Difference between revisions of "Theophanes the New"

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Venerable '''Theophanes the New''' of [[Dochiariou Monastery (Athos)|Dochiariou Monastery]] of [[Mount Athos]], not to be confused with [[Theophanes the Confessor]], was a native of the city of Ioannina, who lived during the sixteenth century. His [[feast day]] is commemorated [[August 19]].
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Our venerable father '''Theophanes the New of Naousa''' of the seventeenth century, not to be confused with [[Theophanes the Confessor]], was a monastic who founded a number of monasteries in the northern area of Greece. His [[feast day]] is [[August 19]].
  
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As a young man, he received [[monasticism|monastic]] [[tonsure]] on Mount Athos at the Docheiariou monastery. He was later chosen [[igumen]] of the monastery because of his lofty virtue. In giving refuge to his own nephew (who had been forcibly converted to [[Islam]]) from the Turks who had captured Constantinople, St. Theophanes, with the help of God, freed the youth, hid him in his own [[monastery]] and blessed him to enter the monastic life.  
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==Life==
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Little is known of the early life of Theophanes. He was born in 1590 in the city of Ioannina in Epirus in northwestern Greece. He chose [[monasticism]] early in his life. Still a young man, he received monastic [[tonsure]] on [[Mount Athos]] at the [[Dochiariou Monastery (Athos)|Dochiariou]] Monastery and subsequently was chosen its [[abbot]]. Finding that his nephew had been forced to become a [[Muslim]], Theophanes, with the help of God, freed the youth, hid him in Dochiariou Monastery, and blessed him to enter the monastic life.
  
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The brethren, fearing revenge on the part of the Turks, began to grumble against the [[saint]]. Not wanting to be the cause of discord and dissension, he humbly withdrew with his nephew from the Docheiariou monastery, quit the Holy Mountain and went to Beroea. There, in the skete monastery of St. [[John the Forerunner]], St. Theophanes built a [[church]] in honor of the Most Holy [[Theotokos]]. And as [[monk]]s began to gather, he gave them a cenobitic monastic rule.  
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The brethren of the [[monastery]], fearing revenge on the part of the Turks, became distressed about the nephew and began to grumble against the abbot. Theophanes, not wanting to be the cause of discord and dissension within the monastery, quietly departed from the Docheiariou monastery with his nephew, quit the Holy Mountain, and moved to Beroea in Macedonia.
  
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After the monastery flourished, the saint withdrew to a new place at Naousa, where he made a church in honor of the holy [[Archangel]]s and founded there also a monastery. To the very end of his days St. Theophanes did not forsake guiding the monks of both monasteries, both of which regarded him as their common father.  
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In Beroea, Theophanes founded the Skete of St. [[John the Forerunner]] and built a [[church]] dedicated to the Most Holy [[Theotokos]]. Soon, [[monk]]s began to gather for whom he established a cenobitic monastic rule. As the monastery flourished, Fr. Theophanes withdrew nearby to a new place at Naousa where he founded another monastery and built a church in honor of the Holy [[Archangel]]s. To the very end of his days St. Theophanes continued guiding the monks of both monasteries, both of which regarded him as their common father.
  
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In a revelation foreseeing his own end and giving his flock a final farewell, the saint died at a very old age at the Beroeia monastery. Even during life the Lord had glorified his humble saint: saving people from destruction, He calmed a storm by his [[prayer]], and changed sea water into drinking water. Even after death, the saint has never forsaken people with his grace-filled help.
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During his lifetime, the Lord had glorified his humble servant as he saved people from destruction, calmed a storm by his prayer, and converted sea water into drinking water. In a revelation he foresaw his own end and give his flock a final farewell before the sainted Theophanes died at very old age at the Beroeia Skete of the Forerunner. Even after death, the [[saint]] has never forsaken people with his grace-filled help.
  
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Soon after his repose the monks of the Beroeia Skete placed his skull, among the other [[relics]] of the Skete, in a silver reliquary which became a [[shrine]] while his body was buried. Decades later, the Turks destroyed the Skete and left the tomb of St. Theophanes in ruins. In the twentieth century, the people of Naousa stole his skull and brought it back to their city and placed it in the Church of the [[Dormition]] of the Theotokos. Today, it is enshrined in the church dedicated to his name. In 1926, the tomb of St. Theophanes in Beroeia was opened and 60 pieces of bone were removed and placed in the Holy Altar.
  
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==External link==
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==Sources==
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*[http://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/08/saint-theophanes-new-of-naousa.html  Saint Theophanes the New of Naousa]
 
*[http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/August/19-04.htm  The Monk Theophanes the New]
 
*[http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/August/19-04.htm  The Monk Theophanes the New]
  
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[[Category:Saints]]
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[[Category: Saints]]
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[[Category: Greek Saints]]
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Revision as of 20:07, November 29, 2011

Our venerable father Theophanes the New of Naousa of the seventeenth century, not to be confused with Theophanes the Confessor, was a monastic who founded a number of monasteries in the northern area of Greece. His feast day is August 19.

Life

Little is known of the early life of Theophanes. He was born in 1590 in the city of Ioannina in Epirus in northwestern Greece. He chose monasticism early in his life. Still a young man, he received monastic tonsure on Mount Athos at the Dochiariou Monastery and subsequently was chosen its abbot. Finding that his nephew had been forced to become a Muslim, Theophanes, with the help of God, freed the youth, hid him in Dochiariou Monastery, and blessed him to enter the monastic life.

The brethren of the monastery, fearing revenge on the part of the Turks, became distressed about the nephew and began to grumble against the abbot. Theophanes, not wanting to be the cause of discord and dissension within the monastery, quietly departed from the Docheiariou monastery with his nephew, quit the Holy Mountain, and moved to Beroea in Macedonia.

In Beroea, Theophanes founded the Skete of St. John the Forerunner and built a church dedicated to the Most Holy Theotokos. Soon, monks began to gather for whom he established a cenobitic monastic rule. As the monastery flourished, Fr. Theophanes withdrew nearby to a new place at Naousa where he founded another monastery and built a church in honor of the Holy Archangels. To the very end of his days St. Theophanes continued guiding the monks of both monasteries, both of which regarded him as their common father.

During his lifetime, the Lord had glorified his humble servant as he saved people from destruction, calmed a storm by his prayer, and converted sea water into drinking water. In a revelation he foresaw his own end and give his flock a final farewell before the sainted Theophanes died at very old age at the Beroeia Skete of the Forerunner. Even after death, the saint has never forsaken people with his grace-filled help.

Soon after his repose the monks of the Beroeia Skete placed his skull, among the other relics of the Skete, in a silver reliquary which became a shrine while his body was buried. Decades later, the Turks destroyed the Skete and left the tomb of St. Theophanes in ruins. In the twentieth century, the people of Naousa stole his skull and brought it back to their city and placed it in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Today, it is enshrined in the church dedicated to his name. In 1926, the tomb of St. Theophanes in Beroeia was opened and 60 pieces of bone were removed and placed in the Holy Altar.

Sources

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