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January 22, 2024

When Saint Bessarion of Agathonos Met Saint Paisios the Athonite

 
By Father Damaskenos, Abbot of Agathonos Monastery

Once, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, located in Souroti, Father Bessarion met with Elder Paisios the Athonite.

Although it was the first time they had seen each other, they addressed each other by their names as if they had known each other.

At one point, in the conversation between them, Elder Paisios said to Father Bessarion: "I'm jealous of you, Father Bessarion."

When he left the monastery, along the way, Father Bessarion said to the driver who took him:

"Did you hear, my child, what Father Paisios said? He's jealous of me, he said. Jealous of me? Why would he be jealous of me, the wretched Bessarion?"

This was told to us by one of his spiritual children, who was the driver who transported him.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.