Hernia surgery

Once, when the Elder was stamping wooden icons on a pressing machine, he developed a hernia from overexertion. The inner lining of his abdomen was torn apart like a piece of cloth. Thus, this one was added to many of the Elder's crosses. However, he did not sit down either during the hours-long All-Night Vigils, to which he came to some monasteries, or when he received people. He usually received people standing up so that they would not linger for a long time. The elder did not agree to the requests of his acquaintances, doctors and spiritual children to go to the hospital for an operation. He only tried - with the help of simple folk remedies - to maintain his condition - so that he would not get worse.

Once, when the Elder left the Holy Mountain for Souroti, the doctor who had come there to meet him offered him his help:

- Geronda, what hurts you? If it is in my power, I will help you.

"I have a hernia," the Elder answered, "but I don't want to go for an operation. Let me have some sore. If something hurts you, if you suffer and don't ask God to ease your suffering, but ask Him for others, that's a big deal. In this case, God especially hears the prayer of the one who, suffering himself, asks Him to heal others."

This condition lasted for several years. The elder endured unimaginable sufferings. He was in great pain, but he did not show it outwardly. He could no longer lie down on his right side. He fulfilled his monastic rule, but he did it with difficulty and with pain.

Finally, tied with a special medical belt, with a stick, the weak and suffering Elder left Athos, wishing to go to Sinai. But the doctor who examined him in Suroti did not allow him to continue his journey. An urgent operation was required. The Elder's condition was critical, and there was no time to delay.

Thus, despite his reluctance, instead of Sinai, the Elder found himself on the operating table. The pious doctor, Mr. Georgios Bladzas, who operated on the Elder, was worried about the outcome of the operation. Realizing this, the Elder said to him:

"Don't be afraid, Giorgi. I saw how the operation would go... It's going to be all right. I just want to ask you this: do not write "monk Paisios" in your medical history and on the sign at the entrance to the ward, write "Arsenios Eznepidis".

"Why, Geronda?"

– Because if you write "monk Paisius", then people will come, and this will cause you inconvenience.

And indeed, the operation was done, and everything went well – as the Elder saw and predicted. The doctors and nurses never guessed who this monk was. They only said: "This monk is an amazing man! Many monks were in our hospital, but this one is not like the others."