Tag: Orthodox Church

Having drawn all virtue to himself,
Panaretos confirms his name by his deeds.

Saint Panaretos was born at the beginning of the eighteenth century, most probably in Peristeronopigi of Famagusta, where he also became a monk in the local Monastery of Saint Anastasius. We know that in the year 1764 he was the abbot of the Monastery of the Panagia in Pallouriotissa. He ascended the throne of Paphos in 1767 and served as its Hierarch until 1790, when he fell asleep in the Lord.

He lived during those difficult years of the Turkish occupation, a time when fear overshadowed all things and the yoke of slavery weighed heavily. Despite the lack of schools and free education at the time, he was able to acquire a broad education through his own personal efforts and by attending schools maintained by the monasteries. He possessed a broad intellect, which he combined with a strict ascetic life that he diligently concealed. He lived frugally and without luxury, like the poorest Cypriot of his time. He kept vigil for many hours in prayer. He went to confession with humility and celebrated the divine services with sacred dignity. Knowing full well that a man’s greatest victory is to conquer himself—namely, his passions and weaknesses—and in order to remember that the people entrusted to him by God were heavily chained in Turkish slavery, he wore upon his body a brass and an iron chain. By sanctifying himself through the Grace of God, he offered the greatest help to his flock.

As a Metropolitan, he so loved his people that he attended to the problems of all with exceptional care. He utilised both spiritual and material goods in an Orthodox manner, with balance, to the glory of God. He guided the people towards theosis; he celebrated the liturgy, pastored, taught, laboured, and created.

He had a special devotion to Saint Philip (commemorated on the 14th of November) and commissioned a silver reliquary for the Saint’s skull, which is found today in Omodos. At his own expense, an icon of the Apostle Philip was painted. He undertook the expenses for the erection of the church of the Monastery of Saint Anastasius in Peristeronopigi and the painting of the icons for its iconostasis. He renovated the churches in Nikokleia, Drousia, Drymou, Arodes, Theletra, Philousa Kelokedaron, and many other villages. He also renovated the monasteries of Chrysorrogiatissa (1770), the Holy Cross in Omodos, and the Holy Cross in Minthi.

Panaretos of Paphos fully undertook the costs for the publication of the work by the Athenian philosopher Theophilos Korydalleus, “On Generation and Corruption According to Aristotle” (1780). He also assisted financially in the publication of the book by Archimandrite Kyprianos, “A Chronological History of Cyprus” (1788). He was a friend of the Archbishop of Cyprus, Philotheos, who was a highly educated man. He participated in the writing and publication of synodal encyclicals during the tenure of Archbishop Chrysanthos. Owing to his efforts in 1774, local rulers were denounced to the Sultan for maladministration, and in 1783–1784 he travelled with the other Metropolitans to Constantinople, where they succeeded in having the tyrant Hadjibakkis dismissed by the Sultan.

He worked miracles while still in this life. His synaxarion records that he rebuked a priest—who was telling lies and swearing that he had not embezzled money—commanding him to be silent, and the man immediately became mute. Having fallen ill shortly before his death, the priest sent a letter, and his bishop went to him. After the priest repented and asked for forgiveness, his tongue was loosed.

The holy hierarch departed unto the Lord in 1790. Such was the virtue of the saint that he foresaw his death and dug his own grave in the place where the sanctuary of the Cathedral of Saint Theodore in Paphos is located today. He also foresaw that the former Bishop of Karpathos, Parthenios, had arrived at the port of Paphos; he sent for him and offered him hospitality. Parthenios then served his funeral on the very next day. He even became a witness to the healing of a poor paralytic, who had the bishop as his protector, at the very moment they were bringing the relics out from the Metropolis.

The saint had given instructions that he be buried in the garments he was wearing. However, out of love for his spiritual father, his protosyngellos disobeyed him for the first time, and it was then that the chains were discovered, which in certain places had embedded themselves into his flesh. The people of God recognised his holiness immediately after his death, and his official inclusion in the holy calendar of the Church of Cyprus took place during the days of the Cypriot Patriarch of Constantinople, Gerasimos III (1794–1797).

Apolytikion (Troparion), Tone Plagal 1 (5)

Let us praise and glorify the shepherd of Paphos, who lived ascetically in the city as on a mountain, and wisely acquired all the divine virtues as one. Wherefore, as Panaretos, he was shown by God to be wondrous unto the world; and as a God-inspired Hierarch, he fervently intercedeth with God on behalf of all.

Kontakion, Tone 2

Having thy mind illumined by the radiance of the Spirit, O most sacred one, thou wast revealed as a shepherd proven in deed. For through Him thou hast received the divine grace of wonders, and in very deed thou didst become Panaretos, receiving thy name from thy works.