Eugenia Kleidara

Eugenia Kleidara was born in 1929 in Plomari, Lesvos. Her given name was Irene. She was the daughter of Philippos Kleidaras and Aspasia Mamakou.

She completed primary school and the first years of high school in her hometown, continuing the rest in Athens, where she excelled academically while simultaneously studying Greek and foreign literature.

After completing her theological studies, she turned to Philology, and more specifically to Philosophy, thereby deepening her acquaintance with the greatest thinkers and scholars.

Mother Superior Eugenia Kleidara was raised with Christian principles. She preached at Saint Barbara in Dafni and at the Church of the Ascension in Vrilissia and was active in philanthropic efforts. Shortly thereafter—when she had decided to embrace the Angelic Schema—she returned to Plomari but frequently visited the Holy Monastery of Chios, Agia Skepi, near Hieromonk Kornilios Marmarinos, her Spiritual Father. She was tonsured a nun by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Chios (Fostinis), who immediately appointed her as Abbess of the Monastery of Agia Skepi.

She spent her early years as a nun in Chios, where her charitable and spiritual work made her especially beloved.

She returned to Mytilene on March 27, 1964, following an invitation from Saint Raphael himself and Metropolitan Iakovos Kleombrotos, who officially appointed her as Abbess of the Holy Monastery of Saint Raphael.

From then on, the Monastery in Karyes—which she built from the ground up using income from her writing, starting with a simple tent—became a center of religious worship. Her books became widely known, and faithful visitors came from all corners of the world.

Her personal social contribution was extensive and multifaceted, including scholarships, support to schools, communities, municipalities, construction of kindergartens, churches, etc.

Gifted with literary talent, she wrote poems, short stories, studies, biographies of Church figures, and more, many of which received international awards. Since her poetry collection "Radiant Hopes" was published in 1973, she continued her spiritual and literary work until 2012, when her last book was released.

In total, she wrote 170 books.

When Mother Eugenia arrived in 1964 at the site where the Saints' Tombs were revealed, she wrote in her book "History of the Holy Monastery of Saint Raphael":

“...I found absolutely nothing except the lower church, which was half-finished, and I had no place to stay. It was a barren, dry mountain. I pitched a tent to stay in during the day, and at night I was hosted down in Therma. There were snakes and scorpions all around...”

Today, however, anyone who visits the Monastery is amazed by the vast and impressive monastic complex: churches and chapels, workshops, guest quarters, a library, auxiliary buildings, kiosks, and everywhere, order, greenery, and flowers.

Among the notable structures of the monastic complex are:

The two-level Catholicon: the upper dedicated to Saint Raphael, the lower to the Nativity of the Theotokos and Saints Nicholas and Irene.

The Chapels:

Agia Skepi of the Theotokos (Catacomb)

Saint Nektarios

Archangel Michael

Small chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene

The Monastery also owns the Metochion of Prophet Elias and the large Church of Saint Mary Magdalene—both built by Mother Eugenia.

A large and devoted sisterhood resides at the Monastery.

Their obediences include icon lamination, handcrafting religious items and prayer ropes, maintaining the churches, hosting the numerous daily pilgrims, and processing orders for the 170 internationally awarded books authored by Mother Eugenia. These books are shipped worldwide, wherever Orthodox Greeks reside—and not only—since several have been translated into foreign languages.

With the proceeds from her books, Mother Eugenia built the entire Monastery and accomplished a vast social and cultural mission.

The Monastery hosts a Bookstore–Exhibition of Mother Eugenia's books and spacious guest quarters that offer free three-day accommodations to pilgrims.

Her Passing

Mother Eugenia Kleidara passed away in the Lord on July 4, 2013. For the sisterhood she established, she was the unforgettable Spiritual Mother of Love—a model of humility and spiritual struggle.

She remains for future generations a shining example of virtue and holiness.

Mother Eugenia looked to the future while listening to the past. Freed from the barbarity of self-worship, she poured her soul into her books. In a showy world throughout the ages, where spiritual cultivation is not the essence of things, Mother Eugenia turned her spirit to the Crucified and asked, “Why?” in her excellent poem.

Works

Mother Eugenia wrote more than 150 books. Seventy of them refer to miracles of Saint Raphael. Many of her books have been translated into foreign languages, and three of them were approved by the Ministry of Education for higher education.

Some of her works include:

History of the Holy Monastery of Saint Raphael (translated into English, Arabic, French, German, Bulgarian, Italian, Romanian, and Russian)

The Saintly Life of Father Ambrosios Leventis (biography)

Let Every Breath Praise the Lord

Valentina Found God in a Book

Dark Roads (short story)

Bright Tuesday

Dewdrops (sermons)

Sunbeams (poetry)

Radiant Hopes (poetry)

Spiritual Lesvos (study)

A Little Freshness in Life’s Scorching Heat (sermons)