Our Guardian Angel: An Encounter With St. Iakοvos Of Evia by Dr. George Papazahos

Our Guardian Angel: An Encounter With St. Iakοvos Of Evia by Dr. George Papazahos

"Fr. Iakovos was admitted to the Government Hospital of Athens for the problems he was having with his heart. My first impression when I first saw him was something that cannot be described. He literally was filled with light. As soon as the Elder saw me, he made the following observation about me which literally made my hair stand on end. As a Christian I had never thought about this before."

He said to me: “I do not know you. This is the first time that I meet you.  But I can see your guardian angel standing behind you. All human beings have guardian angels and I now see your guardian angel. Be very careful that you never act in such a way that you chase away your guardian angel from your presence.” The Elder Iakovos finished his statement by saying: “That angel has been assigned to you from the day of your baptism.  From the day of your baptism he accompanies you and he should never leave your side.

Modern Saints: Elder Iakovos Tsalikis

Modern Saints: Elder Iakovos Tsalikis

A Glimpse of His Holy Life

From a young age little Iakovos (which was his name even at baptism) loved the Lord and His Bride, the Church. Born in Livisi, in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), he and his family were forced to immigrate to Greece during the exchange of populations. Eventually settling on the island of Evia, he lived with his family in a storehouse with other refugees, blankets separated the individual living quarters. Little Iakovos would lift these blankets in order to “cense” his neighbours with the toy censor he made out of a roof tile. His holines s was noticed very early, though he wasn’ t fully understood and suffered a great deal of derision; children would call him “geronda” and “father”. He would arise in the night for vigil, chant throughout the day, and was even entrusted with the keys to the village church since a priest came only twice amonth to serve the divine services.

Throughout his life he lived in great poverty and fasting. As a young man he would chant in the church barefoot  because he could not afford shoes. People ridiculed him but he often hadvisions of saints and angels which would comfort and strengthen him in his resolve to live for Christ.

A SHOCKING EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE ELDER IAKOVOS TSALIKIS….. “I saw your guardian angel”

A SHOCKING EVENT THAT TOOK PLACE WITH THE ELDER

IAKOVOS TSALIKIS…..  “I saw your guardian angel”

SAINT IAKOVOS TSALIKIS NOV. 5, 1920-NOV. 21, 1991

           

            The following is a dialogue between Klitos Ioannidis and Dr. George Papazahos.  Dr. Papazahos was a cardiologist in Athens, Greece and was the personal physician of Saint Porphyrios.  Klitos Ioannidies is the author of books about Saint Porphyrios.  In fact, the book that I used to translate into English was authored by Klitos Ioannidis.  In that book about Saint Porphyrios “Elder Porphyrios, Testimonies and Experiences,” there is a whole chapter about the doctor’s personal experiences with the Saint.  I found this article especially interesting because the doctor apparently had a very close doctor/patient relationship with this other Saint of the Church.  Elder Iakovos was a contemporary of Saint Porphyrios and they would often communicate with one another in prayer.  In fact, when Elder Iakovos died, Saint Porphyrios was not able to attend his funeral. In spite of his physical absence from the funeral Porphyrios managed to be present at the funeral through his powers of spiritual communication.  When I say spiritual communication, I mean that Saint Porphyrios was literally present at the funeral in spirit and observed everything that took place at that funeral service. This event is referred to by Saint Porphyrios in the book that I translated.

‘prayer and fasting’…St. elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

 St. elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

“Fasting is a commandment of God. Because of this, we should also fast, my children. I have not neglected fasting in my 70 years. My mother taught me fasting from childhood. I am not being a hypocrite, my children, when I fast, but I am doing that which my parents taught me and that which I keep until today, my children. Fasting has never brought sickness upon me.

Physicians and Bishops say that frugal fasting is very beneficial to man. Once, a doctor told me: “Father, don’t eat for five days, nor even drink a drop of water, because we will do a test to see what is going on with your body.” Therefore I fasted for five days. It had done great things to me. How much more are we benefited when we fast for our soul! Because within our body inhabits an eternal soul. Therefore, let us take care for our soul, which is truly an immortal thing.

Christ is always in me. St. elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

“Learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt 11:29

St. elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

Died on 21 November 1991

Elder Iakovos Tsalikis said:People are blind and don’t see what takes place in church during the Divine Liturgy.

“Today that you have communed,” he said to one of his spiritual children, “do you see how you feel? This is how I always feel. Christ is always in me.”

“When I commune people,” Elder Iakovos would say, “I never look at their face. Sometimes however my thoughts tell me to look at them. Then I see some faces having the form of a dog, a monkey or another animal. Their form is frightening. But I also see some who are glad and cheerful who after Divine Communion shine like the sun.“

On one occasion he and his brother were sent to take the family pig to the local butcher to provide for the family, but along the way, a jealous old man cast a demon into the pig which caused it to fall down immediately and foam at the mouth.