Elder Paisios has no need of our praise or promotion. With his Christ-like love, he pleased God and people and thus gained great glory in the Church of Christ.
The elder possessed a unique gift of finding a common language and helping everyone (regardless of their education, financial situation and spiritual state).
I recall one incident: a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst visited our monastery after meeting Father Paisios. By his own admission, he not only received comfort and support from the elder but also concluded that Father Paisios was familiar with the latest advances in psychiatry. Although, as is well known, Elder Paisios read no books other than the Gospel and the works of Isaac the Syrian .
The elder spared no time or effort to help people. For a long time, I wondered how Father Paisios managed to heal a young man with serious psychological and spiritual problems. Out of respect, I hesitated to ask the elder himself. Several years later, he answered my question as follows:
"When someone is tormented by a problem, you should listen to them attentively. No matter how long they talk, you mustn't let their words bore you—because then everything will be useless. Once, I sat motionless listening to a young man's story for nine hours. I even felt my bowels cramp from the pain." This wasn't the only time Father Paisios's sacrificial love worked a miracle.
Another time, when I asked his advice about a difficult problem I was facing as a spiritual father during confession, the elder said to me, "Listen, Father, when someone becomes a spiritual father, he must be determined to go to hell in place of those he confesses. Otherwise, he is not ready to be a spiritual father. But I'll tell you this: even if he ends up in hell, he will make it into heaven, because he will have love." A surprising and astounding instruction. Only someone who has come close to God could utter such a thing.
It is widely known that over the past thirty years, thanks to the care of the Most Holy Theotokos, the Holy Mountain has experienced a revival, and the number of monks living there has grown significantly. Father Paisios is one of the elders who helped many young men decide to become monks. He also helped many young monks take root on Mount Athos and bear good spiritual fruit. Elder Paisios was our companion in the pastoral care of young monks, a helper to many who struggle against the devil and the passions.
The elder often advised spiritual nobility and piety. These virtues adorned him, as all who interacted with him can attest.
Once, when I visited his old cell of the Most Honorable Cross, after our conversation, the elder walked me a long way. Only when I told him he shouldn't tire himself and should return to his cell did he bid me farewell and leave. If I hadn't asked him to return, he would have accompanied me all the way to the monastery's headquarters in Karyes.
I would also like to note that Father Paisios rarely demonstrated his gift of clairvoyance and always did it not for show, but for the spiritual benefit of his neighbor.
To one young monk, who had a thought against the abbot because he had not given him a warm jacket, the elder (who, naturally, did not know about this) said: "Blessed brother, what thought is weighing you down? That the abbot did not make a jacket for you?"
Father Paisios consoled the young monks when they became despondent over their weaknesses (such as envy), characterizing them as childish shortcomings. He gave them practical advice on how to overcome them and achieve spiritual maturity.
Elder Paisios also possessed the pinnacle of all virtues—discernment. He helped everyone find their calling in life and the path to God.
The elder's love embraced the entire world. He helped many people, especially young people, live a Christian life in the world and build a true Orthodox family.
During the conversation with the elder, there was a feeling that you were in the arms of God Himself.
It should also be noted that Father Paisios was very sensitive to dogmatic issues. He once wrote to me: "Dogmas are not part of the EEC." In this matter, too, the elder followed the patristic path, believing that not only virtue but also correctness in matters of faith are necessary for human salvation.
Father Paisios's holy life was crowned with a righteous death. He regarded a terrible and painful illness as a gift from God. The elder overcame his egotism. He was not concerned about his own pain, but even confined to his sickbed, he thought not of himself, but of his suffering neighbors. Even in his final days, he was concerned about the problems facing those around him. To a pious couple who visited the elder a few days before his death, he said, "I command you to see to it that your daughters are married." Through the elder's prayers, this command was successfully fulfilled.
Eternal memory to you, venerable elder. Thank you for all you have given us, for your comfort, support, and guidance through your words and example. Pray for us, that we too may follow in your footsteps, as you followed our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Source: https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Georgij_Kapsanis/o-startse-paisie-svjatogortse/