Venerable (Monastic) 15th century

Saint Savva of Ioannina

mid-15th century – 9 April 1505

Also known as Savvas of Ioannina

An ascetic and spiritual father of the fifteenth century who labored in a monastery on an island in the lake of Ioannina in Epiros.

Feast Day

February 3

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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Savva the Ascetic of Ioannina

Life

Saint Savva of Ioannina, also called Savvas the Ascetic, was a monastic ascetic and spiritual father active in Epiros from the mid-fifteenth century into the early sixteenth century. Of noble lineage, he renounced his inheritance from youth and lived as a hermit at the Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner on an island in Lake Ioannina.

He became widely known across the region for his austere asceticism and gentleness of character, drawing those who sought spiritual counsel. He is best remembered as the elder of Saints Nektarios and Theophanes of the Apsaras family, who later founded the Barlaam Monastery at Meteora. He reposed on 9 April 1505; his principal commemoration is kept on 3 February.

Timeline 4 moments Read Hide

mid-15th century Birth and early renunciation Born of noble birth at an unknown place, Savva chose monastic poverty from his youth, giving away his possessions to the poor and the sick.
by the late 15th century Ascetic at Lake Ioannina He settled as a hermit at the Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner on an island in Lake Ioannina, where his virtue and holiness drew crowds seeking his counsel.
1495 Receives Nektarios and Theophanes as disciples The brothers Nektarios and Theophanes of the Apsaras family came to him and received the monastic schema, remaining under his direction for ten years.
9 April 1505 Repose Savva reposed at the Forerunner monastery; sources relate that a fragrance arose from his body. He was buried there.

Contributions & Legacy

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Asceticism and Character

Savva practiced hesychasm with exceptional rigor. He kept nightly prayer vigils from one hour after sunset until the seventh hour at dawn, and ate only minimal plain food, abstaining from meat, fish, and cheese, and using no oil on his food.

He embraced a strict poverty, reportedly never owning a new coat or a second pair of shoes and giving away what he had to the poor and the sick.

His disciples testified that during their ten years with him they never saw him lose his temper, judge others, or hold a grudge. He is remembered for repeatedly teaching that humility is the foundation stone of the spiritual life, calling it the solid and indestructible cornerstone upon which the spiritual life is built.

Disciples and Legacy

Savva served as spiritual father to Saints Nektarios and Theophanes, brothers of the distinguished Apsaras family. They received the monastic schema from him in 1495 and remained with him for about ten years, gathering the fruits of the hesychastic life under his direction until his repose in 1505.

After their elder's death the brothers left the hermitage, traveled to Mount Athos, and later to Meteora, where they founded the Barlaam Monastery. Savva's formation shaped their monastic vocation. Nektarios and Theophanes, who reposed in 1550 and 1544 respectively, are commemorated jointly on 17 May.

Relics & Shrines

Savva was buried at the Monastery of the Honorable Forerunner on the island of Lake Ioannina. Sources relate that an inexpressible fragrance arose from his body at his repose.

Portions of his relics are preserved at the monasteries of Meteora, including the Monastery of the Transfiguration (Great Meteoron) and Roussanou Monastery, the latter of which is said to keep his foot relic.

Commemoration

Although Savva reposed on 9 April 1505, his feast is observed on 3 February, because 9 April frequently falls during Great Lent.

Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Feb 3