St. Arsenios of Paros: Remarkable confessor, spiritual guide, educator, ascetic, miracle-worker, and healer, An account of his life, character, message and miracles [2 ed.] 0914744801, 9780914744801

Table of contents :
Cover
Preface
Introductory
The Life of St. Arsenios
Miracles of the Saint
Some Counsels of the Saint
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Citation preview

ST. ARSENIOS OF PAROS

Apolytikion Thou didst ardently emulate the spiritual endeavor of the Holy Ascetics through a virtuous life, in recent times, 0 Holy Arsenios; for having led an angelic life on the island of Paros, thou didst receive from Heaven the gift of miracles, granting to those who honor thee grace and mercy.

Another Apolytikion We honor thee, 0 Arsenios, who art the glory of Epiros, the boast of Paros, and the protector of the Convent of the Forest; for thou hast appeared as an angel on the earth through thy exercise of heavenly virtues; where­ fore, 0 Father, thou hast been honored by God with the gift of miracles. Glory to Christ Who did glorify thee, glory to Him Who hath magnified thee, glory to Him Who hath given thee to us as an ever-wakeful interces­ sor.

Kontakion To thee, 0 God-inspired Father, we chant hymns of praise, as an imitator and peer of the holy Ascetics, and a most divine servant of the Savior. Being full of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, bestow always thine abundant grace upon us, who cry unto thee: Rejoice Father Arsenios.

Megalynarion Rejoice thou 0 splendor of Priests, and divine exemplar of Monastics; rejoice thou ardent protector of Paros, most blessed Arsenios, who art of the choir of Holy Ascetics.

ST. ARSENIOS OF PAROS

MODERN ORTHODOX SAINTS

6 ST. ARSENIOS OF PAROS Remarkable Confessor, Spiritual Guide, Educator, Ascetic, Miracle-Worker, and Healer. An account of his Life, Char­ acter, Message and Miracles

By CONSTANTINE CAVARNOS

Second Edition INSTITUTE FOR BVZANTINE AND MODERN GREEK STUDIES 115 Gilbert Road Belmont, Massachusetts 02178 U.S.A.

First edition 1978 Second edition 1988 All rights reserved Copyright, © 1978, 1988 by Constantine Cavarnos Published by THE INSTITUTE FOR BYZANTINE AND MODERN GREEK STUDIES, INC.

115 Gilbert Road, Belmont, Massachusetts 02178, U.S.A. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 88-80496 Printed in the United States of America Complete set ISBN 0-914744-12-17 This volume paperbound ISBN 0-914744-80-1

PREFACE St. Arsenios of Paros ( 1 8oo- 1 8 7 7) was a younger contemporary of St. N ikephoros of Chios and St. Seraphim of Sarov. He was twenty-one years old at the time of St. N ikephoros' repose, and thirty­ three at that of St. Seraphim. So this volume ap­ propriately follows those which have been devoted to these saints. Despite the fact that he was regarded by many as a saint in his lifetime, and was officially recog­ nized as such by the Ecumenical Patriarchate eleven years ago, St. Arsen ios has remained almost completely unknown outside of Greece. This book, the first one on him to appear in English or in any language other than the Greek, is intended to make known to the English-reading public his very inspiring and instructive life, character and thought. In addition, it should be o f value for better understanding the important Kollyvades Movement and its influence far beyond the Holy Mountain of Athos, the place of its origin . For St. Arsenios and his Elder, Father Daniel of Za­ gora, belonged to it. In preparing this volume, I have made exten­ sive use of The Life, Conduct and Miracles of Our Father Arsenios the New, Who Led a Life of Spiritual Endeavor in the Island of Paras/ by Archimandrite P hilotheos Zervakos, Abbot of the vii

famous

Monastery of Longovarda in Paros. The

eloquent a nd

very m oving "Life of St. Arsenios" has been taken from this book. The amazing "Miracles of the Saint" also have been selected from it, from the part devoted to this topic. Finally, the beautiful "Counsels of the Saint" have been extracted from the biography and some of the miracles. Father Philotheos' book is the most comprehensive work on St. Arsenios available. It is a synthesis of the data contained in some pam­ phlets and articles by various Greek authors, as well as of oral information obtained by Father Philotheos from aged monks, nuns and laymen who knew the Saint. Besides this book, I have used the works listed in the Bibliography. In writing the "Introductory, " which appears in print for the first time, I have relied on all these works. I am very grateful to Father Philotheos Zervakos for permission to publish in translation his life of St. Arsenios and his accounts of some of the Saint's miracles, clarifying for me certain points in the biography, and providing me with a photograph of an icon of the Saint to be used as the frontis­ piece. The icon was done in 1 96 1 by Father Philaretos of the Monastery of Longovarda. I am also very thankful to Dr. John Johnstone, Jr. , for reading this book in manuscript and suggesting many improvements in expression . viii

CONTENTS PREFAC E

vii

INTRODUCI'ORY

11

THE LIFE OF ST. ARSENIOS BY PHILOTHEOS ZERVAKOS, ABBOT OF THE MONASTERY OF LONGOVARDA IN PAROS

.

.

.

38

MIRACLES OF THE SAINT BY PHILOTHEOS ZERVAKOS

80

SOME COUNSELS OF THE SAINT

102

NOTES

106

BIBLIOGRAPHY

114

INDEX

117

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