Elder Isidoros (Tsiatas) of Barlaam, former abbot of the Monastery of Barlaam in Meteora, reposed on July 2, 2025, and his funeral took place the following day on July 3. The following text was written on the day of his repose.
From the Heights of Holy Meteora to the Heights of Heaven
By Dr. Haralambos M. Bousias,
Great Hymnographer of the Church of Alexandria
Great Hymnographer of the Church of Alexandria
A lofty stature of a virtuous life, a height of humble mindset, a height of industriousness, a height of philanthropy, a height of spirituality, a height of steadfast communication with his beloved Jesus, to whom he would turn at every moment of his life, exclaiming with admiration or perplexity to his interlocutors, "Lord, have mercy," the highly revered and now greatly mourned Elder Isidoros emerged.
The Elder of Meteora and abbot of the Monastery of Barlaam just recently ascended from the heights of Meteora to the heights of heaven.
His equal to the angels conduct granted him wings to soar and join the choir of angels, becoming a citizen of heaven.
To ascend to the heights of Holy Meteora, one must exert physical effort and sweat.
To dwell in the heights of Holy Meteora, one requires spiritual effort and a desire to ascend the ladder of virtues, supported, indeed, by our Lord, the agonothetes and crown-giver.
In order to ascend from the height of Holy Meteora to the height of heaven, a continuous struggle against the powers of darkness is required, accompanied by purifying tears, unceasing praise of our Redeemer of souls, renunciation of every worldly mindset, and adherence to the ancestral traditions.
Elder Isidoros, the eldest among the fathers of the sacred community of Holy Meteora, succeeded in ascending to the height of the Barlaam rock, residing there, and displaying it as a radiant beacon of Orthodoxy, philanthropy, the struggle of the holy fathers, heartfelt hospitality, and a compass to the ramparts of heaven for thousands of souls.
Avoiding praise and fanfare, he renewed his monastery, attracted young monks, and made it a hive of spirituality, where we all partake of the honey of your labors and sacrifices.
With the simplicity of his manners and words, he showed us that our Christ, in order to raise us to the height of virtue, requires a self-emptying love and a humble spirit. He did not merely speak humbly; he possessed humble thoughts, prayed continuously, and struggled tirelessly, forever having on his lips the phrase "Lord, have mercy."
His struggle on the rock of Barlaam granted him wings to soar and dwell in the heights of heaven, leaving behind the earthly city, to be counted among the choir of angels.
Elder Isidoros entrusted his earthly concerns to God, possessing unwavering faith in His words: "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5), and he longed, with His help, to soar many times, inwardly asking: "Who will give me wings like a dove, that I may fly away and be at rest?" (Psalm 54:7).
He had the belief that Christ is the one who gives wings to humanity, enabling the nous of man to soar to high fortresses, to the heavenly abodes, to patrol the throne of His majesty.
He stated that if one does not give blood, one does not receive the Spirit. And he knew that the keys that unlock the wings for man to fly are well held by the virtues of love, prayer, philanthropy, asceticism, detachment, non-judgment, patience, forgiveness, and the absence of resentment.
The Elder Isidoros had developed these virtues and with them soared from the heights of Holy Meteora to the heights of heaven.
I reflect on the simplicity of his words coupled with their spiritual depth, his eloquently silent moments, his tranquility, the significance he attributed to our conversations even when they were incoherent, and his teachings through examples of life.
I am certain that his prayers will accompany the revered Metropolitan of Stagoi and Meteora, Mr. Theoklitos, his Most Venerable and worthy successor, Elder Benedict, his monastic community, his spiritual children, and all of us, aiding and assisting us in our elevation from the world of passions to the realm of dispassion and the perfection found in Christ.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
