My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE
SAINT PAISIOS THE GREAT (Part II)
Upon reaching a profound old age, this great man of God was called b God to enter into the heavens, shining for as a brilliant star. After his spirit ascended into everlasting life and blessedness, his body was buried with honor by multitudes of monks. Not long afterward, the ever-memorable Paul, who was in the rank of the divine Paisios, also departed into everlasting life and to the glory of the Saints. Thus, their blessed souls found rest together, ever as in this life they shared hardships and labors in asceticism. Not only their souls are united in heaven but also their bodies are together in the earth. For even though they were separated and buried in different locations, a long time did not pass before they were united again and were buried in the same spot. This came about in the following manner, involving a miracle of no mean magnitude.
After the repose of Saint Paisios the Great, the divine Paul retires into the Inner Desert. Shortly thereafter, he also reposed and was buried with honor and respect. Meanwhile, upon hearing about the death of the great desert father, Saint Paisios, our Abba (Father) Isidore embarked on a ship. He sailed and went to the place where the holy relics of Saint Paisios were laid to rest. Isidore received them with great honor, placing them in a chest which he had prepared. For to him the Saint’s holy relics were more precious and valuable than any treasure. He transported the holy relics to the ship, returning home so that he could enrich his country of Pisidia. After Father Isidore and his companions made a voyage over a significant part of the sea, chanting hymns with much joy, they came opposite the desert where the sacred relic of the Venerable Paul was laid to rest. The ship, which had been going parallel with the shore, now came to a halt. Its movement was being miraculously counteracted, as if it were anchored. But then it suddenly began traversing the waves, setting its own course as if it were possessed with life and reason of its own. The ship kept pointing in the direction of the desert, where Saint Paul’s holy relics lay; for the holy Paisos always preferred the company of Saint Paul.
The men of the ship made haste to steer the ship in its original direction. Try as they might, even after two days, they failed. Then they knew that the ship’s resistance to their maneuvering was from God. The vessel simply held its position. They did not know what to do. They, therefore, decided to yield up the navigation to the ship and let her pilot herself. In turn, she was steered with invisible hands. The ship sailed along and then moored herself on land, as if she were waiting to receive sacred cargo. Those on board, witnessing all these supernatural activities, were filled with considerable bewilderment and sorrow. But at that time, they espied descending onto the shore, an elder. He was one of the renowned fathers of this desert. His name was Jeremias. He addressed the men in the ship, saying, “Why, O men, do you fight against the ineffable miracle, while you see that it is above nature? The Great Paisios has called his friend and fellow-ascetic Paul. He wishes to have his honorable relics brought back and placed with his own, that is why he has brought the ship to anchor here. Therefore, disembark promptly and search for his precious relics. Upon discovery, convey him back with you. so that the honorable relics of the two Saints can be interred together.”
Then our honorable Abba Isidore and his followers began roaming the desert, searching for the holy relics of the divine Paul. Upon recovering his holy relics, they were brought to the ship, where they kept it as a brilliant treasure more valuable than gold and precious stones. But then–lo, the miracle!–those two holy fathers, Saints Paul and Paisios, became as two rudders. They piloted the ship throughout the entire trip, guarding her from every obstacle until she arrived safely at Pisidia. The great Isidore brought the two precious holy relics to the Monastery which he had erected. A procession was formed, escorting the holy relics with hymns and standards. All those who were possessed by demons or who suffered from an manner of sickness were healed by merely touching the holy relics. It is not possible to enumerate the extraordinary wonderworkings (miracles) that God energized through them, from that time and henceforward. “And I, the humble John, have written all these things, which have come to pass, to the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of the ages. Amen. (Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
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“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 