Feast Day: Febrauary 15th
The Life of Saint Anthimos: His only help in his Spiritual contests was an Icon of the Mother of God given to him by his mother later known as Panagia Voithia (the Helper), which soon began to work Miracles, drawing many to his hermitage…
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A Prayer
Apolytikion: O new boast of Orthodoxy, and newly-adorned flower of purity, you shared the name of Anthimos of Nikomedia, and shared his virtues and way of life, O new seal and adornment of the Venerable ones. O Father Anthimos, the boast of all Chios, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy.
“Only the tears of repentance are able to cleanse the Soul.”
“When we sit and collect our thoughts and see that we’re nothing; when, in humility, we put ourselves to shame, then our tears in God begin to flow, sweetening the heart and igniting Divine fire.”
“What do people do when their hands and faces are dirty? They turn on a tap and allow the water to clean away the stains. We should imitate them. Only, we should open two taps – our eyes, so that an abundance of tears of repentance pour out, which will wash out all the poisons of this futile world which have infected and dirtied our wretched Souls.”
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“The Panagia is the only Mother of all Christians. And who does not call upon her? Because the sufferings of mankind are many in this vain world, nowhere else can we all find relief, except in the Panagia. When you are sitting there quietly, a thought suddenly comes to you and brings darkness. Where will you go to be loosed from this darkness? To the Panagia. All the Saints are our helpers, but above all is the Panagia…. She has the riches of great compassion. She has great love for mankind, especially for sinners. For this reason she never ceases to mediate to her Son, and the Son takes great joy when His Mother intercedes on behalf of mankind. For this reason she brought us His Mother and granted her to us that we may have her as a source of Salvation.”
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“We, Monks, ought to stick to three things: to play deaf, blind and dumb. These three things are the Monk’s work. Physical work is a sideline. Our task is to close our eyes, our ears and our mouths, so that we can pass through the various circumstances of our lives. Be silent, to avoid the troubles and scandals and all the bad things. Be silent so that God will reveal the Mysteries to you.”
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“Prayer is the mirror of the Soul. As a man sees what his form looks like in the mirror, so with Prayer, when it is warm and sincere, the inner man is revealed. Prayer will show you who you are.”
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“There is nothing worse than anger, disobedience, pride, jealousy, accusation and hatred. These passions kill the Soul, darken the mind, wipe away the intelligence and every kind of virtue from man and evacuate the Divine Grace.”
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“Humble-mindedness will bring all the virtues.”
“The affection of the Spiritual Father is much higher than that of the carnal. For many times the carnal father can deliver you to hell, while the Spiritual Father will take you to Eternal Life.”
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An Icon
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Below is an Icon of Saint Anthimos Tonsuring Saint Nikephoros.
