Pilgrims Wait Hours to Venerate St. Paisios' Tomb

THESSALONIKI — Thousands of Orthodox faithful gathered at the Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian in Souroti over the weekend to honor the feast of St. Paisios of Mount Athos, with long lines forming as pilgrims waited for the opportunity to venerate the beloved saint's tomb.

Believers began arriving from across Greece and abroad early on July 11, creating a steady stream of visitors that continued into the following day, which commemorates St. Paisios' repose. Despite extended wait times that stretched to as long as six hours, pilgrims patiently remained in line to venerate the saint's tomb. The monastery also hosted an all-night vigil beginning at 8 p.m. on July 11 and concluding at 4:30 a.m. the next morning, drawing large numbers of worshippers for the solemn services.

Among those attending was Abp. Ieronymos of Athens, who reflected on the enduring witness of St. Paisios. Speaking to Greek broadcaster ERT, the primate said the saint's life serves as a guiding light for Christians and emphasized his example of humility as one worthy of imitation.

The monastery remained open through 8 p.m. on July 12 to accommodate the continuing influx of pilgrims. Volunteers assisted with traffic management as authorities permitted vehicle access to help facilitate the large crowds arriving for one of Greece's most significant annual Orthodox pilgrimages.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Diocese continued its search for the relics of St. Yakov Netsvetov in Alaska.