A small stone hut believed to be the first monastic habitation of St. Paisius Velichkovsky during his time on the Holy Mount Athos was recently discovered by a group of monks who were cutting back the thickets of the monastery forest.
The monks invited Sergei Shumilo, Director of the International Institute of the Athonite Legacy, to assess their discovery.
St. Paisius rebuilt the hut with his hands and lived there in complete seclusion from 1746 to 1754, Shumilo reports in an article on the Institute’s website, cited by Orthodox Christianity. There, he took monastic vows, gathered his first disciples, and began his literary and translation activities.
However, the cell, known as Kalyva Kipari, which was once used as housing for the monastery gardener, was long considered lost.
“According to many signs and descriptions, it seems that this is probably the very dwelling of St. Paisius (Velichkovsky),” said Shumilo. “However, this requires additional research.”
This year marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of the saint.
In honour of the anniversary, the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Romania chose him as its patron saint this year. For the Romanian Orthodox Church, 2022 is the Commemorative Year of the Hesychast Saints Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas, and Paisius of Neamț.
The anniversary was festively celebrated last month at Neamț Monastery in northeastern Romania, where the great saint himself served as abbot.
Photography courtesy of afon.org.ua
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