Born on January 1, 1931 to a poor family on the island of Crete, he was named Constantine in holy Baptism. At the age of 14, while sitting by the fire with his two sisters and mother, a bright light suddenly appeared and entered his body. It filled him with divine joy and inspired him to proclaim to his family, "I'm going to be a monk!" At seventeen, he joined the monastery of Saint Nikitas Achentrias, a small monastery carved into a cave. He was tonsured a monk in 1951 with the name Sophronios.
In 1954, as a male citizen of Greece, he commenced his mandatory military service (even those having taken monastic vows were not exempt). During his time as a soldier, he developed a persistent fever and began to experience the initial symptoms of leprosy. "I felt like someone had stabbed an iron rake into my back and was dragging it across my skin." He would say to himself, “Oh my Panagia, what pain is this? I've never felt pain like this in my life!" After many tests, a doctor told him, "Private Saridakis, you must quarantine immediately! The police will take you to a special hospital in Athens because you have contracted Hansen's disease – leprosy." As soon as he heard this grievous news, he asked, "Doctor, are you serious? I have leprosy? Am I going to carry this great cross?" "Yes," the doctor answered. Realizing the magnitude of this trial, he simultaneously considered the just recompense the Lord offers his faithful servants. In anticipation of this great cross that would ultimately unite him to Christ's glorious Resurrection, the 25-year-old Constantine fell out of bed laughing with joy...
Softcover
ISBN: 978-1-7325403-9-2
Size 5.5 x 8.5 in., 267 pages
Published by Zoe Press
