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Venerable (Monastic)16th century

Venerable Philotheus of Dionysiou

1526–1610

Also known as Philotheos of Mount Athos

A monk of Dionysiou Monastery on Athos who survived childhood captivity and later embraced monastic asceticism.

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Philotheos of Dionysiou, the Hagiorite

Life

Philotheos of Dionysiou was a sixteenth-century monastic of Mount Athos who, after surviving capture in childhood, settled at Dionysiou Monastery and became known for his ascetic labors. He is commemorated on October 21.

Born in 1526 with the name Theophilos, he was raised in Chrysopolis (Chrysoupolis) in Macedonia, near modern Kavala in northern Greece, after his family emigrated from Elateia. Seized together with his brother by the Turks while still a youth, he kept the Orthodox faith and later embraced the monastic life, taking the name Philotheos at his tonsure.

Timeline5 momentsReadHide
  1. 1526BirthBorn with the name Theophilos in Chrysopolis (Chrysoupolis) in Macedonia, to parents who had emigrated from Elateia; his father died during his childhood.
  2. YouthCaptured by the TurksHe and his brother were seized by the Turks to be raised as Muslims, but kept the Orthodox faith; by tradition the Theotokos delivered them and directed them to become monks at a monastery in Neapolis.
  3. c. 1551Arrival on Mount AthosAt about age twenty-five he came to Mount Athos and settled at Dionysiou Monastery, where he pursued ascetic labors and gathered three disciples.
  4. 1610ReposeDied peacefully at the age of eighty-four; by tradition his body was left unburied and his remains preserved.
  5. 1972Translation of relicsAdditional relics were brought to Dionysiou Monastery; his skull is kept at Petra Monastery in Thessaly.

Contributions & Legacy

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Early Life and Captivity

His parents originated in Elateia and, in fear of the Turks, moved to Chrysopolis in Macedonia, where his father soon died, leaving him and his brother in the care of their mother, Eudokia.

As youths, both brothers were captured by the Turks to be raised as Muslims. The account relates that their mother was left in great anguish by the loss of her sons and eventually enclosed herself in a nearby convent. The brothers nonetheless maintained their Orthodox faith. By tradition, the Theotokos delivered them from captivity and directed them to take up the monastic life at a monastery in Neapolis.

Monastic Life at Dionysiou

According to the tradition recorded of him, Philotheos arrived at Mount Athos around 1551, at about the age of twenty-five, and settled at Dionysiou Monastery.

His ascetic labors are remembered for the resistance of temptation; one episode in his vita recounts his withstanding the attempts of a demon-possessed nun to seduce him. He is also said to have feigned illness in order to withdraw into solitary prayer in a cave, and in time he gathered three disciples around him.

He became renowned for working miracles and was credited with the gift of foreknowledge of future events.

Relics & Shrines

Philotheos reposed peacefully in 1610 at the age of eighty-four. By tradition he asked that his body be left unburied in the forest, and his remains were said to have been preserved, a monk later discovering his skull shining with great light.

His skull is kept at Petra Monastery in Thessaly in a silver reliquary case. Additional relics were brought to Dionysiou Monastery in 1972.

Member ofReadHide
Synaxis of All Saints of Mount Athos
Synaxis
Related Saints2 saintsShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

A fellow monk of Dionysiou on the Holy Mountain.
Saint Josephof Dionysiou
The founder of the Dionysiou monastery where he lived.
Saint DionysiosBuilder of the Prodromou Monastery of Mount Athos

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints