Kuksha of Odessa - Joining Saint Panteleimon Monastery in Greece (1896)

Joining Saint Panteleimon Monastery in Greece (1896)

In 1896, at the age of 21, Kosma arrived to Athon and became a novice at Russian Saint Panteleimon monastery, and was put in charge of altar offerings (prosphoras). In 1897, Kosma visited Jerusalem again, this time together with his mother whom he joined on her pilgrimage to Holy Land. Two remarkable events took place with Kosma while in Jerusalem. When pilgrims were at Siloam baths, Kosma fell in the water. Though there was a custom among all the pilgrims to bathe there, those who were unable to have children tried to enter first so that God would grant them children. This way people, smiling, started saying that Kosma would have many children. It did really happen: the future saint had a multitude of spiritual children. The second event took place when he was visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There, pilgrims wished to anoint themselves with the oil from the lamps burning at the Holy Sepulchre. At that moment, the Lord's angel invisibly turned over one of the lamps and the oil poured out upon Kosma. People quickly surrounded Kosma trying to anoint themselves with the oil from his clothes. The event foretold that God's grace that poured upon Kosma so abundantly will be transmitted through him to many people. A year after coming from Jerusalem to Athon, Kosma departed for Jerusalem again. For 1 and a half years, he served in turn at Lord's Sepulchre. Having returned to Athon, Kosma was appointed as guest-servant at the guesthouse for piligrims where he served for 11 years.