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In 1930, Elder Ierotheos reposed and Father Philotheos succeeded him as abbot of Longovarda. By this stage, Father Philotheos had the reputation of a Saint. In 1934, he makes another pilgrimage, this time to Constantinople. He returns to Greece and founds the convent of [[Panagia Myrtidiotissa]] '''Thapsanon''' (The Virgin of the Myrtle Tree) 4km from Lefkes on the island of Paros, Greece.

In 1980 the blessed Elder Philotheos dies on the morning of [[May 8]]. His funeral was conducted by Archimandrite Dionysios of Simonopetra Monastery of Mt Athos. His relics were laid to rest at the convent in Paros, in a place that he chose beside the chapel dedicated to his spiritual mentor, Saint Nexktarios of Aegina [[November 9]].

==In defence of His Spiritual Father, St. Nektarios of Aigina==

:In the year of our Lord 1976, when seven years had already passed since we aligned ourselves with the Old Calendar movement on account of ecumenism (1969), we dedicated an entire issue of our periodical '''Άγιος Κυπριανός (No. 87 [March 1976], pp. 97-102)''' to refuting the slanders against St. Nectarios of Aegina (1846-1920) contained in a blasphemous book. This most blasphemous book—which was, unfortunately, the first in a series of similar ones—was, in essence, nothing more than a farrago of invectives, slander, and suspect historical evidence. It was written in a supercilious style and contained scurrilous expressions and was full of provocativeness, animosity, prejudice, curses, anathemas, and distortions. That same March, in 1976, we had the especial blessing of receiving a very valuable letter, full of godly and prophetic zeal, from the ever-memorable Elder Philotheos (Zervakos), who—as the Confessor of our spiritual Father, His Eminence, Metropolitan Cyprian—had given his blessing for us to join the Old Calendar movement and had encouraged us, in our further journey, with many and various letters, which we are intending to make public in due time.