Kleisoura, Kastoria, Greece, May 7, 2025
Photo: vimaorthodoxias.gr
The feast of St. Sophia of Kleisoura, a great 20th-century Greek ascetic, was festively celebrated “with reverence, emotion, and the participation of numerous pilgrims” on May 5–6 at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Kleisoura, Kastoria, where she ascetically labored for 55 years.
The celebrations were led by the local hierarch Metropolitan Kallinikos of Kastoria, with guests Metropolitan Panteleimonos of Vyroula of the Patriarchate of Constantinople and Metropolitan Theoklitos of Ierissos, Mt. Athos, and Ardamerion of the Church of Greece, reports Vima Orthodoxias.
The feast began with Great Vespers, presided over by Met. Theoklitos. In his homily, he particularly emphasized the theological dimension of faith through the life of St. Sophia: “St. Sophia represents the grace-filled person of faith, who embodies the absolute affirmation of holiness and union with God.”
Photo: imkastorias.gr
In his speech, he emphasized that in the 21st century, an era of rights-based ideology, technocracy, and post-humanism, Orthodox faith functions as the ultimate refuge of freedom and meaning in life. “It’s not a cold theory or philosophy, but an ontological union with God, an experience of the Divine within the human being,” the Metropolitan said.
Following the Vespers service, the bishops, clergy, and worshippers gathered at the monastery’s guest quarters, where they enjoyed traditional refreshments prepared by the nuns.
The next morning, on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, the Resurrectional Matins and Divine Liturgy were led by Met. Panteleimonos with Metropolitans Kallinikos and Theoklitos and a host of clergy.
In his homily, Met. Panteleimonos spoke about holiness as life’s ultimate purpose, emphasizing that “our personal deification by grace” through union with Christ should be every Christian’s goal.
“Like soldiers, our faith in the Risen Christ prepares us to face temptations, insults, slander, and injustices,” the Metropolitan explained, stressing the importance of maintaining Church teachings “unshaken and unaltered” despite worldly challenges.
Photo: imkastorias.gr
He highlighted the continuous presence of saints throughout Church history, including St. Sophia of Kleisoura, whose canonization represents the ongoing tradition of recognized holiness. The hierarch particularly praised St. Sophia’s humility, faith, and love.
Sharing St. Sophia’s wisdom, the Met. Panteleimonos quoted her teaching: “A person, whether man or woman, should always see themselves as a soldier who takes an oath to the homeland and as an athlete who strives for victory, in order to win the crown of victory.”
The Metropolitan concluded by recalling St. Sophia’s childlike faith, noting how “she always asked ‘the Lord and the Lady,’ by which she meant Christ and the Panagia.” He described her deep devotion: “She would say the word ‘Panagia’ and her eyes would fill with tears, tears of gratitude to our Panagia.”
Following the Liturgy, the hierarchs blessed kollyva in honor of St. Sophia and offered memorial prayers at her cell, directly across from the catholicon.
On both days, the monastery was flooded with pilgrims who came to honor the “modern myrrh-bearer.”
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Photo: imkastorias.gr On October 4, 2011, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the Holy Synod of Bishops officially numbered among the saints the Eldress Sophia, Ascetic of Kleisoura, Greece. St. Sophia was born as Sophia Saoulidi in 1883 in the village of Trebizond in present-day Turkey. In 1907 she married Jordan Hortokoridou but in 1914 he disappeared (likely against his will) leaving her as the single mother of a new born son. She faced another tragedy shortly after the loss of her husband when this her only child died. Sophia became totally dependent upon God and began to spend increasing amounts of time in prayer on a nearby mountain.
In 1919 Sophia arrived in Greece, and on her arrival the Blessed Theotokos appeared to her and said “Come to my house”. When Sophia asked where should could find her house, the Blessed Mother replied: “I am in Kleisoura”. Obedient to the command of the Mother of God, Sophia settled in the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Kleisoura, about three hours from Thessalonica. Here she remained for the rest of her long life, never formally taking the vows and tonsure as a nun. Sophia took us residence in the monastery kitchen sleeping two hours a night and spending the rest of the night on her knees in prayer. She dressed very poorly and had a blanket and shoes full of holes. When she was given clothing by visitors to the monastery she would give them away to the poor. She had no interest in food, eating only enough to survive. When visitors would give her money, she would hide it and retrieve it only when she found someone in need. Because of her ascetic lifestyle and shabby appearance many people without a spiritual foundation called her “Crazy Sophia” but others saw in her a lifestyle much like the saints of old. To those who came to her she taught:
Almsgiving should be in secret, for God alone to know.
The angels speak every day. God sends the angels to see if people are repenting.
The Mother of God weeps, she weeps every day. She says to her Son: “My Son and my God, grant the world wisdom, forgive the world.”
Oh, if you only knew what happened to the Lord on Wednesday and Friday, you would put nothing in your mouth. Neither bread, nor oil. Do not break the fast of Wednesday and Friday.
The fear of God makes a person wise. What is the fear of God? Not that one should be afraid of God, but to be afraid to sadden someone, to harm someone, to do them no wrong, and to not make accusations. This is wisdom. After all this, God will illumine you as to what to do in your life.
When she observed scandalous behavior of priests and lay people, she never condemned anyone but said: “Cover things, so that God will cover you”.
Through her prayer and fasting she became a vessel of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 that when a person is purified and filled with the Holy Spirit they will receive certain gifts of the Holy Spirit such a healing, knowledge, miracles, prophecy. St. Sophia was especially endowed with the gift of prophecy. When visitors arrived she would say their names before they introduced themselves and knew their family problems. In 1967 she became seriously ill and in great pain but was healed through a vision of the Blessed Theotokos, the Archangel Gabriel and St. George. Elderess Sophia fell asleep in the Lord on May 6, 1974 and her relics are now enshrined in the Monastery church. Her feastday is observed on May 6 (new calendar), the day of her repose in the Lord.
Troparion (Tone 3)
O Blessed Mother Sophia, you became wise and the adornment of the Mother of God, you lived an ascetic life in the monastery, from which has spread the praise of your struggles, striking the ranks of demons. As you now stand as in intercessor before Christ, do not neglect those who fervently honor you.
Kontakion (Tone 4)
You became a treasury of divine wisdom and all-consuming fear of God, O Mother Sophia. Through your motherly intercessions, O Blessed One, you offer to all the richness of grace.
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