Venerable Philotheus of Athos — October 21 / November 3 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, October 21 according to the Julian Calendar (November 3 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Philotheus of Athos.

Venerable Philotheus of Athos was born in Elatia. Out of fear of the Turks, his parents moved to Chrysopolis in Macedonia. Soon the saint’s father died. The boy Philotheus, together with his brother, was seized by the Turks and thrown into prison, from which the Mother of God herself miraculously delivered them. The Most Holy Virgin appeared to the children in the likeness of a mother and led them to the monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God in the city of Neapolis (Asia Minor). There the brothers were tonsured monks.

Years passed. Philotheus’ mother, Eudocia, who for all that time had heard nothing of her sons, by God’s wondrous providence came to Neapolis itself and entered a women’s monastery as a nun. After some time, together with other sisters, she came to the monastery where her sons labored for the feast day of the church. They recognized one another at once, and the astonished and joyful mother asked her sons how they had come to be there. The sons answered: “You know that better than we; did you not yourself bring us here after our deliverance from prison?” Eudocia was convinced that the Mother of God had not left her fervent prayers unanswered.

After his mother’s repose, Philotheus went to the Holy Mountain of Athos, where he first joined the brotherhood of the Monastery of Dionysiou, and then withdrew into complete silence. Through ceaseless prayerful struggle the venerable father attained spiritual perfection and received the gift of foresight. At the age of eighty-four the Lord’s chosen one peacefully gave his soul to the Lord. Before his death the saint asked his disciples not to bury his body, but to cast it without honor into the forest to be torn apart by birds and beasts. The brethren fulfilled their teacher’s command, but after the Lord glorified the holy remains of His chosen one with a marvelous radiance, they were reverently transferred to the monastery.