The voice of the Fathers and the modern man

On the 20th of February our Church honours the memory of a great askete , Saint Vissarion the hermit and worker of miracles.

He lived in Egypt around the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th century and is considered of among the most significant forms of monasticism.

From an early age he withdrew into the desert and in him shone treasures of goodness and love. His life was interwoven with many miracles.

Actually he handled a disciple/ student pupil of his, a monk who adhered to him loyally as a novice, in such a way that he taught him how to be obedient and disciplined not like a machine but like a true.

Christian, who uses his reason and free will. Our holy askete fell asleep (in the Lord) at a very advanced old age, having consolidated many men in the faith and contributed much to monasticism with his wisdom and more so by his example.

His life was totally surrendered with humility and devotion to God. He was also called a worker of miracles maker on account of all the miracles which he performed by the grace of God as His faithful steward.

Abba Doulas, a disciple /student pupil of Saint Vissarion used to say : “When we were once strolling on the beach, I became thirsty and said to Abba Vissarion, ‘Abba I am very thirsty’.

And having prayed the elder told me to drink from the sea. And the water became sweet and I drank. I in case I should become thirsty later, I even poured water into my container. As the elder saw this he asked my why I had done so.

And I answered: ‘Forgive me elder. I did it in case I become thirsty later’. And the elder said: ‘God is present here and God is everywhere”. That means: God who performed the miracle her now, will also perform the miracle further on later. This is what a strong faith achieves.

Once a brother (monk) sinned. He was excommunicated and sent away from the Church by the abbot. Then the elder Vissarion also got up and went outside with him saying “I am also a sinner”. The holy elder of the desert said: “When you are in a peaceful state / untroubled and you are not attacked by the devil, it means that temptation does not ????????? you, or if you do not have many and difficult problems drowning you , it is at that time that you must humble yourself even more , lest on account of the intrusion of a strange joy we boast (fall into the great sin of egotism) and give ourselves up to fighting without weapons ( the weapons of the Christians are humility, prayer, fasting, self-control, and love towards our neighbour etc.)

Because very often on account of our egotism and our weaknesses, God allows us to give ourselves up into such a battle so that we may recover and not lose our souls”.

Despite the fact that almost 16 centuries have elapsed since Saint Vissarios lived, yet as all the saints of our Church, he remains ?????????? , and today he can advise us and we have him as a guide in our personal lives.

He must become our elder, our precious advisor with his words and by his example. We Orthodox Christians very often forget what a great blessing God has given us by having those Saints in our Church , whose lives pleased God and He counted them worthy to be with Him in paradise.

We have not only the precious examples of their way of life but also their protection and their prayers.