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December 23, 2022

Saint Porphyrios and the Visit of Divine Grace Before Christmas: A True Testimony Similar to "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens

 
It was the days leading up to the Christmas of 1993. I was in a very difficult situation: physical sicknesses and horrible pains, revolts of the passions, warfare with the devil and through men.

I said: "My Christ, what kind of Christmas am I going to have this year?" Then I called upon the Elder [Porphyrios].

(Just before he reposed he said to me: "Call on me.")

On the night of December 22, as soon as I was able to fall asleep, he came.

At first I thought he was still alive, and he said to me:

"Come and take me for a ride."

I grab him and instead of taking him, he took me. We were together, I think, all night.

We traveled to many places, we also came to the Monastery, we also visited the children.

The next day in the morning everything went away: sorrows, melancholy, worries, intrusive thoughts, everything went away and there came serenity, peace, joy, good thoughts, humble and forgiving thoughts for everyone and for everything, and above all a preparation for my deeper lonely state.

It was a visit of Divine Grace through Elder Porphyrios. That's what my discerning spiritual father told me.

Source: From the book Θαυμαστά γεγονότα και συμβουλές του Γέροντος Πορφυρίου. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.