of a monastery; for the rest, the Lord is a helper. “So now begin the building with diligence,” he continued. Then the monk began building the monastery and erected a magnificent church in honor of the Holy Forerunner, installed water pipes and everything that was part of the monastic buildings. Thus, the monastery of the Forerunner of the Lord arose in 6888 from the creation of the world, or in 1380 from the Nativity of Christ.
When the funds ran out, Dionysius went to the emperor for the second time (1377), but upon his return he found the monastery plundered by pirates, so almost all the money was spent on trips to Bithynia, where Dionysius ransomed captive monks in the markets.