At a time when entire provinces were being compelled to reject their Greek identity and their Orthodox faith, monks, knowing that in the end they could well be put to death for it by the occupying authorities, undertook with a spirit of self-sacrifice to give courage to their countrymen as they endured humiliation and privation for Christ's sake.

St. Damianos launched his mission from the Holy Monastery Philotheou on the Holy Mountain and made his way to Kissavos, which he made the base for his missionary expeditions. A cave in the steep gully opposite the monastery became his hermitage, in which he prepared himself with fervent prayer before venturing out into the villages, mainly in the vicinity of Agia and Larisa.