Testimony of a resident of the city of Paphos in Cyprus, Mr. Nikolaos Xinaris: "I am a plumber. One day, in July 1997, after finishing work, I was collecting tools and putting them in the car. It was getting dark, it was hard to see. Next to the machine was stretched a wire on which clothes are dried, and on it another piece of wire dangled from the edge. The sharp edge of this piece was bent like a hook - two centimeters long. In the darkness I did not notice him. Having collected the tools, I carried them to the car and came across a hook that stuck right in my eye. I froze in place, like a fish caught on a hook. With all my might, I shouted: "Help!" The owner of the house where I worked ran out, saw me and promised that he would pull out this hook now. I refused, fearing that by pulling out the hook he would make me blind. I asked him to bring wire cutters from my car – to bite off the wire and take me to the trauma center so that the doctors could pull the wire out of my eye.

While he was looking for wire cutters in the car, I cried, I felt sorry for the children. I have three of them, and I didn't want their father to be blind.

And at that moment a thin man dressed in a black cassock appeared in front of me. When I saw him, I crossed myself. I started shivering. I felt him take me with his hand below my cheek and push my head up. At the same moment, a piece of wire jumped out of my eye.

When the owner brought the wire cutters, they were not needed. He took me to the trauma center. The doctors examined me, I told them what had happened to me, but they did not believe me. On my eye, right on the pupil, there was a trace of a cut. The doctors gave me an ointment and said that I had to wear a bandage on my eye for three or four days.

The next day, I went into the store and saw a photo of a person who appeared to me on the wall. I asked the owner of the store who he was. She said that this is a very famous monk, his name is Paisius. I wanted to buy this photo from her at all costs, because it was priceless to me. I began to ask the hostess to sell it to me, offering her any money for this photo, but instead of a photo, she gave me a book about Elder Paisios. I read this book in a day. And now it is always in my car – like a shrine guarding me."

Tangible Presence

In 2000, one of the moved pilgrims sent the following testimony: "When Elder Paisios was still alive, I came to the Holy Mountain among a large group of pilgrims. We left the Iveron Monastery, wishing to visit the Elder in his kaliva. However, unfortunately, we got lost on the way and could not find his cell.

In 1998, when I came to Athos again, I went to his cell to venerate, at least, the place where he lived. The Elder himself had already died at that time. I felt great joy and silence. However, when I left the Panaguda, no less sorrow was added to the great joy. "Why," I thought, "didn't I meet the Elder last time we were on Mount Athos? After all, if only a visit to his cell filled me with so much joy, then how unimaginable would be the blessing of meeting him! I seem to be a great sinner, since God has deprived me of this joy."

I was oppressed by unbearable sorrow. I could hardly restrain myself from crying. And so, as I walked down the path to the great stone-lined path leading to the Iveron Monastery, I felt a hand tightly embracing me from behind. Then that hand patted me gently on the back, and I heard a comforting voice: "Come on, boy, go with God."139 At the same moment everything around me was filled with a very strong fragrance, and my soul was overwhelmed with inexpressible joy, which completely dispersed my former sorrow. Although I did not see the face of the Elder, I felt as if I had met him."

The Elder's Help in Traffic Accidents