Venerable
Venerable, Hieroschemamonk Elder Ephraim of Katounakia (Papanikitas)
1912 — †1998
Also known as: Ефрем Катунакский
Elder Hieroschemamonk Ephraim of Katounakia (Papanikitas) — a disciple and spiritual child of Elder Joseph the Hesychast, an ascetic of Katounakia on Athos; he lived on the Holy Mountain for 65 years, 42 of them in obedience; one of the most renowned Athonite elders of the 20th century, a continuer of the ancient hesychast tradition of the mental prayer.
Elder Ephraim of Katounakia, born Papanikita, was born in 1912. He became close to Elder Joseph the Hesychast, who guided him in the spiritual life, taught him the mental practice (unceasing Jesus Prayer), and explained the essence of contemplative labor. After Elder Joseph's death in 1959, Fr. Ephraim continued to provide spiritual guidance to his brotherhood, which by then had moved to New Skete. Fr. Ephraim lived on Mount Athos for a total of sixty-five years, forty-two of which he spent in monastic obedience. Even during his lifetime he gained wide renown as a continuer of the ancient ascetic tradition of hesychast prayer and one of the most venerated Athonite elders of the 20th century. He died in 1998. His memory is kept on February 14/27.