Paisios and Arsenios the Cappadocian are one of the most revered saints in Greece. Their lives were closely interlinked. Arsenios became the spiritual adviser for Paisios and helped him to reach the enlightenment. Paisios, in his turn, perpetuated the memory of his teacher by giving the written description of his life.
The history is full of stories and legends describing miraculous healings by Arsenios in his lifetime and after death. People established a monastery in Halkidiki to honor the saint. The territory of the monastery houses the grave of Elder Paisios.
Arsenios come from a small village of Farasa (Cappadocia). From an early age, he showed a special interest in religion and healing. At the age of 26, he became a monk at the Monastery of St John the Baptist (Agios Prodomos) and became the religious adviser for fellow villagers. Arsenios never refused anyone. The Turks also came to him, hoping that he would heal them from apoplexy, mental disorders, and deafness. At the same time, Arsenios was engaged in the educational mission, promoting the propagation of the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, and culture in Asia Minor. The saint knew the date of his date. He died in 1924 at the island of Corfu. He came there with thousands of refugees from Asia Minor and the Black Sea region. In 1986, the Ecumenical Patriarchate reckoned Arsenios to the saints.
The same year, the monastery opened its doors to visitors thanks to the efforts of the Metropolitan of Kassandra Metropolis of Sinesia and Paisios. It is a relatively young religious house, compared to other temples in Greece. At the same time, it can boast of having religious artifacts with centuries-old history.
The lush garden is the first thing that will certainly attract your attention upon arrival into the territory of the monastery. There are clean and shaved lawns, small trees, and flowers here. All that beauty is the result of the work of the 14 monks who live at the monastery. Just a few steps from the garden, you will find the grave of Elder Paisios. Thousands of cancer sufferers annually come up here to kiss it.
Next, you will see a beautiful building that was built in the classic Byzantine style with the usage of light-beige capstones and the roof of the Roman ocher color.
The building preserves a lot of relics: the holy Relic of Saint John Chrysostom, the great Saint Nektarios of Aegina, Saint Paul the Apostle, and Saint Arsenios. There are also a lot of ancient icons on the walls of the monastery. Some of them date back over two hundred years.
There is a small book shop on the territory of the monastery. You can buy various religious books in different languages here (including books for kids!). A few steps away, you will find a stall, selling the wooden souvenirs made by the monks.
The territory of the monastery also features an observation deck, where you can admire picturesque scenes of the area.
Catch the bus and have a ride till the IKEA station (ΑΝΑΤΟΛΙΚΟΣ ΣΤΑΘΜΟΣ ΙΚΕΑ). Then, you will need to catch the bus 87A, 87N, 87M, 87P, or 87T. The station is called MONASTIRI IOANNOU THEOLOGOU (ΜΟΝΑΣΤΗΡΙ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΘΕΟΛΟΓΟΥ, code of the station – 38049). The bus runs on weekdays and Saturdays. The travel time – 40 minutes.
