In his "Life" it is recorded that his prayers ended epidemics and kept away locusts, that he predicted storms at sea and warned the seafarers when to stay in the port of Vathy. On one occasion he had taken the place of a poor farmer reduced to servitude. Apparently the farmer had no money to pay a doctor; the latter treated him anyway and then insisted that the man work off his debt. In spite of having to return to Vatopaedi, Joachim had served the doctor's family until they relented and escorted him back to Mount Athos. Joachim died peacefully while staying at Vathy in 1867. No money was found in his possession; he had only an old cassock and held a note requesting that he be buried at St. Barbara Monastery. Great crowds followed his relics about the island and then to the monastery, the abbot of St. Barbara postponed the funeral in an attempt to disperse these. It is claimed that many miracles took place at this time and at the tomb of the Saint ever since. St. Joachim of Ithaca is commemorated on March 2, the day of his repose, while the restitution of his relics is observed on May 23. Long revered as a Saint, he was formally canonized in March 1998. With St. Raphael of Therme (d. 1463, also from Ithaca) he is held to be the patron of the island. References Sources Biography of St. Joachim of Ithaca "Papoulakis", book written by elder Joseph of Vatopedi monastery, Athos (1992). "St. Joachim the Ithacan", book written by K. Kanellos, Ithaca (2000). 1786 births 1868 deaths 19th-century Greek people 19th-century Christian saints Saints of Ottoman Greece People from Ithaca Greek saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church People associated with Vatopedi