Archimandrite Ephraim (also known as Ephraim of Philotheus, Greek Εφραίμ Φιλοθεϊτης and Ephraim of Arizona, Greek Εφραίμ Αριζόνας, English Ephraim of Arizona, in the world Ioannis Moraitis, Greek Ιωάςανρ).

Our contemporary Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis) is an ascetic, shepherd and missionary, through whose labors monastic life was revived in a number of Athos monasteries, and several monasteries were founded in America and Canada. Father Ephraim is a spiritual child, a novice and companion of the most famous Elder of Athos, Joseph the Hesychast, who was able to fully absorb the rich spiritual experience of his great teacher.

The Lord called Father Ephraim to the path of monasticism in his youth and from the very beginning in a special way testified to His care for this newly chosen soldier of Christ. “I was nineteen years old,” the elder writes in his memoirs, “when I set out on the path to the lot of the Mother of God, to the Holy Mountain. This path to monastic life was shown to me by my virtuous and monastic-loving mother, now the nun Theophania.

In the first years of the German occupation of Greece, when Ioannis (such was the worldly name of Father Ephraim) had to leave school for the sake of earning money, in one of the parish churches of the city of Volos he had the good fortune to meet an Athonite hieromonk, who formerly belonged to the brotherhood of the illustrious ascetic Joseph the Hesychast. This hieromonk became a mentor and adviser for the young man, an assistant in his spiritual growth. “I chose him as my spiritual father and, thanks to his conversations and advice,” says Father Ephraim, “I soon began to feel how my heart was moving away from the world and rushing towards the Holy Mountain. Especially when he told me about the life of Elder Joseph, something ignited in me and my prayer and desire to get to know him as soon as possible became fiery. When the time finally came - September 26, 1947, morning - the boat slowly transferred us from the world to the holy mountain: so to speak, from the shore of temporality to the opposite shore of eternity.

The future elder turned out to be among the closest disciples of Joseph the Hesychast, an outstanding mentor of monastics, who soon elevated those who surrendered to his leadership from earth to heaven.

In the community of Elder Joseph, Giannakis turned out to be the youngest. Life in it was harsh and little comforting from a material point of view, but abounded in spiritual consolations. And the first of these was the very communication with the elder: “I came to know him as a true God-bearer. An excellent spiritual strategist, most experienced in the battle against passions and demons. It was impossible for a man, no matter how passionate he was, to stay near him and not be healed. If only he was obedient to him.

Elder Joseph believed that the main activity of a monk was mental prayer, which unites a person with God, enlightens him with Divine light. He himself was a great doer of it, an unsurpassed "theologian of experience" and he brought up his children in the same spirit, teaching them to perfection the science of inner doing. And what other examples, and what “stimuli” did the brethren need, who often saw their Elder after many hours of prayer in a state of blessed change, when his face was visibly illuminated by an unearthly, uncreated light?

Next to his mentor, Father Ephraim spent twelve years - as long as Father Joseph had lived since their first meeting - literally absorbing his teachings and instructions. The Lord vouchsafed the novice to serve his geronda until his very last breath.

Elected abbot of the monastery of Svyatogorsk Filofey and having perfectly arranged its internal life, he did not stop there: gradually, through his cares and with his blessing, several groups of his disciples “sprouted” from her, reviving monastic life in a number of Athos monasteries (in particular, in such monasteries, like Caracal, Kostamonit, Xiropotam, the skete of the holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called).

And then, by special instruction of God, Father Ephraim, having entrusted Philotheus to one of the members of his brotherhood, left the “Garden of the Most Holy Theotokos” and moved to ... the USA, where in the state of Arizona, in the desert, he founded a monastery in honor of St. Anthony the Great. In total, eighteen male and female monasteries have been established by his care in America and Canada to date.

- You travel a lot. Which of the places you visited was the most memorable for you?

Yes, unfortunately, as you say, I have to travel a lot. All places are good, beautiful and impressive. I see personalities, I meet people... And everywhere I find blessed people.

- What is your attitude towards a woman, her role in life in general and in church life in particular?

The main role of a woman is motherhood. Secondly, she must be a myrrh-bearer - to help, as far as possible, in parishes, in church life.

- How do you feel about the Internet, chats?

A knife can cut bread and people. If we use the Internet for good purposes, it is good, but if not, it is very bad. For example, I was able to resolve my old burning question: “how will the gospel be preached throughout the world?” - through the Internet.

- How did you come to monasticism?

It was the grace of God that found me and brought me to monasticism. There were no monasteries nearby in my homeland, and I never saw monks. Only next to Famagusta was a pilgrimage center where people came to bow to St. Barnabas. And there was also an abandoned monastery nearby ...

While studying at the university in Athens, I was already planning to become a married priest. But when I first came to, for the first time I saw an image of a different life. At first he did not seem so attractive to me, only then he became a goal for me.

I have been a monk since 1981. 30 years of monasticism, including 22 years as abbess. Unfortunately, I was too young when I became abbot. So I confessed to you...

- What can you say about listening to prayer rules recorded on electronic media?

That is, to listen while driving a car? That's not bad. One can listen and the mind must follow the words of the prayers. It will be useful, but you must learn to pray yourself. When you pray yourself, then prayer is more fruitful.

- How to properly set yourself up for prayer in order to combine it with obedience?

Be careful and careful in your spiritual life. And you can combine.

- How to get rid of passions?

- good deed strive with faith and obey your confessor. Stay away from the causes of sin. An old man was asked how to be saved. “Run away,” he says, “and save yourself.” He meant to run away from the causes of sin.

- What did you like and what did you not like about our seminary?

Everything that is done with a good location, I like it. There is no person who does not make mistakes. God does not look at the result so much as at the disposition of a person. And when a person struggles with a good disposition, God accepts, even if it is purely logically a mistake.

How much did you like our singing? Which singing is more ancient: Byzantine or ours, joyful, one might say, pleasing to the ear?

On Athos we have a traditional Byzantine chant. But it is impossible not to respect the traditions of the Local Churches. I liked your singing. They sang well. And they helped me in the service. But it is not so important how well you sing from an academic point of view, but what is your heartfelt disposition.

- Is it possible to pray for animals, and which saints?

Depends on your attitude. I know one person who sleeps with a dog, eats with a dog, goes for a walk with a dog ... When this dog died, he treated all his employees in memory of the dog. I don’t talk about any saints to such people. This is an unhealthy attitude. Dogs are for guarding the house, not for sleeping and eating with them. The man's wife even wanted to divorce him because of this. Sentimental attitude towards animals is a terrible disease. In general, Saint Modest of Jerusalem is considered the patron saint of animals.

Once in Thessaloniki there was a presentation of a collector's edition of the Gospel. There was a woman in the front row. While we were waiting for the start of the event, so as not to sit and be silent, we met her. It turned out that she was the vice-rector of the university, she had two daughters. Both were sent to study in Athens, and in order to somehow fill the void that had formed, they got a dog. "Sorry," I tell her. - What kind of vice-rector are you if you transferred your maternal feelings to a dog?

- How can I find a confessor, and can my mother go to confession with her priest-husband?

The heart is informed who is suitable for us as confessors. It's better for your husband not to confess. Find another spiritual father. It is good if the husband and wife have one confessor. But not like we do in Greece: a husband and wife go to Confession together and one listens to the Confession of the other. It is not right!

One married couple, despite my protest, decided to go to confession at the same time. My husband had a secretary at work. And, confessing, he says: “Sometimes, father, my eye escapes and I look at the secretary.” Who pulled him by the tongue to say that? And every day his wife began to go to his office. In the end, the innocent secretary was fired. From the joint Confession, such a mess began.

- What is the significance of the Jesus Prayer for the layman?

The Jesus Prayer is of great importance to all of us. “Always rejoice, pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:16-17), the apostle Paul said this to everyone. Truly blessed is the person who loves the Jesus Prayer. There is great comfort and great joy in it. After all, joy is the first fruit of the Jesus Prayer.

- Tell me, please, is it necessary to force children to stand in the temple for the entire service?

If the children are small, do not torture them - do not bring them to the beginning of the service. Need a discussion. When a mother of a three-year-old child brings a three-hour service, it is torment for him. Children cannot stand for more than an hour. From the age of seven they can do a little more. But never force it. Always act by persuasion, not by compulsion. Teach boys to serve at the altar. There the child is busy with business, and time flows faster for him.

- What should I do if different thoughts torment me while painting the icon?

Thoughts of icon painting do not interfere. A thought, if it does not become a deed, does not matter. For example, on a fast day, on Wednesday, we wanted a barbecue. I'm going to the barbecue. We say: "Give me one serving of barbecue." They answer us: “I just sold the last one.” The sin was not committed.

- They want to translate the Liturgy into Belarusian, into Russian. Is it correct?

This is how the ruling Church decides. In my opinion, you are all right with this: in one way or another, you understand the language of the service. You don't have such a problem.

- How can children who leave the Church be returned to the temple?

Exhortation and prayer. Not by compulsion, but by love. An example of your life.

- In which of the Russian monasteries do they sing best, from a spiritual point of view?

There are many places where they sing well. And they sing well on Valaam. And in your seminary.

- Father Ephraim, how do you feel about the reduction of worship?

Sometimes the priests shorten the services, saying that the people are tired. But the first ones who are tired of the service are themselves. It is better for a parishioner to arrive late than for a priest to shorten the service. By this he humiliates the ascetic image of the Church. Standing on your feet during the service, bowing - all this is an ascetic expression of service to God.

If after a religious school you cannot get a paid job in your specialty, do you need to get another education or rely on the will of God?

It's not bad to get another, secular education and work in parallel in another place. Unfortunately, the singers do not have such salaries to live on. But do not be afraid: we have it even worse in Greece.

- From what age should children observe fasts, fasting days? What concessions can be given to children?

From the age of seven they can already fast. Relaxation depends on the child. At first, you may not eat meat. Then, little by little, refrain from cheese. Depends on the character. The main thing is that the disposition of the parents should be correct, so that for spiritual reasons they would like to raise their children this way.

- What to do when there is no strength to pray?

Let's sleep (laughter in the audience). God only wants what we can from us.

At what age can a girl enter a monastery?

Must be of age. In one monastery, in Russia, by the way, a five-year-old girl was taken as a novice. Of course, then problems arose, and she left there. This is a spiritual utopia.

Elder Ephraim of Katunaksky venerated the Theotokos with infinite reverence. Once he kissed the icon of the Mother of God “Joy and Consolation” with tenderness, looked up and suddenly, embraced by spiritual delight, cried out: “Panagia! Mother of God! The whole Holy Mountain is Your garden, Vatopedi is Your throne!”

It is no coincidence that we have so many miraculous icons and the Holy Belt in our monastery. Where else would the Belt be, if not in a place of purity, virginity, purity and obedience?

So never despair. The Mother of God will save us, only we must try a little ourselves. Her Veil is over us, and She is only waiting for the right time to help us. Because she knows that Her Son was crucified for us. No one received as much enlightenment and grace as She did. Being essentially a nun, the Mother of God knows what monasticism means.

The Church, one might say, is a "factory" for the production of saints. In this temple, the presence of the grace of the Holy Spirit is strongly felt, thanks to the most honest relics of St. Euphrosyne. Saint Euphrosyne is the heart of not only this monastery, but the whole of Belarus. May she help the sisters of this monastery love God as much as possible, hope in Him, and thereby achieve the goal of her monastic call - sanctification. This is the purpose of life and all of us. The Presence of Christ on earth is the Holy One Apostolic Church, in whose field we all graze. The purpose of the Church is to raise people from earth to Heaven. “God became man in order to make man God,” says St. Gregory the Theologian.

The purpose of the monks is to prove the truth of the Gospel with their lives. After all, everyone who comes to the monastery is looking for deified people, sanctified people - the fruits of the incarnation of God the Word on earth. For what? To leave here with even greater faith in the truth of the Teachings of Christ.

The Most Holy Theotokos is the most humble person who has ever been born on earth, and we pray to her for the gift of humility. Today, humility is considered an inferiority complex. In fact, this is the vestment of the Deity, according to Isaac the Syrian. Because only humility elevates a person to Heaven. A person feels the worst of all, but at the same time feels very close to God. Humility gives a person spiritual nobility. Let us pray to God to find us humility, and thus acquire the fullness of grace. Then the Lady Mother of God and the Monk Euphrosyne, who loved Christ to the end, will be pleased with us.

How to educate sisters in love and zeal for the Jesus Prayer? Should we talk about this in general conversations or introduce the Jesus Prayer into the general monastic rule?

We must talk about the Jesus Prayer, we must encourage, push, and advise. But, most importantly, do it yourself. This will be the biggest evidence. If a shepherd speaks about the Jesus Prayer, but he himself does not have it, these are all empty words. Modern man he cannot keep many words in his mind all the time, the less - the easier it is for him: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me."

What should you do if you encounter irritation from the abbess when you come in obedience? What to do if you cannot talk about your soul with it: there is no trust, as you are faced with some deception?

If mother gets angry when we ask about something, we need to be patient: she is also a person, she can get angry. Besides, mother can pretend to be angry, for your own benefit.

In general, if someone has complaints about another, it means that he himself is spiritually ill. You only have to complain about yourself. Elder Joseph spoke wonderfully about this: “For a monk, the question “why?”, For example, “why me?” or “why is he there and I am here?” and the like are like blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.”

And be very careful with suspiciousness - this is a common illness among monks. “The elder loves me less than others. He doesn't take me into account, but he listens to others. If Sister Dominika asks for something, she does everything for her, but nothing for me!” Suspicion is a very great evil, it torments many people. This is a clear demonic trick.

If you have such thoughts, confess to your mother or the elder. And as the confessor advises, be sure to do so. If we go to the elder, and then we do it in our own way, it means that we trust our thoughts more than our spiritual father. Such trust through suspiciousness can lead to complete despair.

The passion of suspiciousness is especially effectively healed by obedience - "obedience to the mule," as we say. You need to say to your thoughts: “No! Mother said that this is not so, and I obey her.

What is the meaning of these demonic thoughts? So that our minds overcome sadness. If the mind is in the captivity of sadness, we no longer have time for prayer and we spiritually slide down. A person whose mind has been overcome by sadness is like a person who cannot walk.

I especially want to say about the concealment of thoughts and sins. Be careful with this. Do not hesitate to confess anything. When some passion, especially suspiciousness, does not go away - confess: once, ten, a hundred - until it leaves.

I know one monk who constantly thought that the other monk did not love him. He trusted his thought so much that in the end he left the monastery and is now wandering somewhere.

To be continued.

The world continues to follow the case of Archimandrite Ephraim, Abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery of Mount Athos. He is accused of deliberately misleading Greek officials and concluding a deal, as a result of which the Vatopedi monastery received expensive real estate. The deal was declared invalid, the courts have been going on for several years.

After the return of Archimandrite Efrem from Russia, where he brought him, he was arrested (for the first time he was released on a large bail) and yesterday he was placed in prison.

Archimandrite Ephraim was unanimously supported by all the governors of the Athos monasteries.

“We, like the entire world of Athogorsk, are deeply hurt by the hasty issuance and distribution of the above arrest warrant on the eve of the bright holiday of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as the inexplicable zeal and immediate setting in motion of powerful police forces and the urgent dispatch of a prosecutor to arrest you, with disregard for the Svyatogorsk principles, as if they are dealing with a villain or an extremely dangerous person, ”says in.

PRAVMIR asked Sergey Rudov to comment on these events, President of the charitable foundation "Society of Friends of the Vatoped Monastery on Mount Athos named after St. Maximus the Greek".

- Sergey Yuryevich, how long have you known Father Ephraim?

- I have known Father Ephraim for 11 years. We met in 2000 at the Vatopedi Monastery, when I was there with my father - now Bishop - Pankraty, the abbot of the Valaam Monastery. Valaam Monastery was the first monastery that began to send people to Athos to learn about monastic life. Then, thanks to the authority of Balaam, many doors were opened for us, and in total I was on Athos more than 60 times.

Father Ephraim helped me a lot many times - both in the fatal illnesses that I had to endure, and in various trials that befell my friends. Father Ephraim knew well that I was an entrepreneur, that I helped many, but Vatopedi was the only monastery where they never asked for help, while other monasteries hinted quite clearly after a short time.

How did you feel about the lawsuit?

- In 2009, hysteria began around Vatopedi, the lake and the contracts. The monks laid claim to Lake Istamidu, where the monastery courtyard is located. Historically, this land belonged to Vatopedi, but the state used some of the land and offered the monastery other land in exchange. After the change of government, when the economic crisis unfolded, the new government decided that the deal was unequal. There were long PR campaigns against the monastery, they searched for the personal accounts of the monks, but did not find them. Then all the accounts of the monastery were arrested, Vatopedi was in the zone of economic blockade.

Most of the officials who participated in those negotiations and signed the papers, the statute of limitations expired and the suspicions were removed from them.

At first, reading periodicals, and I doubted - I think there is no smoke without fire. Greek journalists presented the case in a very one-sided way and many Greeks were convinced that the monastery was profiting from the wrong deals. Time passed, people figured it out - and now - everyone supports Vatopedi. I understood a lot about what had happened, we spoke with Father Ephraim more than once very frankly.

Now the attitude has changed radically. The Holy Kinot of the Holy Mount Athos, all the monasteries expressed their unanimous support for Father Ephraim. I talked a lot with the Greeks - they fully support Father Ephraim - when the arrested elder arrived in Athens, he was greeted with torches, a huge crowd chanted "Axios!" Many Greeks believe that the government is manipulating them, raping them, and that such a high-profile case against the abbot of Athos is the first blow to Athos.

Arrival in Athens:

“Now Archimandrite Ephraim has been arrested…

- Speaking about what is happening today, you need to understand the following things.

First, the documents that Father Efrem reportedly persuaded (!) to sign are signed by five federal ministers and 40 deputy ministers. They offer a deal to exchange title deeds for real estate. Of course, the officials could act in their own interests, but why is it that only the monastery is now involved in this case, and only Father Ephraim is now in prison? If something is wrong - investigate everything! The defendants in the case occupy high government positions - but then everyone should be in the dock!

Second: I'm worried about the treatment of Father Ephraim. He is seriously ill. If he were young, persecution would be good. And now everything can inevitably affect his well-being.

Third: Everything happens on Christmas days, upon the return of Abbot Ephraim from Russia. He was repeatedly hinted that it was not necessary to communicate with the Russians so friendly. The cynicism of the prosecutor who comes to the monastery, makes the sign of the cross on himself, venerates the relics, and then goes to the abbot with a warrant of arrest is striking.

We ask everyone to pray for Father Ephraim. Now there is a collection of signatures in his support, there are support groups on social networks, people leave signatures, send words of support. In the near future, we hope, a picket will be held in Moscow in support of the elder, so that representatives of foreign states can see how they support Father Ephraim in Russia, and how much his fate is not indifferent to all of us. I repeat - we ask you to pray especially for Archimandrite Ephraim.

Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi

Rector of the Sacred Great Monastery of Vatopedi. In the world, Vasily Kutsu was born in Cyprus in the city of Famagusta in 1956. Graduated from the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens. In 1982, he became a monk in the brotherhood of Elder Joseph in Novy Skete. In 1990, after the brotherhood of Elder Joseph took over the work of resuming monastic life in Vatopedi, the Abode was transformed from idiorrhythmic to cinovial and Elder Ephraim was enthroned by its first Primate.

When we see that a person, whether he is a cleric or a layman, is rightly or unjustly castigated on TV screens, it is necessary to support him.

If a person is being crucified, and everyone is already preparing to drive a nail into his limbs, then personally I am not going to participate in this. I hear the voice of my Christ: "Run, give a hand to your drowning brother." I run, embraced by love, I extend my hand, even if there is a danger of dying with him. After all, even if I die, I will still know that I did not refuse to help my brother.

This is what my heart commands, this is what the voice of Christ within me says, this is what I do. It seems to me that Jesus every time stands in front of the person at whom everyone is throwing stones and pouring mud, and says to them: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at him.” It is known that accusations in the press are often unfair.

Nectarius Mulaciotis

Statement of the Brotherhood of the Holy Monastery of Vatopedi.

In connection with the arrest of the abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery of Athos, Archimandrite Ephraim, the brethren of the monastery adopted a special statement, which reads:

“The unjust arrest of our elder Ephraim shook the hearts of our brothers, Holy Mount Athos, the Church and every spiritual and thinking person.

Who would have thought that people who sacrifice themselves for the sake of their neighbor, live unselfishly in continuous obedience, fasting and prayer, can be considered as ordinary criminals and, therefore, can be deprived of their freedom?

Who would have thought that the bearer of divine grace, the worker and teacher of virtue, could be slinged with mud and imprisoned just because people think in this way to serve the laws of justice?

Our brotherhood accepts, approves and supports all the actions of the elder.

We inform the believers that the entire brotherhood is united in love for the elder and with faith and hope accepts his martyr's cross.

We are strengthened by the universal support of the Holy Mountain, all the bishops of the Orthodox Church and the people, and we would like to thank all of them for this from the bottom of our hearts.

We would like to notify the responsible officials that, in the person of Elder Ephraim, they are imprisoning the entire brethren of the Vatopedi monastery, which numbers one hundred and twenty monks.”

Monasteries have always been distinguished by their own way of life and isolation from the outside world. Many people go into them to avoid worldly problems and fully devote their lives to the service of the Lord.

Quite often monasteries were used as towers or places of exile for persons objectionable to the authorities. For example, Archpriest Avvakum was placed in the casemates of the Borovsky Monastery in the Kaluga region. But still, the lion's share of the inhabitants of such secluded places are simple monks.

Probably the most famous monastery of Orthodox Christianity was and is Athos. To be more precise, it is a conglomeration of monasteries located on Sveti Gorev in Greece. Each monastery has its own abbot, belongings and territory.

All of them belong to the Patriarch of Constantinople, who nominally remains the head of all Orthodox Churches in the world.

Constantinople Orthodox Church has about 40 people in the clergy and 2 - 3 thousand parishioners.

The Vatopedi monastery is one of the many monasteries on Mount Athos, with its own complicated history. Today it is headed by Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi. He was born in Cyprus, but having met Elder Joseph, he followed him to Athos.

Here he took monastic vows and quickly rose to the rank of hieromonk, and then hegumen of the monastery. After the death of Joseph, he took his place as the spiritual mentor of the monastery. In 2011, trouble happened to the holy father and he was accused of illegally transferring church land, but 6 years later he was acquitted.

Hegumen Ephraim flees from the Turks, graduates from the seminary and goes to Athos

In the world, hegumen Vatopeda was called Vasilios Kutsk. He was born in 1960 on the island of Cyprus in a city called Famagusta. The monk's family was not distinguished by a small number. In addition to mother Vasiliki and father Sotiris, there were six more brothers and sisters. And two from the father's first marriage, which ended in tragedy.

The family took the education of their children seriously. Vasilios is first sent to study at the gymnasium, and then he enters the seminary of St. Barnabas in the city of Nicosia. The unexpected interferes with a full-fledged education.

The island of Crete becomes the object of an armed invasion by Turkey.

Everything happens so suddenly that many residents do not have time to escape. The Turks at the same time behave very inhumanely towards the locals.

The family of the future archimandrite also becomes refugees and flees from the Turks.

When escaping from the troops of the Turks, the father and elder brothers of Vasilios are captured.

Crete is still divided between Turkey and Greece. Despite the fact that both countries are in the NATO bloc, the dispute cannot be resolved. Armed clashes regularly occur on the common border, sometimes with the use of military equipment and automatic weapons.

In the fall of 2018, Turkish air defense forces shot down a combat aircraft belonging to the Greek Air Force. Every year the tension between the countries is growing and there is no end in sight.

The future abbot Vatopeda receives further education at the Theological School of the University of Athens. Time of study from 1972 to 1978. After receiving a diploma, young Vaslios goes to his native island, where he got a job as a teacher at the same seminary of St. Barnabas in the city of Nicosia.

The work as a teacher continued until 1979, when the young man met Elder Joseph of Vatopedi. Vasilios then visited the monasteries of his native Cyprus, and the elder turned out to be a Cypriot. On the island, the elder lived in the monastery of Hiereon in the city of Paphos after the death of his spiritual mentor Joseph the Elder Hesychast.

Ephraim is strongly imbued with the speeches of Elder Joseph, deciding to join the monastic brotherhood, he goes to Athos.

The young man is strongly imbued with the speeches of Joseph and decides to join the monastic brotherhood. After some time, he becomes a disciple of the elder and later moves with him to Athos.

this year Ephraim of Vatopedi is going to live in Novy Skit

At the very beginning, they live in the Kutlunush monastery, but in 1982 they go to live in Novy Skit.

Vasilios becomes hieromonk Ephraim and abbot of Vatopedi

1982 was a significant year for Vasilios. Having moved to Novy Skit, he is tonsured a monk. A year later, in 1983, he successively became a hierodeacon and hieromonk. All this time, he continues to listen to the wisdom of the teacher and pray fervently. Fortunately, the atmosphere of the Athos monasteries predisposes to this ideally.

It is worth noting that not only Ephraim and the teacher moved to Athos. Under Elder Joseph there was a whole brotherhood of monks and monks. Therefore, in 1987, Joseph of Vatopedi and his brothers were instructed to restore spiritual life in Vatopedi.

The Patriarch of Constantinople personally blessed the brotherhood for this holy cause, and in 1989 the brotherhood in full force moved to the monastery being revived.

on this day, Hieromonk Ephraim becomes the first abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery

Hieromonk Ephraim in 1990, March 8, becomes the first abbot of the Vatopedi Monastery. The choice fell on him after the general vote of the monks. A couple of months later, in April, Ephraim was solemnly elevated to the rank of archimandrite and initiated to the post of rector of the monastery.

The ceremony was attended by the Archbishop of Athens Christodoulos, the pro-epistatis of Athos - the elder Theoclitus and many other significant spiritual and civil persons.

In 2009 there is a big grief. In old age, Elder Joseph of Vatopedi died of old age. It was a great loss for the monks of the Vatopedi Monastery.

Joseph by that time had been the confessor of his brothers for many years. The new confessor Vatoped was not chosen for long, the most obvious and preferred candidate was Archimandrite Ephraim.

Archimandrite Ephraim was arrested in 2011 after returning from Russia

In December 2011, Abbot Ephraim participated in the feast of the bringing of the Belt of the Mother of God, which took place in Russia.

After returning to his homeland and arriving at Athos, the archimandrite is handcuffed and taken to the nearest police station. The police do not pay attention to the fact that the old man is sick and shivering from a high temperature.

on this day, Archimandrite Ephraim is escorted to Athens and temporarily imprisoned

On December 28, he is escorted to Athens and temporarily imprisoned in Korydallos, a prison on the outskirts of the capital.

Ephraim is charged with the illegal transfer of property without the consent of the legal authorities. I remember the case when the leadership of the Vatopedi Monastery transferred Lake Vistonida and its environs to a piece of territory worth 100 million euros.

It is worth noting that since 890 the lake was owned by Vatopedi, and then it was illegally taken away by the Greek authorities. The stories are more than muddy. Hegumen Ephraim officially declares to journalists and authorities that the past deal was official.

The accusations against such a respected clergyman outraged the public. First, the Greek clergy and Russian clergy stood up for the hegumen, and then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation intervened.

The Greek authorities were deaf to them and continued to keep the archimandrite in custody. Moreover, Ephraim was put under preliminary arrest, which, according to the laws of Hellas, lasts up to a year and a half.

The most interesting thing is that the Patriarch of Constantinople, who has all the rights to the lands of Athos, sharply asked not to interfere in internal affairs and stop making a fuss about this matter.

on that day, the court changed the detention to house arrest

On March 29, 2012, the abbot's lawyers filed an appeal with a request to replace the detention with house arrest with bail. The court went forward and Ephraim was escorted to the Vatopedi Monastery. They took a written undertaking not to leave Mount Athos from him, and his lawyers pay a bail of 300,000 euros for him.

All this difficult matter ended in March 2017, when the court fully acquitted the abbot and annulled all charges.