Venerable Hierotheus of Iveron (†1745) — September 13 / September 26 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 13 according to the Julian Calendar (September 26 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Venerable Hierotheus of Iveron (†1745).

Venerable Hierotheus was born in Greece in 1686. He sought divine wisdom both in learning and in the monastic life. Distinguished by his attentiveness and diligence, the youth gained a deep mastery of Latin and Greek philosophy. After the death of his parents he went to Mount Athos. At first he became the disciple of a hermit near the cell of Saint Artemius (commemorated October 20), and then he joined the brotherhood of the Iveron Monastery, where he was tonsured a monk. Soon Hierotheus was sent to Constantinople on the monastery’s business, and later he came to Wallachia, where, at the Lord’s direction, he resumed his interrupted education. By his piety the blessed one won the favour of Metropolitan Auxentius of Sofia and was ordained a deacon. He afterwards continued his studies in Venice and at last returned to the Holy Mountain of Athos, settling in the wilderness of Hagis near the Iveron Monastery. According to the testimony of his contemporaries, the venerable father lived a life of astonishing strictness. At the request of the abbot of Iveron, Metropolitan James of Neocaesarea, who had come to the monastery to rest, ordained the saint a priest.

At the request of the inhabitants of the island of Skopelos, who had been left without clergy, the ascetic left his life of solitude, celebrated the divine services among them and preached a great deal.

The holy father foresaw the approach of his end and, together with three disciples, went to the island of Gioura, which was inhabited by criminals sentenced to life imprisonment. There Venerable Hierotheus commended his soul to the Lord in 1745. His disciples buried the blessed one’s remains on the island, and three years later his precious head was translated to the Iveron Monastery.