Saint Arsenios / Saint Arsenios of Paros, the teacher of Sikinos and Folegandros. From the book of His Eminence Protopresbyter Petros Maragos, Hierarchical Commissioner of Mykonos and Delos, “The Ascending Saints of the Holy Metropolis of Syros!
Saint Arsenios was born in Ioannina, Epirus, at 31 January 1800 and his secular name was Athanasios Sergiadis. Orphaned since childhood, when he was only nine years old, he went to Kydonia in Asia Minor. There he studied for five years at the famous school of the city, having as Schoolmaster the famous Teacher of the genus, Hieromonk Gregory Sarafi. During the last years of his studies he was associated with the spiritual Elder Daniel from Zagora of Pelion, one of the renowned intellectuals of that time and became his subordinate.
The 1815 the Saint left for Mount Athos with Elder Daniel and became a monk there. Due to the well-known problems with the issue of kollyvados, they were forced to leave the Athenian state and come to Athens, where the revolution had just begun. They initially sought refuge in Paros but shortly afterwards they left and went to Sikinos and Folegandros in which they remained for several years, because the Folegandrians loved and respected them .
Since there was no teacher, they begged the elder Daniel to give his consent to appoint Saint Arsenius as teacher. Indeed after his appointment by the Government in the position of Hierodachelos and while he had already been ordained a deacon by the Metropolitan of Thira, he took care with ardent zeal and Christian love to teach the children of Folegandria.
Within a short time, on the one hand, old Daniel with the confession and spiritual teaching to the elders and on the other hand Saint Arsenios with the letters to the children, managed to make all the inhabitants of Folegandros come closer to God and become a beloved family. They did this with love and zeal during the eleven years they stayed in Folegandros, from 1829 that is, up to and including the 1840.
But the death of the old man Daniel, caused great mourning in the hearts of all Folegandrians since they loved him as their true father. Two years later after his remains were recovered, Saint Arsenios decided to return to Mount Athos. When the Folegandrians perceived this, all rushed with their wives and children to beg with tears in their eyes Saint Arsenius not to leave them orphans. But the saint insisted on his original decision since this was also the wish of his Elder.
Passing by ferry from Paros, he thought of saying goodbye to his familiar elders. There the Archim. Ilias Georgiadis persuaded him not to go to Mount Athos but to remain in Paros as he eventually did. Despite his initial reactions, accepted to be ordained elder by Metropolitan Daniel Kontoudis of Cyclades.
As a priest, the holy Arsenius, he slept and ate little. His food was the study of the Holy Bible and the writings of the God-bearing Fathers. He loved vigil and unceasing prayer and loved all people, without discrimination. But as a faithful follower of the evangelical saying he loved more the sick and helpless whom he ministered to with great eagerness.
After the death of the Abbot, the 1861, the Fathers will elect the saint, as his replacement. A few years later, however, he will resign for to engage in prayer undividedly.
The saint slept in peace in the year 1877. The collection of his remains took place 1938 and the his memory is commemorated on 31 January and on 18 August. His holy remains rest in godliness at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery of Sotiros in Paros.
The Most Reverend p. Petros Maragos
High Priest Commissioner of Mykonos and Delos