Commemorated on October 21
Saint was born in the year 1020 AD and raised in Nicea of Bithynia of Asia Minor; a city near Constantinople. Although he was poor, he always had a thirst for reading and learning. He taught himself how to read and learn many things. From reading texts of the early fathers, he established a strong faith and passion for Christ. This desire was formed at an early age and he had desire to lead a monastic life. It was there he found Christianity and lived an ascetic life in solitude. In Asia Minor, they too have Mount Olympus and he resided there as a hermit until eventually moving to the Palestinian desert.
He then felt a calling back to Asia Minor where he became the Geronda of a Monastery on Mount Lamos. When the Turks invaded the area in 1085, all of the monks, including Chrisodoulos, fled the mountain and sought refuge on an island not far from Patmos. There on the Kos island Christodoulous founded a new monastery and dedicated it to the Panagia.
Roughly five years later, he felt the calling to build another monastery, dedicated to Saint John the Theologion. which he also wanted to serve as a fort to keep enemies at bay. Due to his knowledge from his many readings, he was able to draft plans to build a new monastery that could also serve as a fortress. Traveling to Constantinople, he gathered the best craftsman and stone masons with him.
However, only two years after beginning to build, muslim pirates were still able to invade and all the monks had to flee. Most of the monks went to Patmos, but Saint Chrisodoulos arrived safety to Evia. Before giving his soul to the lord, he wrote many works, but the only two we have are letters he addressed to his monks as well as two books titled, “Testament” and “The Code” Not much later, he gave his soul to the lord in 1093.
The other monks went back to the monastery after it had been safe. Less than 10 years late, the monastery filled with over 100 monks. For Patmos, this monastery served as a refuge and a place to find peace and comfort as well as spiritual advice.
To this day, the monastery he planned and help build stands on the island of Patmos and they safely transported Chrisodoulos’ relics to the monastery where they remain to this day.