Saint Euthymius the Newtranslated

Abbot Ephraim, Superior of the Great Monastery of Vatopedi

Through the long and historic life of the saintly Athanasius, many known holy forms have been revealed, but also more unknown to us. Today we celebrate a Holy Hieromartyr, who lived here in our monastery, Saint Euthymius the New. In essence, we celebrated an unknown Saint – for we do not know the details of his life – but who was found in his entire Holy Lav in our monastery’s cemetery, as we heard in the readings that preceded the service and here at the table.

We believe that the completion of the feast of the Holy Euthymius the New and Wonderworker brings special joy and inspires the praise of the Lord, not only for the Vatopedites but also for all the Hieromartyrs, all the Orthodox monks. Through this holy father, the monastic ascetic spirit is proclaimed to the entire Church, of which he was a genuine exponent.

We all know that the practice of virtues is a difficult struggle for the monk. Yet, the struggle to hide one’s virtues is even more difficult and painful. For if one does not…