A soul attached to the shepherd (his abbot or elder) with love and faith for Christ’s sake will not leave him even if it were at the price of his blood, and especially if he has received through him the healing of his wounds, for he remembers him who says: Neither angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of Christ.

The true monk, therefore, can be recognized by the reconaissance that he gives to his Elder, who has brought him to Christ.

Based on St. John of the Ladder

In this photo, Metropolitan Nicholas of Mesogaia is blessing the grave of Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi. Behind him are Metropolitan Pavlos of Glyfada, and surrounding him from left to right ae the abbots Chrystoforos of Grigoriou, Ephraim of Vatopaidi and Philotheos of Karakalou. The photo was taken a few days ago, at the annual memorial for Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi.

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