Saint Anthimos of Chios (1869-1960): Hesychast, Philanthropist and Confessor

 

Christos Klavas, 
Theologian, Sociologist, Chanter

It is an indisputable fact that even in more recent times, closer to us, the Orthodox Church continues to bring forth saints. This admission is of great significance for contemporary man who, perhaps more than in any other era, has need of hope as well as lofty ideals.

A contemporary sanctified figure is, among many others, Saint Anthimos of Chios, whose life constitutes a model of spirituality and philanthropy.

Born in Chios on July 1, 1869, Argyrios Vagianos (his name in the world) grew up in an environment of deep faith and piety. He did not receive much formal education, although he was endowed with remarkable natural gifts. On August 23, 1889, at the age of 20, he visited the Sacred Skete of the Holy Fathers in order to deliver to the monastery’s icon workshop the icon of Panagia Voitheia (the Helper), which he had received as an heirloom from his ancestors. This visit became the occasion for him to make the great decision to enter the ranks of the monks and submit to the Elder Pachomios, "renowned for his virtue.”[1] This was the elder who taught the ascetical, neptic tradition to Saint Nektarios of Aegina, Bishop of Pentapolis.[2] Consequently, Saint Anthimos and Saint Nektarios were disciples of the same spiritual teacher; they were spiritual brothers, flowers that sprang from the same root.

"Lord of the Powers Be With Us" (St. Anthimos of Chios)

"Lord of the Powers Be With Us"

By St. Anthimos of Chios

(A Homily Delivered To the Nuns at Panagia Voithia Monastery in Chios)

What do these words mean? It must be good and pleasant for the Holy Fathers to present them at this time, in these days of Holy Lent. What king, what ruler, what prince, what governor is there in this world who has no authority? His word has such power that what he commands is done immediately. But he cannot give spiritual power.

“Lord of the Powers, be with us.” We ask the King of heaven to give us some spiritual power. Now, in these days the Holy Fathers have very rightly appointed that we should say this and ask Him to come and be with us. Come, you who are the Ruler of all powers, you who are the Lord of all, come with us. What should You do? To be our comforter, come to be our advocate, our teacher and our physician; You who rule over all things “be with us.” We ask Him to give us some power.

Holy Lent as a Period of Human Renewal (St. Anthimos of Chios)

Holy Lent as a Period of Human Renewal

By St. Anthimos of Chios

(A Homily Delivered To the Nuns at Panagia Voithia Monastery in Chios)

We now come again to the stadium of Holy Lent; let prayer increase; let reading increase; let virtue increase. Every night be more vigilant in prayer. Let words cease; let chatter be absent, for with silence you will accomplish everything. Holy Lent is a period of practicing virtue. This season renews nature. We see all the trees renewing themselves; they put forth new leaves and flowers and are preparing to bear fruit. This is to make up for the damage of other years.

Man must do the same. Every year he must acquire new life, new enthusiasm, new courage, new divine eros, in order to sprout new fruits of virtue and offer them to his benefactor, God. And just as the time for the fruiting of trees is this season, spring, so the time of virtues is Holy Lent when we will work to make up for the debts and losses of the past years.

Homily on the Love of God (St. Anthimos of Chios)

Homily on the Love of God

By St. Anthimos of Chios

(Delivered on August 30, 1954)

The goodness of God, sisters, is so rich in graces that it seeks a reason to have mercy on man. The grace of God is ready at any moment to reflect in the heart of man and to give him learning, to give him grace and mercy, but it wants to be given a reason. They say that Emperor Napoleon once went to a forest to rest, to take in its air, to enjoy there the beauty of nature. There he saw a beautiful tree, but it was a panorama: tall, cool, shady, its bark gleamed like a mirror. The emperor liked that tree so much, it aroused his admiration and curiosity so much, that he sat down opposite the tree and looked at it and admired it. Inside, his heart was filled with the beauty of the tree.

All the emperor's soldiers and the whole world had learned this and everyone appreciated the emperor's tree and kept it with great care. After a while the emperor died, and on the same day the tree also withered. Then they all thought it good to cut down the tree and with its wood to make the emperor's coffin, since he loved it so much. Indeed, they cut down the tree, and when they went to cut it down they saw the emperor's face in the wood like a photograph. It was so successful that the best camera could not have achieved it as well.

On Jealousy (St. Anthimos of Chios)

On Jealousy

By St. Anthimos of Chios

This passion can bring someone into great harm. Jealousy makes you abuse the other, criticize them, envy them, slander them, betray them. As a man grows, so does this passion. By no other means can it be eradicated except by supplication to God, by clear confession and contempt for this passion.

Even animals are jealous. But the animals as well children if they are jealous they do not feel it, but we who possess reason should we also possess such passions? Those who feel jealous never progress, we all have this evil, but some fight it and others mitigate it. When you fight it, it doesn't hurt you. This passion makes you to be envious, to hate your sibling, to be angry, to be full of malice. If one does not take care to eliminate it from themselves it will consume them.

Source: From the book Άγιου Ανθίμου Χίου, Διδαχές Πνευματικές – Άρτος Ζωής, published by the Monastery of the Panagia Voithia in Chios. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.