Mount Athos serigraph (icon) of Saints Porphyrios & Paisios on wood with real gold leaves.

Dimensions: 20x15cm. / 30x22cm. / 40x30cm.

Saint Paisios, known as Arsenios Eznepidis, was born in Farasa, Cappadocia, on July 25, 1924 AD. His mother's name was Eulambia and his father Prodromos was mayor of Farasa. He was baptized a Christian by Saint Arsenios of Cappadocia on August 7, 1924 AD. With the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, he settled with his parents in Konitsa. He worked as a carpenter and in 1945 enlisted in the army.

In 1950 he went to Mount Athos to consecrate and practice asceticism where he met Father Cyril of the Koutloumousiou Monastery, with whom he developed a special relationship. Later he went to the Monastery of Esfigmenos and became a monk named Averkios. In 1958 he left Mount Athos for the Holy Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin in Stomio Konitsis where he carried out important charitable work. In 1964 he returned to the orchard of the Virgin Mary and remained there until his death. In 1979 he settled in the hermitage of Panagouda and gained a great reputation and as a result, thousands of believers visit him to seek his advice.

In 1993 he was diagnosed with colon cancer and finally died on July 12, 1994. He was buried in the Holy Hermitage of St. John the Theologian and on January 13, 2015 he was canonized by the Orthodox Christian Church. The memory of Saint Paisios of Mount Athos is celebrated on July 12 of each year.

Saint Porphyrios, known as Evangelos Bairaktaris, was born on February 7, 1906 AD. in the village of Agios Ioannis of the Municipality of Taminea in Evia. His love for the ascetic life led him to the age of 13 in Kausokalyvia of Mount Athos where he became submissive to two Elders, Panteleimon and Joannicius. He became a monk named Nikitas and received the foresighted gift from God. At the age of 19, the Saint became seriously ill and was forced to leave the orchard of the Virgin Mary. He went to the Monastery of Saint Haralambos Lefkon in Evia and at the age of 20 he was ordained a priest with the name Porphyrios by Archbishop Sinai.

The Saint lived for twelve years in the Monastery of Saint Haralambos and then settled in the Monastery of Saint Nicholas in Ano Vathia where he remained for three years. In 1940 AD He went to Athens and became a pastor at the Athens Polyclinic where he practiced great spiritual work for 33 whole years. In 1979 AD he settled in Milesi, Malakasa where he built the Holy Hermitage of the Transfiguration of the Savior. Porphyrios gained a great reputation as a monk and many believers visited him to receive his spiritual counsel. In 1991 AD he returned after 70 years to Mount Athos and left his last breath in the hut of Saint George in Kausokalyvia. His memory is commemorated on December 2 of each year.

Apolytikion of Saint Paisios the Athonite

First Tone

The offspring of Farasa, and the adornment of Athos, and the imitator of the former righteous, equal in honor, O Paisios let us honor O faithful, the vessel full of graces, who hastens speedily to those who cry out: glory to Him Who gave you strength, glory to Him Who crowned you, glory to Him Who grants through you healings for all.