: Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
: Pemptousia
: Obedience is Life Elder of Ephraim of Katounakia (1912-1998)
: Pemptousia
: 9786185314262
: 1
: CHF 6.90
:
: Biographien, Autobiographien
: English
: 171
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB

Christ glorifies His saints, and they glorify His Body the Church as His genuine members. One of these godly men is the Athonite Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, who reposed in 1998. He lived 65 years of strict ascetism on the Holy Mountain (42 of which were as a monk in obedience), far from the world, poor according to the world, but rich in the divine charismata of the Holy Spirit that he had acquired, and was shown to be an obedient disciple filled with spiritual gifts.

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FROM THEBES TO THE HERMITAGE OF SAINT EPHRAIM IN KATOUNAKIA

Elder Ephraim was born at Ambelochori of Thebes in 1912. His father was Ioannis Papanikitas, and his mother, Victoria. There were three other children in the family. His grandfather, Papa Nikitas, was the parish priest of the village.

The Elder’s family had true Christian roots, and he preserved the “leaven” ofdiligence*and of the higher things from his upbringing. This was evident at the beginning of his withdrawal from the world. When Evangelos – the Elder’s name before becoming a monk – finished high school, he tried to establish himself within society. Everywhere, however, he met with failure. As he himself said, his withdrawal from life in the world was not initially a monastic conviction, but more the result of failures in his various endeavors and aspirations. These failures, however, were not disillusioning to him; rather, they made him reflect more deeply about the future. He then reasoned that only God could direct his course.

For most people the will of God does not usually become known through a revelation or disclosure; instead, they come upon and follow it within everyday affairs. This was also the case with the hero of this bio­graphy.


The Hermitage of Saint Ephraim the Syrian at Katounakia as seen ascending from the sea.

Few peoples, if any, have had a history more adventurous than that of the Greeks – and few have suffered such martyrdom and persecution. In this race the scriptural axiom “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Tim. 3:12) has been completely fulfilled. Indeed, after the close of the Byzantine period, the Greek nation did not cease to be assailed by captivity, servitude, exploitation, and displacement. During the early decades of the 20th century, the young people were trying with great labor and pains to ensure their future. Many preferred emigration to foreign countries for work and careers. Consequently, almost half the Greek race of that era was scattered abroad. Naturally, this was on the mind of young Evangelos after his studies at high school. In his various failed attempts to establish himself within society, the door of God’s special providence opened to this well-disposed young man, teaching him that “the way of man is not in him­self” (Jer. 10:23) and that “God cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7).

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