In this video interview, Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol recounts his personal encounters with Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra. He reflects on what Saint Sophrony of Essex revealed about Elder Aimilianos being taught directly by God, the joyful spirit of genuine Orthodox monasticism, and the silent holiness of the Elder’s final years. Part 1/2
Romanian translation by Elena Dinu
Video source: ΙΕΡΑ ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΗ ΛΕΜΕΣΟΥ ΡΑΔΙΟΦΩΝΙΚΟΣ ΣΤΑΘΜΟΣ
A production of PemptousiaTV, interviewer: Nikos Gouraros
Metropolitan Athanasios:
I first heard about Father Aimilianos when I went to Thessalonica as a student, from Father Zacharias of Essex. I met Father Zacharias during my first days in Thessalonica; he was there as well, the monk Zosimas back then, and in our conversations he spoke to me often about Father Aimilianos. It impressed me greatly that Father Zacharias nurtured such great respect and deep reverence toward Father Aimilianos. I knew nothing about him, but I began to learn through the various details I was receiving. I recall asking Father Zacharias how Father Aimilianos had attained the spiritual stature I was hearing about, without having previously been the disciple of an elder or in the brotherhood of a monastery. From the knowledge I had at the time, I thought that to become an elder, according to the customary order and practice, one had to live first under obedience in a cenobium, and then, if God appoints it, become an abbot.
Met. Athanasios: So how did Father Aimilianos acquire this entire spiritual experience? Father Zacharias told me that he had put the exact same question to Saint Sophrony. He had asked: “Geronda, why do you have such great reverence for Father Aimilianos? Who taught him, and where did he gain this experience?” Saint Sophrony replied: “There are certain radiant exceptions in this Holy Tradition of the Church, and these are taught by God.” That is, they are instructed directly by God in the mysteries of divine Grace. Father Aimilianos was truly theodidaktos, taught by God, because later on, everything I heard, saw, and learned proved that he had not been formed strictly as an apprentice under an elder, but was taught directly by God.
Interviewer: And how did you come to know him personally afterward? Until then you knew him through conversations with Father Zacharias.
Met. Athanasios: Yes, I saw him for the first time at the Church of Saint Demetrios the Myrrh-streamer in Thessalonica, where the metropolitan at that time, Panteleimon Chrysofakis, had organized conferences in honor of Saint Demetrios and invited Athonite abbots to speak. He invited Elder Aimilianos. I had heard much about him, but because it was not easy to meet him, we never saw him even when visiting Simonopetra. He remained hidden; he was a hesychast. Elder Aimilianos came and delivered a marvelous homily on martyrdom and confession of faith. His homily was truly extraordinary. His entire presence, his voice, his delivery, and the manner in which he spoke conveyed meanings so deep and elevated that they captivated you.
Met. Athanasios: It was like a heavenly flight on which he carried you along. I remember a fellow student sitting beside me who said: “I feel as if I am on an airplane.” Just as the pilot ascends and everyone rises with him, so we experienced Elder Aimilianos.
Interviewer: Do you recall anything from that homily that particularly moved you?
Met. Athanasios: I remember many things, very many things. I remember how his countenance shone as he spoke. He was full of light, fervor, and holy enthusiasm. What struck me was that at one point he said: “The spiritual person must expect at every moment the annihilation of his work.” Everything one has accomplished can be lost in an instant. Hearing that astonished me. I wondered: how can a spiritual person perform such a work and yet expect its complete destruction? Later, however, I saw in practice among our Fathers how their hearts were detached from everything. They were prepared for all worldly things to perish, yet they remained peaceful and untroubled.
Interviewer: Was that what he meant?
Met. Athanasios: That was precisely what he meant. You may recall, around 1991—I do not recall exact dates now—a great wildfire occurred on the Holy Mountain that lasted fourteen days. It consumed a large territory of the Holy Mountain. It was a Sunday, and we were in the refectory at our monastery, Vatopaidi, when a police officer came and said: “Geronda, Simonopetra has burned!” We were deeply unsettled, hearing that Simonopetra had burned, and anxiety seized us. Elder Joseph said: “Finish quickly, bring a vehicle so we can visit the fathers and see what is happening, for it is unseemly to remain indifferent.” Elder Joseph took me along with the brother who was driving, since I do not drive, and we departed.
Met. Athanasios: We learned that the entire brotherhood had evacuated to the dock at Daphne, and we went there to see the situation. Along the road were thick smoke and high flames, and we all believed Simonopetra had burned down. When we arrived, most of the Simonopetrite fathers were down by the shore. We asked where the elder was, and they replied that he was inside the representative quarters there. We asked the fathers: “What happened? Did the monastery burn?” They answered: “That is what they told us as well; we do not know with certainty yet, but it is surrounded by smoke and flames, and a few fathers remained behind to salvage what they can.” We found Elder Aimilianos sitting in the guest room of the residence. As soon as he saw us, he stood up. “Give the blessing,” said Elder Joseph. “The Lord bless, Elder Joseph! May the Lord bless you! Welcome! Come, please sit down. How are you?” We looked at him with wonder.
Interviewer: As if nothing had happened.
Met. Athanasios: We thought: “Where is he living? Does he not know what is going on?” I asked myself at that moment: “Has no one told him that his monastery has burned down?” Elder Joseph, also perplexed, said: “Geronda, we came to see how you are.” He answered: “Very well, Geronda. Glory to God, we are very well!” Elder Joseph said: “We heard the monastery is in grave danger”—he did not say it had burned. The elder replied: “Yes, they told us too that it is burning. We do not know; a few fathers remained there. As God allows, as God wills. Saint Simon will help his monastery escape destruction.” Then he called out: “Bring something to serve the fathers!” He was extraordinarily dignified, tranquil, gracious, filled with peace and Grace, without a trace of human agitation.
Met. Athanasios: That made a profound impression on me. Afterward, Elder Joseph remarked: “My child, is this man an angel, or a human being?” We, who were mere visitors, had arrived devastated and ready to weep, while the one whose monastery was burning was in complete peace. It was not indifference; rather, he possessed immense faith. Later we learned from the Simonopetrite fathers that on that night, as Elder Aimilianos was praying until midnight before celebrating the Liturgy, he received an inner assurance from the Theotokos that the monastery would be endangered, but would not burn. Thus he possessed that peace and stillness. To us, it was unprecedented.
Met. Athanasios: Beyond his words during that homily, I was struck by the atmosphere, joy, vitality, and light he radiated. Later, as young students, we continued to visit him at his dependency of Saint Haralambos. We were surprised that he was dressed impeccably, like a hierarch. He wore long, pressed, elegant cassocks; his hair and beard were neatly groomed. This was unusual for the Holy Mountain, where many fathers were unconcerned with appearance. I wondered why Father Aimilianos was so well-groomed, but despite this external detail, the interior witness testified that he was a truly great man.
Interviewer: Geronda, I would like to touch on those moral qualities of Elder Aimilianos of which we have heard—his abundant joy, speaking with a resonant voice and bright disposition. As a young student with little prior experience of the Holy Mountain, how did you perceive this?
Met. Athanasios: It impressed me deeply. I remember thinking how joyous the elder was. He delivered a homily at Saint Haralambos centered on the Gospel passage: “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” (Jn. 20:20). He explained that Christians must be joyful, because the vision of the Lord brings love, peace, and delight. He interpreted that verse, showing that a Christian cannot remain sullen or sunk in despondency and misery. He was an exceedingly noble soul. Afterward, I went with Elder Joseph three or four times to Simonopetra to consult Elder Aimilianos on various concerns of our brotherhood.
Met. Athanasios: When we returned from Cyprus after being expelled, feeling downcast, Elder Aimilianos encouraged and inspired us. We spent a week at Simonopetra with him, which proved to be a spiritual renewal. He granted us the Cell of the Annunciation of the Mother of God in Karyes, a dependency of Simonopetra. There I received the Great Schema, and Father Ephraim was tonsured a rassophore. Elder Joseph sent me to make a prostration before Father Aimilianos so that I might receive the angelic Schema on the night of the Annunciation Vigil.
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