St. Myrtidiotissa of Klissoura: “This is the Correct Calendar.”

Source: Eldress Myrtidiotissa: The Ascetic Struggler of Klissoura (1886-1974), by Metropolitan Cyprian of Oropos and Fili, Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, Etna, CA, 1999, pp. 77-79.

 

 

When the virtuous Sophia arrived in Greece, the Church Calendar had not yet been changed. In 1924, to the great national upheaval over the disaster in Asia Minor there was added turmoil in the Church over the introduction of the New Calendar.

Tightly knit populations, particularly in the provinces, and entire villages, refused to accept this innovation. They continued to observe the Feasts and to fast according to the traditional Calendar.

The saintly struggler of Klissoura also adhered to the Old (Church) Calendar. On Feast Days according to the New Calendar, when a great many people came to the monastery for Liturgy, she would withdraw to a hill, where she would hide and pray by herself. She was also accustomed to doing vigils in the Church without a Priest, together with other pious and virtuous believers who followed the Old Calendar.

And she would advise people thus: “The Fathers! The Old Calendar is their calendar. Go with the Old. That’s the right thing to do.”

This stand of hers was not undiscerning or taken without knowledge. She had been “informed” regarding this issue, too. On one occasion, she confided to me: “The Panagia told me: “This is the correct Calendar.”

If Old Calendar Priests would happen to go to the Shrine and Liturgize, the Saint would commune of the Immaculate Mysteries. She also kept the fasts according to the Old Calendar. During fasting periods according to the New Calendar, it often often so happened that compatriots of hers who followed the traditional reckoning would visit. She would rejoice and sit down with them to eat non-fasting meals, saying: “This (Calendar) is the correct one. Follow the Old Calendar.”

***

A very telling event that occurred in connection with this issue was the following.

In January of 1969, our monastery in Fili finally broke ecclesiastical communion with the New Calendar Church. This was the beginning of a period of great tribulations and various trials for us.

During those difficult times, a spiritual child of mine from Ptolemais went to Klissoura to have a Paraklesis served to the Theotokos.

“How is the Elder doing?” asked the ascetic.

“He’s fine, he’s fine. My father went to Athens and he stopped by the monastery. Things are fine,” the young man replied.

“He’s not fine,” said the ascetic with a frown. “They are going to close his monastery. Only now that you're going to Kailaria, phone him. Tell him that they’re going to close down the monastery. But that he shouldn’t be afraid. The Panagia is protecting him and he won’t come to any harm.”

My spiritual son was uneasy. When he returned to Ptolemais, he got in touch with me and informed me accordingly. My astonishment was indescribable! The Saint’s “message” was clear: she knew the present and the future.

***

On account of the profound impression that the “message” of the enlightened handmaiden of God had made on me and my spiritual child, I went to visit her very shortly. There she was at her fireplace, a queen on her throne, curled up in the bliss of poverty and obscurity.

In a hushed voice, so that those who were greeting her might not hear, she asked me: “How are things going?”

“Eldress, how did you hear about it?”  I stammered.

She raised her hand and her eyes to Heaven discreetly: “God revealed it to me!”

And she continued: “Don’t be afraid. You won’t come to any harm. I’m praying very hard for you. I have great love for you.”

And so it was. In spite of the difficulties and the hazards, the Panagia ultimately came to our aid. The ship of our monastery continued its journey to the Kingdom of Heaven in safety....