In 1950, Arseny became a novice of the gracious confessor - Father Kirill, later abbot of the Kutlumush monastery († 1968). Some time later, Father Kirill sent the novice to the Esphigmen Monastery, where in 1954 Arseny accepted the ryassophore with the name Averky. The novice monk resignedly and joyfully carried out any obedience, and having completed his own, he helped other brothers to finish their work. Averky constantly prayed, trying so that those around him would not notice. In the same year, on the advice of his spiritual father, he moved to the monastery of Philotheus and became a student of Father Simeon, known for his virtue. Two years later, Father Simeon tonsured Father Averky into the minor schema with the name Paisius - in honor of Metropolitan Paisius II of Caesarea, who was also a native of Farasa of Cappadocia. In the new place, Father Paisius led his former life: he labored out of curiosity and helped the brethren as much as he could.
Father Paisios asceticised at the Stomion Monastery in Konitsa, where he fed wild bears from his hands, spent three years in solitude in the desert of Holy Mount Sinai (in the cave of St. Epistimia), only going down to the Monastery of St. Catherine on Sundays, and spent most of his life in the kaliva on Holy Mount Athos. He spent his life in obscurity, completely surrendering himself to God, who revealed and gave him to people. Many, many came to the Elder and found guidance and consolation, healing and peace for their tormented souls. Divine love overflowed from the sanctified soul of the Elder, the radiance of Divine grace emanated from his reverend appearance. For days on end, Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets tirelessly took away their pain from people, lavishing divine consolation around him.
On June 29/July 12, 1994, after truly martyrdom, which, according to the Elder himself, brought him greater benefit than the ascetic work of his entire life, he rested in the Lord. The place of his blessed death was the St. John the Theologian Convent (founded by the Elder himself), located near the village of Suroti, not far from Thessaloniki, in Greece. Elder Paisios is buried to the left of the altar of the monastery church of St. Arsenios of Cappadocia, who baptized him in childhood.