Short Excerpt from the new book "In the Footsteps of Jesus" by Sofia Kioroglou slated for publication this month.

Fr Ignaty  gave us his blessing to continue

First of all, due acknowledgements should go to a special lady who requested that I write a few words about the great Igoumen of Tears, Father Ignaty. A figure totally unknown to the West as well as to his homeland. However, his seal approval on this undertaking was given in a rather unexpected way. Having written my first book in Greek where the life and miracles of Fr Ignaty saw the light of day, 

I did not know whether I had been heading in the right direction. Of course,I had always felt his presence during my project but the clincher was an event that totally bowled over Mrs Sofia Kouna from Athens who happened to know him personally and saw witnessed many of his miracles while alive. When she bought my first book entitled “ MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES IN THE HOLY LAND”, she headed home to curl up in her sofa and read it. When she unlocked and opered the door of her house, she felt a light breeze caressing her cheeks and heard something plop in the kitchen. She rushed to see what it was that had fallen and, guess what? Of all things, it was an icon face down. The icon of Father Ignaty she had framed to remember him. She immmediately picked up the phone and called me to tellme the news. That was the green light to an investigation we had launched to find out more abouthis parents and life before serving in Israel.

 It isour fervent wish that Father Ignaty, through hisintercession, because he was a saint and lived arighteous life “ reveal himself to his compatriots.

The glorification of saints in the Orthodox Church is a recognition that God’s holiness is manifested in the Church through these grace-filled men and women whose lives were pleasing to God.Can the Church “make” a saint? The answer is no.

 Only God can do that. We glorify those whom God Himself has glorified, seeing in their lives true love for God and their neighbors. The Church merely recognizes that such a person has cooperated with God’s grace to the extent that his or her holiness is beyond doubt. Are saints “elected” by special panels or by majority vote? Again, the answer is no. Long before an official inquiry into a person’s life is made, that person is venerated by the people where he or she lived and died. His or her memory is kept alive by the people who pray for his or her soul or who ask him or her for intercession. Sometimes people will visit his or her grave or have icons painted through their love for the person. Thena request is made, usually through the diocesan bishop, for the Church to recognize that person as a saint.

 A committee, such as the Orthodox Church in America’s Canonization Commission, is formed to research the life of the person who is being considered for glorification and to submit a report to the Holy Synod stating its reasons why the person should or should not be recognized as a saint. Then the Holy Synod decides to number that person among the saints and have icons painted and liturgical services composed. Thus, let us pray that Father Ignaty’s life be researched

and be made a symbol of great heights of Asceticism like Saint John Maximovich and Saint John of Hozeba. AMEN!

The book will be available next month at Martha Psaropoulou's bookstore, at 14 Vas. Sofias Street, Maroussi. tel :6972848891