Virgin Mary Paleologina - Holy Monastery Grigoriou

The Holy Monastery Grigoriou was founded in the period 1310-1314 by Saint Gregory the younger (December 7), the so-called hesychast and silent man. The Monastery is contemporary with the Holy Monasteries Dionysiou and Pantokrator, however, not much information is preserved about the activity of the Monastery during the first centuries. According to historical sources, Saint Gregory was a student of Saint Gregory of Sinai and lived in the Skete of Magoulas. Over time and as his spiritual children grew, Gregory decided to descend lower and build the Monastery in its current location.

Saint Paisios was born in Cappadocia on July 25, 1924. His father was named Prodromus and his mother was named Eulampia. The saint had 8 siblings. On August 7th, 1924, saint Paisios was baptized by Saint Arsenio the Cappadocian, who insisted to give him his own name. Five weeks after the baptism of young Arsenios, on September 14th, 1924, his family was forced to flee with the general exodus of Greek refugees from Asia Minor. They settled in Eperos in Northwestern Greece. He first visited Mt. Athos in 1949 AD after he completed his time in the army.

In this icon, which is on the pillar of the left choir of the Monastery s katholikon, the Blessed Virgin is shown standing in an attitude of supplication, without Christ. On the Silver reventment of the icon can be seen a storage jar overflowing, reminding us of a miracle of the Theotokos when, hearing the prayers of the Elder (Yerontas – hence the name “Yerontissa”) filled with oil the empty storage jars of the Monastery.