Saint Paisios, in the world Arsenios Eznepidis, was born on July 25, 1924, in Farasa of Cappadocia. His family fled from Turkey due to persecution. Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia baptized him and predicted that he would become a monk.
After arriving in Greece, Arsenios grew up with a love for Christ and dreamed of becoming a monk. In 1945, he was drafted into the army, where he demonstrated good character and courage. After his service, he went to Mount Athos, where he became a novice under Father Kyrillos.
In 1954, Arsenios received the riasophor with the name Averkios and served in the Esphigmenou Monastery. Later, he moved to the Philotheou Monastery, where he was tonsured into the small schema with the name Paisios. In 1958, he assisted in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Stoimio and then went to Sinai.
The Geronda worked hard and helped the poor. In 1964, he returned to Athos and settled in the Iveron Skete. In 1978, he established himself in the Panagouda cell, where thousands of people came to him for advice and comfort.
Saint Paisios's health deteriorated, and on July 12, 1994, he departed to the Lord. He was buried in the Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti, which became a holy place.
On January 13, 2015, he was canonized, and on May 5, 2015, the Russian Orthodox Church confirmed his commemoration on June 29/July 12.
