01 — Foundations

The making of the missionary: the birth of Konstas around 1714 in the Aetolian village of Mega Dendron, his village schooling and his study at the Athonite Academy under Voulgaris and Palamas, his tonsure as Kosmas at Philotheou around 1759 — and the decision, taken around 1760, to leave Athos and preach to the enslaved Greek Christians, with the disputed patriarchal blessing that authorized the mission.

Tradition: Greek Orthodox (canonized 1961)

Files in This Section

File Description
aetolia-and-the-athoniada.md Birth c. 1714 as Konstas in Mega Dendron (Megalo Dendro), Aetolia; village schooling; the Athonite Academy at Vatopedi under Eugenios Voulgaris and Panagiotis Palamas (with the “Great Lavra” error corrected); tonsure as Kosmas at Philotheou c. 1759
the-call-to-preach.md The decision to leave Athos c. 1760 to preach to the enslaved Greek Christians; the patriarchal blessing and the Seraphim II vs. Sophronios dispute

See Also