Biography

Santo Arsenio de Capadocia was born in a Christian village in Cappadocia in 1840. His given name at birth was Theodorus Annitsalichos. His father was a teacher in an area that was heavily populated with Eastern Orthodox Christians. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by an aunt. At the age of 26 he became a monk and took on the new name. He cared deeply for his “flock”through visits, prayers, scripture, and blessings from the Psalms. Even in the face of Turkish muslim attackers, the people under Arsenios care were “miraculously” spared destruction. Arsenio died in 1924. He given the “Saint” title in 1986.

Wailand Groenendyk
CCEL Staff Writer