Dr James Manos (MD)
2006

SAINT PATAPIOS MONASTERY

Saint Patapios Monastery is in Greece at the mountain Geraneia, near the health spa resort Loutraki. It is a lovely monastery with a fantastic view to the city and the sea. You will really join your time by visiting the monastery. Saint Patapios is responsible for many miracles in the past, but also at the present. One of its miracle has happened with me.

Firstly, we all ask from God and the saints to give us health which is the most important. That is the miracle with all the people who believe in God. He gives us health and happiness. But even in case of a sickness, god helps us tolerate and win the sickness or, if it is His desire, to go to Heaven and meet him. My own miracle, except of good health, is that Saint Patapios helped me with my lessons. I was very tired psychologically and I was about to quit my medical studies, however with the help of the saint I passed 34 lessons in almost 1 year αnd also I passed in 11 months all my 4 degree lessons one after the other. Before giving exams, I crossed my forehead with the olive oil of the Saint’s cave and ALSO I promised to try my best.

But its not my personal miracle with Saint Patapios. In the past, but also in the present thousands of people have described to the others their own miracle. For example many people with cancer who believed at Saint Patapios found cure and the cancer suddenly disappeared. One famous example of cancer cure, but from an other monastery, is the Greek singer Nikos Kourkoulis who had cancer and visited a monastery at the Agion Oros and suddenly his cancer disappeared!!! You can go and ask him! The Saint has helped many people with other illnesses, family and personal problems, infertility and so on. However, NONE was helped from the Saint if he didn’t believe. Actually it is the power of God who helped and helps all these people with the means of the specific Saint. Βut always God helps us if we believe to the power of good, namely If we believe in Him.

I suggest you to visit Loutraki, which is a nice city one hour from the capital of Greece, Athens. In Loutraki you will find many interesting places such as spa and healing mineral water (Loutraki is world famous for its mineral water), a fantastic coast, many shops, bars, clubs, restaurants (don’t forget to go to "Maistrali", a restaurant with delicious dishes) and the biggest Casino in Europe. Landing in Athens "airport Eleutherios Venizelos" you can visit Loutraki by buss from the bus station "KTEL Kifisos" where there is an immediate link from the airport by bus. You can also take outside the airport the suburb train (proastiakos) to Corinth and there from the train station you take a taxi for Loutraki.

A more expensive solution is to take immediately from the airport a taxi for Loutraki, but not be afraid, because the Greek taxis are the most cheap in Europe. Ιf you visit Loutraki don’t forget to visit Isthmus (one of the first big canals of the modern ages), Corinth (you know it from ancient Greek history) and its museum (at ancient Corinth) and also the Acropolis of Corinth ("Acro-Corinthos"). Of course don’t forget to visit Athens, the Parthenon, and the National Archaeological Museum.

However, If you visit Loutraki, I strongly suggest to visit the monastery Saint Patapios or in the local language "Agios Patapios". There you can go by taxi from Loutraki (just call the number 2744061000 and it will pick you up, even from the street!). Also in summer weekends there is a bus that goes to the monastery, so ask the bus station (KTEL). When you reach the monastery your impression is devoutness and serenity. The divinity of the place overflows your soul. You will go to the Saint’s cage and you will see the Saints relic, namely his body that is covered, but is untouched from the time and its not faded. You will feel an indescribable feeling of devoutness. Don’t forget to kiss the glass of the Saint’s coffin and make a wish (usually the first thing we think is our health). Don’t also forget to ask from the nun in the cage to give you a piece of cotton with oil of the saint (from the candelabrums in his cage) and also to ask for a candle to light it at the candlestick outside the cage.

Don’t forget to visit the church Panagia (Mary, Christ mother), to kiss the big picture at the centre of the temple, to light again a candle at the candlestick and also kiss the skull of "Agia Hipomoni" (Holy patience) who is the mother of Constantine Palaiologos, the last emperor of Constantinople (Istanbul) of the Byzantium. Its not a coincidence that Byzantium began (established) with Constantine and Helen (his mother) and finished (with the conquer from the Turks barbarians) with Constantine and Helen, his mother who became Saint with the name Saint Patience (Agia Hipomoni).

By the way, Constantine (the Great) was emperor of Rome who believed in Christianity and God, won his enemies and established officially Christianity as a new religion. He also transferred the new capital from Rome to Constantinople (eastern Roman empire).

When you leave the church of Agia Hipomoni, don´t forget to take some shots (photos) at the balcony with the fantastic view (the city and the sea) and also don’t forget to buy souvenirs from the monastery exhibition.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SAINT PATAPIOS AND SAINT HIPOMONI (SAINT PATIENCE).

AGIOS PATAPIOS (SAINT PATAPIOS).

Saint Patapios was born at Thebes of Egypt. His parents were wealthy, but good Christians and they raised their child Patapios with christian principles and wisdom. Early, Patapios departed to the desert for a lonely life at the wilderness, where uninstructed from means of livelihood he devoted totally to praying and curbing his physical needs and sensuality. He merged with God by his continuous prayer. He was living only for thanking God. His reputation brought near him many people who were seeking his wisdom and his advises and listened his preaching.

Patapios left for Constantinople (Istanbul) to continue his virtuous life. With other 2 hermits (ascetics), Varas and Ravoulas, they stayed outside the wall of Constantinople and although they stayed in different places, they kept their brotherhood. Many people followed Patapios and he established the monastery of Egyptians where he preached and guided the christians. There, at the Monastery of the Egyptians, Saint Patapios laid his soul to Jesus hands and died. His relic (body) was a inexhaustible spring of miracles for many people. It still is. His formal friend, ascetic Varas (he also became Saint) transferred Saint Patapios relic to his monastery (monastery of agios Ioannis Petras, namely monastery of Saint John of Stone) which was under the protection of the royal family of Constantinople, Palaiologoi, and especially of Saint Patience (agia Hipomoni) who was the mother of the last emperor of Byzantium, Constantine Palaiologos. After the conquer of Constantinople, Aggelis Notaras, a relative of the emperor, in order to protect the relic (body) of Saint Patapios from the Turks barbarians he transferred it at mountain Gerania in North Greece (near Athens) and he hided the relic in a cage.

The cage was found accidentally in 1904. Finally, in 1952 at the place of the cage was established a monastery and the spiritual leader was Father Nectarios who is at the church of Corinth. Today, Father Nectarios is old, however he still guides the young Christians at the Sunday School and he also preaches at Soinikismos, a place in Corinth near the hospital. Also, nun Patapia helped at the establishment and building of the monastery and remained many years Mother Superior of the monastery. Today Mother Superior is sister Isidora, however nun Patapia still helps the monastery and talks to the people who visit the monastery. Saint Patapios memory is celebrated on 8 December.     Nun Patapia at her cell room at St Pataios Monaster (2008)

SAINT HIPOMONI (SAINT PATIENCE, AGIA HIPOMONI).

Saint Patience was the Queen of Byzantium Augusta Helen Palaiologos, daughter of the emperor of Slaves Constantine Dragasis. She became empress of Byzantium as wife of Emmanuel Palaiologos and she was mother of the last emperor of Byzantium Constantine Palaiologos. The siege of Constantinople (Istanbul) happened at the time she and her husband were exiled (1390 – 1392).

She had 6 children and as a empress with her pious works she gave pleasant not only to God, but also to the people. She was well known for her wisdom and her justice. Her husband (formal emperor) became a monk with the name Mathieu and after his death she also became a nun at the monastery of Kira – Martha. She helped to establish a old people´s home – with the name – The hope of the despaired – at the monastery of Agios Ioannis tis Petras (Saint John of Stone) where, as mentioned above, was kept the relic of Saint Patapios. She was a nun as all the others and, even she was a formal empress, she did all the works at the monastery, even at the kitchen.

She died at 13 March of 1450, a few days before Constantinople, the capital of Byzantium, fall at the hands of the Turks barbarians, after a long siege. At the fall of the Constantinople died her son emperor Constantine Palaiologos, and many innocent Christians were slaughtered from the barbarians even inside the famous church of Agia Sofia (one of the miracles of modern history, a amazing construction) which after the siege the Turks they turned it to a mosque. Even today the Turks want to get rid of the Christian Patriarch of the Constantinople and also to get rid from the last Christians that live in Constantinople, after centuries of persecutions.

Closing with Saint Patience, you can find her iconography inside the cage of Saint Patapios in Loutraki, Greece and also her skull inside the church of Mary at the same monastery. We celebrate her memory on 13 March (the day she slept) and on 29 May, the day of fall of Constantinople and death of her son and emperor Constantine Palaiologos.

Visit of the bishop of Korinth Dionysios (the one with the grey beard) to Saint Patapio's Monastery on 28 April 2009

 

NOTES

P.S.1 Nun Patapia (the senior), one of the establishers of the monastery (who literally built it), is a great example of how faith can move mountains and the fact that she is still alive is a miracle. Since June 2009 she had 30 operations (most of them major like gastrectomy, oesophagus operation etc), she has asthma, she suffered 11 pulmonary embolisms, 3 pulmonary oedemas and 1 heart attack.

However, she is alive and her condition is quite good! Even her asthma has improved a lot! All her doctors are surprised from the fact that she suffered many illnesses, but she is mentally and physically fine, she can walk and, except her oesophagus problem, she is on good condition. She claims that it is her faith to God and Saint Patapio's willing that keep her alive. She stays at the monastery in which she was Mother Superior many years ago (she resigned because of her health problems). Sister Patapia is the soul of the nunnery. On summer 2007 nun Patapia broke her hip. However the saint helped her again to recover and on 8 December 2007 she visited the monastery's annual festival and the same day she got rid of her stick!

As a doctor I am surprised how she has survived all these illnesses. It is a real miracle! It's been many decades the nuns had opened her grave at the nunnery, but Saint Patapios didn't let her die. Other, with only a single disease of her (e.g. pulmonary embolism) die! So she is a real example that faith can move mountains!

P.S.2 Saint Patapios lived on 4th - 5th century A.C.