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February 25, 2021

Elder Simon Arvanitis and the Greek-American Woman Who Had Trouble Giving Birth

On the left is Monk Zosimas (+2010) with Elder Simon (+1988) on his deathbed blessing the child of a spiritual child of his.

By Monk Zosimas,
A Disciple of Elder Simon Arvanitis

A woman who lived in the United States, and who was a spiritual child of Elder Simon Arvanitis, was pregnant.

When the time came for her to give birth, the child was unable to come out, and she in her pain cried out to her Elder [who was in Greece at the time]:

"Father Simon, Father Simon, I can't give birth! I'm suffering and in a lot of pain!"

She said this many times.

And for a moment her Elder appeared to her in a white cloud and said:

"What is wrong my child that you have been calling my name for such a long time?"

"I can't give birth, Father Simon, help me."

The Elder blessed her and said:

"May you give birth in peace."

With this, she immediately gave birth.

This same lady had come to our monastery (of Saint Panteleimon in Penteli) and told us all about it.

Source: From the book Ιερομόναχος Σίμων Αρβανίτης, 1901-1988, Μαρτυρίες για την ζωή και το έργο του, τόμος δ’. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.