Gerontissa Anastasia Vlachos, the barefoot ascetic

The Monastery of 'Lady of the Angels' is located in the village of Riglades on the south side of the island of Corfu. The history of the female monastery has been lost for centuries.In 1629, when Corfu was struck by the deadly plague, the monastery was transformed into a hospital to serve patients.Saint Spyridon, however, did not allow his island to suffer and by his miracle in 1630 he cured the disease and the inhabitants of the island were saved. (Remembrance of this miracle is celebrated on August 11) The locals, fearing that there would be germs in the monastery, decided to burn it ... so it happened! All that was saved from the fire was the bell tower.Over time, the incident was forgotten by humans, but not by God. '' THE RESTORATION '' God 's chosen vessel for the project was the 10 year Anastasia. So Anastasia, 10 years old, came from the village where the monastery was located and lived with her family.Her parents near the monastery had olive groves ... several times when Anastasia was passing through the ruins of the monastery she saw a figure praying near the belfry and was wondering who or what this figure might be praying there. The answer to the question came by itself ... or rather by the Virgin Mary herself! One day, she heard a voice that said: '" Anastasia, is it not pity I'm buried here? I want to build my monastery"Anastasia was frightened and said nothing to anyone.After several such Divine revelations, the 10-year-old Anastasia decided to talk about this incident to her mother because she was terrified after the last appearance of the Virgin Mary because she had warned her that she would 'fall' in the village. (Many people had died suddenly at that time) When Anastasia told what had been happening to her mother for so long, she confessed to her that she had a similar experience when she was young.Anastasia could say that she was not at peace and her mind was constantly on the monastery and in the Divine manifestations she lived in. So, after 4 years and at the age of 14, she told everyone and so they made the decision to build the monastery. During the restoration of the monastery, Anastasia did not leave for even a minute. She settled in the hollow of a tree (for three years), which is called "Holy Hollow". It is called "The Holy Hollow of the barefoot ascetic Anastasia Vlachos." Later, when the monastery was ready, Anastasia, now a nun and renovator, settled in the monastery of the Lady of the Angels. The nun Anastasia had a lifelong ascetic life, far from anything mundane, lived according to the will of God and the dictates of the Gospel.She died at the age of 60 on September 22, 1979.The Miraculous Icon of '' Lady of the Angels '' is also preserved in the Monastery which was recognized in 1991. Gerontissa Anastasia Vlachos was always barefoot.