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The Life of St. Iakovos
St. Iakovos of Evia was born on November 5, 1920, to pious parents in Livisi, Asia Minor. Soon after, he departed for Greece as a refugee, settling near Corinth.
By the age of seven, he had memorized the entire Divine Liturgy, even though he was illiterate. In 1927, he began elementary school and was distinguished for his performance. Everyone knew of his love for the Church. That same year, Saint Paraskevi appeared to him and revealed his brilliant ecclesiastical future. She told him that a lot of money would pass through his hands, but he would never hold it. In the years that followed, he would have many visions of various saints. During this time, he remained in constant prayer and reportedly even healed people in his village.
From 1938 until the end of his life, he lived in extreme asceticism—eating little, praying always, and working hard. In 1942, his mother told him that an angel had visited her and that she would die in three days. Three days later, just before her death, she told the young Iakovos that he would become a priest, but that he must first take care of his sister. She then passed away.
In 1947, during the Greek Civil War, Iakovos was drafted into the army. Throughout his service, he was protected from unforeseen danger by God and the saints. Upon his return in 1949, his father passed away, leaving him to care for his sister, Anastasia, until her marriage in 1952.
At the age of 32, Iakovos was traveling to the Holy Land to become a monk when he stopped at the Monastery of St. David of Evia. As he approached the monastery, he saw it transformed into a floating palace, but upon arriving, he found it to be old and run-down. There he encountered the holy Saint David, who convinced him to stay. Iakovos became a novice monk at the monastery, which was in a state of great disrepair. He lived in deep poverty, which affected his health.
It was reported that he conversed personally with saints, including St. Paraskevi, St. John the Russian, and St. David of Evia, the patron of the monastery. On December 19, 1952, he was ordained a priest by Metropolitan Gregory of Halkida.
He once said:
“People don’t see what takes place in Church during the Divine Liturgy. Once I was serving and I couldn’t make the Great Entrance because of what I saw. I suddenly felt someone pushing me by my shoulder and guiding me toward the Holy Prothesis. I thought it was the chanter. I turned around and saw a huge wing that the Archangel had laid on my shoulder, and that he was guiding me to make the Great Entrance. What amazing things take place in the Altar during the Divine Liturgy!”
The Elder did not live for himself, but from the fruit of his prayer and fasting, he gave counsel and help to the people who began flocking to him. Despite many illnesses, he always made time for the faithful who came to the monastery. On June 25, 1975, he became Abbot of the monastery.
Beginning in 1990, his health began to decline. On November 21, 1991, he attended the Divine Liturgy, received Holy Communion, and heard the confessions of several people. He died peacefully later that day. Thousands attended his funeral, many shouting, “A saint! A saint!”
The Monastery of St. David has recorded over 300 testimonies of miraculous help connected to the prayers of Elder Iakovos.
On November 17, 2017, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate canonized St. Iakovos of Evia, officially numbering him among the saints to be commemorated on November 22. On September 9, His Eminence Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey announced St. Iakovos of Evia as the patron saint of the Metropolis of New Jersey.
How can St. Iakovos Intercede for us?
As college students, we are always trying to figure out what we are being called to do with our lives. We have ideas of what we want our lives to look like, but sometimes God intervenes in those plans. For Saint Iakovos, his calling was to monastic life and the priesthood; however, circumstances outside of his control meant that he had to be patient, and he was only able to follow his dreams after many years of waiting. When the time was right and he was able to pursue his goals, God and His saints made sure that he could.
What this teaches us as college students is that we need to fully trust God and understand that His timing is not always our timing. God will do things at the right time for our salvation. All we must do is trust Him and know that God is in control. This was the case for St. Iakovos, who, after years of patience, was finally able to pursue his true path in his life. Saint Iakovos also teaches us that we must not live for ourselves, but for others. We must give to those in need and support those who are struggling. St. Iakovos also reminds us of the importance of the Liturgy in our lives by showing us that the saints and the angels are truly present around us during the Divine Liturgy.
Discussion Questions
- Saint Iakovos lived for the Divine Liturgy and for service to everyone. How can we live for the Divine Liturgy? How can we offer service to those in need, whether it’s in our church community or on our college campuses?
- During his life, Saint Iakovos faced many obstacles that meant that he had to be patient while waiting to go and pursue his vocation. How can we have patience in our lives when we feel that things are not going our way or are not happening fast enough? What can we learn from Saint Iakovos about patience and trust in God?
Learn his Apolytikion
The prototype of discernment and modesty, the Wonderworking leader of the Monastery of David the Venerable, who plowed and sowed love in the hardened hearts of the God-bearing people, O Father Iakovos. Do not neglect to intercede with Christ on behalf of those who call upon you in faith.
Pray to him
From his Akathist written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias
O holy one, you were an offspring of Livisiou, and from your childhood days you traveled paths as a refugee, tasting bitterness, and were deprived of bread for your food, while the faithful you made fully fed, who therefore cry out to you these things:
Rejoice, bread of the hungry,
Rejoice, lighthouse of those storm-tossed.
Rejoice, you who granted the water of salvation to all,
Rejoice, you who trampled upon the enemy who hates good.
Rejoice, fruitful tree distributing fruits,
Rejoice, most radiant star of divine sympathy.
Rejoice, for your made full the hearts of those hungry,
Rejoice, for you cast out every tribulation for those close to you.
Rejoice, you who grant joy to the faithful,
Rejoice, corruption, casting away the demon.
Rejoice, image of the life in Christ,
Rejoice, standard of the modest life.
Rejoice, O blessed Iakovos.
The post There’s a Saint for That | St. Iakovos (Tsalikis) of Evia appeared first on Orthodox Christian Fellowship – OCF.
