Saint Kosmas Aitolos (1714 -1779)

Holy Monastery of Axion Estinm Northcote, Victoria, Australi,

Australia Seventeen centuries after Saint
Paul journeyed across Greece, a solitary
man of God travelled the same country
from border to border, sea to sea, and
island to island in a magnificent religious
spirit which strengthened the fires of
Christianity and the flickering hopes of a
nation that was straining under the yoke of
Turkish occupation after nearly four
centuries of brutality.
This rare specimen of Hellenic
Christianity was a man, named Kosmas, a
man whose devotion to God and country
brought about a resurgence of the
Christian Spirit of Greece and anticipated
the revolution which was to cleanse the
proud country with which it had long been
infested by the oppression of the
adversaries.
Hence, his supreme importance in the moral and religious awakening of his
country played an important role during the second half of the eighteen century.
SAINT KOSMAS: THE MONK
In the year 1749, Kosmas had enrolled in the theological academy of Mount Athos
to further enhance his theological studies. However, not long after, he was
influenced by the monastic habit and at the age of forty five he was tonsured a
monk and from Konstas he was given the name Kosmas: Kosmas left the academy
and entered the monastery of Philotheou where he became a monk.1 Over a
seventeen year period monk Kosmas was committed to prayer and obedience and it
was at this monastery where he was ordained as a priest.
According to one of his teachings, Kosmas encourages and supports those that seek
to take up the monastic calling: and when your sons wish to become monks dont
prevent them from doing so, but rejoice because they are following the good
road.2 After a long period of monastic living, he was called to the spiritual needs
of the world, however he did not forsake his monastic routine from the monastery,

he was to transfer it in the world: a monk does not deny his ministry and calling to
the world when it demands the salvation of others.' 3 For this reason many ascetics
and monastics ended up becoming bishops throughout Christianity as Saint
Kosmas once said: let Christ lose one of his sheep in order to save many
others.4After a long period of monastic living, he was called to the spiritual needs
of the world, however he did not forsake his monastic routine from the monastery,
he was to transfer it in the world.
SAINT KOSMAS: THE TEACHER/PREACHER
Having felt the vocation to
go out into the world to help
his countrymen revitalise
their
spirituality,
Saint
Kosmas would leave the
monastery with the blessing
of Patriarch Sophronios II
(1757-1761): he felt by God
to undertake the mission of
regenerating
his
fellow
Christians ... he was willing
to sacrifice himself for the
salvation of his brethren.'5
With the blessing of the
Patriarch, Saint Kosmas was appointed as the preacher of the nation.
For the next twenty years Kosmas would travel throughout mainland Greece and
the Dodecanese islands, preaching the fundamental principles of the Orthodox
faith: he addressed large audiences, mostly outdoors, explaining to them the basic
doctrines of Eastern Orthodoxy.6 For this reason, Kosmas phronema had been
distinguished by the Greek nation similar to that of the apostles: Saint Kosmas is
called equal to the Apostles ()7 for his contribution to the spiritual
awakening of the Greek people in the late eighteenth century.8
Saint Kosmas took on a unique way of addressing his preaching to huge flocks of
listeners, he would stand upon a small stool and position a wooden cross nearby
and deliver his sermons: the cross would be planted into the ground and a bench
brought forward upon which he would stand to preach.9 His preaching consisted
of eight volumes of teachings ()10 involving various topics such as love,
virginity, priesthood, education, creation and death, one such example comes from
his fourth teaching involving the mourning of the dead: "O my brethren, dont be
sad for the dead, but if you love them, do everything you can for their souls:

liturgies, memorial services, fasting, prayers and alms. All of you women who are
wearing dirty clothes because of your dead, take them off because you harm
yourselves and your dead. It is natural for a person to be born and die. We should
cry when we are born and rejoice when we die.11"
Saint Kosmas preaching was exceedingly
effective, it brought about an immediate and
profound inner transformation to the hearts of his
listeners: among the factors contributing to
Kosmas enormous success as a preacher were his
humility and his identification with the people
among whom he moved and worked.12 As a
preacher Saint Kosmas spoke on a level that was
simple and coherent for the people to comprehend,
taking illustrations from the experiences and
surroundings with which the people were familiar.
The austerity of his character and the evangelical
simplicity of his words brought about an
inspiration and feeling of hope to many families.
For this reason the Greek nation was to experience
a spiritual revival led by the itinerant preaching of
Saint Kosmas.
SAINT KOSMAS: CONCERNING LOVE
Saint Kosmas as a priest was dedicated in not only preaching the Gospel, but was
committed in expressing it through his absolute love. Kosmas felt that since he fell
in love with Christ he was willing to sacrifice his own life for the love of God: I
beseech my Christ to find me worthy to spill my blood for his love as he spilled his
for my love.13
For Saint Kosmas everything would begin and end with Gods love. For this
reason Kosmas on many times would demonstrate the notion of love when he
counseled the people: If by chance you want to be saved, dont ask for anything
else in this world except for love. If there is anyone here among your nobility who
has this love for his brethren, let them stand up and tell me.14
Saint Kosmas believed that love was indispensable for the nurturing and
communion of the people. He would urge the people to embrace and love one
another like one of their own children: if you wish to be saved you should love all
the Christians as your children.15 Love by its nature is a resemblance of God,
therefore in light of the above he who loves the Lord has first loved his brother, for
the latter is the proof of the former.
3

SAINT KOSMAS: THE MISSIONARY

Not only had Saint Kosmas been sprinkled
with the grace of preaching, he was able to
carry out missionary work across the
Greek
peninsula.
His
missionary
endeavours
would
involve
the
establishment of Greek speaking schools,
as education was one of his major
contributions of his missionary work: he
encouraged the establishment of local
schools for the study of the Orthodox
Christian faith and the more archaic Greek
of the scriptures and the Church.16
Furthermore, Kosmas was so dedicated to
his task that he established numerous
schools over two hundred towns: Kosmas
was persuasive enough that in over two
hundred towns and villages he was
instrumental in establishing schools where
none existed before.17
In one of his surviving letters, Kosmas addresses to the residents of Semitsa, the
need of a school within their town: "I as an unworthy servant of God, my fellow
Christians ... I have come to your village and seeing that you have no school for
your children to learn without paying, I urged the Christians and they gave
according to their ability and will for the school ... I beseech the Lord who blesses
all things to bless your village, your school and your children and to find you
worthy to live well. I appointed with consent ... Mr Spyrou Athanasiou to govern
the school as the Lord enlightens them. Hieromonk Kosmas who prays for you.18"
Moreover, Saint Kosmas encouraged other ethnic communities to learn to speak
the Greek language in order to understand the church services i.e. liturgy, baptisms
and weddings: he encouraged Albanian speaking communities to adopt Greek ...
they were prodded to learn Greek because of the churchs services were conducted
in it and because the Gospel itself had been written in this language.19 Thus, it
becomes clear the effort of his missionary work was in more ways than one a
major impact to the nation.
Another aspect of his missionary work involved giving to the poor alms and
distributing many items that were of spiritual benefit for the soul of the people: he
gave away books by the church fathers, baptismal basins, prayer ropes and little

crosses to the Christians.20 For this reason Saint Kosmas invaluable and
fundamental contribution to education through his missionary work had caused the
Greek people to regard him as a national saint and a teacher of a nation.
SAINT KOSMAS: THE PROPHET
Throughout Kosmas ascetical and ecclesial way
of life, not only had his teachings and missions
play an important role that reflected his
character, but also his prophecies became a
wakeup call for both the Greek nation and its
enemies.
Saint Kosmas had been given the gift of
prophecy from above which are documented till
the present day. These prophecies are
documented within his teachings; many others
have also been recorded by his listeners.21
Accordingly, the prophecies within his teachings
have a relevance with biblical passages as to
bring the Christians to a notion of repentance
such as the following prophecy: dear friends
why are we delaying precious moments, either
today or tomorrow the end of the world is at
hand, for this reason be vigilant and correct oneself.22 Thus, it becomes clear that
this prophecy is similar to that in the gospel of Matthew: repent for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2).
Another portion of his prophecies have been handed down through tradition, there
are over one hundred of these prophecies such as: "Out of schools will come things
which your mind cant imagine, you will see people flying in the sky like
blackbirds and hurling fire on the earth. Those alive then will run to the graves and
shout: come out you who are dead and let us who are living in.23"
From the above it is clear that Kosmas was referring to the fighter jets, employed
during various wars throughout the centuries.
Kosmas firmly preached on numerous accounts concerning the Antichrist and
prophesised the independence of Greece from the hands of the Turks
(): he spoke often of Antichrist and the end of the world and
predicted the freedom of Greece within three generations of the one then living.24
His prophecies in this regard stirred up the hopes of Greece and were one of the
major factors that caused them to intensify their efforts at achieving Greeces
liberty and providing a glorious future.
5

In another of his striking prophecies, Saint Kosmas informs that the Christians
should condemn the position of the Pope since he will be the root of many
ecclesiastical catastrophes: You should curse the Pope, because he will be the
cause.25 Moreover another of his prophecies concerns the reappearance of Elijah
the prophet who had not encountered death during his lifetime, accordingly this
prophecy led many people to a state of repentance: prophet Elijah had kept
hidden, but alive by God for so many centuries, but was about to resurface to
preside over the last phase of history.26 Kosmas brought a huge impact on the
national and spiritual consciousness of the Greek people, they themselves saw in
him a prophet and champion of their freedom. For this reason through Kosmas
mystagogical lifestyle he became a dwelling place of God and through his pure
intellect he was able to foresee the future as the present.
THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT KOSMAS
On 24 August 1779, Kosmas was to meet his death
through the hands of the Turkish governor named
Kurt Pasha. Kosmas had been imprisoned for his
confession of faith for the one, Holy and apostolic
church and was eventually hanged, his body was
disposed by being thrown naked into a local river.
Three days later his body was found by a certain
priest named Fr. Markos and ever since his holy
relics have been the result of many miracles.
Having discussed this topic in a comprehensive way,
it is this papers claim that as a man of many gifts, as
a monk, priest, preacher, missionary, prophet,
isapostolos, elder, martyr, pioneer and saint, it is
evident that the life and works of Saint Kosmas were
a beacon not only for his com-patriots, but for the
entire world. His influence on tradition, faith and
culture has been an inspiration to many to this
present day. Having come to grips with the challenges of everyday life, he was
convinced that he had to teach by example, carrying his own cross in the world in
order to show us how to do the same. He adopted our concerns as his own and
helped reinforce the identity of the Greek people by in-scripting the tradition and
faith into the spirit of a tormented nation. Hence, Saint Kosmas has undeniably
been recognized as one of the greatest Christian and national figures of post
Byzantium.

Written by Emilios Kaos, Student of Saint Andrews Greek Orthodox Theological

College.
REFERENCES
Cavarnos, Constantine. Modern Orthodox Saints (series): SaintKosmas Aitolos,
Belmont 1971.
Cavarnos, Constantine. Saint Cosmas Aitolos. Saint Vladimirs Seminary
Quarterly 4 (1966): 189-194.
Lampe, G.W.H. A Patristic Greek Lexicon. Oxford: Oxford University Press &
Clarendon Press, 1961.
Nicozisin, G. The Orthodox Church: A Well kept secret. A Journey through
Church History, 1998.
Papadopoulos L.J. & Lizardos G. (transl.), New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke,
Seattle 1985.
Parry, K. et al. The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity. Massachusetts:
Blackwell Publishers, 1999.
, : . A: ,
1980.

Scourtis, Constantina. SaintKosmas the Aetolian. In Encyclopedia of Greece and

the Hellinic Tradition. Edited by Graham Speake. London: Fitzroy Dearborn
Publishers, 2000.
Stylianos, Archbishop. Unpublished Lecture Notes, 2009.
Vallianos, S. Pericles. Saint Kosmas Aitolos: faith as Practical Commitment. The
Greek Orthodox Theological Review 2 (1980): 172-185.
Vaporis, Michael. Father Kosmas: The Apostle of the Poor. Brookline, MA: Holy
Cross Orthodox Press, 1977.
Ware, T. Eustratios Argenti: A Study of the Greek Church under Turkish Rule. CA:
Eastern Orthodox Books, 1974.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[1] Michael Vaporis, Father Kosmas: The Apostle of the Poor (Brookline, MA:
Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1977), 4.
[2] Ibid., Third Didache, p. 54.
[3] , : (A: ,
1980), 120.
[4] Ibid., 120.
[5] Constantine Carvanos, Saint Cosmas Aitolos, Saint Vladimirs Seminary
Quarterly 4 (1966): 189.
[6] Ibid., 190.
[7] G.W.H. Lampe, , in a Patristic Greek Lexicon (Oxford: Oxford
University Press & Clarendon Press, 1961), 676.
[8] Constantina Scourtis, SaintKosmas the Aetolian, in Encyclopedia of Greece
and the Hellinic Tradition, ed. Graham Speake (London: Fitzroy Dearborn
Publishers, 2000), 910-911.
[9] Michael Vaporis, Father Kosmas and the Gospel of Love, The Greek
Orthodox Theological Review 2 (1980): 166.
[10] Lampe, op. cit. (Note 5), 365.
[11] Vaporis., Fourth Didache, p. 69.
[12] Ibid., 5.
[13]Ibid., 165.
[14] Vaporis, op. cit. (Note 9), 166
8

[15]Ibid., 169
[16] Scourtis., op.cit. (Note 8), 910.
[17]Vaporis., op. cit. (Note 1), 7.
[18]Vaporis., Eleventh Letter (Note 1), 156.
[19] Pericles, S. Vallianos, Saint Kosmas Aitolos: faith as Practical Commitment,
The Greek Orthodox Theological Review 2 (1980): 176.
[20] Carvanos, op. cit. (Note 3), 190.
[21] , : (A:
, 1980), 143.
[22]Ibid., 145.
[23]Vaporis, op. cit. (Note 1), 159-160.
[24]Scourtis, op. cit. (Note 8), 910-911.
[25]Vaporis., op. cit. (Note 1), 160.
[26]Pericles, S. Vallianos, Saint Kosmas Aitolos: faith as Practical Commitment,
The Greek Orthodox Theological Review 2 (1980): 172.
[1] Ibid., 165.
[1] Vaporis, op. cit. (Note 9), 166
[1] Ibid., 169
Holy Monastery of Axion Estin
7 Hartington Street
Northcote, Victoria 3070
Australia