St. Porphyrios and the Hippies

St. Porphyrios once said:

One day a hippie visited me. He was dressed in something colorful, strange clothes, and wore an amulet and jewelery, and he asked to see me. The nuns were worried, so they came and asked me, and I told them to have him enter. As soon as he sat across from me, I could see his soul. He had a good soul, but was wounded which was why he was a revolutionary.

I spoke to him with love and he was moved. "Elder", he said, "nobody until today has ever spoken to me like this." I had told him his name, and he was confused as if I knew him. "Well," I told him, "God revealed your name and that you travelled as far as India where you met a guru and you followed him." He was in even greater wonder. I told him other things about himself, and he left pleased. The next week he arrived with a group of hippies.

They all gathered together within my cell and sat around me. A girl was also with them. I liked them very much. They were good souls, but wounded. I did not speak to them about Christ, because I saw they weren't ready to hear of it. I spoke their own language about topics that interested them. When we were finished and they got up to leave, they told me: "Elder, we would like a favor: allow us to kiss your feet." I was embarrassed, but what could I do, I allowed them. After they gave me a blanket as a gift. I will call for it to be brought, so you can see it. It's very nice. After a time the girl visited me, the hippie, by herself. They called her Maria.

I saw that Maria was more advanced in her soul than her friends and she was the first I spoke to about Christ. She received my words. She has come other times, and has taken a good path. Maria also told her friends: "Hey naughty children, I would never have imagined that I would come to know Christ through hippie friends."

 

St. Porphyrios

Teaching the Jesus Prayer ( St. Porphyrios )

This is a story of one of the spiritual children of Elder Porphyrios told about how he taught them to pray.

He placed us towards the east, two of us to his left and two to the right, with him in the middle. “Now we’ll pray noetically. 

First, I will say the words, and you will repeat them. But be careful, without anxiety or force, you’ll say the words calmly, humbly, with love and sweetness.” The Elder started off with his fine, delicate and eloquent voice, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” He said it very slowly, word by word, without forcing it at all. It was as though he had Christ before him and he was begging him, with a log pause after the word “Christ”, Coloring his words “have mercy on me” with an entreating tone. And we repeated it each time, trying to imitate his stance, the color of his voice and if it at all possible his spiritual disposition. 

At some point, the Elder stopped saying the prayer out loud and just continued whispering it on his lips. We did the same thing. How long did our night-time prayer take? I don’t remember. All I remember was that the Elder imparted an emotion to us that I cannot express with human words.

Evil starts with bad thoughts... ( St. Porphyrios )

Evil starts with bad thoughts. When you are bitter and angry, if only by thinking, you are spoiling the spiritual atmosphere. You prevent the Holy Spirit from acting and allow the devil to grow up evil. You should always pray, love and forgive, driving away from you every evil account.

 

St. Porphyrios

A mother should not be satisfied by giving her child a physical caress, but should also coddle it with the caress of prayer. ( St. Porphyrios )

A child needs to be surrounded by people who pray and pray ardently. A mother should not be satisfied by giving her child a physical caress, but should also coddle it with the caress of prayer.

In the depths of its soul the child senses the spiritual caress that its mother conveys to it and is drawn to her.

It feels security and certainty when its mother mystically embraces it with constant, intense and fervent prayer and releases it from whatever is oppressing it.

St. Porphyrios

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!

Maintain Calmness and Simplicity - Don’t Struggle Directly With Temptations ( St. Porphyrios )

The Way of Love involves uniting ourselves with Christ. Our efforts should be continually focused on how we will be united with Him and keep Him continually in our heart. Our love for Christ is what must dominate both our mind and heart.

St. Porphyrios says,

What is holy and beautiful and what gladdens the heart and frees the soul from every evil is the effort to unite yourself to Christ, to love Christ, to crave for Christ and to live in Christ, just as Saint Paul said, ”It is no longer I who live, Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). He advises us to make our struggle with calmness and simplicity. We don’t gain by forcing ourselves to be good or forcing ourselves to pray. We need to do things naturally and calmly. We need to do them because of our love of Christ. With love there is no need for forcing. When we love Christ we enthusiastically long for time in prayer and to participate in the Divine Liturgy and the Sacrament of Holy Communion and Confession.

Likewise when we love God we should not struggle with temptations. When we do we only acknowledge the strength of the temptation and it gains control in you. When temptations arise focus on your love of God instead of attacking. When our mind is filled with Love of Christ there is no room to entertain temptations.

He says,

Let all your strength be turned to love for God, worship of God and adhesion to God. As we study the hymns and psalms, when we pray, devoting ourselves to love of Christ, we receive grace and are able to combat temptations with ease. The challenge is to keep our mind focused on our heart which contains our insatiable love of Christ.


St. Porphyrios

Reference: Wounded By Love, p 137

Parents need to devote themselves to the love of God.... ( St. Porphyrios )

What saves and makes for good children is the life of the parents in the home. The parents need to devote themselves to the love of God. They need to become saints in their relation to their children through their mildness, patience and love. They need to make a new start every day, with a fresh outlook, renewed enthusiasm and love for their children. And the joy that will come to them, the holiness that will visit them, will shower grace on their children. Generally the parents are to blame for the bad behaviour of the children. And their behaviour is not improved by reprimands, disciplining, or strictness. If the parents do not pursue a life of holiness and if they don't engage in spiritual struggle, they make great mistakes and transmit the faults they have within them. If the par­ents do not live a holy life and do not display love towards each other, the devil torments the parents with the reactions of the children. Love, har­mony and understanding between the parents are what are required for the children. This provides a great sense of security and certainty.

The behaviour of the children is directly related to the state of the parents. When the children are hurt by the bad behaviour of the parents towards each other, they lose the strength and desire to progress in their lives. Their lives are constructed shoddily and the edifice of their soul is in constant danger of collapsing. Let me give you two examples.

Two sisters came to see me. One of them had gone through some very distressing experiences and they asked me what was the cause of these. I answered them:
'It's because of your home; it stems from your parents.' And as I looked at the girl I said:

'These are things you've inherited from your mother.'

'But,' she said,' my parents are such perfect people. They're Chris­tians, they go to confession, they receive Holy Communion and we had a re­ligious upbringing. Unless it is religion that is to blame...'

I said to them:

'I don't believe a word of all that you're telling me. I see one tiling only, and that is that your parents don't live with the joy of Christ.'

On hearing this, the other girl said:

'Listen, Maria, the Father's quite right. Our parents go to confession and receive Holy Communion, but did we ever have any peace at home. Our father was constantly complaining about our mother. And every day either the one refused to sit at the table or the other refused to go out somewhere together. So you see what the Father is saying is true.

'What's your father's name?' I asked her,

She told me.

'What's your mother's name?'

She told me.

'Well,' I said,' the feelings you've got inside you towards your moth­er are not at all good.'

You see, the moment she told me her father's name I saw his soul, and the moment she told me her mother's name, I saw her mother and I saw the way her daughter looked at her.

Another day a mother came to visit me with one of her daughters. She was very distressed and broke down in tears.

'What's the matter?' I asked.

'I'm in total despair over my older daughter. She threw her husband out the house and deceived us all with a pack of lies.'

'What kind of lies?' I inquired.

'She threw her husband out the house ages ago and she didn't tell us anything. We would ask on the phone, "How's Stelios doing?', and she would reply, "Oh, he's fine. He's just gone out to buy a newspaper." Each time she would think up some new excuse so that we wouldn't suspect anything. And this went on for two whole years. A few days ago we learned the truth from Stelios himself when we bumped into him by chance.'

So I said to her:

'The fault's your own. It's you that's to blame, you and your husband, but you most of all.'

'What do you mean!' she said indignantly. 'I loved my children to the point that I was never out of the kitchen. I had no life of my own at all. I took them to the church and I was always telling them the right thing to do. How can you say that I'm to blame?'

I turned to her other daughter who was with her and asked:

'What do you think about the matter?'

'The Father's right, Mum,' she said. 'We never ever enjoyed a single day when you weren't quarrelling with Dad.'

'Do you see then, how I'm right? It is you that are to blame. You traumatised the children. They are not to blame, but they are suffering the consequences.'


St. Porphyrios


Wounded by Love: The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios, trans. by John Raffan (Limni, Evia, Greece: Denise Harvey, 2005), 195-205.

Should Jesus scare us? ( St. Porphyrios )

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (A John, 4, 18)

When you love Jesus, despite your many weaknesses and your awareness of them, you rest assured that you have overcome death because you are in communion with Jesus’ love.

We ought to feel that Jesus is our friend. He is our friend. He confirms it Himself when He says: ‘You are my friends…” (John 15, 14).We ought to look up to Him and approach Him as our friend. If we fall, if we commit an offence, we ought to approach Him with love and courage and be filled with trust bestowed to us by our mutual friendship without fearing His punishment. We ought to tell Him: ‘Yes, Lord I have done this, I have fallen, forgive me”. At the same time we ought to feel that He loves us, that He receives us with tenderness and love and that He forgives us. Let our trespasses not separate us from Jesus. If we believe that He loves us and that we love Him, we will not feel strangers, neither we will feel separated from Him, not even when we commit a sin. We have secured His love and no matter what we do, we know that He loves us.

The Gospel, speaking allegorically, warns that the unjust will be taken to the place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25, 30); indeed this is how it is going to be for someone who lives away from the Lord. Several of the Niptic fathers also speak about the fear of death and of Hell. They say: ‘You must always remember death’. Such words, if examined deeply, cause the fear for Hell. Someone who is trying to avoid committing a sin nurtures such thoughts, so that his soul is overcome by the fear of death, of Hell and of the devil.

Everything has its own importance at the appropriate time and the right circumstances. The fear of death is appropriate at the early stages of spiritual struggle. It is right for the novices, for those whose old-self is still active. The novice, who has not yet had the chance to be ‘sensitized’, is kept from sinning by this fear. Fear is necessary since we have a physical nature prone to wickedness. However, this is an elementary stage, an early level of relating to the divine. At this level the relationship with the Lord becomes a transaction: to gain Paradise and to avoid Hell. If we examine this properly we will see that it reeks from some kind of selfishness and self-interest.

I do not like this route. As soon as one progresses and enters the love of the Lord, why does he need fear? Whatever he does, he does it out of love and this is more important. It is not worth that much if someone becomes good because he fears the Lord and not because he loves Him.

Whoever would like to become a Christian ought to become a poet first. Once the soul is knocked about it becomes undeserving of Jesus’ love; Jesus interrupts the relationship since He does not want ‘thick’ souls with Him.

When you are worshiping the divine make sure that no one sees you nor recognizes what you are doing. You ought to do all these in secret, like the ascetics. Remember when I mentioned the nightingale? It sings in the forest, when there is silence, so that no one hears it neither praises it. What a magnificent singing in the desert! Did you notice how its throat swells? The same thing happens to the person who loves the Lord. As soon as he experiences this love, his ‘throat and his tongue swell”. He runs in the wild, in the desert and communicates with the Lord in secret, “with inexpressible sighs”.

You ought to ignore your passions; do not preoccupy yourselves with the devil. Turn towards Jesus instead. Divine grace teaches us our duties. We must employ love and longing in order to draw divine grace. The grace of the Lord needs divine Eros.

Once we have acquired love, then we are ready to pray. The Lord comes to such a soul by Himself as soon as He finds some pleasing things: a good intention, humility and love. Without these we are not able to say: ‘Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”.

The slightest criticism against someone else, affects our souls and we become unable to pray. The Holy Spirit does not dare approach such a soul.

We ought to let the Lord do what He wants with us; this is more beneficial and more appropriate for ourselves and for those whom we are praying for. Jesus will hand over all things in abundance. However, with the slightest selfishness, nothing can happen. The Lord has His own reasons for not giving us whatever we ask of Him. He has His own ‘secrets’.

Unless you obey your spiritual father and show humility, Jesus’ prayer (Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me) will not work and you risk being deluded as well. Do not recite this prayer as a chore. If you apply pressure you may be harmed. Several people have fallen ill because they were reciting Jesus’ prayer under pressure. It can be done, of course, but it is not a healthy way to pray.

You do not have to concentrate excessively in order to recite Jesus’ prayer. You do not need special effort when you have divine Eros. Any place is appropriate for this prayer: sitting on a low chair, on an armchair, in the car, while on the road, at school, at the office, anywhere. Just say ‘Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me’ gently, without pressure or feeling any tightness.

Intensity and not duration is more important in prayer. Pray even for five minutes, but your prayer ought to be offered to the Lord lovingly and with longing. This five-minute prayer may be more valuable than prayer which lasts all night. This is, certainly a mystery, but it happens.

The end

Source: pentapostagma.gr
Translated into English by: Olga Konaris Kokkinos

Chidren, raising them right ( St. Porphyrios )

  About Parental  Education and  upbringing

The education, says elder Porphyrios, lasts throughout life (lifelong education) and starts from fetal life, and constantly evolving. The most important educations and upbringing is the one held by the family.

According to elder Porphyrios, the family is the first physical means of upbringing and educating people. In the first 5 years of human life the family with all functions – visible and hidden, conscious and unconscious – helps on shaping the personality. The child and the adolescent observe the family roles played by parents. Children often identify themselves with the roles of parents. Sometimes, however, the children reject their parents and adopt a reactive behavior. This is obvious especially in dysfunctional families.

Elder Porphyrios teaches that the core of the personality of young people is organized in the framework of the dynamic relationships in the family. Elder Porhpyrios in all the cases that came to him for confession, he studied their background of their intra-familial and marital relationships.

What makes good children, says elder Porphyrios, is the virtuous lives of parents at home. Parents should love God. Parents, according to elder Porphyrios, should become ‘saints’, ‘holy’ near their children and have gentleness, patience and love. They should be always available for their children, with enthusiasm and love for them. Then, with the grace of God, and their ‘holiness’ they will transfer their good and virtuous feelings to their children.

For the bad behavior of the children, says elder Porphyrios, we should blame the parents. Parents don’t help their children with their advices and by ‘lecturing’; neither by imposing a strict discipline, nor by controlling their life. If the parents don’t ‘sanctify’ and become ‘saints’ and virtuous, they make a big mistake and send the wrong message to their children.

Love, unity and cooperation of parents and good understanding between them and their children gives a sense of security and confidence to their children. Otherwise, the children become unsafe and insecure. Often the unsecure children can lead to the ‘safety’ of a gang and/or obtain a violent behavior (as a reaction to a dysfunctional family).

The behavior of the children is related to the situations they experienced in their family. The negative attitude of parents creates wounds in the hearts of the children and leaves scars of injury in their souls that keep during their whole life. These psychological scars are affecting their behavior and their relationship with the others, during the rest of their lives.

In other words, the experiences the children carry from their childhood affect their lives and their behavior in relation to the others (family, sexual relationship, friends). Children, says elder Porphyrios, become older, educated, but do not really change. This is obvious even from the most minor events of their life.

Elder Porphyrios says that when you start from a young age with good memories and experiences, then when you grow up you don’t have trouble to get good and virtuous, but you live goodness every day, you have it within you self, it is your property that does not vanish.

The children with psychological problems (such as tantrum, frustration, isolation, violent behavior and other reactive behaviors), elder Porphyrios used to call them ‘confused’. Children with psychological problems, says elder Porphyrios, are usually created by negative experiences they lived in a troubled, with many conflicts, family life. Elder Porphyrios used to say that ‘confused children come up from confused parents’. The disturbance of homeostasis and balance of family bonds erases the educating and upbringing role of the parents.

Elder Porphyrios says that family has a major responsibility for the mental status of everyone. He believes that the education and upbringing of children starts from the moment of their conception in the belly of their mother. The fetus in the womb hears and feels, understands the movements and emotions of the mother. If the mother feels sadness, fear or anxiety, the feeling is transmitted to the fetus. If the mother does not want her fetus, if she does not love it, this feeling is transmitted to the baby and creates wounds in its soul that carries throughout its life.

Contrary, if the mother has positive emotions (joy, love for the fetus), it transmits them to the fetus. So a pregnant mother needs to pray much, to caress her belly, to love her baby and to live a ‘holy’, virtuous life. The pregnant mother has a huge responsibility and honour. She is responsible for the development of her kid, even during her pregnancy.

In relation to the teaching role of the parents, elder Porphyrios says that parents – especially the mothers – often know how to get nervous, distressed and also know to ‘lecturing’ their children, but they have not learned to pray for their children. Advices, suggestions and ‘lecturing’ are often tiring for their children, says elder Porphyrios. Instead, the prayer goes immediately to their heart.

Prayer, silence and love help better from ‘lecturing’. However the parents love their children with human criteria and human means (however human love can often be pathological) and the children become ‘confused’ and their attitude is negative and reactive. But when the parents love each other and their children, children will not have problems. Elder Porphyrios summarizes his pedagogical teaching in one sentence: <<the ‘sanctity’ of the parents saves their children>>. But to do this, God’s grace should visit the soul of the parents.

Elder Porphyrios says that the parents’ life is the only thing that creates good children inside the house. Parents should be very patient and ‘saint’. They should truly love their children. And the children will share this love. For the bad attitude of the children, says elder Porphyrios, the parents are usually responsible. The parents don’t help their children with their repeating ‘advices’, the discipline that they impose and their strict rules.

If the parents don’t become ‘saints’ and truly love their children, if they don’t struggle for it, they make huge mistake and they convey to their kids their bad feelings that they have inside their soul. Then their children become reactive and insecure.

Contrary, says elder Porphyrios, if the parents show love and communicate well themselves, then their children feel secure. Their children’s attitude is related directly with the attitude of their parents. When the children get hurt from their parents bad attitude (or the bad relationship between their parents), then they lose their strength to progress.

Once, elder Porphyrios met 2 young girls that came to him for confession (to confess their sins). He found out that one of the girls had a dysfunctional life that was related to her bad relations with her mother. The girl confessed that her parents had often arguments between themselves.

Another time a mother with her daughter visited elder Porphyrios. She said that she was desperate with her other daughter, because she expelled her husband from their home and for 2 years she pretended at her parents that her relationship with her husband was fine (however finding every time excuses for her husband for not appearing on the telephone). After conversation, the mother admitted that she had continually arguments with her husband and that had a negative impact on their relationship with their daughter who created a dysfunctional family, perpetuating the problems.

Elder Porphyrios advises parents to knock on the door of the soul of their children gently, subtly and politely. They should not become tedious and annoying their children with their ‘lectures’ and their overprotection. So, says elder Porphyrios, most parents need to do a secret prayer for their children and say what they have to tell them secretly, to the soul of their children. The perfect, as elder Porphyrios says, is the parents to talk to God and then God will speak to their children.

Children need people, and especially their parents, to make them a warm prayer. Cuddling and caressing them is not enough. They need better the spiritual touch of a prayer. The child feels in the depths of its soul the spiritual messages that its parents (especially its mother) send, and feels safe and secure from this secret – psychic – embrace with its parents.

Elder Porphyrios believes that the family is largely responsible for the psychological problems and the negative behavior of the children. The ‘sanctity’ of the parents prevents these problems. The children need beside them ‘saint’ parents who love them (not in the sense of overprotection that ‘chokes’ them), and not to tire them with their ‘lecturing’ about moral issues.

Parents should not be limited to sterile words. Instead of only teaching, they should be themselves a good example. They need to pray for their children and embrace them silently and secretly (mentally). Elder Porphyrios states that even if parents do not quarrel with their child using physical violence, if the show resentment and glare them, then their child will understand their negative feelings.

Elder Porphyrios states that children do not belong to the parents. Their lives of their children belong to themselves, not to their parents. The role of parents is pedagogical, educational. They need to respect their children and to behave democratically. They should see God in the face of their children and give God’s love to them.

Parents, continues elder Porphyrios, need to understand that their words, their ‘lecturing’ and their suggestions do not work as effectively unless they follow what they say and also live a virtuous life.

Parents also serve as models, patterns. With their experiences and their behavior they teach their children. As educators, they should improve themselves. Parents need lifelong spiritual perfection to achieve as educators.

Elder Porphyrios says that the children in a dysfunctional family carry scars on their soul for their whole life and this influences their relationship with the others (including their partners, later) and they carry in their whole life these negative feelings. It is totally a psychological phenomenon.

However, says elder Porphyrios, parents should not ‘change’ their children with threats, strict rules, ‘advices’ and compulsions, because they rather make things worse. The parents should correct the situation by becoming more ‘saint’ themselves. If the parents give love, they will receive love. Children need love from their parents, and not threats, or parents that keep on lecturing to their children, however they do not follow the good example that they ‘preach’.

Parents, says elder Porphyrios, shouldn’t also ‘push’ their children. They shouldn’t hurt their child by punishing it with a strict way or punishing it excessively. They should avoid even to stare with a threatening way their child, because the child conceives a negative feeling and later when the parent are calm the child will react for the previous attitude and will not accept the ‘sorry’ or the caress of the parent, but will consider it as hypocrisy.

Other parents tend to be overprotective on their children. They are stressed and anxious for their children and they transfer this stress on their kids. Once, a mother complained to elder Porphyrios that her 5 years old child didn’t obey her. The mother with her kid took a ride elder Porphyrios to a coast that was nearby. There, as the 2 adults were talking the 5 years old kid run towards the sea and jumped on a crag hill of sand and threatened its mother that it would lose its balance and fall into the sea!

The mother turned frightened, but elder Porphyrios asked her not to pay attention on her kid, but turn her back and ignore it (however he watched himself the kid with the side of his eye!). When the kid got tired challenging its mother, it slowly returned back and approached the 2 adults. Children many times tend to ‘test’ their parents. Often they enjoy challenging them. It’s always a reaction.

Another mother complained to elder Porphyrios that her 3 years old son didn’t eat all the foods, especially yogurt. The small kid ‘tortured’ his mother every day refusing to eat yogurt. Elder Porphyrios asked the mother a ‘trick’: to empty the fridge from all the food except yogurt! The parents should be patient for some days. They should only offer their child yogurt. If it doesn’t eat it, it doesn’t matter. He will finally get hungry and will eat it at last. The parents followed the elder’s advice. Things happened as elder said and now yogurt is the favourite food for that kid!

This advice is different from a modern behaviourist approach where the parents ‘play’ their child’s game and actually try to make it eat its meal. To my mind elder Porphyrios’ approach is more educational and appropriate (with the behaviourist approach, parents tend to lower their level on their kids’ level!).

Mothers, says elder Porphyrios, that are continually up on their child’s head and keep pressing it and treating it with an overprotective way have failed. They should let their kid alone to take care for its own progress. Then it will achieve in REAL life. When the parents are overprotective, their children become lazy, indolent, and usually fail in real life.

Once a mother complained to elder Porphyrios that her son failed to pass the exams to enter at the university. He was the best student in the primary, the junior and the senior high school. Elder Porphyrios said to the mother that she was the one that oppressed her son all these years to be the best student, in order his family to feel proud. However all this pressure, that we call ‘perfectionism’, had a negative impact to the child. It was fed up from all this pressure and finally reacted to it by neglecting studying his lessons. Elder Porphyrios advised the mother not to press her son to be perfect, neither to be overprotective to it. Her son would move on, when his mother leave him free from this oppression.

Elder Porphyrios says also that parents should also pray to God for their children. Their children’s soul feels this prayer that secretly their parents sent. The children feel more secure when their parents (and especially their mother) pray for them.

Once a mother visited elder Porphyrios at the monastery. She was desperate for her son that had not ‘good’ guys for friends, he was ‘confused΄’ and he returned home very late at night. Elder Porphyrios said to her just to pray for her son every night at a specific time. Elder Porphyrios also prayed the same time every night. He advised the mother not to press her son by ‘lecturing’ him because he returned late at home, but instead say him e.g.: ‘My son, you can eat the food we have left you in the fridge’. She shouldn’t say anything else. She just needed to treat her son with love.

About 20 days later the son asked his mother ‘why aren’t you talking to me?’ (he meant: why isn’t she complaining about his attitude e.g. for returning late in home). The mother said her son the words that elder Porphyrios advised. He also advised her to continue praying and not to complain and lecture her son’s for his bad attitude. Her son, subconsciously, was torturing her because he wanted her to be punished for his (oppressive) attitude. He wanted to ‘play’ with his mother. When his mother stopped punishing him, he felt weird. He didn’t have any more any reason for his reactive behaviour. Later, the kid visited elder Porphyrios without anyone speaking before for him. Today he is a very good young man that has joined the army force.

Parents and teachers, says elder Porphyrios, should avoid extreme measures like excessive strictness, authoritarianism and violence (physical, verbal, psychological, economical). On the other hand, they should avoid offering too much freedom in their children, because that can often be akin to indifference. They should avoid to over exaggerate, because they with this attitude they do not contribute to the intellectual and emotional maturity of their children. Instead, they help them with their moderation, their moderate indulgence and sometimes with their silence.

Elder Porphyrios emphasized for the young the role of prevention, instead of treatment. ‘Prevention is better than treatment’, Hippocrates (the ancient Greek doctor who established medicine as a science) used to say. The family should offer an atmosphere of love, peace and tranquility. Parents, says elder Porphyrios, should not exasperate their children, but educate them with their admonition to have a virtuous life.

Elder Porphyrios sees God in the face of the people. Often he keeps silent, and with his silence he gives his advices. He also personalizes each case. He regards everyone as a unique personality. Thus, for the same incident he may give in two people two different advices. In any unusual behavior he illuminates the causes it and then, with a distinctive way, he intervenes.

Elder Porphyrios accepts people as they are, with their weaknesses, their faults and their particularly behavior. He doesn’t put all people inside the same mold. Neither he reacts to the (often extreme) external appearance, eccentric and provocative behavior (often of young people), but always explores the root of their behavior, their soul and their motivation.

In one case, religious and educated parents complained him that their son spends his teens in an explosive way. He advised them to remain silent and to pray for their child and not overwhelm him with their moral issues and their ‘lectures’, otherwise they will strengthen the reactionary behavior of their son. Their behavior infuriated their son.

Elder Porphyrios teaches parents to learn to listen to their children and discuss the problems that preoccupy them. He advised parents to always offer their parental arms open to their children, especially if their children feel loneliness, pain and rejection from their environment.

Elder Porphyrios emphasizes the value of ‘positive action’ and stresses that benefits more people and helps developing the positive aspects of personality. He advises people not to deal with evil, which is like the thorns in the garden. People should not tackle the expulsion of evil. They should not deal with their passions. Instead of fighting with evil, he advises that it is better (and easier) to direct the water, namely the strength of soul, towards the flowers of the garden. That is positive action. Then they will rejoice and feel the fragrance and beauty of the flowers (namely with their virtuous life they will expel evil and get rid of the negative atmosphere).

In contrast, the ‘negative action’ is harmful, says elder Porphyrios. Many parents (especially mothers) are characterized by a negative action towards their children, they oppress them, or contrary they are overprotective and are always over their heads. Then the children react and become sloth and fail in life, so then parents have failed their purpose. Parents fail if they are oppressive or overprotective on their children. The authoritarian parents who impose by force or manipulation, and also the overprotective parents, fail.

So parents, and especially mother, need to pray for their children, says elder Porphyrios. ‘Pray more and say less words’ elder Porphyrios used to say. Parents should avoid bothering their kids. They should rather pray, secretly. By ‘lecturing’ to their kids, parents make their kids react with usually a negative behaviour.

Mothers, says elder Porphyrios, should pray to God for their child. God will speak to the child Himself and the child will finally consider its behaviour and realize that it shouldn’t frustrate its mother with its bad attitude. Otherwise, the child reacts and subconsciously ‘punishes’ its parents for their oppression, by following a negative behaviour. Traumatized and psychologically injured children react badly. Of course they usually regret for it.

Parents shouldn’t force their children to pray to God or follow them at the church. Children will react negatively if they sustain this oppression. It’s not a coincidence that most people today do not believe to any kind of religion (namely are atheists or even nihilists). They were pushed from their parents to be faithful; however, they reacted to this pressure of their ‘faithful’ and religious parents.

Another kind of reaction, says elder Porphyrios, is with their peers, when the children have bad guys for friends, or they say vulgar lay words. Of course parents should be the perfect example for their children and follow their own advices.

Parents should also teach their children to be humble, says elder Porphyrios. They should be very careful when they praise them. They should not say their child ‘you will accomplish everything, you are great, you are perfect etc’. Most parents praise their kids. However, they don’t help them with this attitude. All the Saint people were humble. God is the only one who is perfect. Parents, by praising their children, don’t make them ready for the difficulties of real life. The children can’t adjust to real life and then they fail.

Too much care and overprotection are characteristics of parental anxiety. Often the parents are anxious about the future of their children (to get married and make a family and to find a job). Their stress creates anxiety in their children. Parents often try to fulfill their unfulfilled desires and dreams through their children.

Parents often try, through their children, to ensure the status of the family (e.g. when their child becomes recognized on its profession). Elder Porphyrios notes that in a case a mother was responsible for the problematic behavior of her son with her perfectionism to make him first in everything in order to get into the ‘high society’.

Elder Porphyrios says that continuous and excessive praising of the children by their parents (or their teachers) is wrong because it makes them swell with pride. Then the children become selfish and egocentric. They grow in selfishness and can’t adjust to society.

On the other hand, humble are more adaptive in the society, do not create problems to other people and do not get angry when someone shows their error. Elder Porphyrios says that parents can teach their children to live simple and humble and not to seek praise continually. ‘Humility is healthy’, says elder Pophyrios.


The educational role of the teacher

Those reported to parents apply to teachers as well. The teachers can help their students to school with their prayer and their ‘sanctity’. They should ask for God’s grace and not to try to correct their students in a human manner. Often teachers transmit their anxiety to their students. With faith in God, their stress goes away. They also need to have distinction.

Their love for students should be true and not human, as often parents do. They need to pray for each student. Before entering the classroom, they should pray for their students. When they enter the classroom they should embrace with their look all the students. After talking to them, they should offer completely themselves to their students. They should not say much about God at their students, because the young often react to religion. They need a proper preparation.

So it is better to pray to God for their students. However, love requires sacrifice of time. If teachers are virtuous, then God will speak to the students in the classroom or the auditorium.

Teachers, says elder Porphyrios, should avoid praising their students, because in that case they become selfish and with this egoism they go away from God and they ignore their parents and teachers. Parents and teachers shouldn’t say any lie to their children/students, neither should they praise them. Praising the young makes them selfish. They ask for praising in their whole life. If it is not given, they get frustrated. They can’t also adjust to society which is cruel for the unprepared. Later, these kids will end up to the psychiatrist’s coach. ‘Always tell the truth to the young. Don’t praise them, neither over exaggerate’, says father Porphyrios.

‘We should also not ask for the others to love us, by praising them. We have to learn to love, without asking to be loved. We should love and make sacrifices. By praising the youth we cultivate their super – Ego, inflating their selfishness. We should not keep the youth away from the real values of life. We should teach the youth to be humble. Then they can change the world!’, says elder Porphyrios.

The attitude of today’s society harms the young, says elder Porphyrios. The result is that today the young are frustrated and struggle to say their parents (and teachers) that ‘you need to understand us’. However the parents/ teachers don’t hear them. The parents/teachers shouldn’t lower themselves on the level of the young. Instead, they should pray for them. God will help them!

Teachers, says elder Porphyrios, should avoid using human ‘educational’ ways to ‘correct’ their students. Most teachers transfer to their students their own stress. They should treat them with real love, as if they were their parents.

If a student makes trouble, says elder Porphyrios, then the teacher should first make a general comment saying: ‘Students, we are here for lesson, a very important job. I am here to help you. You are also tired to achieve in your life. I love you all. I struggle too to help you. So, please remain quiet to achieve our purpose’. The teacher should look the student that is troublemaker. If the student continues its bad behaviour, then the teacher should respond to it, not with anger, but with a serious and steady way. Teachers need to impose in their classroom in order to affect their students’ soul. Students are not responsible for their bad behaviour. It is their parents’ responsibility.

Teachers should also teach their students about love, says elder Porphyrios. They should say them that: ‘only love makes all beautiful, fills our life and has a great meaning in it. We all have 2 selves. One is mean and evil; and one is good. We have to cultivate our good part that offers progress, love and goodness. Our bad part wants as lazy and unconcerned for everything (after all, today most people are selfish and egocentric). However, everything needs a proper preparation. Love needs sacrifices’.

Once a teacher was frustrated from the bad behaviour of one of his students and wanted to dismiss him from the school. On the meantime a new teacher came to the school. The old teacher informed the new one about the naughty student. He also informed the new teacher that the student liked a lot bicycles.

The second day the new teacher entered the class and said to the students: ‘Students, I have a problem. My legs are tired when I walk long and I want to drive a bicycle, however I have never drove any. Is there anyone that can teach me how to drive a bicycle?’ The naughty student replied ‘I know’! Since then, the new teacher and the ‘naughty’ student became best friends. The old teacher then felt that he wasn’t capable to impose himself to that student.

Understanding and respecting the natural environment

Elder Porphyrios advises to rejoice in everything around us. For the plants, the animals, the birds, the mountains, the sea, the sunset, the stars in the sky and in general all the animate and inanimate elements of nature that teach us and lead us to God. They are all signs of God’s love. Through them we come to love: to God. All those that are related to nature help us in our spiritual life, by the grace of God. Elder Porphyrios says that when he feels the harmony of nature, he cries.


Reference

1. Elder Porphyrios Kafsokalyvitis, ‘Life and Speeches’, chapter ‘About the education of children’, pages (415) – (444), edition of the Holy Monastery of Chrysopigi, Chania, Crete, 9th edition, Chania, Greece, 2008.

2. Georgios Kroustalakis, chapter ‘Elder Porphyrios as an educator’, pages (185) – (205), from the book ‘Elder Porphyrios Kafsokalyvitis – Landmark of sainthood in the modern world “, published by Holy Monastery of Chrysopigi, Chania, Crete, first edition, Chania, Greece, 2008. The book is based on transcripts from the inter-Orthodox monastic conference that took place – under the blesses of the Holy Synod of the Church of Crete – Chania Crete, Agia Kyriaki, in 10 to 12 May 2007.

3. Elder Porphyrios the priest–monk, ‘Anthology of Advices’, edition of the Holy Monastery of Metamorphosis (transfiguration) of Christ, Milesi Attica, 8th edition, Athens, Greece, 2010.

4. Klitos Ioannidis, ‘Elder Porphyrios – Memories and experiences’, edition of the Holy Monastery of Metamorphosis (transfiguration) of Christ, Milesi Attica, 10th edition, Athens, Greece, 2009.

NOTE

1. Of course the word ‘love’ in this text has anything to do with the sexual meaning of the word (as we say e.g. ‘make love’ instead of ‘make sex’) that our corrupted modern society has replaced, especially thru the media. Love here has a Christian meaning that most today forget.

2. I have added some small comments on elder Porphyrios’ words, however without changing their meaning. I also haven’t changed his original words (under quotations).


Porphyrios Bairaktaris (1906–1991) was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment.
A native of Evia province, the future Elder Porphyrios (his birth name had been Evangelos, while his monastic name was Nikitas) became a monk at the age of fourteen or fifteen. He was tonsured a monk in the Athonite skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George. Forced by pleurisy to depart the Holy Mountain, he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the priesthood by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital chaplain in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940–1970). His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same cell which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon. Through his role as spiritual father, Elder Porphyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox faithful. Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published.

Love for the person with AIDS ( St. Porphyrios )

At one time, I took a sick person to him who was diagnosed with AIDS. Some of my friends who knew that I was friendly with the Elder asked me to help this sick person who was extremely depressed. The AIDS victim was in really bad shape and he wanted to commit suicide. When I heard that he wanted to commit suicide, I sent him to another priest who was also a doctor. His name is Fr. Stamatis. The sick person went to this priest but the priest advised him to go and see Elder Porphyrios.
I took him to the Elder. He was a person who did not appear to look like a Christian. He had a very worldly look about him. I left him in the cell with the Elder. The Elder kept him there for a long time. When he finished, he came out of the cell crying but he was very serene with a prayer rope in his hand that the Elder had given him. He was crying but not in a way that made him appear helpless. His eyes were filled with light. The Elder called me into his cell. “Come in here so that I can speak to you. What was that soul that you brought to me? What a marvelous soul that was!”
The person from that encounter repented and he truly lives in a spirit of penance. I have seen him many times since then as a doctor. I see that he has been reborn. He visits monasteries. He goes to confession. He receives Holy Communion and he thanks Christ for AIDS because this has become for him the reason for his true salvation.

From the book: “Miraculous Occurences and Counsels of Elder Porphyrios

Love of Christ and Prayer ( St. Porphyrios )

 
I said to the elder, "They are constantly saying prayers at the monastery. They are always saying the Jesus prayer. While at their various chores they recite supplications and salutations. They do this for whole hours at a time. After this they go to the Church for services.

"I cant stand it any more. My mind has become tired. I feel that I am about to burst. But Never the less I want to become a monk. What will I do? Help me."
The Elder said,

A young girl used to come here and confess her sins. She was in her second grade of Junior High School. She told me once, 'Father, I have fallen in love with a boy and I can't get him out of my mind. My mind is constantly on him, on Nick. One would think that Nick is here, (she pointed with her finger to her forehead). I begin to read and Hick is here. I go to eat and to sleep but nothing changes. Nick is here. What can I do father?'"

"My child," I told her, "you are still young. Be patient, finish school and then Nick will still be here. Now you must put effort into your lessons. A week passed and she came again."
"Dear Father, It's impossible for me to concentrate on my lessons. Constantly all day long my mind and my heart are on Nick. Nick has become an obsession with me and it won't go away."
(As he was saying these things, I was thinking, "What connection do these things have with me? Maybe he is telling me these things to give me a respite from my obsession.")

The elder continued, (while reading my thoughts) "you are now saying, why is he telling me these things?"
"But nevertheless, tell me, please."
"Did this girl sit on a stool? Did she force herself to focus her mind on Nick? No.
"This happened spontaneously. This was unforced love.

"This same happens with us. When we love Christ with divine love, without any coercion, pressure of worry, with love we will proclaim His holy name, 'Lord Jesus Christ.'
"And when the heart is flooded by this divine love, it does not require us to verbalize the whole prayer, 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.'
Before he finishes the prayer the heart stops at that point of love and rejoicing.
Other times he proclaims only the "Lord..." and stops. He proclaims this mystically and without speaking."

In saying these things he gave me an answer to my first question that was not expressed verbally. I had only thought it without verbalizing it.
I was flabbergasted. I was totally amazed at his responses. A divine flame enveloped my inner being and I felt the desire to begin proclaiming within my heart the ineffable love I had for the name of our Christ.


From the Divine Flame: Elder Porphyrios Lit my Heart, by the monk Agapios, pp 25-26, Published by the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the savior, Athens 2005.

http://agapienxristou.blogspot.ca/2012/10/love-of-christ-and-prayer.html 

Needing guidance for the Jesus Prayer ( Saint Porphyrios )

 Why is a guide necessary? Because you can easily be lead astray. In prayer, you may experience visions or lights which are demonic and lead you to pride. A guide can help you deal with such such experiences. He can help you avoid being trapped by your pride and self will. He can guide you in a progressive way, growing step by step to the stage where you will see the true light.

Saint Porphyrios speaks of the danger of delusion,

And if in this spiritual dimension desire is enkindled, not by your good self, but by the other self, the egotistical self, then undoubtably you will begin to experience a pseudo-joy. But in your outward life you will be ever more aggressive and irascible, more quick-tempered and fretful. These are the signs of a person who is deluded.
A guide must be a person who is experienced in the prayer of the heart. It cannot be someone who prays mechanically and has not experienced prayer with the grace of God. Such a person will only be able to tell you what he has read in books.


A spiritual guide will keep you out of danger of delusion.


The Saint advises,

This is the teaching. We say that prayer cannot be taught, but in point of fact it can be taught when you live with someone who truly prays. When you take a book about prayer and read it, it may be that you don't understand anything. But when you have an elder next to you who prays, whatever he tells you about prayer you understand and take to heart.

Saint Porphyrios

Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 124 - 126

St. Porphyrios: "Difficult times are coming, and the world will need help from the monasteries.”

      
“In the spring of 1985,” relates Abbess Theodosia of the Holy Monastery of Saints Theodore, Kalavryta, “I was at our monastery, and one night around 2:30AM I heard outside the window of my cell, in the monastery courtyard, that someone was digging. To confirm this, I blew out the light in my cell, and I looked out the window. I saw the flashes of a flashlight. Then I prayed to our wonderworking Saints to protect us.

I checked the windows and secured the doors to the courtyard of the deserted monastery, so that no one would be able to enter, and as I confirmed that the area was silent, I returned to my cell.
In the morning, we had a special liturgy. At the time that I was getting ready to go to church, around 5:55AM, the telephone rang. I thought that this was maybe some pained soul with some problem—something which occurs frequently—so I picked up the phone. To my great astonishment I heard:
“Listen, my child, this is Elder Porphyrios. Don't go outside when you hear them digging, they will attack you. Infernal people are surrounding your monastery.”

I asked him: “Elder, why are they digging? Did they find anything?”

He answered: “No, my child, it was taken by others earlier.”

I asked him again: “Elder, have you ever been to our monastery?”

He replied to me: “No, my child, but now I am there. Ask me whatever you want.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I asked him of the historical significance of the caves at our monastery. He replied: “Which caves? Because there are two caves near you. The one where the first nuns stayed?”

I replied: “Yes, Elder.”

He told me: “It would be good, my child, to do that, because the cave is holy. But will the villagers allow you? They will protest.”

I remained on the phone, without speaking due to my astonishment, because he spoke to me about real events. It should be noted that there are truly two caves, but we had not seen the second cave until we were in the monastery for over a year. The shepherds of the area had told us that there was a second cave.

That time when I remained speechless, with the phone in hand, I heard the Elder tell me: “Fish, O Abbess, fish!”

I asked him: “What fish, Elder?”

“My child.” he told me, “isn't the water in those springs perfect for fish? Put some fish in there, so that the people can eat. Difficult times are coming!”

In truly, when we came to the monastery, I tested the chemical status of the water that ran from two springs within the courtyard of the monastery to see if it was potable and correspondingly if it could support fish, to support the needs of the monastery and for the pilgrims that we show hospitality to. Truly, the water was clean, and corresponding to raising fish...

The presence of Elder Porphyrios, I sensed clearly, because in every dilemma that we would face, he was with us and gave us a solution. Once, he told me over the phone: “My child, you have a great struggle, but don't be afraid, I am praying with you every night.”

It should be noted that I had never met the Elder, nor had I ever seen him. I only had heard of his gift of foresight from others, but neither had I ever called him over the phone. I was astonished as to how he knew our problems and how he found our telephone number. Because of this, I called the Abbess of another monastery who knew the Elder, and I asked her: “Did you, by any chance, O Abbess, give our number to Elder Porphyrios?”

She replied” “Did I need to give it to him? The mind of Fr. Porphyrios is a [spiritual] television.”
Once, I and some of the sisters of our monastery were visiting another monastery. Elder Porphyrios, because it was a pertinent and important matter, called there, and asked for me, saying: “My child, the five men that want to be witnesses against the monastery's property, let them go to court. The truth must be heard, and they must know that this belongs to the monastery, because difficult times are coming, and the world will need help from the monasteries.”

In reality, five older individuals, who were very generous to the monastery, sought the truth regarding an injustice that had been done at the expense of the monastery. Thus, the monastery was justified.”

http://artoklasia.blogspot.ca/search/label/Difficult%20times