St. Iakovos of Evia

 Patron Saint of the Holy Metropolis of New Jersey 

 

Biography of Saint Iakovos (Tsalikis) of Evia

St. Iakovos of Evia was born on 5 November 1920 to pious parents in Asia

Minor. Soon after he departed for Greece as a refugee, near Corinth.

​​

By the age of seven he had memorized the entire Divine Liturgy although he

was illiterate. In 1927 he went to elementary school and was distinguished for

his performance. Everyone knew of his love for the Church. That same year

Saint Paraskevi appeared to him and revealed his brilliant ecclesiastical future.

In the coming years he would have many visions of various Saints. At this 
time, he was in continuous prayer and even reportedly healed people in his village.

​​

`From 1938 till the end of his life he lived in extreme asceticism, eating little,

praying always, and working hard. He lost his mother in 1942 and was drafted

into the army in 1947. Upon his return from the army in 1949 his father passed

away, leaving him to care for his sister, Anastasia until her marriage in 1952.

​

At the age of 32 Iakovos became a novice monk at the Monastery of St. David

in Evia and on December 19, 1952, he was ordained a priest by Metropolitan

Gregory of Halkida. On June 25, 1975, he became Abbot of the Monastery.

This monastery was quite dilapidated on his arrival and Father Iakovos 
lived in great poverty which affected his health. It was reported that he

conversed personally with the saints including St. Paraskevi, St. John the

Russian, and St. David of Evia, the patron saint of the monastery. The Elder

did not live for himself but from the fruit of his prayer and fasting 
he gave counsel and help to the people who began flocking to him.  Despite

many illnesses he always made time for the faithful who came to the monastery.

​​

Beginning in 1990 his health began to decline and on November 21, 1991, he

attended the Divine Liturgy, received Holy Communion, and heard the confessions of several people. He died peacefully 
later that day with thousands of people attending his funeral with many shouting “A saint! A saint!” 
The Monastery of St. David has recorded over 300 testimonies of miraculous help connected with the 
prayers of the Elder Iakovos.

​

On November 17, 2017, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate canonized St. 
Iakovos of Evia, officially numbering him among the saints to be commemorated on November 22nd.