On Tuesday 19 November 2019, one of the great elders of the 20th and 21st centuries, Elder Gregory Papasotiriou, reposed at the age of 79 after years of struggling with health issues.
The Elder was a spiritual child of Saint Paisios the Athonite and with his spiritual guidance he was tonsured with the angelic schema.
He was ordained a deacon and a priest by Metropolitan Synesios of Kassandreia, and was a preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Kassandreia.
In 1977, with the blessing of Metropolitan Synesios, and through the spiritual guidance of Saint Paisios the Athonite, he founded the female Hesychasterion of the Honorable Forerunner, in Metamorphosis, Halkidiki, with the first nuns being the sisters Eugenia and Maria Choriataki and Sophia Kenanidou from Metamorphosis, Halkidiki, and the sisters Tsaprazoglou from Vatopedi, Halkidiki. Today there are fifty nuns there.
He was also acquainted with Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva, who visited him in his cell during his illness on a few occasions. During one visit, when Elder Porphyrios departed Elder Gregory's cell, he left behind a beautiful fragrance that lingered for six days.
His funeral took place on 21 November in the monastery he founded, and he was buried there as well.
At his funeral many stories were recalled by his spiritual children.
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| Picture of St. Paisios the Athonite (center), together with Elder Gregory (right) and Eldress Euphemia (left), at the Holy Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner, Metamorphosis, Halkidiki |
