Orthodox Parables and Stories: "I went to Mt. Athos to meet an elder."

It was Jan. 30, 1992 the day of the three Hierarchs.Exactly 29 years ago. A friend and neighbor of mine, Spyros, had a good time, convinced me that it would be good to go and meet an old man on Mount Athos about whom he had heard a lot.

Although an atheist then, since I was a child of his active generation Polytechnic, a little because I had never been to Mount Athos, although a traveler, a little because some words of my paternal family still sounded dim inside me, I was convinced.
While we left Ouranoupoli with the sun, when we arrived in Karyes it was already snowing.

And here begins God's plan ...

All the pilgrims ran to settle in at the Monstery of Koutloumousiou which is the nearest monastery in Karyes where the bus took us. The elder of the monastery, not being able to accommodate us - to host everyone, chose to send the younger ones to other monasteries. Because we wanted to meet the elder in Panagouda, we were anxious to stay in the Monastery of Koutloumousiou which was nearby.


In the meantime, the snow was accumulating outside.
Thank God the abbot of the monastery, even though we were young then, kept us there. However, we were in despair due to the snow. But going to the cell-room that was given to us, it was like I went back to my childhood.

The monastery did not have electricity and even the lighting was done with an oil lamp as in my childhood. The heating was done with a wood stove, as in my childhood as well. The walls were full of pictures, like in my paternal home. Everything started to wake up inside me and my desire to meet our Holy Elder Paisios was constantly growing. But my friend Spyros had heard that the old man was sick and he would hardly accept us in such weather.

The next morning (the day of St. Athanasios according to the Mount Athos calendar) after the Divine Liturgy we said to try our luck. We went down to the Elder's cell, running in case we missed him.


After a while, we reached Panagouda. And oh the miracle, although sick, the elder was standing in front of the gate with his umbrella in his hand, because it was still snowing, and he was waiting for us as if he knew about our visit.


As soon as I kissed his hand, he hugged me and his rosy hand caressed my head.
Then I felt something like an electric current pass through my body, but it did not shock, it did not kill, but it warmed every cell of my body and made my legs bend, like a candle bends when it is next to a heat source.

Suddenly there was an earthquake inside me. I fell to my knees and cried for a long time. These tears suddenly cleared my eyes.

Where I did not see God anywhere, I began to see Him everywhere in my life.
In the snowflakes, in the crystals that hung from the branches of the trees, in the waves of the sea, in the flying of the gulls of the return journey. Everywhere! Nothing was like before.

Following the advice of my beloved elder I went and confessed as soon as we returned to the monastery. My life change.

Praise be to God who led my steps to our holy elder Paisios.
I have him and I will have him forever, the guardian of my heart.
St. Paisios was an ambassador for us.
Praise be to God always ..