“…and all of us together, ‘the beasts, the cattle, the birds and the reptiles’, ‘Praise, Bless, and Worship the Lord.'”

Saint Paisios took care of any kind of animal he came across and he had a special relationship with a little bird he named Olet.

“At my kalyvi I not only have birds of the air, but all the animals come here – jackals, hares, ferrets, turtles, lizards, snakes – they get their full from the overflow of my love, and I am satisfied myself when they are satisfied, and all of us together, ‘the beasts, the cattle, the birds and the reptiles’, ‘Praise, Bless, and Worship the Lord.'”

Read about Saint Paisios and Olet

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The sister of Elder Paisios, Christina, related the following: Once I went to Stomiou Monastery to see the Elder and I brought him two cats, because he had many mice, a sheer scourge. “Father Paisios, I said, “I brought you the cats so you can settle down from the mice” The next time I visited the Monastery, I saw a pan in the kitchen and the cats and mice ate together. I said, “Elder, I brought you cats to eat the mice and you feed them all together?” He said to me, “Leave the blessed things, it’s a pity that everyone chases and kills them, for they are also creatures of God!”