3 short stories about Athos monks.

3 short stories about Athos monks. 

Saint Paisios 

Many of you, while on the Mount Athos, will hear this story about the elder Paisios. Anyone who visited his house which is always open, entering, saw food on the fire and understood that the elder was somewhere nearby and would soon return. People sat and waited for a long time, until they began to worry and went to look for the elder nearby, but in vain. However, as soon as they returned to the house, they saw that the elder was sitting in an armchair and laughing. The visitor could sit for about an hour in a small room and did not notice the Elder Paisios, who was sitting directly in front of him, but remained completely invisible in an incomprehensible way (“And who knows who you were waiting for, but did not notice the unworthy,” the elder said. 

An elder and young monk

One story tells about a young monk who went to live in the cell of a certain elder, to be with him "in obedience." Trying to learn from an elder, who was very wise and humble, he lived a reasonable time beside him. Once the elder disappeared. In vain the disciple was looking for him and in vain he waited for him to appear. The elder disappeared inexplicably and suddenly, without taking anything with him, he left, leaving absolutely no trace. The disciple was worried, maybe something happened, for example, maybe the old man fell from a cliff or drowned in the sea. Many monks sought him, but they found neither the living nor the dead. The pupil began to live alone in that cell. Two years passed, and once the elder appeared again in front of his disciplel in the courtyard of the cell. “Elder, are you alive ?!” asked his amazed disciple. The elder replied: “We have been living together for two years, but you think that you live alone.”

Sacred Hand 

A special place among the holy relics, which are located in the Holy Monastery of Simon Peter, is occupied by the right hand of the holy myrrh and the Equal-to-the-Apostles Mary Magdalene. This holy hand has remained imperishable, with skin and tendons, and is fragrant with a heavenly fragrance. Moreover, all who venerate it with piety and faith, confirm that the hand is warm. In the monastery of Simon Peter on Mount Athos, St. Mary still performs many miracles, therefore it is considered the second prioress among the monks.