Saint Iakovos of Evia
Posted November 21st, 2025
Dear all,
Tomorrow our Church celebrates the memory of Saint Iakovos of Evia, one of the most important modern saints. He was born in 1920 in Livisi, Asia Minor into a pious and poor family. Eventually settling in Evia, St. Iakovos did not receive education beyond elementary school—and yet such was his love for our faith that he had memorized the Divine Liturgy by the age of seven.
When he was eight years old, St. Paraskevi appeared to him and continued to appear and converse with him frequently. While still in the world he fasted strictly and nurtured the thought of becoming a monastic. His first thoughts, though, were for the welfare of his sister, especially after their father fell asleep in the Lord in 1949. After she got married, he wanted to go to a monastery in the Holy Land but first went to the local monastery of St. David to pray about it. On the way, St. David himself appeared to him and invited him to stay in his monastery. Iakovos was tonsured and then ordained a priest in 1952.
St. Iakovos soon became known for his diligence and his humility. He refused no task and was known to walk 4 to 5 hours to the village of Limni to seek the guidance of his Spiritual Father. Fr. Iakovos’ life bore an ascetic character almost unheard of in these times. Though his cell was often freezing, he suffered his trials with deep patience and love, engaging in spiritual warfare through fasting, and sleeping only two hours a night—he spent the rest of his time in prayer.
As Abbot, his loving care to all visitors was well known. His spiritual insight was such that he was able to know one’s difficulties before a visitor even spoke. No one came out from under the stole of Fr. Iakovos without having received relief and support. The elder offered himself in sacrifice by his boundless love, despite suffering himself from many sicknesses, especially in his last years.
The invisible world was as real to him as this one: demons attacked him physically, and angels and saints appeared to him and strengthened him in his self-sacrificing labors for God and neighbor. St. David’s relics began to pour forth miracles and Fr. Iakovos’ great love and zeal for God brought about a spiritual revival in the St. David Monastery and the surrounding countryside.
St. Iakovos and the Liturgy
St. Iakovos of Evia lived for the Divine Liturgy, which he celebrated every day, with fear and trembling, dedicated and, literally, elevated. Young children and those with pure hearts saw him walking above the floor or being served by holy angels. As he himself told a few people, he served together with the Cherubim, the Seraphim, and the saints. During the Proskomidi, he saw angels of the Lord taking the portions of those being memorialized and placing them before the throne of Christ, as prayers. When, because of health problems he felt weak, he would pray before the Divine Liturgy and say, “Lord, as a man I can’t, but help me to celebrate.” After that, he said, he celebrated as if he had wings.
Throughout his entire ministry at the altar of God, Fr. Iakovos experienced many spiritual events. He became an earthly angel, a concelebrant, as he admitted to some ascetics, to the Seraphim, the Cherubim, and the saints. During Proskomidi, one day, he was able to see the Most Pure Blood of the Lord and to touch it when he was preparing to cover the Holy Gifts.
Another time, Iakovos saw the angels of God who would meet those being commemorated and prayerfully lead them to the throne of Christ the Lord, to shelter them there.
He also saw, as he expressed it, with his spiritual eye, the reposed who came with open arms, somehow asking him to take out a portion for the repose of their souls. When Fr. Iakovos complied with their request, he saw how the departed left to go back.
I am sure that the following videos will help you understand the magnitude of his holiness that some of us had the huge blessing to experience in person:
https://pemptousia.com/video/metropolitan-pavlos-of-siatista-elder-iakovos-the-man-of-god-part-i/
https://pemptousia.com/video/elder-iakovos-tsalikis-the-man-of-god-part-ii/
May we always have his blessing!
In Christ,
Fr. Christos