The documentary “Light of Cappadocia” follows the fascinating journey of two of the most recently canonised Orthodox saints, Saint Arsenius of Cappadocia and Saint Paisios of Mount Athos. Travelling from Farasa in Cappadocia to Mount Athos, two monks rediscover their divine heritage, revealing the enduring power of faith through prayer, trials and miracles.

Combining archival footage, testimonies from the faithful and monks, and stunning cinematography from Farasa (Cappadocia) and Greece, the documentary presents narratives and information for the first time. Through this multi-layered narrative, we see the lives of the two most recent Orthodox saints unfold before our eyes, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a journey of faith, miracles and reflection.

Director: Irini Sarioglou

Irini Sarioglou was born in Istanbul in 1972. After graduating from Zappeion High School, she studied French Language and Literature at Marmara University and the University of Grenoble. She completed her graduate studies with scholarships from the Onassis Foundation and the State Scholarship Foundation (IKY) at the University of Birmingham in Great Britain, in the Department of Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies. She has taught Ottoman and Turkish history at the University of Athens and the National Centre for Public Administration. For more than ten years, she served as an assistant professor in the department of modern Greek studies at Istanbul University. She is a co-founder and president of the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) and has served as Artistic Director of Beyond Borders | Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival since 2016.