ST. PAISIOS-B (EN)

Father Paisios continued his spiritual struggle, now as a monk, at the Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos. His mother also fought her own “battle,” trying to reconcile her deep faith in God with her love for her son. Father Paisios’s longing to withdraw to the most remote part of Mount Athos, Katounakia, to live as an ascetic, grew stronger and stronger. However, a vision of the Virgin Mary led him back to Konitsa, to the Monastery of Stomiou, to restore the monastery that had been burned down by the Germans. So, in July 1958, he returned to Konitsa and, without stopping by his family home, went directly to the monastery. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

In the second episode, Paisios’s family realizes that he has chosen a monastic path at the monastery — a place where temptation always lurks. Evlogia is saddened when she learns that her son returned but did not come home to visit, and she wonders about the reason behind this choice. His siblings go up to the monastery to meet him and find out why he did not come to see them. There, they understand that their brother is wholly devoted to God and to his spiritual struggle. Father Paisios begins his efforts to rebuild the monastery, but every day he faces many obstacles. The monastery’s annual festival becomes a cause of temptation… Some of the villagers insist on holding the festival inside the church courtyard, but Father Paisios stands in their way and tries to stop them from doing so. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

With the help of the people of Konitsa, Father Paisios begins to rebuild the monastery. He decides to go to Corfu to exhume the relics of Saint Arsenios. So, he visits his family home and asks his parents and siblings if they had left any mark to help him find the Saint’s grave. His mother remembers that when they arrived in Corfu as refugees, Saint Arsenios had told Paisios, when he was still an infant, “My son, here you will leave me, and from here you will come to take me.” Now, what the Saint said is being fulfilled, and his grace will guide Father Paisios to his grave. Father Paisios goes to Corfu, finds Saint Arsenios’s grave, and performs the exhumation of the relics. He then returns to Konitsa, and his whole family, moved with emotion, venerates the Saint’s relics. After 34 years, they once again receive the blessing and spiritual grace of their spiritual father. In deep emotion, Father Paisios prays to God to uproot the love he has for his mother from his heart and to place her instead in His own embrace — in this life and in the next. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Father Paisios finds an orphaned child in a cave by the river. He brings him to the monastery, shows him deep love, and for the first time in his life, the child feels that someone truly cares for him. The charity fund that Father Paisios has established helps and supports many people in Konitsa. A complaint reaches the Metropolis, accusing Father Paisios of helping communists. Since the wounds and hatred of the civil war are still fresh, the Protosynkellos (the bishop’s deputy) of the Metropolis harshly reprimands Father Paisios, who explains that when he helps people, he doesn’t see political parties — he sees images of God. This explanation angers the Protosynkellos even more. The difficulties for Father Paisios are only just beginning… Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Father Paisios prays to Christ, asking Him to show him true humility. During the Divine Liturgy, while he is in the altar preparing to receive Holy Communion, the priest sends him out, telling him he is unworthy to receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Father Paisios leaves, stands at the very end of the line of the faithful, and communes last. The Metropolitan summons him to the Metropolis and asks for an explanation about the accusations that he is helping communists. Father Paisios explains once again that he does not distinguish people by labels but sees in every person the face of the humble Jesus. The Metropolitan realizes that a conspiracy has been woven against Father Paisios and allows him to continue his work freely. But soon a health problem will bring him to his knees… Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

A serious health problem will confine Father Paisios to bed. After his recovery, he will have to make another difficult decision. Father Paisios’ health is in a serious condition, so he is cared for at the home of a woman from the philanthropy organization until he recovers. His mother and sister want him to come to their home and struggle to understand his refusal. He explains to them that once a monk has left, he cannot stay at his family home anymore. His recovery lasts three months. When he returns to the Stomio Monastery, he is visited by Deacon Damian from the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Sinai, who asks him to come and stay with them. This is a difficult decision for Father Paisios, who prays and then informs Deacon Damian that he will go to Sinai. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Father Paisios arrives at Saint Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai. The monks of the monastery grant him a small cell in the desert, where he begins his ascetic practice under very harsh conditions, while daily attacks of temptation occur. Despite his weakened health, Father Paisios dedicates himself to the ascetic life. His mother has accepted her son’s decision to become a monk in the desert and prays to the Virgin Mary to watch over him. However, while she prays, she peacefully passes away. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Father Paisios’s deteriorating health forces him to leave Sinai and return to Mount Athos. There, he meets Father Tychon and asks him to become his spiritual guide. A spiritual struggle begins. Some young monks gather around him and ask him to accompany them as their spiritual mentor. Father Paisios’s health worsens significantly, and he is forced to leave Mount Athos to visit doctors in Thessaloniki. There, he meets Father Polycarp, who offers to help him. He also meets Father Paisios’s spiritual daughters, young women who wish to become nuns. The elder helps them with great love and discernment, and a spiritual bond begins to form between them. Father Paisios undergoes surgery, during which half of his lung is removed. Despite his own suffering, he never forgets the pain of others. Many people find comfort in the hospital near Father Paisios. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

Under the spiritual guidance of Father Paisios, the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian is established in Souroti. A little later, the Elder returns to Mount Athos. Father Tychon, who foresees his own death, calls Father Paisios and expresses his wish to be transferred to Paisios’s cell after he falls asleep (passes away). Following this, Father Paisios stays close to him and lives through the final moments of this holy man’s earthly life. He honors the wish of his spiritual father and remains in the cell of the Holy Cross. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen

In his cell at the Holy Cross, Father Paisios “befriended” a little bird — a robin. He also received divine visits: Saint Euphemia appeared in his cell and guided him on certain spiritual matters that were troubling him. He decided to write the life of Saint Arsenios and visited Konitsa to find fellow villagers who had known the Saint personally. There, he met his sister Christina for the first time since their father’s passing. During his research, he also met Iordanis, who was deeply moved when he realized that Father Paisios, standing before him, was the same baby that Eulogia had held in her arms as they fled Farasa. Television adaptation: megatv.com Production Execution: Green Olive Films Production: Saint Maximus the Greek Institute Original Music: Tuomas Kantelinen