==Biografie==

Viitorul Stareț s-a nascut la data de 13 decembrie 1889, parinti fiind Emmanuel și Irene Makris, și a primit numele de Athanasios. S-a născut într-o familie mare, de oameni simpli, de la tara. Chiar si atunci cand era copil, Athanasios respecta cu devotament regulile de post alimentar cu privire la produsele lactate. La varsta de cinci ani, a convins-o pe bona nou-angajata, să-și petreacă restul zilelor în feciorie. Athanasios, s-a păstrat de departe de ispitele lumești, iar la vârsta de șaptesprezece ani a decis să intre la mănăstire. El a cerut binecuvântarea părinților săi, care au fost fericiți să i-o acorde.

In 1911, the [[abbot]] of the Monastery of St. John the Theologian sent Amphilochios to [[Mount Athos]] in order to learn wood-carving; in March 1913, he was tonsured to the Great Schema by Elder Antoniadis. Two months later, the abbot had the agreement of the brethren of the monastery to ordain Amphilochios; but, because of a self-perception of inadequacy, he asked his traveling companion (and ordinand) to continue while Amphilochios went to Egypt and the Holy Lands. Amphilochios asked the Patriarch of Jerusalem to receive him as one of the caretakers of the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem)|Holy Sepulchre]]. While the Patriarch was willing to do this, the Monastery insisted that he return, where they "punished" him by sending him to the hermitage of Apollo, alongside Elder Makarios, which made Amphilochios very happy as he was better able to pray.