Fthiotida, Greece, January 16, 2019
Photo: imfth.gr Materials for the canonization of a new saint have been sent for consideration to the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Fthiotida presented the documents on Archimandrite Vissarion (Korkoliakos), abbot of the Agothonos Monastery in central Greece, to the Synod on January 10, according to the metropolis’ website.
Fr. Vissarion (1908-January 22, 1991) was known as the “merciful confessor.” The submitted report contains an indepth look at his life and missionary activity, as well as the events surrounding the uncovering of his incorrupt relics, as well as personal testimonies about him, miracle stories, and draft hymns in his honor.
According to the statement on the metropolis’ website, the dossier has already been analyzed by the Synodal Commission on Dogmatics and Canon Law.
After being examined by the Greek Holy Synod, the matter will be turned over to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as, while the Greek Church has autocephalous status, Constantinople does not allow it to canonize its own saints.
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Photo: blogspot.com At the age of 18 he went to Kalamata where he met with spiritual men and decided to enter the clergy. He was tonsured as a monk with the name Vissarion and later ordained as a deacon and then priest.
Fr. Vissarion received a deep theological training through his study of the Holy Scriptures and the other holy texts of the Church.
In 1935, he went to Karditsa at the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Ezekiel, where he dedicated himself to philanthropic activities. In 1955, he went to Atathonos Monastery in Fthiotida, where he took up the spiritual revival of the monastery.
Every Monday and Tuesday, he would go to the hospitals in Lamia to visit and console the sick and hear their confessions. With his charismatic personality and love for men, he succeeded in comforting weary souls.
Elder Vissarion fell asleep in the Lord in Athens on January 22, 1991. His relics were discovered to be incorrupt on March 3, 2006.
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