Saint Anphimios (Anfim) of Chios, in the world Argyrios Vayanos, was born on July 1, 1869, on the island of Chios. From a young age, he showed piety and love for Christ. Due to his family's poverty, he could only complete elementary school and became a shoemaker.
In 1889, after visiting the skete of the holy fathers, he felt a calling to monasticism. Under the guidance of Elder Pachomios, he built a hut and devoted himself to ascetic feats. In 1898, he was tonsured into the small schema under the name Anphimios and became the abbot of the women's monastery of Saint Constantine.
Due to illness, he built a cell in Livadia, continuing his ascetic life and helping those in need. The saint resisted demons during prayer, spending nineteen days without sleep. In 1909, he was tonsured into the great angelic schema.
In 1910, he was ordained a deacon and presbyter, and soon after, he healed a possessed person. In 1912, he became a priest in a leper colony, where he transformed the lives of the lepers, guiding them with love.
After a revelation, he found the icon of the Mother of God, the Helper, from which healings occurred. In 1914, after the expulsion of the inhabitants of Asia Minor, he founded a monastery for refugees. In 1927, he received permission to build a monastery, which was consecrated in 1928.
The elder became known as a spiritual guide, healing the sick and comforting the suffering. He departed to the Lord on February 15, 1960, at the age of ninety-one. The discovery of his relics took place on September 3, 1965, and his canonization was on August 14, 1992.
The miracles that occurred through the prayers of the saint led to his wide recognition. His relics and the icon of the Mother of God are kept in the church of the university hospital in Patras.
