Venerable Geróntios, the Founder of the Skḗtē of Saint Anna on Mount Athos

Saint Geróntios was the Igoumen of the old Bouleuterίon Monastery on Mount Athos. But since this Monastery was near the seashore and was subject to many barbarian raids, it was abandoned by the monks, who moved to other inaccessible places on Mount Athos. So Saint Geróntios and his disciple settled in the upper part of the Skḗtē of Saint Anna, where he built a hesychastḗrion and a church dedicated to Saint Panteleimon. Thus, Saint Geróntios is the first founder of the Skḗtē of Saint Anna. Nearby, through a revelation of the Panagίa, he found water in a completely arid place, which continues to flow today and the monks use it as holy water (agiasmós).

Saint Geróntios lived a most wondrous life and reposed at an advanced age. He was associated in spiritual friendship with Saint Maximus Kavsokalybίtēs (January 13), as seen in his Life. The Skḗtē founded by Saint Geróntios produced about fifteen Saints and many great and virtuous Fathers.

The Church Service in honor of Saint Geróntios was composed by the monk Gerásimos of the Skḗtē of Little Saint Anna.