By Archimandrite Philip Hamargias,
Chancellor of the Sacred Metropolis of Messinia
Chancellor of the Sacred Metropolis of Messinia
The presence of saints in the world, according to the late Professor John Fountoulis, is “proof of the work of the Church, of the energy of the Holy Spirit in the world.”
Thus, the presence of saints in an ecclesial community is the confirmation of the above statement, starting from a local level, which, however, through the Eucharistic communion of the faithful, the Church, transcends the limited limits and extends to the entire Body of the Church.
The Church, therefore, by honoring and exalting saints, challenges and invites each of us, by presenting to us the saints of every era, even the era we are living in, to experience holiness, according to the model of their lives, so that we may become genuine imitators of them, as they are of Christ, and confirming, through our lived experience, that holiness is not a species destined to disappear, nor a fossilized symbol, but a living reality and that each of us can participate in it.
We have once again become witnesses and sharers of this participation in holiness, after today's Act of Canonization, by the Sacred Synod of the Ancient Patriarchate of Alexandria, which, "prompted and divinely encouraged" by His Beatitiude the Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, Mr. Theodoros II, proceeded to the inscription, in the hagiological books, of our Venerable Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, a noble offspring of saint-bearing Messinia.
The now Saint, Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (in the world Christos), was born in the year 1903 in the village of Vasilitsi, in the province of Koroni, in the prefecture of Messinia.
His father was a shepherd originally from Tripoli and had four children, whom he raised with his second wife, after the death of the first. With his second wife he had Christos.
He attended elementary school until the 4th grade, because, due to the death of his father, he was forced to work.
However, although he did not have time to receive a formal education, he was nevertheless taught by his parents the piety of Christ.
Although he desired to study, although extremely intelligent, he did not succeed in doing so during his childhood due to the financial poverty of his family.
Seeking a spiritual life, the fifteen-year-old Christos in 1918 came to the Hermitage of Elias Panagoulakis in Kalamata.
The strict ascetic Elias Panagoulakis, who died in 1917, had founded a place of asceticism on the outskirts of the then city of Kalamata, without of course receiving official ecclesiastical recognition, and many young men and women from Kalamata, Messinia and all of Greece came.
Among the young people who yearned for the angelic life were Saint Bessarion (Korkoliakos) the Merciful of Agathon, Archimandrite Joel Yiannakopoulos, a prolific theologian and founder of the Hermitage of the Prophet Joel in Kalamata, Archimandrite Joachim (Nikolaidis) Agiannanitis, the strict Mount Athos ascetic, Hieromonk Eusebios Theriakis, a tireless confessor in Kalamata, the Abbess of the Monastery of the Nuns of Kalamata, Philothei Gennimata, the philanthropist and orphan raiser, Hieromonk Christophoros Pouloupatis, a kind-hearted cleric and later the first Bishop of the Old Calendarists in Messinia, and many others.
Christos Papasarantopoulos and Photis Yiannakopoulos (Father Joel) became inseparable friends. This friendship helped both of them in their spiritual pursuits and asceticism.
At the same time, the association of Saint Chrysostomos (Papasarantopoulos) with Father Joel helped him to enrich any knowledge he had. In fact, when they corresponded with each other, in a spirit of humility, they signed off as follows: Saint Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos signed off as “Christos the useless”, and Father Joel signed off as “Photis the unenlightened”. Oh, what self-humiliation!
From 1921 to 1924 he served his military service in Evros and Kalamata, and when he was discharged he returned to the Panagoulakis Skete and donned the honorable cassock, following the monastic life.
At the urging and under the spiritual guidance of Archimandrite Polykarpos Andronis, Preacher of the “Zoe” Brotherhood, he left the Panagoulakis Skete and on January 1, 1925, at the age of 22, he went, as a novice, to the Sacred Monastery of Mardaki on Taygetos and on August 4, 1925 he was tonsured a monk and received the name Chrysostomos.
On May 4, 1926, he was ordained a Deacon by the then Metropolitan of Messinia, Mr. Meletios Sakellaropoulos, while the following day he was ordained a Presbyter and appointed rector of the Sacred Church of the Reception of Christ in the village of Amfea (Gardiki) in Messinia, where he remained until 1928, while also serving the pastoral needs of neighboring villages.
On May 11, 1926, he was appointed abbot of the Gardiki Monastery, which is located near the town of Thouria, in the province of Kalamata, and on October 25 of the same year, its abbot, after the resignation of the abbot until then, Father Joel Yiannakopoulos.
His desire to be educated gave him the opportunity to finish elementary school in a village in his area as a “home-schooled” student.
When in 1931 the Monastery of Gardiki was dissolved due to a lack of monks and became a Metochion of the Sacred Monastery of Voulkanos, the Venerable Father Chrysostomos took refuge in the Sacred Monastery of Chrysokellaria near Koroni.
While he remained there, he organized a Catechetical school in the nearby villages of Vasilitsi and Harakopio and became the spiritual father of many Christians in the area.
From 1934 to 1938 he served as a rector in other villages of Messinia and the villagers there always described him as “moneyless” because he never had any money of his own and always gave it to those in need.
In 1938, the Archbishop of Athens Chrysanthos (Philippides) called him to Athens to serve as confessor of the students of the Catechetical Schools.
He now joined the Sacred Monastery of Asomaton in Petraki as a monk, was ordained Archimandrite and was subsequently appointed Abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Faneromeni in Salamis.
When Damaskenos (Papandreou) became Archbishop of Athens in 1941, the Venerable Father Chrysostomos resigned as Abbot and settled in the Petraki Monastery.
During the period of the Italian-German occupation, his cell was transformed into a spiritual nest for students from the province, whom he helped in various ways to survive in Athens during those difficult years.
After his ministry and contribution in many areas of our homeland, he returned to Athens to his spiritual base, the Sacred Monastery of Asomaton in Petraki and, having a burning desire for education, he took exams, received his High School Diploma and paved the way for himself to realize his childhood dream of studying at the Theological School of the University of Athens.
Thus, in 1959, Saint Chrysostomos, at the age of 56, received his degree in Theology.
While studying at the Theological School, he met students from Uganda. From them he learned of the need to evangelize Africans and to provide assistance to them, who are plagued by epidemics, famine and all kinds of misery.
For Easter in 1960, he was in Jerusalem as a pilgrim.
In the Holy Places where Christ lived, was crucified and resurrected, he prayed fervently to the Lord to strengthen him in his new pastoral work.
On May 11, 1926, he was appointed abbot of the Gardiki Monastery, which is located near the town of Thouria, in the province of Kalamata, and on October 25 of the same year, its abbot, after the resignation of the abbot until then, Father Joel Yiannakopoulos.
His desire to be educated gave him the opportunity to finish elementary school in a village in his area as a “home-schooled” student.
When in 1931 the Monastery of Gardiki was dissolved due to a lack of monks and became a Metochion of the Sacred Monastery of Voulkanos, the Venerable Father Chrysostomos took refuge in the Sacred Monastery of Chrysokellaria near Koroni.
While he remained there, he organized a Catechetical school in the nearby villages of Vasilitsi and Harakopio and became the spiritual father of many Christians in the area.
From 1934 to 1938 he served as a rector in other villages of Messinia and the villagers there always described him as “moneyless” because he never had any money of his own and always gave it to those in need.
In 1938, the Archbishop of Athens Chrysanthos (Philippides) called him to Athens to serve as confessor of the students of the Catechetical Schools.
He now joined the Sacred Monastery of Asomaton in Petraki as a monk, was ordained Archimandrite and was subsequently appointed Abbot of the Sacred Monastery of Faneromeni in Salamis.
When Damaskenos (Papandreou) became Archbishop of Athens in 1941, the Venerable Father Chrysostomos resigned as Abbot and settled in the Petraki Monastery.
During the period of the Italian-German occupation, his cell was transformed into a spiritual nest for students from the province, whom he helped in various ways to survive in Athens during those difficult years.
After his ministry and contribution in many areas of our homeland, he returned to Athens to his spiritual base, the Sacred Monastery of Asomaton in Petraki and, having a burning desire for education, he took exams, received his High School Diploma and paved the way for himself to realize his childhood dream of studying at the Theological School of the University of Athens.
Thus, in 1959, Saint Chrysostomos, at the age of 56, received his degree in Theology.
While studying at the Theological School, he met students from Uganda. From them he learned of the need to evangelize Africans and to provide assistance to them, who are plagued by epidemics, famine and all kinds of misery.
For Easter in 1960, he was in Jerusalem as a pilgrim.
In the Holy Places where Christ lived, was crucified and resurrected, he prayed fervently to the Lord to strengthen him in his new pastoral work.
Armed with faith, love and hope, he presented himself to the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, Christophoros, and asked for his blessing. The Patriarch drew his attention to the dangers he was about to face on his mission. But the ardent missionary did not give up and declared to the Patriarch that he was ready to die for this Mission.
Since then, the holy elder Chrysostomos made Africa his new homeland. He became the “patriarch” of a large family, the Mission.
He made Uganda, Kenya, Nairobi, Zaire his children. He lived, not in the Mission but for the Mission.
He reposed on December 29, 1972 at the age of 69 and was buried in the Kananga cemetery and on December 21, 1996, his remains were removed, and are in the garden of the Church of Saint Andrew in the Kananga Missionary Center.
Women and men of Africa mourned him as their father and mourned him vividly and at length, according to their customs. His tomb is now a permanent pilgrimage site for the local Christian brethren.
This is the Saint, who is honored and will be honored as the illuminator, as the “Methodios and Cyril” of Africa, who glorified the Lord with his virtuous life and with his missionary activity and the Lord of love, through our Holy Church, glorifies him by including him in Her Hagiologion.
The other Messinian Archbishop of the Alexandrian throne, the Venerable Metropolitan of Carthage, Mr. Meletios, also honors him and follows in his footsteps, continuing the presence and contribution of Messinia to the Mission.
Since then, the holy elder Chrysostomos made Africa his new homeland. He became the “patriarch” of a large family, the Mission.
He made Uganda, Kenya, Nairobi, Zaire his children. He lived, not in the Mission but for the Mission.
He reposed on December 29, 1972 at the age of 69 and was buried in the Kananga cemetery and on December 21, 1996, his remains were removed, and are in the garden of the Church of Saint Andrew in the Kananga Missionary Center.
Women and men of Africa mourned him as their father and mourned him vividly and at length, according to their customs. His tomb is now a permanent pilgrimage site for the local Christian brethren.
This is the Saint, who is honored and will be honored as the illuminator, as the “Methodios and Cyril” of Africa, who glorified the Lord with his virtuous life and with his missionary activity and the Lord of love, through our Holy Church, glorifies him by including him in Her Hagiologion.
The other Messinian Archbishop of the Alexandrian throne, the Venerable Metropolitan of Carthage, Mr. Meletios, also honors him and follows in his footsteps, continuing the presence and contribution of Messinia to the Mission.
His birthplace, Messinia, now also honors him, including him in the choir of the local Hagiologion, thanking the All-Good God and keeping as a side-treasure the words of the late Metropolitan of Messinia, Mr. Chrysostomos (Themelis), on the day of the unveiling of the bust of Father Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos: “Ever-memorable missionary Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos, your soul, which loved our Lord until death, rests in heaven near Him, while your much-suffering body is in an unmarked tomb in Kananga, Africa, guarding and attending to the honored and praiseworthy mission of your fruitfulness in Black Epirus. Your homeland, Vasilitsi of Messenia, boasts of its chosen child, for you honored and glorified it in Greece and in Africa, when you sowed the word of the Holy Gospel and proclaimed the Orthodox faith and life, with the power and enlightenment of our risen Savior Jesus Christ, who said to his Apostles, 'Go and make disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:19)."
Bibliography:
Historical Archive of the Sacred Metropolis of Messinia.
Greek Society of Orthodox Foreign Missions, Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (1903-1972), Thessaloniki 1974.
George D. Kouvela, Enlightened Teachers, Figures of Messinia, Elytron Publications, Kalamata 2008, pp. 65-74.
Chrysostomos Themelis, Metropolitan of Messinia, "DISCOURSE AT THE UNVEILING OF THE BUST OF ARCHIMANDRITE CHRYSOSTOMOS PAPASARANTOPOULOS THE MISSIONARY IN AFRICA," Athens 1986.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
Bibliography:
Historical Archive of the Sacred Metropolis of Messinia.
Greek Society of Orthodox Foreign Missions, Archimandrite Chrysostomos Papasarantopoulos (1903-1972), Thessaloniki 1974.
George D. Kouvela, Enlightened Teachers, Figures of Messinia, Elytron Publications, Kalamata 2008, pp. 65-74.
Chrysostomos Themelis, Metropolitan of Messinia, "DISCOURSE AT THE UNVEILING OF THE BUST OF ARCHIMANDRITE CHRYSOSTOMOS PAPASARANTOPOULOS THE MISSIONARY IN AFRICA," Athens 1986.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
