invisible hermits on Mt. Athos

[jckstraw72]

so ive heard that there are supposedly 12 invisible monks on the very top of Mt. Athos. anyone have any info on this?

 

[ArmyMatt]

I know that when Elders Joseph the Hesychast and Arsenios the Cave Dweller used to run around in the snow at night to help other monks, people thought that they were the 12

 

[jckstraw72]

shweeeet, is that in the Elder Arsenios book?

 

[ArmyMatt]

that or Elder Haralambos book, don't remember which.

 

[Dorothea]

I don't get it. Invisible hermits on top of Mt. Athos?!

 

[neon_knights]

Invisible?

 

[buzuxi02]

a photo taken from mt athos during winter, but there considered angels, i havent heard of invisible monks.

 

[Dorothea]

Very interesting pic, buzuxi. I haven't heard anything about this before.

 

[Ioannis]

I have heard of this. Not sure about invisible, but definetly hidden. And it's said that one dies, another takes his place and the one that does has it revealed to him to go.

 

[jckstraw72]

yeah, maybe not literally invisible, thats just how i heard them referred to. and nice picture Buzuxi, someone gave me a copy of that once!

 

[Knee V]

I have heard of this. Not sure about invisible, but definetly hidden. And it's said that one dies, another takes his place and the one that does has it revealed to him to go.

I'd heard that they are naked.

 

[-Kyriaki-]

I've heard that they're naked too, and that they go to one priest for confession and Holy Communion, and that if the priest mentions them to anyone else they never go back to him again.

I've also heard that Elder Paisios said something about them?

 

[Andrew21091]

I've also heard that Elder Paisios said something about them?

Yes, its in Athonite Fathers and Athonite Matters.

 

[ma2000]

Yes, heard of them. Invisible as in hidden.

 

[jckstraw72]

Andrew, could you tell us what he say?

 

[Ioannis]

I'd heard that they are naked.

That's right...I forgot about that (it was several years ago that I had heard about it).

 

[Andrew21091]

Andrew, could you tell us what he say?

Yes, sorry. I was going to earlier but I had to go quick and didn't get a chance to expand upon it. It was in the chapter called "The Unknown Anchorite (Probably One of the Anchorites Who Live Invisibly)." Elder Paisios was relating how when he first came to the Holy Mountain in 1950, he was on his way to the Skete of St. Ann's from Kavsokalyvia and instead of taking the path towards the Skete, he ended up towards the peak of Mt. Athos and got lost. He implored the Mother of God to help him and then a hermit appeared to him. Here is how he describes the hermit:

"He was about seventy years old and his clothing showed that he had no contact with people. He was wearing a habit that looked as if it was made of sailcloth, but it was very faded and full of holes. He had fixed the holes with wooden awls, the way farmers close holes in bags when they don't have a sack-needle and string. He had a leather bag, too. discoloured, with holes pulled together in the same way. Round his neck he had a thick chain on which a box hung down on his chest. It seems there was something holy inside!"

Before Elder Paisios could say anything to the hermit, the hermit showed him the right way to St. Ann's. Elder Paisios asked him where he lived and the hermit indicated that he lived up around the peak. Elder Paisios took his blessing and then went on his way. He would relate what happened to another elder who would tell him "That would have been one of the righteous anchorites who live invisibly at the peak of Athos!"

 

[Euthymios]

These monks are not only hidden, they are invisible, and can disappear and appear at will. Wondrous s God in his saints!