1. Paisius Velichkovsky or Wieliczkowski was an Eastern Orthodox monk and theologian who helped spread staretsdom or the concept of the spiritual elder to the Slavic world.
16 Facts About Paisius Velichkovsky
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Paisius Velichkovsky is a pivotal figure in Orthodox Church history.
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Paisius Velichkovsky spent the next four years in solitary life and prayer, living in extreme poverty.
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In 1758 Paisius Velichkovsky was ordained into priesthood by Bishop Gregory Rasca, and the community's rapid growth required them to move into the larger Skete of St Elias.
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Paisius Velichkovsky perceived that spiritual life must be grounded in the study of the patristic ascetic texts.
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Paisius Velichkovsky began to collect and painstakingly copy out the writings of the ancient Holy Fathers using them as a guide in the spiritual life.
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Paisius Velichkovsky's teachings attracted a number of disciples desiring guidance in the practice of unceasing prayer.
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Paisius Velichkovsky wrote theological epistles to his disciples and translated into Church Slavonic a large number of Greek theological writings, including the Philokalia.
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Paisius Velichkovsky remained on Mt Athos for a total of seventeen years, copying Greek patristic books and translating them into Slavonic.
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In 1764, when Paisius Velichkovsky was forty-two, Prince Grigore III Ghica of Moldavia asked him to come in his country, to preside over the revival of monastic life.
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In 1790, Paisius Velichkovsky received the Great Schema, and was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite, by Bishop Ambrose of Poltava.
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Paisius Velichkovsky was now acting as vicar to the Metropolitan of Moldavia.
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Paisius Velichkovsky's efforts contributed to a dynamic renewal of hesychastic monastic life in 18th century Orthodoxy, and on into the present era.
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Paisius Velichkovsky exerted immense influence on the startsy of the Optina Monastery both through his translations and through his personal disciples, such as Feodor Ushakov.
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Paisius Velichkovsky is venerated for his personal holiness, and his revival of monasticism and spirituality in Romania, Ukraine and Russia, which had suffered under the reforms of Peter I and Catherine II.
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Paisius Velichkovsky revived the ancient teaching on the Jesus Prayer, a teaching almost forgotten in Russia.