The Sainthood of the Venerable Elder Paisios
By His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of
Fthiotidos
That which is happening with the blessed Elder
Paisios the Hagiorite has no precedent in the Orthodox Church.
And when he lived, as well as after his
venerable repose, the unanimous conscience of the Church believes and already
considers him to be a saint.
In Greece as well as other homodox lands
everyone speaks of his teachings, his miracles, and his clairvoyant charisma,
through which, as a heavenly telescope, he knew the innermost parts of souls and
offered to pilgrims the medicine of salvation.
This man had wisdom from above, who, although
uneducated, took his place among the chorus of ecumenical teachers.
His words were wise, his advice was sweeter
than honey, his love with which he embraced every person was divine, his mind
and heart emitted the illuminating grace of the Holy Spirit.
In his person we came to know holiness in all
of its depth and width. His words were "words of eternal life". His graceful
jokes were full of wisdom and delight.
Everything he said was a gospel. His
affectionate and compassionate style calmed every troubled soul.
No other spiritual father delivered such a
great work, like Elder Paisios.
No other physician healed as many sick people,
like the physician of souls Monk Paisios.
No other shepherd led their logical sheep so
worthily along the way of salvation, like this humble Hagiorite Monk.
His boldness before God transcends even that of
the great saints.
His presence in our time was a gift from God
for afflicted people.
The conscience of the Church believes him to be
a great saint. His name has reached the ends of the universe.
The day of his canonization to sainthood is
very near. It is very significant that His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew himself, in a recent homily in Nigdi of Cappadocia, numbered Elder
Paisios among the saints of Cappadocia.
The day of the official recognition by the
Venerable Head of Orthodoxy of the sainthood of Elder Paisios will be a
triumphant day of the Faith and of the life in Christ.
May he intercede before the Lord on behalf of
us all.
Source:
Translated by John Sanidopoulos
thanks to source and John Sanidopoulos:
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