On the 9th and 10th of July, His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou was visited by the screenwriter of the successful television series about Saint Paisios “From Farasa to Heaven,” Mr. George Tsiakkas and his wife, actress Christina Pavlidou, who played Saint Paisios’ mother, Eulogia, with three other friends of his.
On the morning of July 9, they visited the Offices of the Sacred Metropolis, where they discussed with His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos about Saint Paisios, whom he met personally and wrote two books about, such as “Saint Paisios the Athonite as an Empirical Theologian” and “Saint Paisios the Athonite: An Autobiography”, as well as drafting the petition for his canonization to the Ecumenical Patriarchate as early as 2004, ten years after his repose.
Furthermore, they discussed issues related to the successful television series, various theological and ecclesiastical issues and their Elder, the late Fr. Gabriel.
In the afternoon, they were given a tour of the churches of the city of Nafpaktos, the city’s castle, its port, and in the evening, they visited the Sacred Metropolis Youth Camp at Saint Panteleimon of Antirrio.
There, they discussed with the children issues related to the television series about Saint Paissios. The children asked them very interesting questions such as: What was your favorite scene from the filming? - Did you have any doubts while filming the series that it would go well? Were you at all afraid of negative comments? - How was the scene with the bird and the bear filmed? - Why did you decide to present the life of this particular saint? - How did you choose the actors so that they resemble real people? - How did you choose the child who played Saint Paisios at a young age? - What books was the script based on? - How long did it take you to write and film the series? - How did you play the scenes in which you needed to cry? Did you really cry? - Were there any moments in which you felt the Saint's presence alive during filming? - Do you intend to film the life of another saint?
The screenwriter Mr. George Tsiakkas and his wife, actress Christina Pavlidou, answered them thoroughly, adding that in the two seasons of the television series, 300 actors and approximately 2,500 assistants played, and all of them thrilled the campers who burst into prolonged applause, and took photos mainly with Christina Pavlidou, who “embodied” Eulogia, the mother of Saint Paisios, on television.
On the morning of July 10, His Eminence took them to the City Hall of the city, where they met with the Mayor, Mr. Vasilis Gizas, and discussed issues, both about the television series and about their future plans. In particular, the Mayor expressed his opinion that the series had a great impact on society and was greatly appreciated.
His Eminence mentioned what, in his opinion, were the conclusions from the television series about Saint Paisios, titled: “From Farasa to Heaven.” The first was the value of the traditional family, which has love and unity, lives within the Church with its entire atmosphere and is guided by a holy Cleric, in this case Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian. The second was how one developes and becomes a saint, like Saint Paisios. This is done through obedience, patience, prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” glorifying God with “Great is the name of the Holy Trinity,” etc. The third was what Orthodox Monasticism is, as lived and taught by Saint Paisios. Orthodox Monasticism is the observance of the commandments of Christ, love for the Church, life within the Church, and the ecclesiastical spirit.
On the morning of July 9, they visited the Offices of the Sacred Metropolis, where they discussed with His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos about Saint Paisios, whom he met personally and wrote two books about, such as “Saint Paisios the Athonite as an Empirical Theologian” and “Saint Paisios the Athonite: An Autobiography”, as well as drafting the petition for his canonization to the Ecumenical Patriarchate as early as 2004, ten years after his repose.
Furthermore, they discussed issues related to the successful television series, various theological and ecclesiastical issues and their Elder, the late Fr. Gabriel.
In the afternoon, they were given a tour of the churches of the city of Nafpaktos, the city’s castle, its port, and in the evening, they visited the Sacred Metropolis Youth Camp at Saint Panteleimon of Antirrio.
There, they discussed with the children issues related to the television series about Saint Paissios. The children asked them very interesting questions such as: What was your favorite scene from the filming? - Did you have any doubts while filming the series that it would go well? Were you at all afraid of negative comments? - How was the scene with the bird and the bear filmed? - Why did you decide to present the life of this particular saint? - How did you choose the actors so that they resemble real people? - How did you choose the child who played Saint Paisios at a young age? - What books was the script based on? - How long did it take you to write and film the series? - How did you play the scenes in which you needed to cry? Did you really cry? - Were there any moments in which you felt the Saint's presence alive during filming? - Do you intend to film the life of another saint?
The screenwriter Mr. George Tsiakkas and his wife, actress Christina Pavlidou, answered them thoroughly, adding that in the two seasons of the television series, 300 actors and approximately 2,500 assistants played, and all of them thrilled the campers who burst into prolonged applause, and took photos mainly with Christina Pavlidou, who “embodied” Eulogia, the mother of Saint Paisios, on television.
On the morning of July 10, His Eminence took them to the City Hall of the city, where they met with the Mayor, Mr. Vasilis Gizas, and discussed issues, both about the television series and about their future plans. In particular, the Mayor expressed his opinion that the series had a great impact on society and was greatly appreciated.
His Eminence mentioned what, in his opinion, were the conclusions from the television series about Saint Paisios, titled: “From Farasa to Heaven.” The first was the value of the traditional family, which has love and unity, lives within the Church with its entire atmosphere and is guided by a holy Cleric, in this case Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian. The second was how one developes and becomes a saint, like Saint Paisios. This is done through obedience, patience, prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” glorifying God with “Great is the name of the Holy Trinity,” etc. The third was what Orthodox Monasticism is, as lived and taught by Saint Paisios. Orthodox Monasticism is the observance of the commandments of Christ, love for the Church, life within the Church, and the ecclesiastical spirit.
This visit was wonderful, it had an intense theological and ascetic content with reference to the offering of the Orthodox traditional family, the Orthodox Church and the Holy Mountain. It showed that modern society and especially our young people need healthy role models to face the various challenges of our time.
The Sacred Metropolis and in particular the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou Hierotheos congratulates Mr. George Tsiakkas and his wife Christina Pavlidou, both for their important visit to the beautiful and historic Nafpaktos, and for their great contribution to art and society.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
The Sacred Metropolis and in particular the Metropolitan of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou Hierotheos congratulates Mr. George Tsiakkas and his wife Christina Pavlidou, both for their important visit to the beautiful and historic Nafpaktos, and for their great contribution to art and society.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.
