ST. PAISIOS-A (EN)

The story of Saint Paisios, the modern Saint who touched the entire Orthodox world, begins with his birth in Pharasa, Cappadocia, on July 25, 1924. A few days later, he was baptized by Elder Arsenios the Cappadocian, who gave him his name. The birth of Saint Paisios coincides with the uprooting of the Greeks from Cappadocia. Little Arsenios became a refugee in the first days of his life. His family, along with all the inhabitants of the Greek villages of Cappadocia, set out on the path of exile to Greece. Leading them and serving as their spiritual guide on this journey was Elder Arsenios. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

The uprooted people from Cappadocia celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos far from their village, with an outdoor liturgy. They arrive at Piraeus on September 14, expecting to find Mother Greece ready to embrace them, but instead they encounter many difficulties and problems. The father of little Arsenios, who is the head of the community, tries — with the guidance of Elder Arsenios — to maintain balance and solve these problems. Elder Arsenios foretells that they will go to an island and that he will “fall asleep” (pass away) there in forty days. The next day, they are sent to Corfu. There, they temporarily stay in the town’s castle. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Just as their spiritual father, Elder Arsenios, had foretold, so it happened exactly. Forty days after settling in the castle of Corfu, Elder Arsenios fell asleep (passed away) in the city’s hospital on November 10, 1924. This event deeply shook the entire community, because Elder Arsenios was their spiritual father, their doctor, their teacher. He was the one who truly preserved the Greek and Christian soul in the villages of the Pharasa region. Countless were the miracles he performed during his lifetime. His passing turned everything upside down in the community. Tensions, disputes, and quarrels began to arise. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Prodromos Eznepidis, the father of Saint Paisios, tries to stand strong without his spiritual father, but he cannot. He is ready to give up when his wife, Evlogia, shows the strength and wisdom she carries in her soul. She supports him and helps him not to break. Twenty-two months after their arrival in Corfu, they leave for Plataria in Thesprotia. There, Prodromos faces great difficulties in keeping the villagers united, and so some, feeling disappointed by the government and betrayed, leave to finally find a place to settle. In the summer of that same year, Prodromos Eznepidis’s family, together with 50 other families, finally arrive at the place where they will take root — in the land of Epirus, in the land of Konitsa. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Evlogia perceives Arsenios’s spiritual calling and, from a very early age, makes sure to pass on to him her deep faith. Beyond prayers, she speaks to him about pride and humility, and about how he must fight against evil thoughts. Through her daily shining example, great virtues are slowly built in his young soul — virtues that will later become his great support and the spiritual wealth with which he will comfort thousands of people. At the age of twelve, he chooses not to go to high school and instead decides to learn the craft of carpentry to help his parents financially. At sixteen, a cousin of his plants a seed of doubt in his heart about the divinity of Christ. Arsenios seeks refuge in the little chapel of Saint Barbara, and, in tears, begs Christ to show him a sign that would refute what his cousin had told him. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

After many wanderings and hardships, **Prodromos Eznepidis’s family** arrives in Konitsa, Epirus. There, they find people who welcome them with love and help them with this new beginning in their lives. Little Arsenios whispers his first prayers and grows up in a spiritual environment. With her passing, Grandma Hatzichristina leaves behind a rich spiritual legacy for her children and grandchildren. At the same time, a new member is added to the family. The birth of Christina sends Raphael back to the attic, so he won’t hear his mother giving birth, while little Amalia learns about the mystery of life and death. Arsenios grows up and, as the child of refugees, faces his first challenges with his peers. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

The Eznepidis family prepares for Amalia’s wedding. However, the Greco-Italian War comes and overturns everyone’s plans and the lives of all Greeks. Raphael and Charalambos go off to war, and Arsenios tries to help his family stay on their feet during these very difficult times. The German occupation follows, bringing even greater hardships. Taking his mother and father as his example, Arsenios tries to help all those in need. Liberation comes, but very soon Greece is wounded again by the Civil War. Arsenios is called up for military service. He turns to the Virgin Mary and begs her to help him so that he will not have to kill anyone. He is assigned as a radio operator and becomes an example to his fellow soldiers through his selflessness, deep faith, and sacrificial love. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Arsenios, at great risk to his own life, saves a fellow soldier who was wounded in battle. Everyone admires his courage and tries to understand how he wasn’t hit by the hail of gunfire he faced while carrying the injured soldier. Evlogia receives a big surprise — Arsenios returns home and tells her he has been discharged from the army. Her joy does not last long, because he announces that he will leave for Mount Athos. She begs him to stay a little longer, but Arsenios leaves the next day. He is deeply moved when he enters the Garden of the Virgin (Mount Athos). He seeks out Father Kyrillos, a great spiritual guide, who gives him his first advice about monastic life. A short time later, he receives a letter from his father asking him to come back immediately to help with the fields and to prepare his younger sister Christina’s dowry. Arsenios finds himself in great dilemma. Once again, he turns to Father Kyrillos for guidance. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Arsenios, following the advice of Elder Kyrillos, returns home to help his family with their daily struggles and to prepare his younger sister Christina’s dowry. He stays in Konitsa and works hard for three years. Having fulfilled all his obligations to his family, he leaves for Mount Athos for good. He goes to the Holy Monastery of Esphigmenou, and under the guidance of Abbot Kallinikos, the young novice embraces the spiritual life. He stands out for his great zeal, his sacrificial love, his humility, and his spirit of love for all the brothers. He even endures patiently the harsh behavior of a strict monk. Eventually, he becomes a monk of the lesser schema and receives the name Paisios. He bids farewell to his mother by sending her a photograph of himself and a poem in which he describes his deep longing for the spiritual life — telling her that from now on, his mother will be the Virgin Mary. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen