Ascetics in the World I – The Blessed Symeon
Ascetics in the World – Part I’
In 1922 there came from Asia Minor, together with the refugees, an orphaned Greek boy named Symeon. He settled in Piraeus in a little shack and there grew up on his own. He had a small cart and worked as a porter, carrying goods to the harbor of Piraeus. He knew no letters, nor much about our faith. He had blessed simplicity and a faith that was simple and uninquisitive.
When he came of an age for marriage he wed, had two children, and moved with his family to Nikaia. Every morning he went to the harbor of Piraeus to earn his bread. But each morning he passed by the church of Saint Spyridon, went inside, stood before the icon screen, took off his little cap, and said: "Good morning, my Christ, it is Symeon. Help me to earn my bread". In the evening, when he finished his work, he passed by the Church again, went once more before the icon screen, and said: "Good evening, my Christ, it is Symeon. Thank You for helping me today as well". And so passed the years of the blessed Symeon.
Around the year 1950 all the members of his family fell ill with tuberculosis and reposed in the Lord. Symeon was left all alone and continued his work without complaint, and he did not fail to pass by Saint Spyridon to bid Christ good morning and good evening, asking for His help and thanking Him.
When Symeon grew old, he fell ill. He entered the Hospital and was treated there for about a month. A head nurse from Patras once asked him:
–Grandfather, so many days in here and no one has come to see you. Do you have no one of your own in the world?
–He comes, my child, every morning and afternoon, Christ, and He comforts me.
–And what does He say to you, grandfather?
–"Good morning, Symeon, it is Christ, be patient." "Good evening, Symeon, it is Christ, be patient."
The head nurse was astonished and called her Spiritual Father, Fr. Christodoulos Fasos, to come and see Symeon, in case he had been deceived. Fr. Christodoulos visited him, struck up a conversation, put to him the head nurse's question, and Symeon gave him the same answer. At the same hours, morning and evening, when Symeon used to go to the church and greet Christ, now Christ too greeted Symeon. The Spiritual Father asked him:
–Might it be your imagination?
–No, Father, I am not deluded, it is Christ.
–Did He come today too?
–He came.
–And what did He say to you?
–Good morning, Symeon, it is Christ. Be patient; in three days I will take you to Me, early in the morning.
The Spiritual Father went to the Hospital every day, talked with him, and learned about his life. He understood that this was a blessed man. On the third day, early in the morning, he again went to see Symeon and to verify whether the prophecy that he would die would be fulfilled. Indeed, right there as they were conversing, Symeon suddenly cried out: "Christ has come", and he fell asleep in the sleep of the righteous.
May his memory be eternal. Amen.
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THE VOW OF THE NATION. THE CHURCH OF THE SAVIOR.
The Fourth National Assembly of the Greeks.
Deems itself fortunate to have become the instrument by which the Nation fulfills the most desired of its debts, namely, to send up its gratitude to God, Who showed so many miracles in order to save it.
Consequently, the Fourth National Assembly of the Greeks decrees:
I. When the territorial extent of Greece and the seat of its Government shall be definitively established, and the financial resources of the state shall permit it, the Government shall order that there be erected at the seat a Church in the name of the Savior.
(ARCHIVES OF THE GREEK PALINGENESIA, volume 4. The Fourth National Assembly at Argos 1828-1829,
-Second of the National Assemblies, p. 116)
When those responsible remember to fulfill the forgotten and unfulfilled vow of the Nation and the rebuilding of the Church begins, the proceeds from the sale of the present book will be devoted to a little stone for the Church of our Savior Christ.
