Section 08: Signs of the Times

St. Paisios’s engagement with the modern world — his critique of secularism and technology, his careful eschatological teaching, and his emphasis on discernment as the essential skill for navigating spiritual dangers. This section requires special care: the Elder’s teachings on these topics have been widely circulated, often distorted, and sometimes fabricated.

Contents

File Topic
The Modern World Critique of secularism, technology, media, restlessness, loss of simplicity
Eschatological Awareness Signs of the times, the 666 discussion, the spirit of Antichrist, urgency without panic
Discernment Diakrisis, avoiding prelest, testing the spirits, the Elder’s gifts of clairvoyance

Important Note

St. Paisios’s teachings on signs of the times and eschatology have been subject to significant popular distortion. Many “prophecies” and political statements attributed to him circulate online without authentication. This guide presents only what is attested in his published works (chiefly Spiritual Counsels, Vol. 2: Spiritual Awakening, “Signs of the Times”) and the authorized biography; statements whose wording cannot be located in the published text are given as paraphrase with the source named, and untraceable aphorisms are flagged as such rather than quoted. Readers should exercise particular caution with material found online that claims to represent his prophetic statements.

Cross-References

Part of the St. Paisios of Mount Athos Reference Guide.