Epirus, Greece, September 2, 2020
konitsa-cradle.gr
The difficult road to Stomio Monastery in Konitsa will soon undergo construction to improve access to the holy habitation where the great St. Paisios the Athonite labored in asceticism from 1958 to 1962.
The regional government of Epirus has decided to allot $130, 510 (110,000 euros) to the project, reports Romfea.
The dirt road leading to the monastery is at first wide and passable, but in some places becomes quite narrow, requiring great skill to navigate it. The monastery is a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists.
There is also an old path that was followed by St. Paisios himself.
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The original Stomio Monastery was founded in 1412, or according to other sources, 1590. It was moved to its current location by Abbot Constantine in 1774, occasioned by the miraculous event of the movement of the icon of the Theotokos to its current location.
The monastery was completely destroyed by German invaders in 1943. When St. Paisios relocated to the monastery in August 1958, by order of the Theotokos, he began to carry the monastery’s relics around to local villages to raise money to rebuild the holy habitation, often receiving miraculous assistance from the Mother of God.
St. Paisios also labored hard to increase the spiritual life of the villagers and to drive out heresies. He also materially cared for all who were in need. The people greatly loved St. Paisios, and even convinced him to return to Stomio after he had returned to the Holy Mountain.
St. Paisios remained at Stomio until September 30, 1962, after which he moved to Mt. Sinai.
