Mt. Athos, October 24, 2018
Photo: spzh.news Archimandrite Gregory (Zumis), the abbot of Dochariou Monastery on Mt. Athos, reposed in the Lord late Monday night, OrthoChristian reported yesterday.
Fr. Gregory, a fiery defender of true Orthodoxy, dedicated 65 of his 76 years on this earth to the Lord in monasticism, and spent several decades as the abbot of Dochariou, one of the 20 ruling monasteries on Mt. Athos.
The elder reposed in the Lord on Monday, having humbly endured the torments of a serious, incurable disease in the last years of his life.
His funeral was served in his monastery yesterday, of which a video has appeared on the YouTube channel Pravoslavnaya Biblioteka (Orthodox Library). The video includes footage from the abbot’s funeral, the procession with his casket, and his burial, accompanied by the reverent chanting of the brethren and pilgrims, pregnant with hope in the Resurrection.
Archimandrite Gregory was born on the island of Paros and was a close relative of the holy Athonite spiritual warrior Elder Joseph the Hesychast.
Photo: spzh.news He was tonsured by St. Amphilochios on January 1, 1967 and labored in a skete under his guidance. After his elder’s repose in 1970, Fr. Gregory and several other monks had to leave their monastery in central Greece, moving to Karpenisi to the Monastery of the Prussian Icon of the Mother of God.
Some time later, he and several other brothers were invited to Dochariou Monastery on Mt. Athos. He was chosen as the abbot almost immediately after arriving on the Holy Mountain. The monastery, which had already begun to disintegrate, was revived under his leadership, and brethren were gathered.
Elder Gregory was strict but benevolent at the same time. Despite the serious problems with his health, he climbed more than half a mile almost daily to oversee the work being done to restore ancient destroyed churches. Having great authority, the elder wore old, shabby clothes and carried himself simply.
Being an archimandrite, he presented himself as a simple hieromonk. Speaking of himself, the elder would ask for prayers for the “robber Gregory.”
OrthoChristian.com has published several articles bringing the fiery words of Archimandrite Gregory into English:
Greece is a sinking ship in need of Christ: Abbot Gregory of Dochariou, Mt. Athos
“Greece will soon become a Muslim country”—Athonite abbot
Abbot Gregory (Zumis): “The cathedral church of Dochariou could collapse at the first earthquake”
Abbot of Dochariou: Greece was expecting Mt. Athos to promote the godless European Union
Abbot Gregory of Dochariou: Orthodox Church receives no benefit from dialogues with heterodox
Abbot Gregory of Dochariou: Godless politicians must be prohibited from Mt. Athos
Abbot Gregory (Zumis): “The cathedral church of Dochariou could collapse at the first earthquake”
May his memory be eternal!
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