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Saint Paisios: Father, father, father!...translated

July 15, 2026 · 1 min read

Stelios Koukos

On such a day, Saint Paisios seems to become a father, father and father again!

Losing his sanctity, you say?

Anything else! He never loses it, anymore!

However, on the day of his celebration, he opens his big embrace and comes with the big angelic wings he has claimed to embrace all the children, his orphans I would say, those who had him as a refuge and last refuge when he was alive.

Those who fled to him with a deep and unspeakable longing to meet him in his cells in Athos, the Holy Cross of the Holy Monastery of Stavronikita and of Panagouda of the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousiou.

We do not forget, of course, all the women who visited him when he left Mount Athos in the women's Hermitages of "Evangelist John the Theologian" in Souroti-Vassilika Thessaloniki and "Saint John Prodromos" in Metamorfosi in Halkidiki.

In the second Hermitage he was with his spiritual child, the founder and spiritual leader of the Monastery, Pope Gregory, who in those days was even happier and brighter than ever. An Isangel next to the earthly Angel.

The Abbess of the Hermitage of Saint John the Baptist...

Source: Site: Μητρόπολις Αρκαλοχωρίου, Καστελλίου και Βιάννου · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (9) 🌐 Show original

Piotr Wiśniewski

Yes, I really like this part about Father Gregory and how he was even more joyful with Saint Paisius. I remember reading that in Surwoti women waited for hours just to talk to him. This shows that the saint really was like a father to all these "orphans".

ليلى صايغ

Yes, you mentioned the part about Father Gregory and how he was more joyful and luminous next to Saint Pacius. I liked this very much. I also remembered how women used to wait long hours in Soroti to be blessed by a word from him. He was truly a real father to all these orphans.

جيسيكا نصار

Yes, Laila, what you said about Gregory’s father is true. He used to light up the whole place. I remember how the women would sit in the sun for hours in Soroti holding the rosary and praying quietly until the saint came out. Have you visited the place yourself?

Yes, Jessica, Abu Gregory really filled the place with a special light. I visited Soroti once with my daughter years ago, and I remembered how the women were sitting quietly in the sun with their rosaries in their hands, as if time had stopped. Were you there during the saint's celebration days?

سلمى حداد

Yes, Laila, I completely agree with you that Father Gregory seemed to derive his light from the holiness of the Sheikh himself. I remember him standing next to him on the small balcony in Soroti and smiling softly as he watched the visitors. Have you heard the story of that woman who came from afar and was unable to speak, so she only cried, and the sheikh smiled at her and said to her, “Do not be afraid, my daughter”?

يوسف صايغ

Yes, Laila, I too was touched by the mention of Father Gregory standing next to him like a sponge absorbing the light. I once remembered how the sheikh used to go out in Soroti and distribute sweetened dates to the women who had been waiting a long time. Have you tried taking something simple like this from his hand?

نور عبود

Yes, Salma, I remember that story well. The Sheikh saw hearts before speaking. I personally visited Soroti once with my eldest son before his high school exams. I stood on the same balcony and felt the same calmness you are talking about. Have you visited Ayu Yanni in Metamorfosi too?

هلا عبود

Yes Laila, my ticket to Soroti is beautiful. I also visited her once and I was helping to bake the bread that they served to the visitors, and the women were actually sitting quietly, as you said. Does your daughter still like to tell you stories about that visit?

أنطون حداد

Yes, Youssef, I also remembered those moments in Soroti. I once took a date directly from his hand and it was warm, as if it had carried the blessing of the whole day. Do you remember whether Father Gregory always stood behind him during those distributions, or whether he moved among the visitors?