Eldress Philothei, Abbess of the Sacred Monastery of All Saints, described the virtues of Saint Savvas of Kalymnos as follows:
He was lenient and merciful to the sins of others, he did not tolerate blasphemy and condemnation.
These two greatly disturbed him.
His severe asceticism gave him the fragrance of his body, but also the disease.
As with all God's people, Fr. Savvas did not lack "the thorn in the flesh." He suffered with his prostate and a severe abdominal condition. He had an operation for the prostate and was cured.
When they told him to go to Athens to be treated for the abdominal disease, he replied:
“That, my child, will save us, in case there is nothing else that will. This is the good thing that will take us to Paradise. God is great".
Father Savvas loved all people and made an effort for their repentance and return to Christ.
His love was sincere and genuine.
He was without avarice. He never kept money.
Whatever he received from his iconography and the mysteries he gave to the poor, widows and orphans.
His life was a constant state of holy obedience. Indicative of this is his obedience to accept a little meat on August 15th, during a period of serious illness, while on Mount Athos, by order of his elder, although he was an extreme ascetic.
The blessed one, for every spiritual problem, received information from above and thus walked on the safe side.
He had many temptations and destroyed many traps of the devil.
Once, and specifically on a Clean Monday, in order for him not to perform his divine services, the devil locked him in his cell for three days.
He was graceful and blessed by the Lord.
Meek, unresentful, submissive, obedient and charitable.
Source: From the book Άγιος Σάββας ο εν Καλύμνω. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
He was lenient and merciful to the sins of others, he did not tolerate blasphemy and condemnation.
These two greatly disturbed him.
His severe asceticism gave him the fragrance of his body, but also the disease.
As with all God's people, Fr. Savvas did not lack "the thorn in the flesh." He suffered with his prostate and a severe abdominal condition. He had an operation for the prostate and was cured.
When they told him to go to Athens to be treated for the abdominal disease, he replied:
“That, my child, will save us, in case there is nothing else that will. This is the good thing that will take us to Paradise. God is great".
Father Savvas loved all people and made an effort for their repentance and return to Christ.
His love was sincere and genuine.
He was without avarice. He never kept money.
Whatever he received from his iconography and the mysteries he gave to the poor, widows and orphans.
His life was a constant state of holy obedience. Indicative of this is his obedience to accept a little meat on August 15th, during a period of serious illness, while on Mount Athos, by order of his elder, although he was an extreme ascetic.
The blessed one, for every spiritual problem, received information from above and thus walked on the safe side.
He had many temptations and destroyed many traps of the devil.
Once, and specifically on a Clean Monday, in order for him not to perform his divine services, the devil locked him in his cell for three days.
He was graceful and blessed by the Lord.
Meek, unresentful, submissive, obedient and charitable.
Source: From the book Άγιος Σάββας ο εν Καλύμνω. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
