The life of Saint Bessarion is filled with incidents that reveal his profound humility and his absolute love for humanity. He was often called “the Saint of the poor” or “the Merciful One,” since whatever came into his hands he immediately distributed to others.
Below are some of the most striking true accounts:
1. The “Battle” with the Medical Examiner over the Gospel
One of the most well-known events occurred in 2006, during his exhumation. The forensic pathologist Panagiotis Yamarelos, attempting to examine the incorrupt relic, tried to take the small Gospel book that the Saint was holding tightly against his chest.
Despite persistent efforts, the Saint’s hand would not open. Then the medical examiner whispered to him: “Father, give it to me for a moment to look at it, and I will give it back to you.” According to the testimonies of those present, the Saint’s hand immediately relaxed, released the Gospel, and after the doctor examined it and returned it, the hand again closed firmly around it.
2. The Two Sacks
Saint Bessarion used to travel through the villages of Phthiotis to help those in need. He always carried two sacks with him:
– In one he placed provisions for the monastery (food, oil, etc.).
– In the other he placed whatever was intended for the poor.
Many times, if he saw a family in great need, he would even empty the sack meant for the monastery in order to help them, saying: “We in the monastery have God; these people here have no one.”
3. The Sacrifice of the New Cassock
Once, some women gave him a brand-new inner cassock, since his own was full of holes and patches. The Saint accepted it politely, but that very same day a poor man visited the monastery. Without a second thought, the Saint took off the new cassock and gave it to him, keeping for himself the old, worn one, saying that the other had greater need of it.
4. The Protection of Children during the Occupation
During the German Occupation, the Saint saved many children who had been arrested by the Germans. Risking his own life, he intervened with the occupiers and used his spiritual authority to secure the release of young people, while at the same time organizing soup kitchens so that the orphans of the area would not die of hunger.
5. The “Hoarse” Voice
Many remember his hoarse, almost whispering voice. This was not something he had from birth, but the result of an ordeal with German soldiers, who mistreated him and left him exposed to the cold for hours, causing permanent damage to his vocal cords. Even so, he never complained.
Below are some of the most striking true accounts:
1. The “Battle” with the Medical Examiner over the Gospel
One of the most well-known events occurred in 2006, during his exhumation. The forensic pathologist Panagiotis Yamarelos, attempting to examine the incorrupt relic, tried to take the small Gospel book that the Saint was holding tightly against his chest.
Despite persistent efforts, the Saint’s hand would not open. Then the medical examiner whispered to him: “Father, give it to me for a moment to look at it, and I will give it back to you.” According to the testimonies of those present, the Saint’s hand immediately relaxed, released the Gospel, and after the doctor examined it and returned it, the hand again closed firmly around it.
2. The Two Sacks
Saint Bessarion used to travel through the villages of Phthiotis to help those in need. He always carried two sacks with him:
– In one he placed provisions for the monastery (food, oil, etc.).
– In the other he placed whatever was intended for the poor.
Many times, if he saw a family in great need, he would even empty the sack meant for the monastery in order to help them, saying: “We in the monastery have God; these people here have no one.”
3. The Sacrifice of the New Cassock
Once, some women gave him a brand-new inner cassock, since his own was full of holes and patches. The Saint accepted it politely, but that very same day a poor man visited the monastery. Without a second thought, the Saint took off the new cassock and gave it to him, keeping for himself the old, worn one, saying that the other had greater need of it.
4. The Protection of Children during the Occupation
During the German Occupation, the Saint saved many children who had been arrested by the Germans. Risking his own life, he intervened with the occupiers and used his spiritual authority to secure the release of young people, while at the same time organizing soup kitchens so that the orphans of the area would not die of hunger.
5. The “Hoarse” Voice
Many remember his hoarse, almost whispering voice. This was not something he had from birth, but the result of an ordeal with German soldiers, who mistreated him and left him exposed to the cold for hours, causing permanent damage to his vocal cords. Even so, he never complained.
6. Testimony of Bardas Skleros on Facebook
In March 2006 his exhumation took place, and everyone saw his incorrupt body, fifteen years after his repose. I remember that it was even shown on the news broadcasts, and many were saying that it was an attempt by the monastery to collect money from naïve believers.
One afternoon during those days I was at my grandmother’s house, and my grandfather was watching the news, where they were talking about collections and naïve believers. I called my grandmother to see what they were saying and to ask her opinion. When she realized whom they were talking about, she smiled and said, “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” and went back into the kitchen.
I followed her and asked, “Have you heard about him? Is it true that he is a Saint?”
“I haven’t heard,” she replied. “I have lived it.”
And she told me the following story:
“We had gone to Phthiotis on a pilgrimage with Father Theophilos, and we also passed by that monastery. After Vespers we sat inside the monastery for a while before leaving. I had a dilemma (she told it to me, but I won’t mention it) that I had been thinking about for days.
At some point an old monk came out and motioned to me from a distance to come closer. I went, and he greeted me by my name. Then he told me about my problem and what I should do, made the sign of the cross over me, and went back into his cell. It was Elder Bessarion.”
May we have his intercessions.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
In March 2006 his exhumation took place, and everyone saw his incorrupt body, fifteen years after his repose. I remember that it was even shown on the news broadcasts, and many were saying that it was an attempt by the monastery to collect money from naïve believers.
One afternoon during those days I was at my grandmother’s house, and my grandfather was watching the news, where they were talking about collections and naïve believers. I called my grandmother to see what they were saying and to ask her opinion. When she realized whom they were talking about, she smiled and said, “They don’t know what they’re talking about,” and went back into the kitchen.
I followed her and asked, “Have you heard about him? Is it true that he is a Saint?”
“I haven’t heard,” she replied. “I have lived it.”
And she told me the following story:
“We had gone to Phthiotis on a pilgrimage with Father Theophilos, and we also passed by that monastery. After Vespers we sat inside the monastery for a while before leaving. I had a dilemma (she told it to me, but I won’t mention it) that I had been thinking about for days.
At some point an old monk came out and motioned to me from a distance to come closer. I went, and he greeted me by my name. Then he told me about my problem and what I should do, made the sign of the cross over me, and went back into his cell. It was Elder Bessarion.”
May we have his intercessions.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
