Philotheos (Zervakos) of Paros

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Blessed Elder Archimandrite Philotheos (Zervakos) was born in the village of Pakia in Sparti, Greece in the year 1884 in the small village of Pakia,the Peloponese called Pakia and was given the name of Constantine at his Holy Baptism. From childhood he demonstrated an exceptional love for God.

In 1912, April 22, Father Philotheos was ordained to the priesthood by the Metropolitan Gabriel of Trifilia and Olympia. In 1924, he made an extensive pilgrimage to the Holy land and Egypt. This is all described in his book published in 1925 "Great and Wondrous Pilgrimages to Palestine and Sinai".

In 1930, Elder Ierotheos reposed and Father Philotheos succeeded him as abbot of Longovarda. At this stage, Father Philotheos had the reputation of a Saint. In 1934, he makes another pilgrimage, this time to Constantinople. He founds the convent of the Theotokos Myrtidiotissa (The Virgin of the Myrtle Tree) in Paros.

In 1976 he writes a well known Apologetic addressed to Archimandrite Cyprian [1], Holy Monastery of Panagia Myrtidiotissa.

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.

He is classified as a Modern Orthodox Saint in the Greek Orthodox Church.

References

  1. 1. The most reverend Cyprian, Dr. Theol., is the Metropolitan of Oropos and Fili and President of the Holy Synod in Resistance, Orthodox Church of Greece. He is the spiritual son of the renowned Elder Philotheos.

Known Relationships

  • Saint Nectarios of Aegina, 1846 - 1920.
  • Saint 'Papa' Nicholas (Planas) of Athens, 1851 - 1932.
  • Blessed Papa Dimitri Gagastathis, 1902 - 1975.


External Sources

Sources

  • The Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos by S Kementzentzidis, trans, by Palis and Chalice, Thessaloniki 1986.
  • Blessed Elder Philotheos Zervakos by C. Cavarnos, Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, Belmont MA 1993