Ο ΓΕΡΟΝΤΑΣ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΗΜΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΟΡΟΥΣ ΧΑΜΑΤΟΥΡΑ: ΕΝΑΣ ΚΡΥΜΜΕΝΟΣ ΘΗΣΑΥΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΟΡΘΟΔΟΞΙΑΣ - ELDER PANTELEIMON OF HAMATOURA: A HIDDEN TREASURE OF ORTHODOXY

Elder Isaac is the author of the book "The Life of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos." This is the best book that has ever been released about Elder Paisios and this is not by chance since Elder Isaac was a spiritual child of elder Paisios and a member of his company of monks. We all know that Elder Paisios is probably the biggest legacy of the Orthodox world of the 20th century after Saint Nektarios. Elder Paisios is considered by the Orthodox as a contemporary saint. Elder Isaac who lived with Elder Paisios was a charismatic elder who had spiritual perspicacity which had been passed to him by Elder Paisios. For this reason, he himself, had his own spiritual childern, one of whom was the current Elder Panteleimon, who is the Abbot of the Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos (Mother of God) of Hamatoura in Lebanon. Elder Panteleimon who comes from Lebanon, was living as a monk in Mount Athos under the spiritual guidance of these two great men of contemporary Orthodoxy was endowed with much charisma .

During his stay in Mount Athos, he was envisioned by a then unknown saint from his homeland who went by the name of Saint Jacob. He asked the then hieromonach Panteleimon, to return to Lebanon and rebuild the ruined monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Hamatoura where the saint used to be resident and which had been destroyed by the Mamluks in the 13th century. Through his many visions and visitations to the hieromonach Pateleimon, the saint also revealed the martyrdom and the tragic beheading which he suffered by the Mamluks during this period. Hieromonach Panteleimon, informed his spiritual father, Elder Isaac, about these visions and appearances of Saint Jacob, who understood immediately that these were God send masseges and urged Father Panteleimon to do the will of the saint and return to Lebanon. Therefore after the passing away of Elder Paisios, and the subsequent passing away of his spiritual father-Elder Isaac, Elder Panteleimon, returned to Lebanon in the late 1990's, taking with him the blessing and the charisma of these two spiritual men.
The monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos on Mount Hamatoura is built inside a cave, on a sharp side of the high mountain, and from afar it looks as if it is an eagle's nest. Looking at it, one can only but wonder how people could construct a monastery on such a place since the area is virtualy impassible and the only way for anyone to reach the monastery is a steep uphill path. For someone to reach the monastery much faith is needed and about 50 minutes of walking, after crossing the Kadeesha River flowing in the valley of the same name.

When Elder Panteleimon arrived, he found the monastery destroyed and in ruins. He and his small company of monks, immediately began working in rebuilding and refactioning the Monastery after seven centuries of silence. Ten years have passed since then and the monastery has not only been rebuild, but it has also become the spiritual center of the Orthodox of the area. It is a Mount Athos, outside Mount Athos. Elder Panteleimon has transformed the monastery into a lighthouse of Orthodoxy. Hundreds of people run to him, not only for confession, but also to get acquainted with true Orthodoxy.

Elder Panteleimon in turn is working tirelessly among the young people teaching them Byzantine iconography, Byzantine music, and the Greek language. Today, the monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos of Hamatoura, has become a religious attraction mostly for the youth not only of the region, but also from the four corners of the world. They run to this difficult to reach monastery, to get the blessing and the great love of this charismatic Elder. The monks are increasing year by year, and so also increases the big contribution of the monastery to the people. Elder Panteleimon is a hidden treasure of Orthodoxy, working in obscurity, offering true love and true Orthodoxy to the whole world. Through Elder Panteleimon, the blessings and charisma of God, of Elder Paisios and Elder Isaac, are operating and are alive in this isolated corner of Lebanon.

NOCTOC