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Prayer of Saint Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life,Grant not unto me a spirit of idleness,of discouragement,of lust for power,and of vain speaking. But bestow upon me, Thy servant,the spirit of chastity,of meekness,of patience,and of love. Yea, O Lord and King,grant that I may perceivemy own transgressions,and judge not my brother,for blessed art Thouunto ages of ages. Amen.

Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa Miraculous Icon on Mount Athos

The history and miracles of Theotokos Koukouzelisa Where the icon of the Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa is located The icon of the Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa is one of the miraculous icons of Mount Athos and belongs to the Monastery of Great Lavra. It is placed on a wooden throne inside the chapel of the Monastery. The appearance of the Theotokos to John Koukouzeles In front of the miraculous icon of the Theotokos Koukouzelisa, it was customary to conduct the Vigil for the Saturday of the Akathist Hymn. One night, after the completion of the Saturday vigil, the chief chanter of the Monastery, John Koukouzeles, who had once served as the lead musician at the imperial palace, fell lightly asleep in the choir board. In his sleep, he saw the Most Holy Theotokos greeting him, saying, «Rejoice, John! Sing to me, and I will never abandon you». As she spoke, she placed a gold coin in his palm. Find here: Orthodox icon of the Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa. The miracle of the Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa When Saint John awoke, he beheld something truly wondrous! He was holding in his hand the coin that the Theotokos had left him in his dream! From that moment, he devoted himself to long vigils and standing in prayer, which led to him developing serious issues with his legs. Find the article here: Holy Monastery of the Great Lavra: the oldest Monastery and first in the hierarchy of Mount Athos The healing of John Koukouzeles by the Theotokos The Theotokos appeared to him again in his sleep and healed him. Since then, many miracles have been attributed both to the icon of the Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa and to the gold coin that John Koukouzeles held. When is Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa celebrated The Orthodox Church celebrates our Lady Koukouzelisa on November 21 each year. Why the Virgin Mary is called ‘Koukouzelisa’ The name ‘Koukouzelisa’ comes from the connection with Saint John Koukouzelis through the vision and the miracle that occurred. For this reason, Saint John was ever-present in the right choir, chanting in honor of the Lord and the Theotokos. Who John Koukouzeles was John Koukouzeles lived in Dyrrachium, in Albania. He was often called ‘Koukouzeles,’ as whenever he was asked what he ate, he would reply, “koukia and zelie,” meaning broad beans and a Bulgarian word for cabbage. After completing his studies at the Imperial Academy in Constantinople, Emperor Komnenos appointed him as a musician at the palace. However, John desired to follow the monastic life. At one point, the Abbot of the Great Lavra Monastery visited Constantinople. John followed him back to Mount Athos, disguised as a servant so that no one would recognize him. Despite his efforts to be accepted into the communal monastic life, he was instead made a shepherd. Through this service, he lived happily, in absolute peace and devotion to the Lord, as he had wished. One day, a hermit nearby heard him singing so melodiously that even the animals stopped grazing to listen to him. When John Koukouzelis fell asleep Amazed, the hermit informed the Abbot of the Monastery of Great Lavra. After this revelation, the Abbot accepted him into the monastery. From then on, he lived at the Monastery of Great Lavra until the end of his life. He fell asleep peacefully on October 1. Find here: Orthodox icon of the Virgin Mary Koukouzelisa.

Climbing on the Summit of Mount Athos - Useful Information

Mount Athos has a history dating back to the 12th century and remains remarkably well-preserved through the ages, both in its cultural heritage and natural landscape. Athos, the emblematic summit of the Holy Mountain The peak of Mount Athos rises majestically above the Athonite peninsula, reaching an altitude of 2,033 meters. This impressive mountain stretches eastward toward the Gulf of Ierissos and westward toward the Singitic Gulf, offering breathtaking natural beauty. Climbing the summit of Athos Although Athos is not among the tallest mountains in Greece, the climbing to its summit is particularly challenging. The difficulty lies in starting from sea level, requiring hikers to cover the entire elevation. Essential equipment for the ascent on Athos peak Hikers and nature enthusiasts often wonder how to climb to the summit of Athos, what is the best season and the safest path. Answers may vary, but the hikers should never forget the importance of proper equipment. The climb demands experience and good preparation. Checking the weather forecast beforehand is vital. Rain, storms and lightning can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening. Essential gear includes a headlamp, sleeping bag, dry food, water, electrolytes, trekking poles, a mobile phone with GPS and detailed physical maps of the hiking trails. Mobile signal coverage may be unreliable in certain areas, so a detailed map with paths and routes of Mount Athos is required. Explore here: Hiking Map of Mount Athos - Detailed Find here: Maps of Mount Athos Overnight stay during the ascent on the summit of Mount Athos An overnight stay may be necessary during the ascent. At the location known as «Stavros», there are small shelters suitable for 3-4 people, offering basic amenities such as a water well. The path to these shelters is stunning, passing through forests of chestnut, fir and pine trees. At higher altitudes, the Panagia refuge (approximately 1,500 meters) is ideal for staying to acclimate to the climatic conditions before the final ascent. This shelter can accommodate 10-12 people and is easily accessible by animals from Saint Anne or Kerasia. Donkeys are often used by monks to transport goods, but also to move from one place to another when distances are large and conditions allow. When the church of Theotokos was build The church of the Theotokos, located at the shelter, was built in 1665 by Patriarch Dionysius III. However, evidence suggests the presence of an earlier church in the area, as Saint Jacob lived as an ascetic there before 1520. Despite harsh weather conditions, the church was preserved and renovated in 1972 by the Monastery of Great Lavra. Read here: Holy Monastery of the Great Lavra: the oldest Monastery and first in the hierarchy of Mount Athos Starting points for the ascent of Mount Athos The most popular starting point for the ascent to the Athos summit is the Monastery of Great Lavra. Alternatively, one can begin from the “Skala of Saint Anne” or “Kleftiko” if the sole focus is the climb. What awaits at the peak of Athos The first church at the peak, dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Lord, was built in 965 by Saint Athanasius the Athonite. Though it was destroyed by lightning, it was rebuilt multiple times, notably by Patriarch Dionysius III and later by Patriarch Joachim III. The current structure dates back to 1977. At the summit, at an altitude of 2,033 meters, a 3x4 meter iron cross, erected in 1897, stands prominently. The view from the Summit The view from the summit of Athos is breathtaking. One can admire the entire Athos peninsula, including Karyes, the Skete of Saint Andrew and the Monastery of Koutloumousi, in a landscape that inspires awe and spiritual serenity. The Athos peninsula continues to shine and will stand lofty as long as we, faithfuls, safeguard the traditions of the monastic community and the natural environment, aptly called "The Garden of Virgin Mary." Read the article here: Paths Trails of Mount Athos - Hiking on Athos Peninsula

Prayer at Daybreak - Hear my prayer!

Eternal Lord and Creator of all things, in your inscrutable goodness you have called me into this life and have given me the grace of baptism and the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. You have instilled in me the desire to seek your face. Hear my prayer! I have no life, no light, no joy, no strength, no wisdom without you, O God. Because of my unrighteousness, I dare not lift my eyes in your presence. But I obey you who said: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11) Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father He will give it to you in my name. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16) Therefore I now dare to approach you. Purify me from all stain of flesh and spirit. Teach me to pray rightly. Bless this day which you give to me, your unworthy servant. By the power of your blessing enable me at all times to speak and to act with a pure spirit to your glory; with faith, hope and love, humility, patience, gentleness, peace, purity, simplicity, sobriety, courage and wisdom. Let me always be aware of your presence. In your boundless goodness, O Lord God, show me your will and grant me to walk in your sight without sin. O Lord, unto whom all hearts are open, you know what I need and what is necessary for me. You know my blindness and my ignorance. You know my infirmity and corruption. My pain and anguish are not hidden from you. Therefore I beg you: Hear my prayer and teach me by the power of your Holy Spirit the way in which I should walk. And when my perverted will leads me otherwise, O Lord, do not spare me, but force me back to your way. Grant me, Lord, to hold fast to what is good by the power of your love. Preserve me from every word and act which corrupts the soul, and from every impulse that is unpleasing in your sight and harmful to the people around me. Teach me what I should say and how I should speak. If it be your holy will that I be quiet and make no answer, inspire me to be silent in a peaceful spirit that causes neither harm nor hurt to my fellow human beings. Establish me in the path of your commandments, and until my last breath do not let me stray from the light of your ordinances. May your commandments be the sole law of my being in this life and for all eternity. O Lord, I pray to you: Have mercy on me. Spare me in my affliction and misery and hide not the way of salvation from me. In my foolishness, O God, I plead with you for many and great things. Yet I am ever mindful of my wickedness, my baseness, my vileness. Have pity on me! Cast me not away from your presence because of my foolish presumption. Increase rather in me the right presumption of your grace and grant that I, the worst of people, may love you with all my mind, all my heart, all my soul and all my strength, as you have commanded.

Elder Sofronios of Essex

Archimandrite Sophrony was born in 1896, to Orthodox parents in Tsarist Russia. Since he was a child, he showed a rare capacity for prayer and as a young boy would participate in theological debate. Prayer entails the idea of eternity with God. In prayer, the reality of the living God is yoked with the concrete reality of earthly life. This craving, like a flame in the heart, irradiated his student days at the State School of Fine Arts in Moscow. This was the period, when a parallel speculative interest in Buddhism and the whole arena of Indian culture changed the clef of his inner life. Eastern mysticism now seemed to him more profound than Christianity, the concept of a supra-personal absolutely more convincing than that of a Personal God. The Eastern mystic’s notion of being imparted overwhelming majesty to the transcendental. With the advent of the First World War and the subsequent Revolution in Russia, he began to think of existence itself as the cause of all suffering and so strove, through meditation, to divest himself of all visual and mental images.The turmoil of the post- Revolutionary period made it increasingly difficult for artists to work in Russia, and in 1921 the author started to search for ways and means of emigrating to Europe - France, in particular, as the centre of the world for painters. He managed to travel through Italy, looking long at the great masterpieces of the Renaissance. After a brief stay in Berlin, he finally reached Paris, heart and soul into painting. His career made a satisfactory start: the Salon d’ Automne accepted his first canvas and the Salon des Tuileries, the elite of the Salon d’ Automne, invited him to exhibit with them. But on the other hand, things weren’t going as he had expected. Art began to lose its significance as a means to liberation and immortality for the spirit. Even lasting fame would be but a ludicrous caricature of genuine immortality. He must decide on a new way of living. He enrolled in the recently opened Paris Orthodox Theological Institute, in the hope of being taught how to pray, and the right attitude towards God; how to overcome one’s passions and attain divine eternity. But formal theology produced no key to the kingdom of heaven. He left Paris and made his way to Mount Athos, where men seek union with God through prayer. Setting foot on the Holy Mountain, he kissed the ground and besought God to accept and further him in this new life. Next, he looked for a mentor, who would help extricate him from a series of apparently insoluble problems. He threw himself into prayer as fervently as he previously had in France. It was crystal-clear that if he really wanted to know God and be with Him entirely, he must dedicate himself to just that- and still more entirely than he had to painting in the old days. Prayer became both garment and breath to him, unceasing even when he slept. After four years spent in a remote spot surrounded by mountain crags and rocks, with little water and almost no vegetation, the author assented to a suggestion from the Monastery of St Paul to move into a grotto on their land. This new cave had many advantages for an anchorite-priest. There were many hermits in the desert and they tended to settle close to one another, though hidden from sight by bounders and cliffs. Here, besides being completely isolated, there was a tiny chapel, some ten feet by seven, hewn out of the rock-face. Winter was a hard time. The first downpour would flood the previously dry cave and then every day for perhaps six months he was obliged to scoop up and throw outside some hundred buckets of water soaking his cough. Only the little chapel stayed dry. There he could pray, and keep his books. Everywhere else was wet. Impossible to light a fire and warm up something to eat. In the end, after the third winter, failing health compelled him to abandon the grotto, which had afforded the rare privilege of living detached from the world. It was now that the idea came of him writing a book about Staretz Silouan, to record the precepts, which had so helped him to find his bearings in the wide expanses of the spirit by instructing him in the ways of spiritual combat. To carry out this project he would have to go back to the West- to France, where he had felt more at home than in any other country in Europe. His first intention was to stay for a year, but then he found that he would need more time. Working in difficult conditions, he fell dangerously ill and a serious operation left him an invalid, causing him to lay aside all thought of returning to a desert cave on Mount Athos. A printed edition of his book was published in 1952. Thereafter the translations began: first into English (The Undistorted Image), then German, Greek, French, Serbian, with excerpts in still other languages. The reaction of the ascetics of the Holy Mountain was of extreme importance to the author. They confirmed the book as a true reflection of the ancient traditions of Eastern monasticism, and recognised the Staretz as spiritual heir to the great Fathers of Egypt, Palestine, Sinai and other historic schools of asceticism dating back to the beginning of the Christian era. In 1959, accompanied by his disciples, he left again, this time reaching England, where he founded the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist. Having been a coenobitic monk and a hermit, he was now ‘a witness to the light’ (cf. John 1:7,8) at the heart of the world. In 1993, 11th July, Elder Sophrony humbly and peacefully rendered his soul to God. Today, the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist is a place, where hundreds of pilgrims from all over the world are welcomed; it is not only one of the main centers from which Orthodoxy is radiated in the West, but also one of the strongest affirmations of the universality of Orthodoxy.

Elder Simon Arvanitis

Father Simon was born in 1901 in Koukouvaounes, Attica, Greece. At the age of 16, he went to Mount Athos with friends in order to receive the blessing of Metropolitan Nectarios (St Nectarios). The Saint took his hands and told him prophetically: “You will become a Spiritual Father and save souls”. Simon’s love for God grew, and at age 24, he secretly left his family to be tonsured a monk at the monastery of St Haralambos. However, he longed to be a cave-dwelling hermit, and continually begged this from the Monastery elders. The elders prayed for a week to Panagia to determine the correct path. After a week, Simon was told: “The Holy Mother informed us that you must return to the world which needs you to be led to salvation”. In obedience, he left Mount Athos and was ordained a priest-monk. He gathered several monks around him and countless spiritual children, who remember his great faith and miracles. One of these monks, Zosimas, had a phobia of the dark. Fr Simon prayed over him and allowed him to sleep in his own cell while he, the elder, slept on the roof of the cell. Zosimas had a dream that the devil appeared and said: “Your Elder is up on the roof and I can’t come inside”. With the prayers of Fr Simon, he was healed. Fr Simon reposed in 1988. On the day of his burial, the grace of God was evident. The Contemporary Saints such as St Iakovos Tsalikis knew and admired the Christian work of Fr Simon during his lifetime. His selflessness, wisdom and love inspired countless struggling Christians during his life and after his blessed repose.

The Creed

I Believe in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, Begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, Begotten, non made, Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made : Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, And was made man, And was crusified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead : Whose kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who spake by the Prophets. And in one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baprtism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Nektarios: A Prayer To Virgin Mary

Saint Nektarios, the miracle-working saint of Aegina, celebrates on November 9. Saint Nektarios protects those in need, as he is considered the patron saint of the poor, the weak and those seeking work. The Prayer of Saint Nektarios Take away from me, O Virgin, the fetters of sin,of my lusts and other transgressions:the terrible carelessness and the overcaring,the evil curiosity and the talkativeness,the useless incontinence and the haughtiness,the negligence, the drunkenness and the lack of mercy,the bad desires, the terrible impurity,the extravagance, the darkness,the great insensitivity. Take away the tendency to say jokes,the enjoyment, the prodigality. The laughter of immorality and every evil. Give me, O maiden, fasting,carefulness, vigilance and perfect obedience. Give me carefulness in alland acute discernment,silence, order and holy patience. Grant to me, O Lady, eagerness to workand to attain my perfection,and zeal for virtues and exercise. Keep, O most-holy One,my soul, my heart and my mindin holiness and guard it in virginity. St. Nektarios Here you can find all the icons with Saint Nektarios of Aegina. Here you can find information about the Monastery of Saint Nektarios in Aegina and the house where he lived (photo material).

Virgin Mary Antifonitria - Miraculous Icon on Mount Athos

Where the icon of the Virgin Mary Antifonitria is located At the Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou on Mount Athos is found the icon of the Virgin Mary Antifonitria, meaning ‘She Who Retorts’. The exact time and occasion of how this holy icon appeared in the monastery remain unknown. However, the miracle associated with the holy icon of the Theotokos, which took place in 1020 AD during the reign of Constantine the Great, is widely known. The great miracle of Theotokos Antifonitria On the first day of August in the year 1020 AD, Agathon, the church leader of the Monastery, was filled with great sorrow as the Monastery was lacking oil and other essential supplies. On the eve of the removal of the holy relics of Saint Stephen, who is the patron saint of the Monastery, Agathon was deeply saddened and prayed in front of the holy icon of Panagia Antiphonitria. He spent the entire night in prayer, beseeching the Most Holy Theotokos for her help. Read here: Holy Monastery of Konstamonitou: the history of the Monastery with the miraculous icon of Panagia Antiphonitria Why the icon of the Virgin Mary was named Antiphonitria At some point, Agathon fell asleep, hungry and exhausted as he was, and then found himself in a state of ecstasy. In this state, he heard the icon of the Virgin Mary talking to him, namely assuring him not to be sorrowful, as she takes care of everything on Mount Athos. For this reason, the icon was named Antiphonitria, from the Greek word “αντιφωνώ”, meaning “talking loudly”). Indeed, at that very moment, the containers were filled with oil, as were all the other storage with the necessary supplies! When Agathon woke up and was informed of the joyful news, he cheerfully moved towards the church. When he saw with his own eyes that the containers were indeed full of oil, he was astonished and loudly announced the miracle that had just occurred to all the monks.

Mount Athos History

Mount Athos: a unique Unesco World Heritage Site The geographical features of Mount Athos Mount Athos is located in Central Macedonia, Greece, at the third and easternmost part of the prefecture of Halkidiki. The peninsula of Athos has a total area of about 330 sq. km and spreads into the Aegean Sea for at least 50 km. At the same time, the width of the peninsula ranges from 7 to 12 km, while the peak of Mount Athos reaches 2,033 m. and has a distinctive conical shape. The slopes of the peninsula are steep with dense forest that give us the rich gifts of nature, such as honey, wines and olive oil. How "Mount Athos" got its name Mount Athos is already known from Greek mythology. It is said that in the area where the peninsula of Mount Athos is located, a great titanic battle took place between the giants and the gods of Olympus. In this battle, the leader of the giants was Athos, son of Uranus and Gaia. According to mythology, the giant Athos grabbed a huge rock and hurled it with great force against the Olympian gods. In this way, the area of Halkidiki and the homonymous peninsula were created. Historical records of the Athos peninsula are found by Thucydides, Herodotus, but also Strabon, who was a Greek geographer. Based on this information, we know that the peninsula was inhabited by small communities, since pre-Hellenic times, forming small towns. The renaming of the peninsula to "Mount Athos" is located back in the 11th century. The first reference is found in the study of the Byzantine scholar and Archbishop of Ohrid and Bulgaria, Theophylaktos, which is entitled "Martyrdom of the Fifteen Martyrs of Tiberiopolis". From the 12th century, the name of the peninsula is exclusively found as "Mount Athos". In fact, the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos imposed by law that "From now on the name of the peninsula will be called “Mount Athos” for all". All the official public documents that followed, mention the Athos peninsula as "Mount Athos". Find here: Detailed hiking map of Mount Athos Mount Athos Today… Unesco World Heritage Site For about a century, since 1926, Mount Athos has been an autonomous part of Greece. The Athos Peninsula consists of 20 Monasteries, 12 Hermitages (Sketes) and 700 Sacred Huts, where about 1000 monks live an ascetic life. The value and uniqueness of Mount Athos has been recognized worldwide and since 1988 is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. At the same time, the unique natural landscape of Mount Athos is protected by the European Network NATURA 2000. The official UNESCO website states that Mount Athos is "a huge historical, artistic and cultural heritage preserved by a monastic community for 12 centuries. At the same time, this place maintains a rich flora and fauna, thanks to the careful protection of the forests and the implementation of traditional agricultural practices. Due to the richness of the fauna of the area, the peninsula of Athos is a member of the European Network NATURA 2000". Find here the book: Athos Beauty and Grace Today, believers from all over the world can visit Mount Athos with the issuance of a special permit, the so-called "Residence" («Διαμονητήριο»), which is issued by the Office of the Pilgrims in Thessaloniki or Ouranoupoli in Halkidiki, Greece. The transfer to Mount Athos is feasible only by boat. We at monastiriaka.gr have set as a goal to bring closer to all the faithful the natural products made by the Fathers in the monasteries of Mount Athos! Find here: Original handicrafts from Mount Athos

Saint Papa-Nicholas Planas

Saint Nicholas Planas was born in Naxos in 1851. His parents, captain John and Augustina, were quite well off but were also good people, with the simple and pure soul. They had their own estate, with a little chapel in the middle of it by the name of Saint Nicholas. Very frequently little Nicholas Planas would hide in the chapel wearing a bed sheet, and he would chant whatever he knew, as he was still a small child. At other times, he would gather his friends, and they would "celebrate" the Divine Liturgy. He learned his first letters from his grandfather, Father George Melissourgos. Near him, Nicholas learned to read the psalter. He observed his grandfather's movements in the Holy Altar and followed him in all the liturgies he did in the innumerable country chapels. His father died young. Thus, he left Nicholas an orphan at fourteen years of age. His mother took him and they went -together with his sister- to Athens. They settled somewhere between St. John of Plaka and St. Panteleimon of Ilissou, because there were quite a few builders and workers from Naxos island there. Their days were difficult. She took her children together with her no matter where she was working, because she was afraid to leave them all alone. She trembled at the idea that they might take the evil path. When he reached seventeen years of age, his mother forced him to marry to a good girl from Kythira, Eleni Provelegiou. They had one child. Afterwards, he was ordained a deacon in the Church of the Transfiguration, Plaka, on July 28, 1879. Five years later, on March 2, 1884, he was ordained a priest in the church of the Holy Prophet Elisha. In the meantime, however, his wife reposed. So, carrying the burden of being a widower, he entrusted himself and his son John, to God\'s mercy. He had no estate because he had put his own portion of the inheritance as collateral on a loan, so that a compatriot of his could be saved from debt. He was compassionate, and had no care for wordly things or estates. Night and day, he was absorbed in divine worship, and with his small parish of St. Panteleimon in Neo Kosmo, which was comprised of thirteen families. The people loved him. His simplicity, his island piety, his kindness, his chastity, his lack of love for money, drew everyone to divine worship. Everyone wanted him to bless their homes, their stores. And he ran everywhere joyously. From aristocratic homes down to the poorest homes, he never kept a drachma on him. The poor always waited outside the church for him to distribute whatever he had in his pocket. However, a certain priest without a parish of his own, in cooperation with the council members of St. Panteleimon, kicked him out of his parish and sent him to the Church of Saint John, ("the Hunter" as they called it then) in Vouliagimeni. The new parish was very poor and was comprised of eight families. His payment as a priest was one piece of meat from the fattened lamb of Meatfare Sunday or Christmas. This did not bother him, however, because fasting was most important in his life. So long as he had a church, he was happy. In the various churches, where he celebrated he was the consolation and refuge of people. He was the "sacred little elder" who comforted every human pain. His reputation had extended to the various eparchies also, and people hastened form everywhere to hear him celebrate the Holy Liturgy, to kiss his hand, for him to bless them! He reached 84 years of age and had never been slandered once, nor did anyone say anything against him. Everyone knew him and respected his holy personality. On March 2, 1932, however, his holy life reached its end. He celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the last time on the Sunday of the Prodigal Son. As soon as he consumed the Holy Cup, he suffered a light fainting and was transported home, where his son John, and his daughter-in-law, Marigoula, offered their last services to their holy father. Like a little bird, he gave up his holy soul to Him, Whom he had worshipped his whole life long. News of the grievous event spread to all of Athens. People ran to venerate the relic of the holy elder. Everyone wanted to kiss his hand for the last time. The Archbishop of Athens, Chrysostom Papadoupoulos, suggested that the burial take place at night, so that everyone could embrace him. And this indeed happened. His body was buried in the courtyard of the church of Saint John. His bones were placed in a siler reliquary in the new majestic church of St. John. His whole life was proof of the divine power and wisdom, which God the Creator grants to those who love Him and keep His commandments. The Church of Greece, with an introduction from His Emience the Metropolitan of Patras, Nikodemos, who personally had met Saint Nicholas was granted to get his blessing, asked the Ecumenical Patriarchate to recognize Father Nicholas Planas' holiness. With a special Synodical Deed, the Patriarchate numbered him in the listing of saints of the Orthodox Church, and appointed that his memory be celebrated on March 2nd. (Source: From the article, "Papa-Nicholas Planas" in "Orthodoxos Phhiotheos Martyria", Vol.64, Orthodoxos Kypseli Publications, January-March, 1996. Translated Father Nicholas Palis of Aliquippa, of the Kismisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, Aliquippa, Pa.)

Virgin Mary the Formidable Protection on Mount Athos

Where is the icon of Our Lady the Formidable Protection The icon of the Theotokos Formidable Protection or Great Protection or Fovera Prostasia (in Greek) is located at the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousi on Mount Athos. It is placed on the left side of the lete in the Katholikon, within the chapel dedicated to the Theotokos the Great Protection, which was built in 1733 AD. The holy icon depicts the Virgin Mary holding the young Jesus Christ in her left hand. Her head is turned towards Jesus Christ and the angel, who holds the symbols of the Passion. The miracle of the «invisible» Monastery The most famous miracle of Our Lady of Great Protection is the miracle of the «invisible» monastery. According to tradition, when pirates once raided the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousi, the monks found themselves exposed and helpless. Then, they sought refuge in the icon of the Theotokos, praying to her with great reverence and pleading for her protection against the pirates. It is said that the Theotokos heard their prayers and rendered the monastery invisible to the eyes of the raiders. Find here the article: Holy Monastery of Koutloumousi: here is kept the miraculous icon of Panagia the Formidable Protection Why the Virgin Mary Was Named the Great Protection This miracle caused the pirates to abandon the Holy Mount Athos, the Garden of Virgin Mary without causing any damage to the monastery. Everyone believed it was divine intervention and mediation by the Theotokos. For this reason, the icon of the Virgin Mary was named Great Protection (in Greek Fovera Prostasia). The miracle of the fire at the Monastery's Dependency The miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary the Great Protection was originally located at a dependency of the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousi in Crete. One day, a great fire broke out, completely destroying the dependency. However, the only object that survived was the icon of the Ever-Virgin Mary. As the Fathers and many pilgrims mention, from the moment the holy icon of the Virgin Mary the Formidable Protection was transferred to Koutloumousi, it has performed numerous miracles. The miracle of saving the Monastery from a fire Another miracle attributed to Our Lady the Great Protection is the saving of the monastery from a fire that broke out in its surrounding forest. The monks, holding the icon of the Theotokos, fled for safety. Shortly thereafter, a heavy rainstorm erupted, putting out the fire and saving the monastery and the monks. When the Feast of Our Lady Formidable Protection is celebrated The Synaxis of the Virgin Mary the Formidable Protection is celebrated on the Tuesday of Easter Week, which is the second day after Holy Easter. The procession of the icon takes place from the monastery to Protaton, as a reciprocal gesture for the visit of the icon of “Axion Estin” that took place the previous day at Koutloumousi. Find here: Icons of the Virgin Mary the Formidable Protection.