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[[Image:Paisius.jpg|thumb|18th-century portrait of St . Paisius of Neamt.]]Our venerable father '''Paisius Velichkovsky''' , also '''Paisius of Neamt''', led the renaissance in Orthodox [[monasticism]] in the late eighteenth century, helping the Church recover from the decline in monastic life and spirituality caused by the troubles and conflicts of the previous centuries. His effort was centered on the spirituality of the [[hesychasm|hesychastic]] tradition, which was expressed in the popularity of counseling by [[starets]] (elders) in nineteenth-century Russia. His [[feast]] is celebrated on [[November 15]].
==Life==
In making the move, he left some of the monks at Sekul while moving himself and the others to Niametz Monastery. With this move he began the final period of his life, but one that would be his most fruitful. By this time his community of monks had grown to over 700. The spiritual life at Niametz Monastery and that of the Elder Paisius became known throughout the Orthodox East. The monastery facilities expanded with building of a hospital, a house of mercy, and additional cells for the monks. Under the Elder's guidance, transcribing and translating works of the Holy Fathers was undertaken. In this task he was aided by a large number of monastic assistants whom he taught Greek.
Yet the wars among the Turks, Russians, and Austrians continued to interrupt his work. In the late 1780s, the Turks occupied Niametz but soon were driven out by the Austrians. This was followed by the arrival of Russians. It was at this time in 1790 that Abp. Ambrosius of Slovenia and Poltava came to Niametz and at a [[divine liturgyDivine Liturgy]] elevated the Elder to the rank of [[archimandrite]].
With the cessation of the war, life settled down at the monastery. Fr. Paisius and his monks returned to their work. Soon, however, the Elder began to weaken, and eventually he stopped his translation work. On [[November 5]], 1794, he took a turn for the worse and took to his bed. His illness continued, and on [[November 15]], 1794, he died at the age of seventy-two.
"The enemy likes to hide the truth and to mix good with evil. But how can one find out the truth? God's goodwill and all our intentions are meek, full of good hope, and undoubting. Not only in our good deeds, but also in our lawlessness, God endures long with meekness and awaits our repentance. And how can one distinguish the impulse of the enemy? The enemy usually hinders us and turns us away from good. However, if in anything which apparently is good, the mind is disturbed and causes us disturbance, banishes the fear of God, deprives us of calmness, so that without any reason the heart aches and the mind wavers, then know that this is an impulse from the enemy and cut it off."
"Remember, O my soul, the terrible and frightful wonder: that your Creator for your sake became Man, and deigned to suffer for the sake of your salvation. His angels tremble, the Cherubim are terrified, the Seraphim are in fear, and all the heavenly powers ceaselessly give praise; and you, unfortunate soul, remain in laziness. At least from this time forth arise and do not put off, my beloved soul, holy repentance, contrition of heart and [[penance ]] for your sins."
[[Category:Athonite Fathers]]
[[Category:Hesychasm]]
[[Category:Monastics]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Romanian Saints]]
[[Category:Ukrainian Saints]]
[[Category:18th-century saints]]
[[el:Άγιος Παΐσιος Βελιτσκόφσκυ]]
[[fr:Païssi Vélitchkovsky]]
[[pt:Paisius Velichkovsky]]
[[ro:Paisie de la Neamţ]]