Pilgrimage to St David in Evia

[ikonographics]

I had the great blessing to stay at the monastery of St David in Evia this weekend, where Elder Iakovos was Igoumenos and also to venerate the Relics of St John the Russian. The hospitality and love of the monks was amazing. I've uploaded some photos on my profile for anyone interested to see.

St David and St John intercede for us!

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Thanks, Julia! Wonderful pictures. Can you tell me a little about St. David and this cave? Is this King David, or another Saint?

Mary

 

[Thekla]

Julia,

what a treasure !

thank-you so much for posting the pictures; who knew a computer screen could convey such 'peace'

 

[Philothei]

Hey Julia I have been in St. John the Russian many many times...as a young kid. I went with my family some years back while visiting Greece...Great place... I have to look at your album and see the pics from St. David ...I have not visited that one yet! Got to make a mental note...

 

[ikonographics]

Thanks, Julia! Wonderful pictures. Can you tell me a little about St. David and this cave? Is this King David, or another Saint?

Mary

St David "the Elder" and wonderworker of Evia lived in the 16th century. When he was 3 years old St John the Forerunner let him to a chapel where he prayed for 6 days in front of his icon before his father, a priest found him when he went to serve vespers. David's face shone with light. At the age of 15 he became a monk and lived in obedience to his Elder Akakios in Magnesia. At the age of 20 he was already know as "David the Elder" because of his great ascetic struggles and wisdom. He was renowned for his obedience to his elder and humility. After saying in various other monasteries with his Elder including the Great Lavra on Mount Athos, Akakios was made metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Arta and ordained David to the priesthood.
When he eventually went to the island of Evia he asked a boatsman to take him across the water, but seeing St David in his worn out raso, he refused, so St David threw his raso on the water, made the sign of the cross and sailed across the see on his raso. He ascended the mountain where the monastery is situated today and the only thing there was a ruined chapel of the Transfiguration, so he dwelt in a nearby cave. His sanctity and virtue became known and people would come from round about to visit him and it became necessary to build the monastery. He didn't have the necessary money. He called the builders and showed them where he wanted them to build the monastery high on the mountain above the ruined chapel and told them to prepare the building materials. In the mean time he left in search of funds an materials for the monastery. He ended up in Russia where the faithful gave him money and many holy vessels for the monastery. St David had no way of bringing them all from Russia to Evia, so he hollowed out a large log and sealed the money and the gifts inside, made the sign of the cross and threw the log with the treasure into a river in Russia and prayed that when he would arrive in Rovies Evia, so would the log. And indeed when he arrived in Rovies the log had washed up on the beach where locals saw the unusual would and tried to open it. There axes simply broke and St David said to them that the would contained treasure for him to build the monastery of the Transfiguration. When he ascended the mountain he saw that the builders had started building the monastery near the ruined chapel and not high up the mountain where he had shown them. When he asked them why, they said it was because there was no water near the peak. so he told them "Come, we'll see if there is water or not." The went to the spot, St David knelt down and prayed then hit the root of a tree with his staff and immediately a river of water gushed out. Despite that, St David allowed the builders to continue building the monastery where they started.
During the last years of the saint's life he would spent all week in his cave living only on antidoron and would return to the monastery at the weekend to serve the Divine Liturgy. He fell asleep in the Lord on 1 November. Needless to say the miracles of St David are countless!
St David intercede for us!
The photo shows Elder Iakovos wearing St Davids petrachili and holding his staff and censer.

 

[Mary of Bethany]

Thank you, Julia!

Mary

 

[Andrew21091]

Wonderful photos. I love the pictures of St. David's cave. I would love to go to Greece to see this monastery. I guess I can add it to my list of all the monasteries I want to visit one day.