1920–1991
Saint Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia
A monk born in Livisi in Asia Minor who came to Greece as a refugee after the Asia Minor Catastrophe, grew up in northern Evia, and from 1975 until his repose in 1991 was abbot of the Monastery of St David the Elder.
Biography
Iakovos was born in 1920 in Livisi in Asia Minor, into a family of deep piety with many clergy in its past. After the Asia Minor Catastrophe his family was uprooted and arrived as refugees in Greece, passing through Piraeus before finally settling in Evia.
From childhood he showed a calling to monastic life: tradition holds that he had memorised the Divine Liturgy by the age of seven, although he was illiterate. He completed his military service while keeping up his ascetic practice, and became a monk in 1951, after his sister's marriage.
He lived at the Monastery of Saint David the Elder in northern Evia, of which he became abbot in 1975, remaining there until his repose in 1991, renowned for his charity.