Posts in category: Οι Κτήτορες 1 – Διονυσίου

Dionysios again visited Trebizond in 1377 to collect the rest of the imperial donation, but when he returned, he found that the monastery had been plundered by pirates. The monks were scattered around the surrounding mountains, where they had fled to save themselves. Dionysios did not quit; rather, he gathered them again and continued building the complex and, of course, the walls that would protect them from similar invasions. He also visited Trebizond a third time, where he died in 1390 at the age of 72.

'In truth, he has put in my soul divine desire and love and zeal, and with all of his being he motivated me to the work. Therefore, the serene power of my sovereignty commands with its present chrysobull and undertakes the construction of this monastery of Saint John the Baptist and promises to cover all the costs of erecting the church, the walls, the monks' cells and the aqueduct, in order to establish a complete monastery, in which I shall have the memorial'...

'This holy father had already been able to build a fort on the feet of Little Athos [Anti-Athos], where Astropotamos runs, near the place called Vouleuteria. And it was the Elder's purpose to build in it a monastery dedicated to St John the Baptist, and walls, and cells for the stay of those who practiced with him. However, though he had completed the fortress, the monastery had not yet begun, when he came in a fortunate coincidence and told me everything, and I was interested in it, as I said. When my sovereignty saw the modesty of the man, the grace, the simplicity, the innocence, the full and extreme joy, he loved and accepted him and embraced him and received him as sent by God; I let his words dwell in me, dew to my soul.'

While he was talking to my sovereignty, he did not seek money or a way to pay pleasures in life, as some do, but he immediately began to guide me and advertise to me the path of salvation:
'Everyone,' he said, 'among those who are known as right kings and leaders, built monasteries and made tributes on Mount Athos for their everlasting memorial service. So you too, if you overcome many, make an appropriate addition so that you have the same memorial service and endless joy of your soul.

'Such a person was presented now in our lands: the good father and servant of God and the hieromonk, particularly respected, master Dionysios. He came from Mount Athos to see my own shepherd and of the entire big city of Trebizond, and his own brother, master Theodosius. Hence, he appeared before my sovereignty, dressed in rags, quiet and happy, as the retreatants are accustomed to, saying little, as the recluses do, but beneficial and salvific, all with genuine humility. I saw in him an angel sent by God, who brings the good message of salvation. By imitating Christ, he did not testify for himself, but as for Him the Father, so was his inner peace, his joyful face, and his insuperable virtues. One would say that after Athanasius was given from Trebizond to Athos, now Dionysios is offered back from Athos to Trebizond.'

In September 1374, Alexios III the Great Komnenos, Emperor of Trebizond, donated a very large sum to the Monastery – 100 somia (about 134,000 'aspra', or silver coins) – and ensured a continued flow of funding by setting the sum of 1000 aspra as an annual contribution to be made by him and his successors. In his founding chrysobull (i.e. imperial edict with a golden seal), he explains his motives and narrates the story himself:
... those who from a tender age have devoted themselves to God, and whose name is recorded in the heavens, and who entered into a rock for a house, climbing to the steep top of the mountain of virtues, from where they bring help, because they come from God, we have to welcome them and to give them the honor and hospitality we owe. For whoever loves them and receives them, puts in his house and hosts the Christ himself, who sent them.