"Trinities of Saints", by Monk Arsenios

Famous depiction of the prefiguration of the Holy Trinity by Rublev (source)

  

"According to the grace-filled expression of our Saints: “The Holy Spirit is the head of the household of the Orthodox Church”…Without His presence, all the deeds and the Mysteries of the Church remain invalid, dead. Thus, great is our rejoicing and exaltation when we see how the Holy Spirit has not abandoned His Orthodox Church even to our days…

 

"Therefore, among the infinite gifts of the Holy Spirit to His Church, we see a most-beautiful and grace-filled phenomenon, in other words, throughout the centuries, we see revealed trinities of Saints, and this is not by accident.

  

Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (source)

  

"We see this begin with the three Forefathers and Patriarchs of the Jewish people: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

"Though we do not see the same with the Apostles***, after a few centuries, we see shining forth the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian.

   

The Three Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers: Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom (source)

  

[***Note: One could argue that Christ highlighted the Apostles Peter, James and John at His Holy Transfiguration]

"The next trinity are the great Venerable Ascetics Sts. Anthony, Euthemios and Savas the Sanctified.

  

Three Great Desert Fathers: Sts. Anthony the Great, Euthemios and Sabbas the Sanctified (source)

 

"After several centuries shown forth three Saints who conquered the terrible heresy of papism: Photios the Great, Gregory Palamas and Mark of Ephesus.

Three Great Pillars of Orthodoxy: Sts. Gregory Palamas, Mark of Ephesus and Photios the Great (source)

  

"And, while several centuries passed without this particularly pleasant phenomenon being seen, many Saints were recognized. However, in our days, even before our Holy Church recognized them as Saints, the faithful especially of the Church of Greece, had begun to paint the icon of three Holy Elders: Porphyrios, Paisios and Iakovos, whom our Church formally recognized a short time later. Behold, how in our days, which are especially evil ones, the Holy Spirit has given us a new grace-filled trinity of Saints, which many of us “have seen and touched with our hands.” (I Epistle of John 1:1)…

"They, in short, are three greatly loved Saints of our days. All three had as their calling the healing of the pain of wearied people. It is unable to overestimate their contribution…"

-Excerpt from "The Three Saints of our Days: Sts. Paisios, Porphyrios and Iakovos"

By Monk Arsenios of the Skete of Koutloumousiou, Mount Athos

(source)

  

See also "Three Saints of Hope and Pain" for a similar discussion of these new wonderworkers.

  

Three Great Venerable Wonderworkers of the 20th Century: Sts. Paisios the Athonite, Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Iakovos of Evia (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!