Lithography with gloss varnish on a hard MDF. In the middle is Saint Paisios the Athonite and above Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian and St. Euphemia.
Short life of Saint Paisios of Athonite
Saint Paisios, born Arsenios Eznepidis in 1924 in Farasa of Cappadocia, experienced from an early age the hardship of displacement, as his family settled in Greece following the population exchange and the uprooting from Asia Minor. He spent his childhood in Konitsa, where he was raised in simplicity, hardship and deep faith elements that profoundly shaped his later spiritual path. From a young age, he did not follow the typical pursuits of his peers, but instead showed a strong inclination toward prayer, silence and spiritual searching. At the same time, he worked as a carpenter, learning a trade that allowed him to live simply and independently, placing emphasis on labour rather than comfort. During his military service in the period of the Greek Civil War, he served as a radio operator and was distinguished for his courage, calmness and moral integrity. After completing his service, he gradually withdrew from worldly life and devoted himself to monasticism, a calling he had felt from his youth. His monastic journey led him to various ascetic centres, most notably Mount Athos, as well as the Monastery of Stomio in Konitsa and the desert of Sinai. Over time, he became widely known, as people from all walks of life sought him out for comfort, guidance and hope. He reposed in the Lord in 1994 at Souroti, Thessaloniki and is commemorated by the Orthodox Church on 12 July.
