When Saint Porphyrios Experienced Christmas on the Holy Mountain in Spirit

Elder Porphyrios revealed the following wonderful experience one Christmas:

I’ll tell you another secret now. At night I speak on the telephone to a monk on the Holy Mountain. He studies the Fathers a lot and explains many things to me. We talk about spiritual matters. A crazy thing happened, what can I say? … This happened again early this morning, that’s to say three o’clock at night. The bells were ringing at the time we were talking. For half an hour we spoke about really wonderful things. Honestly, I felt great joy; greater than I can express. Glory to God. While we were speaking about these spiritual matters, he said to me:

"The bells are ringing for church. I have to go."

I said to him: "Elder, don’t leave me."

"Gladly," he replied.

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.

St. Porphyrios: The Joy of Being with Christ in His Church

 

 By Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Clapsis

Saint Porphyrios, a Greek Orthodox monk who died in 1991, was formally glorified as a saint by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in November 2013. He stands in the long tradition of charismatic spiritual guides in the Orthodox Church. His book Wounded by Love narrates his life and teachings, expressing the richness of the ascetic, mystical Orthodox tradition. His theology reflects Orthodoxy’s authentic, charismatic aspects, a fruit of prayer, ascesis, and love for God and others. St. Porphyrios, based on his ascetic and mystical experience of living with Christ in the Church, shares his understanding of how the faithful should understand their relationship with Christ in the Church and what that entails.

Divine Grace Drove the Apostles Crazy, in a Good Way, and Excited Them (St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva)

Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva, speaking about Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, said:

 

On Pentecost, the grace of God was poured out not only on the apostles, but on all the people around them. It affected the believers and the unbelievers. What does Acts say? While the Apostle Peter was speaking his own language, his language was being processed in the minds of the listeners at that time.

In a secret way the Holy Spirit made them understand his words in their language, secretly, without being noticed. These miracles are done by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

"I Always Have a Small Icon of the Panagia Underneath My Pillow" (St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva)

I always have a small icon of the Panagia underneath my pillow. I take it out at night and kiss it with affection, and in the morning I kiss it again with even greater affection. And I entreat her to cover me, saying the hymn we all know: "I place all my hope in you, Mother of God, keep me under your covering."

- St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva

 

 

The Sainthood and Love of Saint Iakovos of Evia

Monk Akakios of Kavsokalyva, a spiritual child of Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva, gave us the following testimonial:

It is worthwhile for me to tell you an incident that happened in Kavsokalyva together with Elder Porphyrios, which concerns Elder Iakovos and is in my opinion a great testimony.

It was May 1991, a few months before the venerable repose of the two Holy Elders, Porphyrios and Iakovos.

We were in Kavsokalyva, in the cell, that is, the room of the Elder - Elder Porphyrios himself, his submissive hieromonk Photios, the spiritual father, and myself.

"The Holy Spirit Desires to Enter our Souls" (St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva)

Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva said:

"And now, the Holy Spirit desires to enter our souls, like then [Pentecost], but He honors our freedom, He does not want to violate it.

He waits for us to open the door on our own, and then He enters our soul, and He will transfigure it.

When He comes to dwell within us, the whole region of our soul is Christ, and then all problems, all delusions, all worries flee.

Then sin also flees."

 

 

The Roman Catholic Monk From Italy Who Was Left Speechless by Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva

 

 

By Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol

For every person who approached him, Father Porphyrios was a revelation. And this was also the case with the non-Orthodox. Let me tell you a very typical story.

Once, when we were at New Skete [the brotherhood of Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi], we hosted a Roman Catholic monk, who had come to Mount Athos to know how the monks live here and, in general, the whole ascetic life and conduct of the Holy Mountain.

The Young Woman Who Saw Saint Porphyrios After He Died

 

 

When Elder Porphyrios had reposed, a young woman from Australia came to visit him. She did not know he was dead.

When she came to the monastery, she saw that there weren't people outside, and finding the door open she went upstairs to his cell. Surprisingly, she saw the Elder sitting on the bed, talked to her for a long time, said what he wanted to say, she got the answers and, very happily, went down the stairs.

Saint Gorgonia as a Model for our Lives

St. Gorgonia (Feast Day - February 23)

By Protopresbyter Fr. George Papavarnavas

Saint Gorgonia was from Cappadocia and lived in the fourth century. She was the fruit of holy parents, Gregory the Bishop of Nazianzus and Nonna, as well as the sister of Saint Gregory the Theologian and Saint Caesarius. She was a model wife and mother. From her marriage she bore five children, two boys and three girls, whom she raised "in the education and admonition of the Lord." For reasons only God knows she left this vain world prematurely, at the age of thirty-eight. Her brother Saint Gregory the Theologian in his funeral oration describes her God-pleasing life, which although brief, it was worthy of wonder and worthy of imitation. We will offer below some brief excerpts from this wonderful oration:

"Saint Porphyrios As I Experienced Him" (Metr. Neophytos of Morphou)

Sermon by Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou, at the Holy Hermitage of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Milesi, Attica on June 7th, 2018. In Greek with English subtitles.

Interview with Father George Metallinos About Saint Porphyrios

K.I.: Father George, it is with great pleasure, that we'll hear you speak about, first, the personality of Elder Porphyrios, and then place that holy man, theologically and ecclesiastically.

Fr.G.M.: I would like to thank both you, Mr. Ioannides and the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, for giving me this opportunity to speak to your fellow Cypriots about this great man.

I will share some personal experiences with you that I can say were completely spontaneous. I must confess that although you informed me in plenty of time about this discussion, I avoided making any preparation, so that I could allow my heart to speak at this sacred moment.

Elder Gregory Papasotiriou Has Reposed

On Tuesday 19 November 2019, one of the great elders of the 20th and 21st centuries, Elder Gregory Papasotiriou, reposed at the age of 79 after years of struggling with health issues.

The Elder was a spiritual child of Saint Paisios the Athonite and with his spiritual guidance he was tonsured with the angelic schema.

He was ordained a deacon and a priest by Metropolitan Synesios of Kassandreia, and was a preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Kassandreia.

Greek Chapel Dedicated to the New Saints Paisios, Porphyrios and Iakovos Built Near Turkish Border

On September 29, 2019 a chapel dedicated to the new saints Paisios the Athonite, Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva and Iakovos of Evia was consecrated by Metropolitan Damaskenos of Didymotichon, Orestias and Soufli. The chapel belongs to the Holy Monastery of Hagia Skepi - Saint Paraskevi in Nea Vyssa.

Saint Paisios, Saint Porphyrios and the "Zealots" of Kavsokalyva

By Hieromonk George of Kavsokalyva

Few people know of the short passage of Saint Paisios at the Skete of Kavsokalyva, when he was still seeking an elder to submit himself to.

He was inclined towards the hesychast life and so decided to visit Cells and Sketes, still wearing his military uniform and going by the name Arsenios.

In his biography we read about his search. 'He was burdened by certain zealots who had no discernment. He thought they were called zealots because they had a lot of zeal and struggled a lot. But instead they made him feel dizzy and wanted to rebaptize him, even though he was already baptized by Saint Arsenios and even with the Old Calendar.

Saint Porphyrios and the Holy Pantocrator Monastery of Ntaou Penteli

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva

On March 9th 1963, as relates the current Abbess Styliani, we came to the Monastery according to the directive of Archbishop Chrysostomos of Athens. On March 14th, St. Porphyrios came to our Monastery for the first time. Then he was staying at Saint Nicholas in Kallisia, which was once a Metochion (Dependency) of our Monastery. He would come regularly with his spiritual children and many times served liturgy at our Monastery. He related to us that, when he left Mount Athos, after he was ordained a priest, he prayed to God to show him a holy place where men lived the ascetic life and had spiritual experiences. He went throughout many parts of Greece and in the end he came to Pantocrator Monastery. As he said, however, he went to the then Abbot of Penteli, Archimandrite Athanasios Kontogiannis, and asked him to give him that place, but he cast him away harshly. And because of this he came to Saint Nicholas in Kallisia nearby in order to come here to pray. From then he "saw" in his sleep and awake, as he related to us, what had occurred here.

"I Grew Up With Saint Porphyrios"

In the videos posted below, renowned Byzantine musician Nektaria Karantzi explains that her parents were spiritual children of Elder Porphyrios, and how she grew up in an ecclesiastical atmosphere. Weekly they would visit the Elder before he died, and she would sit next to his bed and receive his blessing. When she was eight years old the Elder told her parents to put her at the chanter's stand to learn Byzantine music. This was because he would teach her hymns and got her to love singing them. It was the dream of the Elder to form a choir of women to chant in churches on Sunday. This choir was formed by a priest who was a spiritual child of the Elder, and one of the girls was Nektaria. This kicked off her career as a Byzantine musician. She later completed her studies in Byzantine Music, and received a Degree and a Diploma from the Byzantine Music School of the Metropolis of Piraeus, taught by notable tutors including Dimitris Verykios.

Audio Recording of St. Porphyrios Reading the Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

A Paschal Greeting of St. Porphyrios

"I pray that the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ will resurrect within your souls every good and beautiful feeling, in order to lead everyone towards holiness and to put to death the old man together with its passions and desires. This is what our Lord seeks and for these we pray: that His Resurrection might help, according to His good pleasure, to overcome and to put to death our old man, that we might be made worthy of His Church. Indeed! This we pray, may our Lord help us. Many Years! Christ is risen!"

The Mobile Phone of Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva

By Nun Porphyria (Spyridoulas Moschou)

Because the Elder calls me on the phone every day from 4:00 to 6:00 in the morning and we read Matins, I thought that since the phone call is long-distance, he must be paying a lot of money to OTE [Hellenic Telecommunications Organization]. This is why when I got paid I put 50,000 drachmas in an envelope to give him.

"Elder, I brought some money, because your OTE bill must be big."

"What are you talking about, foolish one? Here we are building a church and we're gonna give so much money to OTE? Put it in the box we have for the building of the church."

Life of Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva (1906 - 1991)

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva (Feast Day - December 2)

His family

Elder Porphyrios was born on the 7th of February 1906, in the village of St. John Karystia, near Aliveri, in the province of Evia. His parents were poor but pious farmers. His father's name was Leonidas Bairaktaris and his mother's was Eleni, the daughter of Antonios Lambrou.

At baptism he was given the name Evangelos. He was the fourth of five children, and the third child of the four that survived. His oldest sister, Vassiliki, passed away when she was a year old. Today, only his youngest sister, who is a nun is still alive.

His father had a monastic calling but obviously did not become a monk. He was, however, the village cantor, and St. Nectarios called upon his services during his journeys through the area, but poverty forced him to emigrate to America to work on the construction of the Panama canal.