The life of the Athonite elder Avvakum (Vakarov)
The Athonite elder Hieroschemamonk Avvakum (in the world: Andrei Ivanovich Vakarov, 1899–1972) was born in the village of Gorinchovo in Máramaros County in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now the Region of Transcarpathia, Ukraine). With the blessing of his spiritual father St Alexis (Kabaliuk) of Carpathia, he set off for the Holy Mount of Athos in 1926, where he joined the brotherhood of St Panteleimon Monastery. At St Panteleimon’s, he became a spiritual son of St Silouan of Athos. He also became closely acquainted with St Sophrony (Sakharov) and others of the brethren. Fr Avvakum began his ascetic life with simple obediences at the Ox-Stall and Mule-Stall, and at the mill. In 1949, the Council of Elders of St Panteleimon Monastery made him steward of the monastery’s forest at the Old Russikon, and he was later elected monastery steward. In 1951, he was elected a member of the Council of Elders of the monastery, and in 1959 he became antiprósopos (representative) at the Holy Community of Mount Athos. Fr Avvakum served at this obedience for 13 years and played a vital role in the revival of St Panteleimon Monastery. That same year (1959), he was ordained hieromonk by Bishop Cassian (Bezobrazov) of Catania, Vicar of the Western European Exarchate of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In his later life Father Avvakum was gravely ill with cancer for many years, yet he continued to endure his suffering with humility and to carry out his obediences with unwavering dedication. In the night of September 29–30, 1972, Elder Avvakum passed away peacefully. From his spiritual father, St Silouan of Athos, whom he so much resembled, he inherited the gifts of obedience, love for work, compassion, love for one’s neighbour, and unceasing prayer of the heart.