Saint Paisios was born on July 25, 1924 in Farasa, Cappadocia. Son of Prodromos and Eulabia Eznepidis, he lived in a large family with eight other children. From an early age, he had the grace and blessing of God. In fact, he was baptized and became a Christian by Saint Arsenios, who was then a priest in the parish of Farasos. He gave the boy the name "Arsenios", by which he lived as a secular man. Arsenios wanted to leave a monk in his stead, and indeed he succeeded, as the young Arsenios showed the charisma for monasticism since his childhood. In fact, he kept a small diary of the miracles performed by Saint Arsenios, whom he deeply loved and admired.
Shortly after his baptism, the Greek-Turkish population exchange forced his family to flee. Thus, in the very same year he found himself a refugee in Piraeus. From there he went to Corfu, later to Igoumenitsa and finally to Konitsa, where he graduated from primary school. As a teenager, he worked as a carpenter, while in 1948, during the civil war, he served in the Greek army as a radio operator.
In 1949, after his discharge from the army, he visited the Athos peninsula for the first time. This is how he came to know monasticism and love the Athonite state. However, he returned to his secular life to complete all his duties and then retire undisturbed to monasticism. In 1950, he entered as a novice monk in the skete of Saint Panteleimon, in the cell of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the following years, he moved to the Esfigmenou Monastery and then to the Philotheou Monastery, where he took the Small Schema with the name Paisios.
In 1958, he left Mount Athos to go to Stomio Konitsis, where he participated in various missionary works, helping both Orthodox Christians in need and people with different beliefs. In 1962 he went to Mount Sinai, and in 1964 he returned to Mount Athos and settled in the Skete of Timios Prodromos of the Iviron Monastery. There he met the elder Tychon, together with whom he studied and gained grace for his monastic life. As he felt also for Saint Arsenios, he admired the elder Tychon; he drew strength and faith from him. Thus, the latter was a great figure and a model for Saint Paisios.
In 1965, Saint Paisios began to experience serious health problems. He was repeatedly hospitalized in Thessaloniki, and finally returned to Mount Athos, where he visited Katounakia, Stavronikita Monastery and Koutloumousiou Monastery from 1967.
However, his health deteriorated. The problems he faced brought him back and forth to Thessaloniki, where he stayed at the retreat of the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti.
The Saint as "God's communicator"
St. Paisios was an enlightened elder. He had all the grace and blessings of God. He ceaselessly taught love and humility. He cared for the people and nourished them both with his word and his practical devotion. He sacrificed himself to meet the needs of the believers who came to him. He always offered them small gifts of his handiwork, handmade crosses and icons that he printed to express his affection.
His strength was unceasing prayer. That is why he urged all the believers to do so. He asked them to pray in order to remain close to God, to be filled with love and to embellish their communion with others. He even left his morning prayer as a sacred legacy to his flock. In this prayer he included every oppressed and afflicted person. He prays for the good of both his friends and enemies, thus demonstrating his compassion.
He also saw himself as a "communicator of God". In fact, he often presented the purpose of the monk as that of a mediator between the bitterness of the world and the Kingdom of Heaven. He was saddened by the letters he received, through which he learned of people's difficulties and struggles. He was concerned about the world and the problems of his brothers and sisters. His earnest prayers often saved the believers who placed their hopes in him.
Prophecies and miracles of the Saint
Saint Paisios performed many miracles during his lifetime. Today, he continues to work miracles with his grace and cover anyone who calls upon him with his light. There are many times when he healed those who were sick or possessed by evil spirits. 
Furthermore, he had a profound insight; could foretell events that people would encounter later in their lives. With the sweetness of his words, he would drive away the darkening of the mind and open the way for people who wanted to follow him. Finally, he had the gift of prophecy. Even today, his spiritual children and the believers who have met him remember the events he prophesied, some of which have come to pass and some are yet to be fulfilled.
However, above and beyond all Saint Paisios inspired the world with peace and hope. He spread the light of a life together with Jesus Christ, with his love and humility.
The death and the feast of the Saint
Saint Paisios died on July 12, 1994. Having struggled with cancer, the saint surrendered his soul to the Lord after receiving the Blessed Sacrament on his knees the night before.
Since then, the monastery of Souroti, where the tomb of Saint Paisios is located, celebrates his memory with a vigil held from the evening of July 11 through July 12.
The prayer of Saint Paisios
Saint Paisios left the following prayer as a spiritual legacy. He prayed for everyone, believers and unbelievers, the pious and the sinners. Furthermore, he prayed for every person who is physically or mentally sick. As he said, studying and reading prayers day and night is a great comfort and blessing from God.
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
Do not abandon Your servants who live far from the Church, may Your love work and bring them all to You.
Remember, Lord, Your servants who suffer from cancer.
Thy servants who suffer from small or great diseases.
Thy servants who suffer from physical disabilities.
Your servants who suffer from mental disabilities.
Remember the masters of the world and help them to rule in a Christian way.
Remember, Lord, the children who come from troubled families, the troubled families and those who are divorced.
Remember, O Lord, the orphans of the whole world, all those who are in pain, all those who are unappreciated in life and all those who have lost their husbands.
Remember, Lord, all the prisoners, anarchists, drug addicts, murderers, thugs, thieves, enlighten and help them to be corrected.
Remember all the emigrants. All those who travel by sea, in the land, in the air, and keep them safe.
- Remember our Church, the fathers of the Church and the faithful.
Remember, O Lord, all the monastic fraternities, male and female, the elders and the nuns, and all the brotherhoods and holy fathers.
Remember, O Lord, Thy servants who are in time of war.
Those who are persecuted in the mountains and in the plains.
Those who are like chased birds.
Remember Thy servants who have left their homes and their work and are suffering.
Remember, O Lord, the poor, the homeless and the refugees.
Remember, O Lord, of all nations, hold them in your arms, cover them with your Holy Spirit, keep them from all evil and from war. And our beloved Greece, day and night, have it in your arms, cover it with your Holy Spirit, keep it away from every evil and war.
Remember, O Lord, the afflicted, abandoned, unappreciated, tried families, and lavish Your mercies on them.
Remember your servants who suffer from mental and physical problems of all kinds.
Remember those who are in despair, help and comfort them.
Remember, O Lord, your servants who have asked for our prayers.
Remember also all those who left this world from everlasting, and grant unto them eternal rest.
