Venerable Paisius of Hilandar was born in 1722 in Bansko to devout parents. In 1745, at the age of twenty-three, he moved to the Holy Monastery of Hilandar, where he became a monk. In Mount Athos he grew spiritually, studied the Holy Scriptures in depth, and was ordained a priest.
In 1762, he wrote important works that strengthened the Christian faith and awakened the national consciousness of the Bulgarian people.
The time and place of his repose remain unknown to this day. On 26 June 1962, the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church decided to recognize Saint Paisius for his venerable and holy life, establishing 19 June as the day of his commemoration.
State bodies and institutions, such as universities, schools, and others, across various regions of Bulgaria took the saint’s name, bearing witness to the deep gratitude of the Bulgarian people.
