Paisios the Athonite

Venerable Paisios the Athonite, elder of Mount Athos and beloved spiritual father of modern Greece.

St. Paisios was born in Farasa of Cappadocia in 1924 and grew up in Konitsa in Epirus. After military service he became a monk, living on Mount Athos, at Sinai and finally in the cell of Panagouda near Koutloumousiou, where he received countless pilgrims with discernment and love.

He reposed in 1994 at the convent of St. John the Theologian at Souroti near Thessaloniki, where his grave is a place of pilgrimage. He was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2015.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Paisios the Athonite is commemorated on July 12. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on July 25 of the civil calendar.

Who celebrates a name day

People with these names keep their name day on this feast:

Paisios, Paisius, Paisis

Also commemorated on July 12

• Veronica the Woman with the Issue of Blood

  Holy Woman, Βερονίκη

  St. Veronica, the woman healed of the issue of blood by touching the hem of Christ's garment.

  Name days: Veronica, Veroniki, Veronika, Vereniki, Verenike, Berenice, Veronique, Roniki

• Michael Maleinos

  Venerable, Μιχαήλ Μαλεΐνος

  Venerable Michael Maleinos, spiritual father of St. Athanasios of Athos.

• Serapion the New

  Martyr, Σεραπίων ο Νέος

  Holy Martyr Serapion the New, burned for Christ.

• Andrew the Stratelates and those with him

  Martyr, Ανδρέας ο Στρατηλάτης

  Holy Martyrs Andrew the Stratelates, Herakleios, Faustus, Menas and their company.

• Proclus and Hilary of Ancyra

  Martyr, Πρόκλος και Ιλάριος

  Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilary of Kallipi near Ancyra.