Sophia of Kleisoura

Venerable Sophia the Ascetic of Kleisoura, the Panagia's beloved of Macedonia.

Sophia Chotokouridou was born in Pontus in 1883 and came to Greece with the exchange of populations. She settled at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos at Kleisoura in western Macedonia, where she lived for decades in the fireplace of the church, in poverty, cold and continual prayer.

Many came to her for counsel and she was known for her gift of insight and her love of the poor. She reposed in 1974 and was glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2011.

Feast day

On the New Calendar, Sophia of Kleisoura is commemorated on May 6. Churches on the Old (Julian) Calendar keep the feast on May 19 of the civil calendar.

Also commemorated on May 6

• 

  Job the Long-Suffering

  Prophet, Ιώβ ο Πολύαθλος

  The righteous and long-suffering Job.

  Name days: Iov, Job

• Seraphim of Dombou

  Venerable, Σεραφείμ ο εν Δομπού

  Venerable Seraphim of Levadeia, founder of the Monastery of the Savior on Mount Dombou.

  Name days: Serafeim, Seraphim, Serafim

• Barbaros the Soldier

  Martyr, Βάρβαρος ο Στρατιώτης

  Holy Martyr Barbaros the Soldier, with Bacchus, Callimachus and Dionysius, who suffered under Julian the Apostate.

  Name days: Varvaros

• Benedicta the Roman

  Holy Woman, Βενεδίκτη

  Venerable Benedicta of Rome, a nun of the sixth century.

  Name days: Benedicta, Benedikti

• Job of Pochaev

  Venerable, Ιώβ του Ποτσάεφ

  Venerable Job, abbot and wonderworker of Pochaev, defender of Orthodoxy in western Rus.