Prayer for every day and before starting any business

Arseny of Cappadocia
(c. 1840 - 1924), archimandrite, venerable Memory October 28 (Greek)

In the world, Theodore Annitsalichos, came from the village of Farasa in Cappadocia (Asia Minor), in the family of Eleutherius (Annitsalichos) and Varvara (Frangopoulou). At an early age he lost his parents.

He was educated at the seminary in Smyrna (modern Izmir).

At the age of 26, he became a monk at the Monastery of John the Baptist in Zinji-Dere in Caesarea (modern Kayseri, Turkey), was ordained a deacon and sent to Metropolitan. Paisius II in Faras to teach children to read and write using church books.

In 1870 he was ordained a hieromonk and elevated to the rank of archimandrite. He made five pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and therefore he was nicknamed Haj Effendi

.

For 55 years his pastoral work continued in Faras. He instructed and confirmed the faith of the inhabitants of the Greek enclave, which was constantly under threat of destruction.

Father Arseny led a strict ascetic life and received from the Lord the gift of insight and healing. Through his prayer, which, according to eyewitnesses, “could pierce a stone,” the blind, deaf, paralyzed and possessed were healed. Not only the Greeks, but also the Turks considered him a saint, because among Muslims he performed miracles and healed the sick. The Patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem wanted to make Arseny a bishop, but each time he refused.

The Monk Arseny foresaw the coming trials - wars and the exodus from his native land.
In 1924, during the resettlement of the Greeks of Asia Minor, he accompanied his flock and died on November 10 on the island of Corfu, 40 days after arriving in Greece. The relics of the saint were transported first to the city of Konitsa, and then to the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Suroti (near Thessalonica).

Numerous posthumous miracles of Arsenius of Cappadocia led to his glorification in 1986 as a saint.

As a child, Arseny was saved by a monk and he also decided to become a monk

One day an incident occurred that turned the whole life of the future Reverend Arseny upside down: while crossing a small river with his brother Blasius, Fyodor was carried away by a fast current.

1840

This year, Arseny was born in the Cappadocia village of Farasy (Asia Minor).

The elder brother began to pray for his salvation, when suddenly Fyodor appeared in front of him, safe and sound.

The kid said that one horseman, very similar to a monk, snatched him out of the water and carried him to the shore on horseback.

Then Fyodor firmly decided to become a monk.

Prayers

Church Slavonic translation of hymns from the Greek service compiled by the monk Gerasim Mikrayannanit [1].

Troparion, tone 3

Having ended a life pleasing to God,/ you have appeared as an honorable vessel of the Comforter, God-bearing Arseny,/ you have received miracles of grace,/ you have given quick help to everyone,/ Father Reverend,/ I pray to Christ God // to grant us great mercy.

Kontakion, tone 4

Cappadocia is a newly planted flower/ and a vessel of many honors,/ let us praise Saint Arsenius,/ for this one, like an Angel in the flesh, lived,/ cohabitant with all the saints,/ with him always stands before Christ// praying

[2]
grant us forgiveness for our sins.

Arseny became a monk and taught children secretly from the Turks

After graduating from school in Nigde, Fedor entered the seminary in Smyrna. At the age of 26, he fulfilled his dream - he took monastic vows at the Monastery of John the Baptist in Caesarea with the name Arseny. There, in Caesarea, Metropolitan Paisius ordained him to the rank of deacon and sent him to Faras to teach literacy to poor children.

The Turks looked unkindly at the Greeks who lived in Faras and six neighboring villages, and in every possible way prevented the education of Greek youth. But Arseny used a trick, teaching children not at desks, but on sheep skins spread on the floor. The students sat on them with their legs crossed.

The Turks thought that the children had gathered for prayer, and at this time the monk taught them prayer, repentance and piety. Arseny often gathered children in a secret school - a cave temple carved into the rock.

1870

this year Arseny was ordained a hieromonk, then elevated to the rank of archimandrite

In 1870, Arseny was ordained a hieromonk, then elevated to the rank of archimandrite. After his ordination, Arseny went to the Holy Land, making a total of five pilgrimages to the Holy Places. For this, he received the nickname Hadji Efendi from the Turks (“haji” - pilgrim, “effendi” - master).

Saint Arseny was an ascetic, leading a strict life. But he did not go into seclusion, but remained a monk in a secular environment. For the villagers, he was a teacher and mentor, strengthening their faith. Having received the gift of healing from the Lord, Father Arseny became a physical healer for the residents of Faras and surrounding villages.

With prayers Arseny healed even the deaf, paralyzed and blind

The Monk Arseny never asked what faith and nationality the patient was brought in. Through his prayer, which “could pierce a stone,” even the deaf, paralyzed and blind were healed.

One day they brought him a possessed boy. He was tightly bound and very exhausted. When Arseny asked to untie their son, the parents said that this could not be done, because... the child is mad and can cause trouble. Father Arseny, insisting on his own, reprimanded the boy with prayers and the child was healed.

He told the parents that they themselves were to blame for their son’s obsession, because they showed cruelty to him. Having given the parents a penance - to fast for 40 days, as in Lent - he sent the family away in peace.

Another time, Arsenia was brought in with an possessed Turkish woman who had recently been married off. The girl was tied up, but she could hardly be restrained. When the monk gave permission to untie the sick woman, she rushed and bit Arseny on the leg.

Saint Arseny, taking the Gospel in his hands, lightly hit the girl on the head with it and the demon left her.

Falling to her knees, the Turkish woman began to kiss the saint’s bitten leg.

Her father, seeing the miraculous healing, began to beg Arseny to accept the wallet with money. But Arseny never accepted money or gifts for his work, so he answered

“Keep your money, our faith is not for sale.”

The villagers considered him strange for some of his actions. For example, because he himself gave names to babies at baptism, without listening to the godfather.

This is how Father Paisius explains it in his book:

“Father Arseny gave children rare names in order to wean residents from name day feasts, which often ended in quarrels. Therefore, he preferred to give babies rare names: Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Averky, Jordan and others - and thus put an end to public gatherings, drunkenness and fights, and even stabbings (after all, then all men carried weapons).”

Healer's activities

There was not a single doctor in Faras and its surroundings, so the task of treatment was entrusted to Saint Arsenios. The monk could heal at a distance, having only some object of the patient, who was unable to personally come to his home. In these cases, the father wrote a consoling note, which had to be carried in an amulet.

In the most serious cases (blindness, demon possession, dumbness), the saint used not ordinary prayer, but verses from the Gospel. To heal those who were sick in soul, Arseny ordered the person to come to him several times.

• The reverend teacher never took payment for his miracles, arguing that Christian faith in the Lord is not for sale. He also refused gifts, since he knew that poverty and misery flourished around him, which was much more in need of money and basic necessities. In the church itself, where Father Arseny served, there was a special niche where benefactors put their donations. The poor themselves had the opportunity to take according to need, but they never exceeded their requests, for they feared the wrath of the Almighty.

  
  Mosaic icon of St. Arsenios in the temple of Suroti, Greece

• The saint received the sick in his dilapidated house, next to which there was a small cell with an earthen floor. For the night, my father used two blankets; he slept very little, since he was a true servant who had conquered selfish inclinations. In the eastern part of his cell there was an iconostasis with a large number of holy images and a burning lamp. Below lay a sheep's skin, where the monk stood for a long time on his knees in prayer for his people and humanity. The cell also contained a shelf with a collection of sacred literature.
• Arseny used two days out of seven to completely isolate himself from the worldly and spend this time in deep and continuous prayer. In this way he acquired the fruits of the sacred action, which he sought to spread outside. On days of solitude, people tried not to disturb the holy monk, but if it happened that help was needed for a sick person, the monk made an exception to the rule.
• The father was strict with himself, despite the mercy he showed to the local population. The monk even prayed for those people who were unable to turn to the Lord and were not ready to fast. He did not punish his flock because strong fatherly feelings prevailed in him. The holy monk sought to make a person aware of his own mistakes and mistakes, which he himself is able to correct and ease his fate. The Monk Arseny insisted that redemption is achieved through works of mercy and righteousness.
• Every day the holy monk ate barley cakes, which he prepared himself. Occasionally, his diet included herbs, onions and wheat porridge. Arseny never ate meat and for a long time abstained from dairy products and fish. My father did not want to use the animals, which he loved very much, to move to other settlements; he walked barefoot, but put on shoes out of respect when people approached. He was repeatedly offered to become a bishop, but he always refused, saying that he was too irritable for this post.

  
  Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia and Paisius the Holy Mountain

• Arseny saw his own death in advance; on the eve of the last day, he spent the night talking with his beloved student. When his heart stopped (1924), no one was around, because the monk wanted complete privacy when facing eternity. His body was buried in the Kerkyra cemetery.

Interesting!
The saint behaved extremely strictly with women, since each of them, showing great affection, tried to please their father in one way or another. It was as if they were competing with each other in their love for him. Therefore, the great minister was often rude to women and did not accept food from them, which he called poorly prepared. Poor fans could never understand the character of this man, but did not forget about the great miracles that he performed selflessly.

One day Arseny extracted water from a rock

Arseny of Cappadocia became famous not only for his gift of healing. His contemporaries told many wonderful stories that they witnessed.

This is what St. Arseny’s assistant, Gabriel Kortsinoglu, said:

“One day, Hadjefendis, my uncle Prodromos and I went to the Church of St. John Chrysostom to serve the Liturgy. While Hadjefendis was getting dressed, I went to the source to get water for the Liturgy. As soon as I approached the source, the water dried up. I ran to Hadzhefendis, who, taking his prayer book under his arm, quickly went to the source, tying the straps along the way. Near the rock he said a prayer, and the water flowed noisily. I collected as much as I needed, and we returned to the temple.”

Saint Arseny draws water from a holy spring.
Image on the wall in the refectory of the monastery of the Apostle John the Theologian in Suroti) The Patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem repeatedly offered Arseny to become a bishop, but he refused each time, saying

“I don’t want to be a bishop because I’m afraid of pride. The higher the mountains, the more clouds gather on them.”

Journey of Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia to Athos and Dormition

Arriving in Corfu, the settlers met the cordial support of the inhabitants of the island, led by the local Metropolitan Athenagoras and the pastor of the Church of St. George, Father Lykourgos Papadopoulos. Saint Arseny foresaw his end. On the night of November 8, when he was lying in a hospital bed, the Mother of God visited him. Elder Arseny himself, with tears of joy, told the local priest the next morning: “The Mother of God came here. She took me to Holy Mount Athos and showed me all the monasteries. As you know, I dreamed of visiting Athos, but my dream never came true. Yesterday I was very happy. Twenty large monasteries, Byzantine churches, with icons and relics of all the saints of the church, are buried on this land and forgotten there. The relics of the saints who offered prayer and watered the monasteries with tears […]. What can I tell you about the amazing icons Worth It Is, Paramythia, Gerontissa, Terrible Intercession […]. My heart, however, remained with the image of the Iveron Mother of God - sheer beauty and grace! […]

Prayer workshops, small cells and hermitages are everywhere; here you constantly listen to the prayer of the heart and leave having absorbed into your clothes the scents of heaven emanating from musk and pure beeswax. […] I don’t know how many hours Her grace kept me there until we heard the great bell of the Iveron Monastery with its deep sound. “They began the liturgy; then Our Lady led me back to Corfu, leaving behind her an unearthly aroma emanating from Her sacred body.”

This journey was a great gift from the Mother of God to Elder Arseny, a faithful deacon of the Gospel, before setting off on the great journey into eternity.

Early in the morning of the next day (November 10), the companions found the elder with his eyes forever closed and tightly holding a small ark with a fragment of the relics of St. John Chrysostom.

Descriptions of Saint Paisius have been preserved, who, although he was very young, kept in his mind and heart the lessons of the saint, the experiences of his life. In October 1958, Elder Paisios went to Corfu, dug up the bones of Saint Arsenios and transported them to Konitsa. And since 1970, they have been kept in the convent founded by Saint Paisios in Souroti, near the city of Thessaloniki.

Arseny died in Greece, having predicted his death

1924

this year Arseny was forced to move to Greece

After the defeat of Greece in the Second Greco-Turkish War, the Greeks of Asia Minor were forced to move to Greece. Arseny foresaw the war and departure from his native land. He could not leave his flock and in August 1924 they set off. The Turks assigned a gendarme to guard Father Arseny, and the Farciotes sent three young Greeks with him.

On the way, they were overtaken by a fierce Turk, who suggested that the gendarme get rid of the old man. The young men who accompanied Arseny suggested telling the Turks that he was an official and that they should treat him more politely. Arseny refused, they continued on their way.

The Turkish rider had not traveled even twenty meters when he fell from his horse.

Seeing this, the gendarme said to Father Arseny: “Sen sin aziz!” (You are a saint).”

And the monk said to the young men:

“I didn’t even have time to say a word, and he had already fallen.”

Finally, they ended up on the island of Corfu, where Father Arseny fell ill. Already in the hospital, he said to Prodromos, who had come to visit Arsenios:

"Let's say goodbye. The day after tomorrow I will move on to another life. Yesterday afternoon the Mother of God came and informed me. She showed me Mount Athos and the monasteries, which I really wanted to see, but never got the chance to see. What can I say, Prodromos! Do you know how many monasteries there are on Mount Athos?! How big are the temples?! Beauty!".

And even earlier, before the resettlement, the monk predicted

“I will only live in Greece for 40 days and die on the island.”

And so it happened - Arseny of Cappadocia died 40 days after arriving in Greece at 83 years old.

Having learned about the death of Arseny, people who knew him were inconsolable in their grief. Father Arseny was buried in the local cemetery. Subsequently, the relics of the saint were transported first to the city of Konitsa, and then to the monastery of St. John the Theologian in Suroti (near Thessalonica).

The Saint Whose Prayer Cleaved the Stone

On November 10, we honor the memory of St. Arsenius of Cappadocia, a Greek ascetic, one of the most remarkable saints of our time.

Christ Pantocrator, Apostle John the Theologian and Venerable Arsenios of Cappadocia. Mosaic above the entrance to the Hesychastirium of St. John the Evangelist and St. Arseny in Suroti. Photo: A. Pospelov / Pravoslavie.Ru

Monk on horseback

The Monk Arseny (in the world Theodore) was born in the village of Faras in Cappadocia (Asia Minor). The child lost his parents early. Once Theodore and his older brother were crossing a small river, and the baby was carried away by the current. The elder brother began to pray with tears to the holy Great Martyr George, whose temple was nearby. Suddenly, Theodore appeared right in front of him - safe and sound. The kid told how one horseman, who looked like a monk, snatched him from the water and took him to the shore on a horse. From that moment on, Theodore began to say that he, too, would become a monk.

He fulfilled his dream: he graduated from the seminary, labored in the monastery of St. John the Baptist and took monastic vows with the name Arseny. There the young man was ordained a deacon and sent by Metropolitan Paisius II to Faras to teach literacy to poor children using church books.

Teacher

For 55 years, the Monk Arseny nurtured, instructed and confirmed in the faith the inhabitants of the Greek village of Faras, which was a free Greek island in the depths of Asia Minor, a stronghold of the Orthodox faith, Greek language and culture.

St. Arseny of Cappadocia

Faras also included six smaller villages located approximately 200 kilometers south of the main city of Cappadocia - Caesarea. Greek villages were constantly under threat of being destroyed by the Turks, although they were given relative freedom under pressure from Orthodox Russia.

Faras had 50 churches and many holy springs, famous for their miracles throughout Cappadocia. The Farasiots loved the Church, had reverence and an ascetic spirit. Throughout the year, during fasting and fasting days, most Pharasiotes ate food and drank water only once a day - in the evening.

The Turks did not want Greek children to receive an education, but Father Arseny, having arrived in Faras, despite his youth, handled the matter with great reasoning. He conducted lessons in a large room, not at desks, but by spreading sheep skins on the floor, on which his students sat with their legs crossed. The Turks were not irritated by this, since they thought that the children were gathered for prayer. The monk did not just give his students knowledge, he taught them the Jesus Prayer, and instructed them in repentance and piety.

In 1870, Father Arseny was ordained hieromonk and elevated to the rank of archimandrite. He was only 30 years old. After his ordination, the ascetic went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. From that time on, the Farasiotes nicknamed him Hadzhefendis (from the words “haji” - pilgrim and “effendi” - master).

Father Arseny was an ascetic, he fasted strictly and lived in a dilapidated house, lacking not only what was superfluous, but often what was necessary. He acquired from the Lord the gifts of ardent faith, fiery prayer, spiritual reasoning, insight and healing. The Farasiots said that his prayer cut the stone.

Healings

St. Arseny of Cappadocia

There was no doctor either in Faras itself or in the surrounding villages. And Father Arseny became not only a teacher, but also a doctor of the souls and bodies of the suffering. He did not write prescriptions for patients, but prayed to God for them. Through the prayers of the saint, the deaf, blind, paralyzed and possessed were healed. When the sick were brought to his poor house, the Monk Arseny was never interested in who was in front of him, but only asked what the person was sick with. He was considered a saint by both Christians and Turks because he prayed for the sick, and they recovered.

One day a possessed child from Sinasos was brought to Father Arseny. Looking at the tightly tied and very exhausted boy, Father Arseny ordered his parents to immediately untie him. The child’s relatives replied: “With your blessing, Hadji Efendi, but the boy is mad and will cause us trouble. We tied him up with great difficulty.” But Father Arseny told them: “Free him and don’t be afraid.” As soon as the parents untied the boy, through the prayers of the saint, the child was healed. He approached Father Arseny and quietly, like a lamb, sat down next to him. After this, Father Arseny gave the child’s parents a penance - to fast for 40 days, as in Lent. The monk explained to the parents that they themselves were to blame for the child’s obsession, and also for showing cruelty to the innocent: they often deliberately starved the boy so that he would not have the strength.

Suddenly a light shone, like a multi-colored rainbow, it surrounded Father Arseny and the blind woman

The chairman of the Pharasiot community, Abraham Psaropoulos, spoke about one miracle of Father Arseny, of which he himself was an eyewitness: “One day after the Divine Liturgy, when everyone had dispersed and only the psalm-reader Prodromos, the elder with his assistants and several sextons remained in the temple, Father Arseny, standing in front of the royal doors, became read the Gospel over a blind Christian woman. Suddenly a light shone like a multi-colored rainbow, it surrounded Father Arseny and the blind woman who was kneeling in front of him. At that moment she saw the light.”

A leper woman was brought from Kelmiri to the monk. He prayed and she was healed: her face became clear, like a child’s.

One day, when Father Arseny and the psalm-reader were going to the Church of St. John Chrysostom, they met a mute woman along the way and took her with them. Arriving at the church, Father Arseny read the Gospel over her, after which the mute woman immediately spoke, and everyone glorified God.

Two days a week, on Wednesdays and Fridays, the monk remained in seclusion, prayed and sanctified the work of other days of the week with prayer. If on these days a sick person came from afar, who did not know this rule, and knocked on his cell, Father Arseny opened the door, but examined the patient in silence. It happened that the monk, while in contemplative prayer, did not open the door. These days the Farasiots tried not to disturb Father Arseny. If someone happened to get sick, they took earth from the threshold of the monk’s cell, rubbed it on the sore spot and received healing.

The monk took the Gospel in his hands and lightly hit the sick woman on the head with it three times, and the demon immediately left her.

Father Arseny never accepted money or gifts for healing, and did not even touch them. One day, from the village of Tsakhirudy, an obsessed young Turkish woman was brought to him, who had just been married off. The possessed woman was tied up, but still they could hardly restrain her. When Father Arseny gave his blessing to untie the sick woman, she rushed at him and bit him on the leg. The monk took the Gospel in his hands and lightly hit the sick woman’s head with it three times, and the demon immediately left her. She fell to her knees, cried and began reverently kissing her bitten leg. Her father also fell to his knees, begging Father Arseny to accept a wallet with money from him as a sign of gratitude: “Take it, it’s all yours, because you saved my daughter.” Father Arseny raised him to his feet and firmly told him: “Keep your money, our faith is not for sale.”

“This is the door through which thieves go to the underworld!”

The thieves could not find the door to get out, and, like blind people, walked back and forth through the cell

Stefan Zacharopoulos talked about how four Kurds came to rob Arseny's father. At this time, the monk sat on the skin and read the works of the holy fathers. He saw the thieves open the door, but, without saying a word, he continued to read while they rummaged around in all corners in the hope of finding gold coins. Finding nothing, the thieves took two blankets lying in the corner, which made up all the saint’s property. They were about to leave, but could not find the door to go out, and, like blind people, they walked back and forth around the cell. Since their walking prevented Father Arseny from reading, he himself showed them where the door was, but they still did not see it. Then the monk stood up and, taking one Kurd by the hand, said: “This is the door through which thieves leave and go to the underworld!” Only then did they see the door, repent and ask for forgiveness. Father Arseny forgave them and they left. Then these Kurds told their fellow tribesmen about what happened to them: “Aman, Aman! Don't go stealing from Hadjefendis. You will go into the cell, but you will not find a door to go back out.”

Father Arseny said: “Put down your withered hand.” And immediately the Turk's hand hung lifeless, and his dagger fell to the ground

Prodromos Eznepidis also spoke about the attack of the Chet Turks on Faras. There were practically no men in the village at that time: some worked in distant fields, others left. Prodromos fought fearlessly, but he ran out of ammunition and was captured by the Turks. They were going to hang the courageous defender of the village and had already prepared the gallows for him. Before hanging, the Turks began to torture him, demanding to know where he kept his savings. And the Lord inspired Prodromos to answer the robbers: “I keep everything with Hadjefendis.” When the Turks brought the bound elder to Father Arseny, the monk was indignant and began to denounce the robbers, demanding that they release the prisoner. The leader of the gang became furious at the saint’s words and pulled out a dagger to kill him. Then Father Arseny told him: “Put down your withered hand.” And immediately the Turk’s hand hung lifeless, and his dagger fell to the ground. Seeing this, the bandits were horrified, and the leader, with tears, began to ask Hadjefendis to heal him. Father Arseny, having crossed himself, healed his hand, and the bandits, untying the headman, fled in fear. Since then, not a single person from this gang was seen in the village again.

“One Wife picked me up in her arms and lowered me to the ground.”

Gabriel Kortsinoglou, a former church reader and assistant to Father Arseny, said: “One day, Hadzhefendis, my uncle Prodromos and I went to the Church of St. John Chrysostom to serve the Liturgy. While Hadjefendis was getting dressed, I went to the source to get water for the Liturgy. As soon as I approached the source, the water dried up. I ran to Hadzhefendis, who, taking his prayer book under his arm, quickly went to the source, tying the straps along the way. Near the rock he said a prayer, and the water flowed noisily. I collected as much as I needed, and we returned to the temple.”

Saint Arseny draws water from a holy spring. Image on the wall in the refectory of the Suroti Monastery

He leaned on the wooden railing, but suddenly one board came off, and the monk flew from a 50-meter height into the abyss

Father Arseny often went with the psalmist Prodromos to serve the Liturgy in the cave temple of the Most Holy Theotokos, located high in the rock. There were 40 steps carved into the rock and a wooden staircase of 120 steps leading to the temple. The Farasiotes built a wooden balcony at the entrance to the cave temple. One day after the service, Father Arseny went out onto the balcony. He leaned on the wooden railing, but suddenly one board came off, and the monk flew from a 50-meter height into the abyss. Meanwhile, the psalmist Prodromos was cleaning the temple and did not know anything. At this time, a farmer was working in a neighboring field. Seeing the monk fall, he threw his oxen into the field and ran to the place of the fall, so that, as he thought, he could at least collect the remains of Father Arseny. Running up to the fallen man, the peasant found him safe and sound, only motionless. He came closer and wanted to touch the fallen man in amazement, but Father Arseny said: “Don’t touch me, I’m fine.” The monk lay motionless, not because he had hit himself, but from emotion: when he fell, one Wife caught him in her arms and lowered him to the ground. At that moment, as he himself said, he felt like a small child in his mother’s arms. Father Arseny returned to the temple and told Prodromos about everything, who was still busy cleaning and could not understand what had happened. The peasant went to Farasy and told the residents about what had happened.

"Holy Oddities"

For the miracles that Father Arseny performed by the grace of God, people began to venerate him as a saint, which he really was. This put Father Arseny in a difficult position, forcing him to take on even greater feats in order to hide his holiness and avoid human praise. Father Arseny played the fool a little in order to hide his great gifts.

The Monk Paisius the Svyatogorets wrote about the saint: “He always tried to show people the opposite of his virtues in order to avoid praise. I honestly admit that these “holy eccentricities”... touch me even more than the many miracles he performed by the power of God. Because, pretending to be angry or a glutton, he preserved the integrity of his soul, protecting it from human glances and vain praise. He preferred to be known as a strange, irritable, abnormal person rather than a saint.”

Whenever Father Arseny saw people praising him after another miracle, he would sharply say: “Do you think I’m a saint? I am the same sinner and even worse than you. What, can't you see how irritated I am? And Christ works miracles. I just raise my hands and ask Him.”

The Patriarchs of Constantinople and Jerusalem wanted to consecrate Father Arseny as bishop, but the monk refused each time. He said: “I don’t want to be a bishop because I’m afraid of pride. The higher the mountains, the more clouds gather on them.”

"I will die on the island"

Father Arseny foresaw the coming trials, wars and exodus from his native land in 1924. He was notified by God for many years about the resettlement to Greece and told the Pharasiots not to waste money in vain, but to save it for the journey. A year before the population exchange, a woman came to him and said: “Bless you, Hadjefendis. I heard that we will be relocated this year.” He answered her: “Calm down for now and mind your own business, we still have a whole year before we leave.”

Father Arseny said: “When we go to Greece, the inhabitants of our village will find themselves scattered at different ends of it. There will be real confusion... I will only live in Greece for 40 days and die on the island.” That's how it all happened. The inhabitants of the village of Farasy were so scattered everywhere that even relatives did not know about each other, who was alive and who was not.

Elder Paisios in Faras of Cappadocia in 1972

During the resettlement in 1924, the Turks assigned a gendarme to guard Father Arseny, who was supposed to deliver him unharmed to Nigdi. The Farasiots sent three young Greeks with their beloved shepherd to take care of the old man. On the way, they were overtaken by a fierce Turk on horseback and, nodding towards Father Arseny, said to the gendarme: “Why are you bothering with him? Push him into an abyss somewhere and that’s the end of it.” One of the three Greek youths who accompanied Arseny's father was very frightened for him and advised him to tell the Turks that he was an official and that they should treat him more politely. Father Arseny answered him: “It’s not worth it. Come on, let's go." And they continued on their way. The rider had not even ridden twenty meters before he fell from his horse to the ground. Seeing this, the gendarme said to Father Arseny: “Sen sin aziz!” (You are a saint).” After this incident, the Turkish gendarme treated Father Arseny with great respect. And the monk said to the young men: “I didn’t even have time to utter a word, but he had already fallen.”

After a difficult journey, the ship landed in the Greek port of Piraeus, near the village of St. George. The displaced people were placed in a refugee camp and then taken to Kerkyra (the Greek name for the island of Corfu). Here Father Arseny fell ill.

“Yesterday the Mother of God came and informed me. She showed me Mount Athos and the monasteries”

In the hospital, he told Prodromos, who visited him: “Let's say goodbye. The day after tomorrow I will move on to another life. Yesterday afternoon the Mother of God came and informed me. She showed me Mount Athos and the monasteries, which I really wanted to see, but never got the chance to see. What can I say, Prodromos! Do you know how many monasteries there are on Mount Athos?! How big are the temples?! Beauty!"

Father Arseny died, as predicted, 40 days after arriving in Greece. He was 84 years old. The non-covetous ascetic left no inheritance except for a few tattered books.

Having learned about the death of the monk, the Pharasiots were inconsolable in their grief. Many people gathered and they gave their beloved shepherd a solemn funeral, which was attended by many local residents. Father Arseny was buried in the city cemetery of Kerkyra next to other priests.

Miracles during the discovery of relics

St. Arseny of Cappadocia and St. Paisiy Svyatogorets

Elder Paisius the Svyatogorets greatly revered Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia. He was baptized in infancy by the monk and received his name (the worldly name of Paisius the Holy Mountain is Arseny). Father Arseny also predicted the monastic path for the future elder.

In 1971, Paisius the Svyatogorets wrote the life of St. Arsenios of Cappadocia. While collecting material for the book, he interviewed fellow villagers, representatives of the Farasiot community and collected a lot of evidence about the Monk Arseny.

When the Monk Paisius the Svyatogorets decided to find the relics of the saint, he came to Kerkyra in October 1958. But the weather was not suitable for the plan: it was raining. The priest of the cemetery church advised Elder Paisius to come another time or wait until the rains stopped. But Father Paisiy answered this: “I will come tomorrow morning, and Father Arseny will help.” The next morning, when the Monk Paisius the Svyatogorets left the house, it was pouring rain, but as soon as he reached the cemetery, the rain stopped and the sun came out. When the relics were found, the sky was clear, and when Paisius the Holy Mountain left the cemetery with the relics, it began to rain heavily again. The priest of the cemetery church then said: “Father Arseny performed a miracle.”

Evening came, it got dark, and suddenly Elder Paisius heard a menacing voice: “What kind of relics are these?”

Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets, happy, returned to the hotel. He prayed on his knees before the relics of the saint. Evening came, it got dark, and suddenly he heard a menacing voice: “What kind of relics are these?” Father Paisiy felt some force squeezing him. He didn’t see the body, only two black scary hands that were strangling him. Then he loudly called out to the saint: “Saint Arseny, help me!” Immediately someone grabbed those terrible hands tightly and freed him. Father Paisius felt the sweetness of consolation in his heart and began to pray to the saint with even greater love. The next day, Paisius the Svyatogorets transported the relics of the saint to Konitsa, and then to the monastery of John the Theologian in Suroti.

Numerous posthumous miracles of Father Arsenius of Cappadocia led to his glorification as a saint: he was canonized by the decision of the Patriarch of Constantinople Demetrius I and the Synod on February 11, 1986.

Reverend Father Arseny, pray to God for us!

Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets wrote a book about Arseny and found his relics

Saint Arsenios and Paisius
In 1971, Paisios the Svyatogorets wrote the life of Arsenios of Cappadocia. The author, Paisiy Svyatogorets, wrote several more books about the ascetics whom the Lord blessed him to meet in life.

It so happened that the future Elder Paisiy Svyatogorets was baptized in infancy by the Monk Arseny and received his name.

It was Paisius who did not let society forget his teacher and contributed to the acquisition of his relics. In honor of Saint Arsenios, a monastery was built in Chalkidiki - a place of pilgrimage for believers from all over the world.

The monastery contains amazingly significant holy relics: particles of the relics of John Chrysostom, St. Nektarios, Apostle Paul and St. Arseny.

Christ Pantocrator, Apostle John the Theologian and Venerable Arsenios of Cappadocia. Mosaic above the entrance to the Hesychastirium of St. John the Evangelist and St. Arseny in Suroti. Photo: A. Pospelov / Pravoslavie.Ru

1986

This year, Arseny was canonized by the decision of the Patriarch of Constantinople Demetrius I and the Synod

Numerous posthumous miracles of Father Arsenius of Cappadocia led to his glorification as a saint: he was canonized by the decision of the Patriarch of Constantinople Demetrius I and the Synod on February 11, 1986.

November 10 – memory of St. Arsenios of Cappadocia

Miracles of Saint Arsenius

Saint Paisius recalled that in the evening, after the discovery of the relics of Saint Arsenios, when he prayed in front of them, he felt his throat constricting, as if someone was trying to drown him. Then Elder Paisios shouted in fear: “Saint Arseny, help me.” And immediately two strong hands freed him. But this is not the only miracle of Saint Arseny.

During his lifetime, Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia healed Christians and Turks. He did not distinguish between people, but saw in them images of God, and therefore his brothers in need of love and tolerance.

Infertile women gave birth after he read a prayer with them or received a “gift” from him, which was a piece of paper with written prayers.

He read passages of the Gospel to the blind, dumb, lame, paralyzed, and demon-possessed, and they were healed.

One day three Turks went to rob Arseny's father. Since they heard that many people approached the elder, they thought that he would have a lot of money, but the father never held it in his hands.

So, the robbers went to Father Arseny on Wednesday to be sure to find him in his cell. Two thieves were sitting outside, and the third, entering through the window, opened the door and stuck one leg inside. Father Arseny was reading his night prayer at this time and, when he heard the noise, he looked at the door just at the moment when the robber stuck one foot into his cell. Just this look from Father Arseny was like an electric current that pierced the robber and immobilized half of his body, and so the thief found himself with one foot inside and the other outside. After this look, Father Arseny himself calmly continued his prayer.

The two other robbers who were outside became worried when they did not receive a signal from their accomplice to go inside. Then they saw an immobilized thief with his leg stuck inside the cell. They begged Father Arseny to forgive them and free their partner from invisible bonds. Saint Arseny, without interrupting his prayer, gave them a sign to leave.

The Turks later confessed to their compatriots what they had experienced and warned them against further attempts to attack the saint.

The residents of Faras always grumbled and did not understand why Father Arseny, when he baptized the children, did not listen to anyone and gave the child the name that he wanted and chose.

He gave children obscure Christian and even Jewish names! Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia did not allow godparents and parents to choose the name of a great saint who became especially famous. Father Paisius, who was the “victim” of the naming of Saint Arsenius, explains it this way: “The Father did this in order to reduce the magnificent celebrations of name days on the days of great saints, since they often ended in drunkenness and armed riots. That is why he preferred names that are not so actively glorified, such as Abraham, Isaac, Averky, Jordan. Thus, relatives celebrating in small groups were forced to gather in their home after the Divine Liturgy. Then they went to the house of Father Arseny, who told about the life of the saint who was glorified on this day.”

Saint Arsenius himself baptized the future Saint Paisius the Holy Mountain, a little boy from Faras, demanding that his parents give him his own name Arsenius, and not the name of his grandfather, Christ, as was customary among the Greeks. He said: “You want to honor your grandfather with a grandson, but I want to honor myself as a monk.”

Saint Arseny, as his companion Saint Paisius said, believed and lived by this faith. Although he lived in the world, he never allowed himself to be subject to worldly desires.

Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia was very simple, because he knew what we do not seem to realize - that selfishness repels God. On the contrary, faith and readiness for spiritual things bring us closer to Christ.

Without the inspiration of faith, without the flame of love, you cannot feel the approach of Christ. Nowadays we believe in a lazy way, as if we were doing housework.

Saint Arseny sets an example for us. Faith accompanied by indifference exercised without appetite, or spiritual duty performed reluctantly, has no value.

Carelessness, slowness, laziness towards God and neighbors indicate a lack of sincere faith. The following tragedy is often observed in a person: he bravely offers his heart to the world, and to God - only the remnants of his strength.

Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia, the spiritual father of Saint Paisius, during his lifetime helped many women give birth to a child. But even today it works wonders, among other things, “solving” the problem of infertility and curing many diseases.

Childless couples and infertile women who, from a medical point of view, had no hope of having children, received the help of the saint from many cities in Greece.