Mt. Athos, November 18, 2022
orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The holy remains of the blessed Elder Dionisie (Ignat), who will be canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2025, were unearthed on Mt. Athos yesterday.
Fr. Dionisie was born in Botoşani County, Romania, in 1909, and was tonsured a monk on Mt. Athos in 1927. In his 78 years of monastic life on the Holy Mountain, he was distinguished as a great hermit and confessor of many Athonite fathers, including Elder Joseph of Vatopedi, a spiritual child of St. Joseph the Hesychast. He was also recognized as a skilled worker of the Jesus Prayer. The blessed Elder reposed on April 11/28, 2004, at the age of 95.
At the invitation of Hieromonk Dionisie II, Abbot Ephraim of Vatopedi came to collect the relics at St. George Cell of Kolitsou Skete, which is under Vatopedi. He was accompanied by His Grace Bishop Timotei of Prahova, a vicar of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, reports Vatopedi.
Bp. Timotei, Abbot Ephraim, and Hiermonk Antipas of the Iveron Cell of St. Anne also spoke about Elder Dionisie.
The monastery writes:
Blessed Elder Dionysios was an experienced spiritual guide. His embrace was open and included every believer, every confessor. It was the embrace of God the Father, Who awaits the return of the prodigal, to forgive him and put the ring of eternity on him. His speech was direct, pure and empirical. In all the years that the Elder lived and practiced in the orchard of the Virgin Mary, he never stopped thanking and being grateful to the Mother of God and Christ for their blessings and Divine interventions in his life.
To read the words of Elder Dionisie, see the article, “Fasting is Divine Grace.”
The relics of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi were exhumed at the monastery on Mt. Athos last October.
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