True wisdom, which is authoritative and unfailing, is godly wisdom. This is the fruit and gift of the Holy Spirit to people who are faithful and humble in heart, that is, the saints. The saints of our Church transcended worldly wisdom and attained divine illumination, shining themselves and enlightening others. Such a bright personality, in dark times, existed Saint Ierotheos the Iberian, who marked the spiritual path of many people with his personality. He was an enlightened mind, a complete spiritual personality. A bright beacon in the difficult years of Turkish rule.
Was born in Kalamata of the Peloponnese in 1686, from rich parents distinguished by piety and virtue. His father's name was Township and his mother Silver. When his mother was pregnant, a holy ascetic revealed to her that the child she would give birth to would become a vessel of God's election. His pious parents imparted faith in God and taught him the path of virtue. In fact, having the financial means, they gave him a serious education. They sent him to the best schools and the most famous teachers in the area to study. And he, having a strong will to learn and possessing extraordinary acuity, became for a time a rare intellectual personality. At the age of only seven, he was admired for his erudition and critical thinking. He avoided games and got down to studying. He especially loved the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Fathers, which he imprinted on his soul. As time passed, his thirst for learning grew!
When he finished his studies and reached marriageable age, his parents longed to see him as a successful family man who would manage their large fortune and lead a happy family life. So, according to the customs of the time, without asking him, he was betrothed to a modest and rich girl. But he had other plans for his life. He intended to devote himself to God and to the service of the Church. But because he didn't want to upset his parents, he was patient and tortured himself mentally.
But God, who knows the innermost souls of each person and provides for the course of his life, provided the solution. Sixteen days before his wedding, his parents died suddenly. Then Ierotheos, spoke to his betrothed, explained to her his will, that he wants to lead a celibate solitary life, she understood him and thus they broke off their engagement.
After some time he moved to Zakynthos, where some of his wealthy relatives lived. They advised him to go to Europe to continue his studies. But Ierotheos was not thrilled by the proposal. He had in mind another great and incomparably higher spiritual place, the Mount Athos, where humble monks and ascetics acquired, through prayer and exercise, the divine wisdom, which is incomparably superior to all the studies and wisdom of the world.
So he made the decision to go up to the "Orchard of the Virgin Mary". He found a certain holy hermit, with whom he cohabited and became his subject. A new chapter opened in his life. He immediately begins a struggle of personal purification and the cultivation of virtues. Under the guidance of the holy ascetic, he fights the flesh and elevates the spirit. At the same time, as a scholar, he passionately reads intellectually
writings, synaxaries of saints and theological treatises, which abounded on Mount Athos. He studies the life of the monks, but is troubled by the fall of some of them, filling his soul with sadness and disappointment. That is why he thought of being driven to martyrdom, which he considered the shortest path to salvation. After all, we are in a time when thousands of New Martyrs shed their blood for their faith in Christ. But his spiritual one prevents him, telling him that martyrdom comes on its own, as an unexpected gift from God. He also reminded him of the words of the apostle Paul about "legitimate sport" (2,5 Tim. XNUMX).
After some time he went to Holy Monastery of Iberon, where he became a monk and joined the brotherhood. But the desire for martyrdom did not leave him, rather it grew in his soul. The opportunity he was looking for was given. It was chosen, with a delegation of monks from the Monastery, under the rector, to go to Constantinople, for some case of the Monastery. He believed that there, in the heart of the Ottoman Empire and Islamism, he would be given the opportunity to confess Christ and testify for His sake. But in vain, no chance was given to him, God had another plan for him.
After that he left for her Vlachia. He was ordained a deacon there by Metropolitan of Sofia Auxentios and he was given the opportunity to attend lessons from the famous Cypriot teacher Mark. He then returned to Constantinople, where he was taught philosophy lessons by the also great Argentinian teacher Yakoumi. His thirst for learning was insatiable. For further higher studies he went to Venice, reaching the pinnacle of worldly knowledge. He had imbibed all the wisdom of his age!
However, he felt a great void in his soul. He understood that the acquisition of worldly knowledge can only give man pride and vanity. On the contrary, the humble approach of God and the illumination of the Holy Spirit can satisfy our soul. That's why he decided to return to the Monastery of his penitence, Iberon, where he was enthusiastically welcomed by the brotherhood.
He begins an intense spiritual struggle, with incessant prayer, vigils, penances, study of the Holy Bible and other spiritual books, fasting and obedience. God rewards him. Ordained elder by Iakovos, Metropolitan of Neocaesaria. He was already thirty years old. He intensifies his spiritual struggle and becomes an object of admiration from the other monks. Signs of sanctity are soon found in him. He deserved the healing grace. Many patients, monks and laymen, received healing and thus glorified God. And not only that. His reputation as a consummate spiritual personality spread far and wide and a multitude of people ran to get his valuable and life-saving advice.
At that time there was a death on her island Skopelos. The frightened and desperate inhabitants learned about the holy hieromonk in Iberon. They asked him to help them. Then he, flooded with love, went, accompanied by monks, to the island and with his endless prayers and supplications averted the evil! He stayed there eight years, contributing to the spiritual cultivation of the inhabitants. Those tired of sin, life's sufferings and Turkish oppression found relief and comfort in him. Multitudes of sinners were led to repentance.
He himself intensifies his spiritual struggle and God rewards him with rare divine flashes and revelations. Receives the Gift of Foresight.
He foresees his own extinction. To live out the last days of his earthly life "face to face" with God, with quietness and undisturbed prayer, he took with him his virtuous submissive hieromonk Study, as well as the monks Joseph and Simeon and fled to a nearby desert, the Yura. There he spends his last days in peace, silence and uninterrupted prayer. After some time he fell ill and surrendered his soul to the Lord, in old age 59-year-old. It was September 13 of the year 1745. His disciples buried his honest body, which was fragrant. Later, when he was picked up, his precious cart, which smells fragrant and miraculous, was transferred to the Monastery of Iberi.
His memory is commemorated on 13 Σεπτεμβρίου, on the day of his final sleep.
.
photo by https://e-maistros.gr/main/%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%83-%CE%B9%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B8%CE%B5%CE%BF%CF%83-%CE%BF-%CE%B9%CE%B2%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%B9%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%83-%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%86%CF%89%CF%84%CE%B7/
