Akathist to St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

Commemorated December 2.



Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone.
The most-holy temple of the Comforter,
And the beloved of the All-Pure Theotokos,
Let us praise Porphyrios from our heart,
For he loves and heals all, and protects,
And intercedes, that we be granted theosis.
Therefore, we cry out:
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
You lived unknown and hidden in the world,
O shepherd of the Father's sheep.
And having meditated on the life
Of St. John Kalyvites, with zeal you hastened,
O venerable one, to imitate his life.
Therefore, we cry out to you these:
Hail, O shepherd of the rational sheep,
Hail, O source of healing for the passions.
Hail, the fervent friend of purity,
Hail, the godly mystic of the ineffable.
Hail, most-pure vessel of the monastery of the Spirit,
Hail, organ equaling a divine river of grace.
Hail, for you are a guide to men,
Hail, for you guide athletes in their struggles.
Hail, star giving the light of the mysteries,
Hail, you who taught us the things of salvation.
Hail, the glorious offspring of Evia,
Hail, you through whom we are delivered from pain.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
You followed the steps of your Elders in asceticism,
And shared their way of life.
You were an ascetic of Kavsokalyvia,
And showed them unquestioning obedience,
Being taught humility by God,
As those who venerate you chant:
Alleluia. 

 
Unspeakable knowledge was given
To you by God, O Father,
As a reward for your holy life.
And you lead towards healings of the passions,
And grant knowledge of mysteries,
Being shown a benefactor to men,
To those that cry out thusly:
Hail, the mystic of divine knowledge,
Hail, the lover of the holy life.
Hail, messenger of the thoughts of God,
Hail, equal to the athletes of Christ.
Hail, most-pure eye that probes hidden things,
Hail, most-holy mouth that studies mysteries.
Hail, the sacred adornment of priests,
Hail, the beauty of those who struggle on Athos.
Hail, you who grants help to many,
Hail, you who speaks to us the truth.
Hail, O wise physician of illnesses,
Hail, O spring of healings of the soul.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
As a novice, you wrestled with Belial,
And crushed him through your humility.
And receiving the reward of victory,
You were sent into the world as a help, O Venerable One,
Shepherding and healing those who cry out in thanksgiving:
Alleluia. 

 
Bearing graces in your soul, O Father,
You hastened towards your fatherland.
And you lived in the Monastery of St. Charalampos,
Striving in asceticism and serving, O Venerable One,
Healing those who suffer,
As they chant these with joy:
Hail, the joy of all Evia,
Hail, the fruit of much piety.
Hail, you who studied the mysteries of consciences,
Hail, you who dissolved strands of confusion.
Hail, O heavenly man, who lived on earth humbly,
Hail, O earthly angel, for whom heaven rejoices.
Hail, for you dissipate the bitterness of hearts,
Hail, for you grant joy and hope.
Hail, partaker of the choirs of the angels,
Hail, fellow-partaker of joy and sorrow.
Hail, God's blessing towards us,
Hail, our joy and health.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
Being zealous, O godly-minded one,
To bring back many to the flock of Christ to be saved,
You came to Athens humbly,
And serving in a church,
You saved many, who take refuge in you,
Crying out to the Lord:
Alleluia.

 
You came to Omonia Square
To redeem all,
As an angel dwelling in Babylon.
And you became for the Athenians,
The Physician and guide of all, O venerable one,
Leading many to Christ,
As those who were saved cry out thus:
Hail, you through whom Christ is hymned,
Hail, you through whom the enemy is made fearful.
Hail, the boast of the Church of Greece,
Hail, the radiant diadem of Evia.
Hail, for you always kept your heart pure,
Hail, for you were made worthy to see behold mysteries.
Hail, you who surpassed struggles as victorious,
Hail, you who walked the path of sorrows.
Hail, for you were greatly exalted by humility,
Hail, for you made the simple wise with divine knowledge.
Hail, to whom the Athenians take refuge,
Hail, through whom many return to Christ.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
You worked hidden wonders for the sick,
Through your divine prayers, O all-blessed one.
And those healings you attributed
To St. Gerasimos, thus remaining humble, O venerable one.
Through your humility
You gave glory to Christ, crying out:
Alleluia. 

 
You were shown a breeze of fragrant myrrh,
Exhaled through the world,
O most-venerable Father.
And you gladdened the multitudes of the faithful,
Who embrace you with faith,
And cry out with joy such things:
Hail, you who supported many in the faith,
Hail, you who sowed love among the faithful.
Hail, the perfect type of priests,
Hail, the spotless canon of piety.
Hail, flower of Paradise that bloomed upon the earth,
Hail, deeply flowing river of compassion and love.
Hail, the humble servant of the Church,
Hail, he who prays for those in pain and dangers.
Hail, noble dwelling-place of grace,
Hail, radiant substenance of the faithful.
Hail, home of God the King,
Hail, he who adorned many with piety.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios.

 
You loved the whole world, though you had denied all
Joys and ideas of the world.
A true mystic in the heavens,
you served all with joy,
And sactified all through your prayers,
And teaching all to chant:
Alleluia. 

 
You shone upon all like the sun, O Father,
And your sacred head,
Was visited by God,
And through grace, you worked healings for those who are sick,
Who then chant to you:
Hail, you who were fashioned with the Taborean light,
Hail, you who tasted of the heavenly light.
Hail, the most-reverent priest of Christ,
Hail, most-strict keeper of the commandments.
Hail, dwelling of simplicity and godly love,
Hail, you who were fulled with mystical theoria.
Hail, you who appeared as the lamp of purity,
Hail, for you were shown a partaker of dispassion.
Hail, you who spread joy to all,
Hail, you who greatly loved Christ.
Hail, you who ever intercedes to God,
Hail, you who entreats the Pure Virgin.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
You were shown forth as an athlete among the venerable ones,
Showing utter humility in asceticism
And much love within.
And you became the fear and wailing of demons,
As you cast them out, O venerable one,
As we rejoice and chant with you:
Alleluia.

Your nous beheld the rays of the Comforter,
As you beheld terrible and unspeakable mysteries.
You searched men through these,
And were truly shown a prophet, O venerable one,
Informing of events,
As they cried out in amazement thus:
Hail, the prophet of the ineffable things of God,
Hail, the interpreter of the words of Christ.
Hail, you who were precious and sought after in all things,
Hail, the firm foundation of truth.
Hail, God-given gift that was offered to us,
Hail, the refuge and harbor for all who sail.
Hail, you who grants healings to the sick,
Hail, you who studies the mysteries with discernment.
Hail, you who gathers the fruit of theosis,
Hail, you who endured a good transformation.
Hail, temple of heavenly wisdom,
Hail, stole rich in boldness.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
Strange things were always worked within you,
Astonishing the world,
As your nous reached the heavens,
As you drove away fearful demons through prayer,
Healing every incurable passion,
Making knowledge to be revealed to the faithful,
Who cry out to Christ:
Alleluia. 

 
While being totally in the world, you partook
Of the joyous desert of Athos.
For your heart was within her,
And you never left her in spirit.
You therefore reposed in Kavsokalyvia,
As we cry out thus:
Hail, joy possessing peace,
Hail, you who grants these to us.
Hail, unsurpassable report of the monastics,
Hail, the boast of those who live in the world in asceticism.
Hail, sweetest nightingale of the hesychastic life,
Hail, soaring golden eagle of the clairvoyant nous.
Hail, for you indicated sources of water,
Hail, for you curtailed the homage of the faithless.
Hail, you through whom elders are humbled,
Hail, you through whom those who stumbled are cleared.
Hail, the healing of many sick people,
Hail, the true witness of Christ.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios. 

 
You were made worthy to behold and to hear
The Revelation on Patmos, as St. John the Theologian.
And for a short time, you went into ecstacy,
And beheld awesome things, O venerable one,
And being filled with fear of the Lord,
You cried out in gratitude:
Alleluia. 

 
Being adorned with grace
Of the Comforter from on high,
You were shown a god-bearer to the world.
And you breathed forth the fragrance of myrrh,
And were seen to visit those who suffered,
As you received saints. We are amazed at this,
And we cry out:
Hail, you who beheld divine visions,
Hail, you who grants us healings.
Hail, you the holy one who comes to us awake,
Hail, you who flies through the air unseen.
Hail, you who were adorned with holiness, and exalted with humility,
Hail, you who received very many graces from the Comforter.
Hail, for you possessed the hearts of the Athenians,
Hail, for you endured the pains of the ailing.
Hail, spring pouring forth healings,
Hail, dawn illuminating the darkness.
Hail, the friend and beloved of God,
Hail you who resurrected many towards Christ.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios.

The frenzy of the heart,
You cease with your prayer,
Granting us peace, O Father.
You shine upon the darkness of the mind
And breathe forth hymns to God, O venerable one.
Therefore, out of gratitude
We hymn God, crying out:
Alleluia.

 
A perfect shepherd of men
You were shown to be,
And you laid down your life for them.
You cut your will,
And were martyred daily, O venerable one,
Becoming a servant
To those, who now cry out to you with joy:
Hail, you who sought Christ with fervor,
Hail, you who struggled for His faith.
Hail, radiant garment of dispassion,
Hail, you who fulfill every request of the faithful.
Hail, the purest nous beholding mysteries,
Hail, the deliver of all from the battles of Belial.
Hail, you who flaunt the dangers of the foe,
Hail, you who were nourished by the teachings of the Lord.
Hail, sacred icon of meekness,
Hail, you who were granted much gladness.
Hail, you through whom the Church is hymned,
Hail, you through whom faithlessness is shaken.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios.

 
Hymns of thanksgiving,
As ones delivered from dangers,
We offer to your compassion.
For you loved us as children,
And always had your arms open, O venerable one,
Ever to cherish all,
And to cover those who cry out to the Lord:
Alleluia.

 
You appeared as light-bearing in prayer, O Father,
Astonishing the faithful who beheld you.
For you shown with the immaterial light
That lead you towards the knowledge to study unspeakable things,
And to heal sicknesses
Of those who hymn you thusly:
Hail, fire-bearing lamp of Christ,
Hail, true father, and Christ-bearer.
Hail, unemptying spring of piety,
Hail, irrefutable voice of truth.
Hail, for through your grace, you foresaw the invasion of Cyprus,
Hail, for you drive away the attacks of the demons.
Hail, for you desired hesychia from your soul.
Hail, for you were an ascetic and humble pastor.
Hail, you who revealed the love of Christ,
Hail, you brought joy to troubled souls.
Hail, your monastery's shelter and protector,
Hail, you who stand beside many in dangers.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios.

 
You received the grace, O Father,
To truly reveal springs of water from the depths of the earth.
And many beheld this,
As geologists were amazed, O venerable one,
As the landholders rejoiced,
And cried out in thanksgiving:
Alleluia.
 

We chant joyously
At the multitudes of your graces,
And we hymn the All-Holy Trinity.
For by [the Trinity] you were shown a man
Clairvoyant and pouring forth healings,
Enlightening mysteries,
Breathing forth to those who cry out:
Hail, the pinnacle of every virtue,
Hail, the most-faithful life in purity.
Hail, the unshakable foundation of piety.
Hail, the ever-flowing river of truth.
Hail, fragrant lily of mystical Paradise,
Hail, star most-radiant of the spiritual Heaven.
Hail, the radiance and glory of the Church,
Hail, you who trample on the arrows of the enemy.
Hail, the divine good news of Evia,
Hail, the angel of joy and hope.
Hail, you who cleanse from the stains of the passions,
Hail, you who takes up our souls to the Heavens.
Hail, O Father Porphyrios.

 
O thrice-blessed Father, the beauty of ascetics,
Porphyrios, and the protector of all (3)
Together with the angels, as we hymn Christ,
Grant us the tears of repentance,
And entreat that we inherit Paradise,
Who cry out together:
Alleluia.


Apolytikion – Mode 1
“The son of Evia (Euboea), the Elder of All Greeks,  the initiate of Divine Vision and True friend of Christ.  Porphyrios, O faithful, let us praise  who from childhood was filled with divine gifts
the demonized are redeemed and the sick are healed who cry out: “Glory to Him who gave His might to you!  Glory to Him who made you Holy!  Glory to Him, who, through you, effects cures for all.”
Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

THE BENEFITS OF ALMSGIVING - AN AMAZING MIRACLE! ( Gerontikon )

Once there lived in the city an officer of the palace court. One day he was sent by the king to someone as a messenger. On the road, he found a dead person, who was naked. The officer was saddened with this lamentable image of misfortune and said to his servant, ‘take my horse and go on a bit’. The officer dismounted and approached the dead man. Taking off some of his clothing, he covered the dead man with them.


A few days after this incident, the officer was once again dispatched in the service of the king. But as soon as he left the city, he fell from his horse and broke his leg. He was immediately taken to his house, where he was beset by horrendous pain. The doctors looked after the ill man, but without result. After five days, his leg turned to black. When the doctors saw this symptom they became very concerned and, so that the rest of his body would not become infected, decided to amputate his leg.


On hearing this decision of the doctors the officer became very upset, wept over his misfortune, and, because of his sadness, could not even sleep. The night after he learnt this terrible news he remained completely sleepless. The lamps in his room thus being lighted, around midnight there came to the attic window an unknown man who approached him. ‘Why are you crying and why are you sad?’ The officer answered him, ‘Sir how could I not cry? For no good reason I broke my leg, and tomorrow the doctors are going to amputate it.’ This unknown man then said to the suffering officer, ‘show me your leg.’ He began forthwith to anoint the leg of the sick man and to massage it. After a short time, he said to the ill man, ‘Get up and walk.’ ‘I cannot, Sir, because it is broken.’ ‘Do not be afraid,’ the man told him, ‘lean on me.’ In fact, the officer of the palace guard rose up from his bed and walked; he had become perfectly well.


After this strange miracle, the unknown man said to the healed officer; ‘See, you have become perfectly well. Lie down and rest from your night time vigil and your sufferings and do not worry.’ Continuing he spoke a few words about the value of charity, based on the words of Holy Scripture: ‘Blessed are the meek (poor): for they shall inherit the earth’ (Matt. 5:5) and ‘For He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy’ (James 2:13).


Following this short dissertation, the unknown man bid farewell to the healed officer: ‘Good bye and be always healthy!’ Saddened by the impending departure of his benefactor, the officer asked him: ‘Are you leaving?’ ‘What else do you want?’ he said. ‘You are now completely well.’ The officer said back to him: ‘In the name of God, who sent you? Tell me who you are.’ ‘Look at me carefully’ – the unknown man said – ‘and see if you recognise what I am wearing.’ ‘Yes’ the officer said, ‘Those are my own clothes.’ ‘Well, then,’ said the unknown man, ‘I am the same one whose body was tossed aside naked on the street and which you – with succour and mercy – covered with your clothes. It is thus that God sent me to cure you. For this you should always thank him.’


Having finished his words, he climbed up again, through the attic window from which he had come, and became invisible. From that time forward, the healed man never ceased to thank God and to distribute alms to the poor. 

Gerontikon

The desire for good food is a trap of the evil one ( St. Paisios )

The desire for good food is a trap of the evil one. Whoever does not get rid of this desire is caught by the enemy’s hook and is fried in his own fat by his burning flesh. On the contrary, the desire for spiritual nourishment takes the heart away from earthly things and raises the soul to Heaven, where it tastes the food of angels.

St. Paisios

On prayer and the nous (the intellect) - Fr. Savas of the Holy Monastery of Philotheou, Mount Athos

Fr. Savas was a disciple of Elder Ephraim of Philotheou [now of St. Anthony's Monastery, Florence, AZ] for 30 years.

On prayer and the nous (the intellect):

Your mind, your nous is a coffee cup, from which your heart drinks and is filled. If the cup has good stuff in it, the heart will drink of good. If the cup is not full and pours into the heart continually, the heart will thirst.

If there is room left in the cup—if it is not filled with good to drink, the enemy will come and pour poison into your cup, as much as is space for it. A little drop of poison is just a bitter taste in the heart—a whole lot of poison, like something that sours the stomach, is nearly deadly for the heart.

So why drink poison? Fill the cup to the rim, or better—keep it overflowing with the good drink that is spiritual thoughts, sobering joys of Christ's mercy, of death, of the Church, of the Panagia, of the Saints, etc. When you see poison has been added to your cup, start dripping in, pouring in, much good stuff. Open the Scriptures, the Psalms, or best of all the dripping faucet of "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me".

Then the enemy will rage helplessly, for without any room to add poison to your cup, he will not be able to reach your heart and wound it. This is the "secret" of watchfulness and continual prayer—a FULL cup of divine good. Keep the cup full of good, and keep that drink flowing into your thirsty heart, to quench its thirst and to edify it constantly.

May you overthrow the enemy, by the Name of Christ, by His grace, and by His Cross, the invincible weapon, unto the salvation of your souls, and that we may share the glory of His Dominion, now and forever!
http://orthodoxinfo.c/search.aspx?q=Jesus+Prayer

Christ Teaches us Obedience ( St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite )

Now, what do we have to say? If the King of the angels was obedient to His parents, in other words, if he was obedient to the mud and clay that He
Himself created with His own hands, what must
we do?

We who are sinful and worse than a zero? How much obedience should we have toward our
physical parents? How much must we honor
them? How much should we love them? How much gratitude must we show to them?
Every child is obligated to give these four things to his parents, and he, in turn, should receive the
following four things from his parents:
sustenance, help, instruction, and a good example.
 
Children must especially display a great deal of patience with their parents’ shortcomings during their old age, as it is written:
“My son, help your father in his old age, and do not grieve him in his life, and if his understanding fails, be considerate and do not dishonor him
with all your strength” (Sir. 3:12-13).

Do not believe, dear reader, that we can possibly make any material or spiritual progress if we
disobey our parents.
Do not think this at all!
“An astute son is obedient to his father, but a disobedient son is for destruction” (Pr. 13:1). 
If we ignore our father, we become blasphemers; and if we annoy and sadden our mother, we are cursed by the Lord:
“He who forsakes his father is like a blasphemer, and he who provokes his mother to wrath is
cursed by God” (Sir. 3:16). If, on the other hand,
we honor our father, we will also be honored by
our children; and if  we receive our father’s blessing, the foundations of our home will be firmly established:
“He who honors his father will be gladdened by his own children, and when he prays, he will be heard. He who honors his father will have a long life, and he who obeys the Lord will give rest to his mother; and he will serve his parents as his masters. Honor your father and mother in word and deed, that a blessing may come upon you from him. For the blessing of a father establishes the houses of the children, but the curse of a mother
uproots their foundations” (Sir. 3:5-9).

In brief, we are obligated to obey our parents always. The only time we should not listen to them and instead choose the love of God is if they
ever order us to do something evil, or to transgress any of God’s commandments, or if they attempt to prevent us from choosing a way of life through
which we can better serve and be more pleasing to the Lord, such as the monastic life for example, as the divine Chrysostom affirms. 
The Lord Jesus Christ indicated this very thing when He was in the Temple and responded in the following way to His parents who were looking for Him:
“Why have you been seeking Me?
Do you not know that it is necessary for Me to
remain in My Father’s home?” (Lk. 2:49).


http://www.stnektariosmonastery.org/