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[[Image:Saint Savvas- Icon from his church.jpg|frame|right|Icon at the Entrance of his church in Kalymnos]][[Image:St-Savas-the-New-icon.jpg|frame|right|St. Sava the New First ever icon of KalymnosSaint Savvas]]Our venerable and God-bearing father One of the newest contemporary saints of the Eastern Orthodox church, Saint '''Sava the NewSavvas of Kalymnos''' (also spelled known as Saint '''Savvasthe New'' or ''Savas'') is the [[patron saint]] of the Greek island of Kalymnos (Calymna), where he lived during the last twenty years of his life as the [[priest]] and spiritual father of the [[nun]]s of the Convent of All Saints. He was a great [[ascetic]], [[confessor]], [[iconographer]], and [[wonder-worker|miracle-worker]]. He is one of the recently recognized [[saint]]s in the Greek Orthodox Church.

He died on [[April 7]], 1947, and his remains were exhumed 10 years later in 1957. The feast feasts dates of St. Sava ''Savvas the New of Kalymnos is '' are celebrated on various dates in different traditions, including [[February 7]], [[April 7]] ([[March 25]] in according to the [[Old Calendar]]), [[December 5]] with St. [[Sabbas the Sanctified|Sava the Sanctified]], and the fifth Sunday of [[Great Lent]] with St. [[Mary of Egypt]].

==Saint Savvas Life==Saint Sava Savvas was born in 1862 in Herakleitsa, Eastern Thrace to Constantine , the only child of Constantinos and Smaragda, both devout people who were very poor and he was there only son. When he was [[baptize]]d Upon his baptism he was given the name Vasilios.

From As a young age boy he had a calling for the holy [[monastic]] life and secretely secretly left without his parents knowing for [[Mount Athos]] at the age of twelve where he entered [[St. Anne's Skete (Athos)|St. Anne's Skete]]. Along with the usual monastic duties, this is where he learned [[iconography]] and [[Byzantine chant|Byzantine music]].

After twelve years, he He later traveled to Jerusalem for a pilgrimage [[pilgrim]]age to the holy sites. He arrived in 1887 and entered the [[monastery]] of St. George Hozevitou Hozeva and lived there for seventeen years as a hermit in the deserted and rugged cliffs. After serving for a period as a [[novice]], he was [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and given the name ''SavaSavvas''.

In 1890, he joined the brotherhood of the Abbott [[Abbot]] Kallinikos (from Alatsata of Asia Minor) and in 1902 was [[ordination|ordained]] a [[deacon]]. In 1903, a year later, he was ordained to the holy priesthood by Archbishop ''Nikodemos from Diokesaria''. He spent almost 10 years in the desert by the Jordan where he led an austere life and occupied himself with prayer and iconography. His dwelling consisted of two cells which he reached by ascending up a rope ladder. This isolation was necessary for successful inner concentration and noetic prayer and he made great spiritual progress there.[[Image:St-savvas2.jpg|frame|left|St. Sava the New of Kalymnos]]Due to the irregularities caused by the raids of the Arabs in the Holy Land, and health reasons, St Savvas was forced to leave. He returned to the motherland (Greece) where he searched for a quiet place to continue his monastic struggle. Originally he was attracted to the island of [[Patmos]], where he lived for a while in the hermitage of Grava and later at the [[Monastery of St. John the Theologian (Patmos, Greece)|Monastery of St. John]]. <ref> This is verified by an inscription on an icon painted by St. Savvas himself at the monastery: "In the month of December in 1914 this icon was painted by the hand of the iconographer, hieromonk Savvas the Hosevite." </ref>

[[Image:St-Savas-the-New.jpg|frame|left|St. Sava the New of Kalymnos]]Due to the irregularities caused by the raids of the Arabs in the Holy LandHe later traveled for three years, and health reasonsthroughout Greece, Sava was forced to leave. He returned to Greece where he searched looking for a quiet suitable place to continue his monastic lifestay. He visited Mount Athos, then the Monastery of Phaneromenis, then Salamina and finally the island of Hydra, but in 1919 he was attracted invited to stay at the island of Aegina by St. [[PatmosNektarios of Aegina|Nektarios]], where he lived for to serve as a while in priest at the hermitage Convent of Grava the Holy Trinity, and later stayed for six years at this convent (from 1919 until 1925). There he taught the [[Monastery of St. John nuns the Theologian (Patmos, Greece)|Monastery holy art of St. John]]iconography and Byzantine music. <ref> This is verified by an inscription on an icon painted by period was one of the most significant events in his biography due to his friendship with St. Sava Nektarios, who was at the monastery "In the month height of December in 1914 his spiritual development at this icon was painted by time. St Savvas had the hand of opportunity to confess and receive counsel from the iconographersaint, holy monk Savvas and the two held each other in highest esteem and regarded each other a saint. They were spiritual brothers and the Hosevitebest of friends." </ref>

He traveled throughout Greece St Savvas, the clergyman who conducted the funeral service for three years but could not find a suitable placeSaint Nektarios, also painted the first [[icon]] of the saint. His prayers were answered when another saint, :''One day St. Savvas asked the [[Nektarios of Aeginaabbess]]not to let anyone disturb him for forty days, had asked Sava during which he remained confined to come his cell in which the nuns could hear constant conversation (between the living saint and the reposed saint). After 40 days, he came out of his cell holding an icon of the saint. He handed it to the Holy Trinity Convent abbess and asked her to place it in Aegina the church for veneration. The abbess was surprised since Nektarios had not been formerly [[glorification|glorified]] ("canonized") as a saint, and was afraid that the convent would get into trouble. Although Savvas was always meek and humble, he insisted, and serve as told her in a priest for nunscommanding manner: "You must show obedience. Take the icon and place it on the [[iconostasis|icon stand]], and do not scrutinize the will of God." He knew the holiness and purity of St. Nektarios. ''

There During the forty days he would also be able to teach them spent locked in the sacred art of iconography and Byzantine music. room where St. Sava stayed at Nektarios's tomb was, the convent for six yearsnuns could hear two voices having conversations, from 1919 until 1925. This time at the Convent was one of the most significant events in and believed the saint's life due to his association with St. Nektarios who second voice was at the height that of his spiritual development. St. Sava had the opportunity to confess and receive counsel from recently departed St. Nektarios. The two had , so the highest esteem for each other living and each considered the other a saint. Saint Savvas also conducted Saint Nektarios' funeral servicedead were having discussions.

As a matter of fact, St. Sava painted Soon after the first [[icon]] repose of St. Nektarios: One day St. Sava asked , the [[abbess]] not number of pilgrims to let anyone disturb him for forty days, during which he remained confined to his cell in which the nuns could hear constant conversation between the living Saint and the reposed Saint. After 40 days, he came out of his cell holding an icon of St. Nektarios. convent increased rapidly He handed it due to the abbess and asked her to place it in growing reputation of the church for veneration. The abbess was surprised since St. Nektarios had not been [[glorification|glorified]] ("canonized") saint as a saint yet, and she was afraid that the convent would get into troublemiracle-worker. Although This greatly disrupted the saint was always meek and humble, he insistedquiet life that Saint Savvas loved, and told her in a commanding manner: "You must show obedience. Take with the icon and place it on encouragement of the [[iconostasis|icon stand]]influential wealthy Kalymnian Gerasimos Zervos<ref> Gerasimos Zervos, and do not scrutinize the will husband of GodAnna, who later became Sister Monica, who also went to Kalymnos." He knew </ref>, he departed in 1925 and went to the holiness and purity island of St. NektariosKalymnos.

After StThere, he spent the last years of his life as the priest and spiritual father at the Convent of All Saints. Nektarios reposedAs a [[confessor]], more he combined leniency with severity. He was lenient on certain sins and more pilgrims would come severe to others. For him blasphemy against God and His saints was one of the convent due to greatest sins. He remained an ardent spiritual striver until the growing reputation end of life and practiced extreme forms of St. Nektarios as a miracleself-workerrestraint with regard to food, drink, and sleep. This disrupted the quiet life that St. Sava loved, Savvas became a shining example of virtue to all who came into contact with him. Many smelled a heavenly fragrance in his presence and so some even saw him rising above the ground as he departed the convent in 1925, again for a quieter lifestood at prayer.

Towards the end of his life, St. Sava spent Savvas remained in a state of intense prayer and holy contrition. For three days he did not receive anyone and he gave his last counsels, requesting love and obedience in Christ. When he was on the point of death taking his last breath, suddenly he received strength, brought his blessed small hands together, and clapped them repeatedly saying his last years holy words: "The Lord! The Lord! The Lord," then he recited the hymn of his life the [[Annunciation]] which the nuns found odd as it was not the priest and spiritual father Annunciation with the new Gregorian calendar, but only did the nuns realise later that at that point those following the old Julian calendar were celebrating the vesperal feast for the Annunciation. Thus, he died on [[April 7]]], 1947 (which was March 25 for the Old Calendar, the Convent eve of All Saints on the island [[feast]] of Kalymnos. As a the [[confessorAnnunciation]]. Upon closing his eyes, he combined leniency with severityone of the nuns saw the soul of the saint ascending in a golden cloud towards heaven. He After 10 years when the saint's grave was lenient on certain sins opened, a heavenly fragrance emanated from the grave which covered the whole island of Kalymnos, this phenomenon was witnessed by many, including the local [[bishop]] who upsettingly and severe initially refused to grant permission to the nuns to others. He remained an ardent spiritual striver until exhume his relics (when after three years of his death St Savvas miraculously appeared to the nuns ordering them to exhume him as the side of his head was getting wet being buried with his head at the end base of life a water deposit (''sterna'' in Greek) and practiced extreme forms only after following years of selftorment and dreams did the then-restraint with regard Bishop Isidoros believe and allowed his relics to food, drinkbe exhumed, finding his whole body incorrupt and sleep. St. Sava became intact apart from a small section on his skull where a shining example patch of his skin deteriorated because of virtue the water leaking on him&mdash;as the saint had said to the nuns! This was a testament to all who came into contact with himthe sanctity of the saint. Many smelled a heavenly fragrance in his presence Numerous [[miracle]]s and some even saw him rising above healings have since been attributed to St. Savvas the ground as he stood at prayerNew of Kalymnos.

Towards == Icons of the end of his life, Saint's Life ==<small><gallery>Image:StNectarios- Kimisi-close-up. Sava jpg|Saint Savvas was the only clergyman to officiate at Saint Nectarios' funeral.Image:St_Savvas_of_Kalymnos-with_Icon6X4.jpg|Icon of the Saint holding the first icon of Saint Nectarios.Image:Saint Savvas- miracle in church.jpg|On many occasions Saint Savvas while liturgising was witnessed levtitating with a state sacrificial Christ on the altar table.Image:Saint Savvas -teaching Nuns.jpg|Saint Savvas was also a great teacher of intense prayer Orthodoxy. Teaching theology, iconography and holy contritionByzantine chant.Image:Saint Savvas Confessing. For three days he did not receive anyone jpg|Saint Savvas was also a very discerning confessor. He was both lenient and he gave his last counselssevere when requiredImage: requested love and obedience Saint Savvas giving child.jpg|Saint Savvas has been quite miraculous in Christgranting childless couples children.Image:Saint Savvas Miracle at sea. When he was on jpg|Saint Savvas has saved many storm stricken vessels at sea, with only the point mention of death taking his last breathname.Image:Saint Savvas miracle for Bishop.jpg|Here Saint Savvas cures monk Panteliemon Lambadarios (currently a bishop in Alexandria) of cancer, suddenly he received strength, brought his blessed small hands together, and clapped them repeatedly saying his last holy words's a well know healer of cancer.Image: "The Lord! The Lord! Saint Savvas kimisi-2.jpg|The Lord!" He went to the Lord in 1948 on the eve repose of the [[feast]] Saint Savvas of the [[Kalymnos on 7th April 1947 (Annunciation]]25th March OC)Image:SAINT_SAVVAS_MIRACLE. One nun saw the soul JPG|X-ray of healed tumour by Saint Savvas of the saint ascending in a golden cloud towards heavenKalymnos. After about 10 years when the saint</gallery></small> == Photographs of Saint's grave was opened in accordance Monastery ==<small><gallery>Image:Saint Savvas Church-Mountain.jpg|Monastery of All Saints.Image:Saint Savvas- church.jpg|Church of Saint Savvas of KalymnosImage:Church entrance.jpg|Entry to the Greek Orthodox custom, a heavenly fragrance emanated from the grave which covered the whole island churchImage:Saint Savvas Larnaca.jpg|Larnaca of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos, this phenomenon was witnessed by many, including the local [[bishop]]Image:Saint Savvas-Close-up.jpg|Close-up of saints relicsImage:Saint Savvas-tomb.jpg|Original burial place of St SavvasImage:Saint Savvas-entry to cell. This was a testament jpg|Entry to Saints cellImage:Saint Savvas-room.jpg|Inside the sanctity of the saintSaints cellImage:Saint Savvas personal belongings.jpg|Some personal belongingsImage:Saint Savvas walking stick. Numerous [[miracle]]s and healings have since been attributed to jpg|Saints Walking stickImage:StSavvas Kalymnos Orthodox Church Banksia. Sava the New of jpg|St Savvas KalymnosOrthodox Church Banksia.</gallery></small> == Notes ==<small><references/></small>

==SourceSources==*''Αγιος Σάββας ο Νέος'', revised and written by Fr Savas Pizanias JP (BTh, BEd) with the use and reference of St Savvas' original biography, Papanikolaou Eds. 1993.*''Modern Orthodox Saints'', Vol. 8. "[http://www.panagiavlahernon.org/st-savvas.html St. Savvas the New]" , by Dr. Constantine Cavarnos, Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies . ISBN 0914744631*Photographs and icons courtesy of Fr Savas Pizanias and Constantine Vellis Cutie-Pie Photo Studio - NSW Australia contact - sales@cutiepiephoto.com.au*[http://www.stsavvaskalymnos.org St Savvas of Kalymnos Orthodox Church and Community - Syndey]

*[http://www.koel-art.com/pics/byz3/45-3.jpg Icon of St. Savas of Kalymnos]*[http://www.abbamoses.com/months/april.html Saint Savvas the New of Kalymnos (19481947) (March 25 OC)] (under the entry for April 7)*[http://www.360cities.net/image/the-monastery-of-agios-savvas Virtual Tour of the Monastery of St. Savvas of Kalymnos in Greece]*[http://youtu.be/O9-faBf4ag4 Saint Savvas of Kalymnos - Ἁγιος Σἀββας ο εν Καλὐμνου] video slideshow