Archimandrite Chrysostomos Tavoulareas, the longtime abbot of the Holy Monastery of Abba Gerasimos of the Jordan near Jericho, reposed in the Lord on Sunday, September 6, 2026, in Athens, following a serious illness. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced his repose with deepest sorrow, describing him as a devoted member of the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre who faithfully served the Church of Zion and the All-Holy Shrines for decades.
Elder Chrysostomos, who was originally from Mani, became closely identified with the Monastery of Abba Gerasimos, where he served for more than four decades. The monastery stands in the heart of the wilderness, beside the Jordan River, in the region where Saint John the Forerunner baptized Jesus Christ. In 1974, while serving as a deacon in Bethlehem, he came to the then-abandoned monastery as both a visitor and, ultimately, its permanent guardian. He had become involved in an incident with the Latins, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem had decided to send him for six months to the Monastery of Saint Savvas as a disciplinary measure. At that time, an elderly abbot suggested to the 92-year-old Patriarch Benedict that he instead be sent to the Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, which stood abandoned in an extremely dangerous area and to which no one wanted to go.
Chrysostomos went to see the monastery together with the Patriarch's deacon, traveling on dirt roads in the intense summer heat, when temperatures reached approximately 50 degrees Celsius. When they arrived, there was not even a green leaf to be seen. Yet the young deacon immediately decided that he wanted to remain there. “It took root in my heart immediately!” he later recalled. When they returned and he told Patriarch Benedict that he wished to live there permanently, in that desolate place, the Patriarch initially could hardly believe him. He then stood up, opened his arms, gave him his blessing, and expressed the wish that “the monastery would become an oasis in the wilderness.”
That blessing became the guiding principle of Elder Chrysostomos's life. For approximately the first twelve years, he lived there alone, without electricity, running water, a telephone, or a road. The monastery was then one of the poorest and most inaccessible monastic sites in the region, and scarcely anyone came there even to light a candle. Chrysostomos recalled that, during those years, he had to beg from buses carrying pilgrims toward Sinai in order to collect enough money to maintain the monastery. Even the water he used was rainwater collected in a cistern, which he had to filter before it could be used.
Elder Chrysostomos, who was originally from Mani, became closely identified with the Monastery of Abba Gerasimos, where he served for more than four decades. The monastery stands in the heart of the wilderness, beside the Jordan River, in the region where Saint John the Forerunner baptized Jesus Christ. In 1974, while serving as a deacon in Bethlehem, he came to the then-abandoned monastery as both a visitor and, ultimately, its permanent guardian. He had become involved in an incident with the Latins, and the Patriarchate of Jerusalem had decided to send him for six months to the Monastery of Saint Savvas as a disciplinary measure. At that time, an elderly abbot suggested to the 92-year-old Patriarch Benedict that he instead be sent to the Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, which stood abandoned in an extremely dangerous area and to which no one wanted to go.
Chrysostomos went to see the monastery together with the Patriarch's deacon, traveling on dirt roads in the intense summer heat, when temperatures reached approximately 50 degrees Celsius. When they arrived, there was not even a green leaf to be seen. Yet the young deacon immediately decided that he wanted to remain there. “It took root in my heart immediately!” he later recalled. When they returned and he told Patriarch Benedict that he wished to live there permanently, in that desolate place, the Patriarch initially could hardly believe him. He then stood up, opened his arms, gave him his blessing, and expressed the wish that “the monastery would become an oasis in the wilderness.”
That blessing became the guiding principle of Elder Chrysostomos's life. For approximately the first twelve years, he lived there alone, without electricity, running water, a telephone, or a road. The monastery was then one of the poorest and most inaccessible monastic sites in the region, and scarcely anyone came there even to light a candle. Chrysostomos recalled that, during those years, he had to beg from buses carrying pilgrims toward Sinai in order to collect enough money to maintain the monastery. Even the water he used was rainwater collected in a cistern, which he had to filter before it could be used.
Yet the Elder persevered. What had once been an abandoned and barren hermitage gradually became the oasis of which Patriarch Benedict had spoken. Under his care, approximately 180 acres were planted with trees and cultivated fields, a fish pond was created, water was brought from three kilometers away, and electricity was installed. The monastery was transformed from one of the poorest monasteries of the region into a flourishing spiritual center that eventually attracted thousands of pilgrims.
As of a few years ago, approximately twenty-five monks from Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and Romania were living permanently at the monastery. The community cultivated fields, cared for animals, operated workshops for candles and mosaics, and had decorated the monastery church. Pilgrims continually came and went, while the monastery maintained guesthouses and offered food to all who needed it. Elder Chrysostomos emphasized that no one who came there should encounter loneliness, anxiety, or insecurity. The monastery also assisted local schools and children. In an area marked by considerable poverty, he insisted that it made no difference whether someone was Christian or Muslim: “God is one for the whole world, and in love there are no distinctions.”
His ministry, however, extended far beyond the physical restoration of the monastery. He became known throughout Israel and Palestine for his charity toward the poor. He protected poor families, helped young people find employment, cared for elderly monks, and contributed financially toward the restoration of Greek Orthodox monasteries. He also repeatedly defended the lands and properties belonging to the monasteries and to the Patriarchate.
In a 2024 interview, Elder Chrysostomos recalled that he had experienced many trials during his decades in the Holy Land. He described the monastery of his earliest years as a place where there were “only hyenas, snakes and scorpions,” with no road, electricity, water, or telephone. He recalled carrying water from Jericho and going barefoot to ask assistance from buses passing through the wilderness. In 1982, during another period of severe poverty, he would go to a point along the road to Sinai, board passing buses, and beg for assistance. He also recalled being beaten by soldiers who suspected that insurgents were being hidden inside the monastery, while at other times confronting people from other denominations who sought to encroach upon the properties entrusted to the monasteries and the Patriarchate.
“Our monasteries are cradles of Orthodoxy and Hellenism,” he said, “and we must take care of the shrines.”
As of a few years ago, approximately twenty-five monks from Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and Romania were living permanently at the monastery. The community cultivated fields, cared for animals, operated workshops for candles and mosaics, and had decorated the monastery church. Pilgrims continually came and went, while the monastery maintained guesthouses and offered food to all who needed it. Elder Chrysostomos emphasized that no one who came there should encounter loneliness, anxiety, or insecurity. The monastery also assisted local schools and children. In an area marked by considerable poverty, he insisted that it made no difference whether someone was Christian or Muslim: “God is one for the whole world, and in love there are no distinctions.”
His ministry, however, extended far beyond the physical restoration of the monastery. He became known throughout Israel and Palestine for his charity toward the poor. He protected poor families, helped young people find employment, cared for elderly monks, and contributed financially toward the restoration of Greek Orthodox monasteries. He also repeatedly defended the lands and properties belonging to the monasteries and to the Patriarchate.
In a 2024 interview, Elder Chrysostomos recalled that he had experienced many trials during his decades in the Holy Land. He described the monastery of his earliest years as a place where there were “only hyenas, snakes and scorpions,” with no road, electricity, water, or telephone. He recalled carrying water from Jericho and going barefoot to ask assistance from buses passing through the wilderness. In 1982, during another period of severe poverty, he would go to a point along the road to Sinai, board passing buses, and beg for assistance. He also recalled being beaten by soldiers who suspected that insurgents were being hidden inside the monastery, while at other times confronting people from other denominations who sought to encroach upon the properties entrusted to the monasteries and the Patriarchate.
“Our monasteries are cradles of Orthodoxy and Hellenism,” he said, “and we must take care of the shrines.”
Elder Chrysostomos's charitable work earned recognition from both Palestinian and Israeli leaders. According to the 2024 interview, Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian Authority, and Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) honored him for his work. In 2023, the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, visited him at the monastery and reportedly told him that he had followed his work for 35 years and had come personally to thank him for his service.
His concern for the poor became especially important during periods of war. In 2024 he explained that, with the help of Saint Gerasimos and the Panagia, the monastery was sustaining families who, because of the war, lacked even the necessities of life and who also needed consolation and spiritual support. “Here, glory to God, for many years now we have created the conditions to support the hungry, the poor, and the persecuted,” he said.
He was equally determined that neither war nor danger should cause the monks to abandon the Holy Places. “We have been through a lot here,” he said. “Throughout all these years we have lived through many wars, but we did not abandon this place and we will not abandon it, with God's help.” Even when only one or two monks were present at a monastery, he said, they continued to raise the Greek flag and embrace those in need because, as he put it, “that is what the Gospel says, and that is what we follow.”
In the final years of his life, the Elder's declining health raised concern about the continued administration of the monastery. In late August 2026, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem convened an emergency assembly concerning the Monastery of Abba Gerasimos and established a three-member committee to preserve order and ensure its proper functioning.
His concern for the poor became especially important during periods of war. In 2024 he explained that, with the help of Saint Gerasimos and the Panagia, the monastery was sustaining families who, because of the war, lacked even the necessities of life and who also needed consolation and spiritual support. “Here, glory to God, for many years now we have created the conditions to support the hungry, the poor, and the persecuted,” he said.
He was equally determined that neither war nor danger should cause the monks to abandon the Holy Places. “We have been through a lot here,” he said. “Throughout all these years we have lived through many wars, but we did not abandon this place and we will not abandon it, with God's help.” Even when only one or two monks were present at a monastery, he said, they continued to raise the Greek flag and embrace those in need because, as he put it, “that is what the Gospel says, and that is what we follow.”
In the final years of his life, the Elder's declining health raised concern about the continued administration of the monastery. In late August 2026, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem convened an emergency assembly concerning the Monastery of Abba Gerasimos and established a three-member committee to preserve order and ensure its proper functioning.
Following his repose on September 6, a Trisagion for the repose of his soul was celebrated on September 7 by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, in the monastic church of Saints Constantine and Helen. A second Trisagion was celebrated at the Monastery of Abba Gerasimos itself by Elder Dragoman Archimandrite Matthew, a member of the three-member committee appointed by the Patriarchate.
In announcing his repose, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem bid farewell to the Elder in the hope of the Resurrection, invoking the words of the Apostle Paul: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's” (Romans 14:8).
Elder Chrysostomos leaves behind a monastery transformed from an abandoned and barren hermitage into a true oasis in the wilderness: a place of prayer, hospitality, charity, and Orthodox witness. He remained there for more than four decades, through war, deprivation, threats, and hardship, believing that the Holy Places entrusted to the Church must not be abandoned.
May the memory of the blessed Elder Archimandrite Chrysostomos Tavoulareas be eternal.
In announcing his repose, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem bid farewell to the Elder in the hope of the Resurrection, invoking the words of the Apostle Paul: “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; therefore, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's” (Romans 14:8).
Elder Chrysostomos leaves behind a monastery transformed from an abandoned and barren hermitage into a true oasis in the wilderness: a place of prayer, hospitality, charity, and Orthodox witness. He remained there for more than four decades, through war, deprivation, threats, and hardship, believing that the Holy Places entrusted to the Church must not be abandoned.
May the memory of the blessed Elder Archimandrite Chrysostomos Tavoulareas be eternal.
