November 29, 2021, Saint Philoumenos | Greek Orthodox Divine Liturgy

Father Philoumenos was born on the island of Cyprus on October 15, 1913, the twin brother of Father Elpidios, a monk of Mount Athos in Greece. At the age of 14 both of the brothers dedicated their lives to the service of Christ as monks, entering the ancient monastery of Stavrovouni, founded by the Empress St. Helen. Later, Father Elpidios left for Mount Athos while Father Philoumenos joined the monastic Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem in 1934. Arriving in Palestine, Father Philoumenos was concerned as he saw how the Orthodox Palestinian faithful were being spiritually neglected. He began the study of the Arabic language, becoming fluent in both speaking and writing and conducting the divine services. It was Father Philoumenos who was sent by the Patriarch of Jerusalem to communities whenever there was a problem caused by the behavior of an unworthy priest or when various sects attempted to lure the faithful away from the Orthodox Faith. He became known as a true defender of the Faith, a man of a blameless life, a man from whom no one could imagine any immodest or improper word, a man whose faith and integrity were a model for all. With energy and zeal he visited small, outlying villages to serve the faithful, often using his own funds to try to save the faithful from being seduced away from the true Faith by the wealth, power and education of other churches from the West. His spiritual son, the Monk Yeghia wrote these reminiscences of his father in Christ:

He never omitted one word of any day’s service. When we were alone in some remote monastery, particularly for Matins, he slowly and carefully chanted each word of every psalm and canon. But when there were pilgrims for the Divine Liturgy and Vespers, he made the usual abridgements lest the service be too long and some be tempted to leave. Later on, privately, he would read every word that had not been chanted in church. Those who stayed with him for some time saw the copies of the church service books and noticed that the markers were always in place and the volumes never dusty, which earned the Divine Promise: “Well done good and faithful servant, because you have been faithful over little things, I will set you over great things. Enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Watch live from the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Isidoroi at Lycabettus Hill, the Matins/Orthros and the Divine Liturgy. The small church of Saint Isidoroi belongs to the Holy Archdiocese of Athens and is located on the west side of Lycabettus Hill in Athens, built inside the largest cave on the hill. According to tradition, this cave was a place of ascetic life of the Christians of the first centuries.