To those who are distrustful, who doubt and dispute and use only the faculty of reason and are not open to God, God does not show himself. God does not enter locked souls; He does not force an entrance.
Father Joseph was a hieromonk on Mount Athos. He has wide acclaim for being the spiritual father of elders: Ephrem of Philotheou, Joseph of Vatopedi, Charalampus of Dionysiou and others, who are directly credited for revitalising six of the twenty monasteries on Mount Athos.
Archimandrite Sophrony was best known as the disciple and biographer of St Silouan the Athonite and compiler of St Silouan's works, and as the founder of the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex, England.
Elder Paisios was a monastic of Mount Athos. An ascetic, he was known by his visitors for his gentle manner and acceptance of those who came to receive his advice, counsel, and blessing. His words of counsel continue to be published.
Saint Silouan the Athonite also sometimes referred to as Saint Silvanus the Athonite was an Eastern Orthodox monk of Russian origin. An ardent ascetic, he received the grace of unceasing prayer and saw Christ in a vision. After long years of spiritual trial, he acquired great humility and inner stillness. He prayed and wept for the whole world as for himself, and he put the highest value on love for enemies.
St. Nectarios, Metropolitan of Pentapolis and Wonderworker of Aegina, was officially recognized as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1961. He is often referred to as Nectarios of Pentapolis or Nectarios of Aegina, and his name is sometimes spelled Nektarios.