Ephraim of Fillotheou savior and destroyer of Athonite monasticism

Ephraim of Fillotheou, later Arizona, savior and destroyer of Athonite monasticism

While on Mt Athos Ephraim, one of the disciples of Joseph the Hesychast, saved the monasteries of Konstamonitou, Xeropotamou and Karakallou from devastation by manning them with his disciples. These three monasteries under the inspired abbotship of Agathon, Joseph, and Philotheos respectively, are in the front line of the fight to save Athonite Orthodoxy today.

When he went to America he opted to not return to Athos. He created a chain of monasteries the character of which remotely resembles Athonite Orthodoxy. What is more puzzling is that the Greek Orthodox of America have turned against Athonite monasticism and are succeeding in destroying it. Ephraim himself has emerged as a controversial monk widely discussed on American media.