Ο πατήρ Φιλόθεος Ζερβάκος (1884-1980): βίος και δράση-συγγράμματα

Abstract

Father Philotheos Zervakos, abbot of the monastery of the Holy Life-Giving FountainLogovarda Paros is undoubtedly a prominent spiritual and fatherly figure of the 20th century.For almost 80 full years he gave his testimony as a monk, priest, preacher, spiritual father,abbot and missionary writer. He was a follower of The Kollyvades Movement and a worthysuccessor and descendant of them. He was a spiritual stature of St. Nectarios of Pentapolisand a bishop in the Episcopal region of St. Nicholas Planas, Alexander Papadiamantis andMoraitidis. He was submissive to "Kollyvades" elders of the Monastery of Loggovarda inParos and he was spiritually raised in the space where Athanasios of Paros, Arsenios of Parosand Cyril Papadopoulos previously lived and acted. He was also neighbor of St. Nicodemusof the Holy Mountain the Naxian. All these circumstances and conditions had a great effecton him so that he could mature spiritually. He set all those eminent spiritual people as a nexample and continue their regenerative and correctional work. His whole life and work was acomplete dedication to the Holy Church and the ministry of the faithful Christians. Hesteadily and unswervingly followed the steps of his predecessors by respecting the principlesof the regenerative movement of Kollyvades.He is undoubtedly influenced by the movement of Kollyvades with whom he sharescommon elements like the ones which have been shown in our study. However, wejump to the conclusion that it is more appropriate to be included in the group ofcontemporary, virtuous fathers who acted in our century as charismatic figures as heforms his character, taking elements from all who played a significant role in hisspiritual maturity.During his day and age the Monastery of Logovarda became a bright beacon of Orthodoxy.While he was an abbot of the monastery he offers enormous spiritual, missionary and aboveall social work. He pays a lot of attention to the value of the human person. He toils andlabours for the salvation of every Christian soul. Through his letters, and generally hiswritings he reveals a soteriological perspective. Besides, let's not wipe away the miraculouscase of saving 125 Parian during the German occupation of the island. A substantial andpriceless offering.The spiritual and divine experiences he used to have, make him a fragrant vessel of the HolySpirit. He managed to share equal charismatic experiences with previous Saints of ourOrthodox Church.The thousands of his spiritual children serve as a good external testimony of his virtuous lifeand can even be used as an evidence for the holiness of the man. Bishops, abbots, priestmonks,priests, monks, nuns and ay people of every social class were fortunate enough toactively have him as a spiritual father during the holy sacrament of confession.He truly was a formidable orator and writer. He handled all sectors of the ecclesiasticalwritings. He exhibits hagiographical, doctrinal, ecclesiological, anti-heretical, educational,historical, hymnological and pastoral work. We consider that his contribution to theecclesiastical writings is huge. In our research, we discovered that the number of hispublished books is bigger than the number which is stated by various scholars; morespecifically they reach number 34. Apart from his 34 published books, he also presented nearly one hundred separate articles in newspapers and magazines when he was still alive.Among other letters that he wrote for which we know nothing about, two thousands of hisletters have survived. He used to respond in a responsible way. His replies were welldocumented relying on the Bible, the sacred canons, the sacred traditions and the sacred textsof the Holy Fathers.Moreover, his unpublished books, which have been presented in this study, reveal thePhilokalian aspects that adorned the life of this man and the spiritual height that he managedto conquer, after almost an entire century. Through his writings, he offers with particularrhetorical persuasion and fluency the evangelical and unadulterated patristic teaching. Notonly does he hold the dogmatic teaching but he is also an unerring manipulator on the path ofrepentance. His main purpose is the salvation of all Christians.He ached and pained with the various problems of the modern human beings. He always usedto get convulsed, agonize and pray for the progress of our Holy Church. The titles of some ofhis books reveal the extent of his anguish and care: 'Ultimate Plea", "The Trump of salvation"etc.He did not hesitate to scold some of his contemporaries who were deceived and defected fromthe Orthodox teaching. Apostolos Makrakis was a person who many did not dare to confront.Father Philotheos disproves his entire teaching and collides with the students of Makrakis.Through his writings, he admonishes the followers of Makrakis and seeks their repentanceand return to the Church.Magdalene abbess of Kozani. This important and secularly powerful nun is scolded as well.She is called "fallen" and asked by father Philotheos to return by the way of penance. Indeed,the insistence of father Philotheos on the preservation of our Faith, the observance of the HolyCanons and the adherence to the sacred traditions gives us a powerful message. The messageof inexhaustible wealth and resources possessed by the Church.His struggle for the preservation of the Faith as delivered to us by the head of the ChurchJesus Christ was consistent and persistent. He accepted no condescension and retreat inmatters of faith. He vigorously complained in all directions, either ecclesiastical or civilauthority. His main pursuit was the establishment and persistence of Greek Christiantraditions.The blasphemy, the immodest attire and the sin in general is noted and reviled in his works. Aseries of letters are sent to the King, the Prime Minister and the secular rulers of Greece fortheir mediation in order to stop the evil. He lived in an era when the calendar and the unifyingissue were plaguing the Church. He does not hesitate to strongly criticize Patriarchs, Bishops,Prelates etc. Nevertheless, he was always acting as a member of the Holy Church, respectingit and obeying the leadership of the Church.In conclusion, we note here one of the views of Father Filotheos showing his ecclesiologicalmorale: "We do not wish to support the indiscipline in the Church, the rebellion and anarchy;we need to stay away from blasphemy ...». This is exactly the way in which Father Philotheosalways used to act within the Church. He was never cut off from the body of the Church. Hecommemorates the relevant bishop and operates on behalf of him. Although a supporter of the old, Julian calendar is proved a fierce accuser of old calendar followers who were set apartfrom the One, Holy, Apostolic Orthodox Church.His works are genuine sources of truth and orthodoxy moral treatises. His unpublishedcorrespondence with the late Elder Daniel Katounakiotis, which we publish for the first time,reveals the first reactions of orthodoxy for the calendar issue and the attitude of theadministrative Church. An issue that unfortunately divided the Greek Church and beyond.The triggering of souls was indeed the motive for the firm stance of father Philotheos.“As far as the issue of the reunification of the Churches is concerned, the elder hoar had agreat desire for its success and felt that it was a divine task. However, he set someprerequisites among which was the recognition of the misbelief of the Western Church andthe acceptance of the errors committed by the Western Church. After all these steps, theChurch of the west must ask for forgiveness in order to incorporate in the Orthodox Church.He is totally opposed to negotiation and retreat on behalf of the Orthodox Church, since thewhole truth is found throughout Orthodoxy.By reading his books and articles only once, the scholar will comprehend the robust attitudeof the father, his discretion, as well as solutions in terms of the divine economy which heproposes to the body of the Church.Paros abounds in temples, monasteries and chapels which were founded and built by FatherPhilokalian Philotheos. Even though 33 years have passed since his death, his memory is keptalive by the people of Paros. They supplicate him and call him: the "Holy Elder." We believethat his whole contribution and action will appropriately be recognized by our Holy Church,so that Father Philotheos will be added to the Hagiology of the Church as a new mainstaysince he supported the Church and the wholeness of it in excessively difficult times.Finally, as a last token of the holiness of the Father is the witness - the Patriarchal words ofHis Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. In his speech at the inauguration ceremonyof the Church of St. Nicholas in Havana, Cuba on 25 January 2004, he stressed that theOrthodox Church has never ceased declaring Saints. He ended his speech saying that thereare even those whom the wholeness of the Church unanimously recognizes as saints, althoughan official recognition praxis of these Holiness has not yet been canonized. Such holy figuresare the Elders Paisios, Porfyrios and Ephraim, the countryman St. Nicholas Iakovos of Evia,Philotheos Zervakos and anyone else. Close to these holy figures, thousands of souls foundpeace and sweetness; they felt joy and became alive. The elements of nature obeyed them.They were respected by animals. Everyone and everything felt the love and the grace of theHoly Spirit residing in them. Their eyes were eyes of Christ. Their hands were hands ofphilanthropy. Their heart was full of genuine love. Their minds were peaceful and theirbeliefs were holy. Their everyday life was characterised by "love, joy, peace, patience,goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Their prayers made the counsels of Nations nonexistent as well as bringing the mercy and help of God in the world. Their prayers alsowhisked away evil spirits, restored the health of sick people and solved humanly unsolvableproblems. Many people owe to these genuine men of God a lot. They are the biggestbenefactors to us.