On Expatriation and Voluntary Exile. 3

In the kellion of Holy Trinity in I Caryes lived Father Kyrillos, a man of sweet, friendly and gentle face. He was very old and had a white beard and shining countenance. Because of his appearance, one might have supposed him the principal of some university, but in actuality throughout his whole life he had never left Athos.

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Hieromonk Ioakim the American, who was admirable for his self-inflicted exile and his contempt for all worldly glory, lived in a hut belonging to St. Anne's and named for the Birth of the Theotokos. He was my elder's spiritual brother. My elder told us repeatedly about this exceptional man and his exemplary obedience.

He had served at the Jerusalem Patriarchate and in the American army. He was decorated with several medals which, along with his Archimandrite's cross, he devoted to St. Anne's icon.

Coming to Mount Athos from America, where he had been a candidate for high ecclesiastical office, he did exem­plary obedience under a very strict elder, after first resign­ing voluntarily from his priesthood so that he might live as a simple monk. Like the ancient ascetics, he grew a long beard which reached the ground. Afflicted with tuberculo­sis, he reposed in the Lord in 1957.

The hesychast Gregorios lived in total exile in the Archan­gel hut at Small St. Anne's. He was a Spartan, and he de­voted his whole life to constant fasting and prayer. He used to say that he would be cast into hell with Satan because he felt that he did not honour enough the Lord's sacrifice on the cross. Everybody loved him.

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An aged elder said, "How can one tell that a monk has been crucified? Here is Father S. He has been on Mount Athos for sixty years and has not come out in the world." Then he said again, "Praise and flattery are harmful to a monk. A monk who seeks praise is like a man who tries to catch his shadow" And then again he said, "A monk under obedi­ence might say, 'When my elder scolds me he does not love me.' But if he only knew that he is in his elder's heart!"

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