Elder Eumenios Saridakis canonized

Icon of Sts. Anthimos of Chios, Nikephoros the Leper, and the Newly-canonized Eumenios (Saridakis) (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/846958273649953332/)

On April 14th, 2022, the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate canonized Elder Eumenios (Saridakis) (https://www.romfea.gr/epikairotita-xronika/49430-apokleistiko-agiokatataksi-gerontos-evmeniou-saridaki)

Holy Elder Eumenios Saridakis:
the holy friend of lepers

Reposed on May 23, Sunday before Pentecost, 1999

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia used to say about Elder Evmenios: “You should go and receive the blessing of Elder Eumenios, for he is the hidden Saint of our time. A saint like Elder Eumenios comes along only once every two hundred years ”.

Fr. Eumenios was born in 1931 in Ethia of Monophatsion in the province of Heraklion of Crete, the eighth child of a poor family of faithful Christians. He became a monk at the age of 17; he struggled to cultivate his soul with love and prayer and was tested very harshly by leprosy; but later also, while a priest, by a demonic influence which tormented him in body and soul, but was freed of it after many prayers, vigils and exorcisms in monasteries of Crete, such as the monasteries of Koudoumás and Panagía Kalyvianí. 
Leprosy brought him to the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in the St.Barbara suburb of Athens. He was healed there, but, having seen human suffering, he decided to remain at the Hospital as a priest, in order to help comfort his fellow-men as much as he could! That was where “he was to begin his pastoral work, in the presence of which, those with theological degrees and ecclesiastic offices ought to kneel”.

His love and his ascetic labours brought God’s grace upon him; this humble priest (who officiated in the chapel of the Holy Unmercenaries and Physicians, Saints Cosmas and Damianos, situated inside the Hospital for Infectious Diseases) reached a high degree of sanctity – which he kept secret as much as he could – and became endowed with the gift of foresight, lofty spiritual experiences and visions and helped countless people of every social class and level of education – not only with his advice and his prayers, but also with his sanctified presence.

The Elder loved everyone, every individual personally, and he was particularly a laughing saint – his booming laugh was one of his distinctive features – likewise, he would often exit the Inner Sanctum during the course of a Liturgy, with his beard soaked by his tears, since he used to pray for all of our suffering and unfortunate fellow-men, obviously because he also had the gift of tears.

At the Hospital for Infectious Diseases, he was blessed to meet the leprosied holy monk Nicephorus [St. Nikephoros the Leper] who, even though blinded by the illness, had nevertheless become a great spiritual father of many Christians and a teacher to Elder Evmenios.

He spent the last two years of his life at the “Annunciation” Hospital and on May 23, 1999 he gave up his spirit in the Lord and was buried at his birth place (in Ethia), in accordance with his wishes. (cf. Monk Simon, Fr. Evmenios – The hidden saint of our time, Athens 2010, ed. 2, pp. 137-146). (http://o-nekros.blogspot.gr/2011/02/elder-evmenios-saridakis-holy-friend-of.html)

St. Eumenios Saridakis (https://media.pravoslavie.ru/293327.p.jpg?mtime=1528289444)

Apolytikion of St Eumenios Saridakis in the Plagal of the First Tone

A divine comforter for those storm-tossed, the defender of those in dangers and the sure guide of the faithful towards piety, let us praise Eumenios with our hymns, for he suffered with zeal equaling Job, and drives away the evil spirits, and he is our good-minded intercession with the compassionate Lord.

(https://www.romfea.gr/images/article-images/2022/04/Osios-Eumenios-Akolouthia.pdf)

St. Eumenios Saridakis (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjcaITQffxcnfs1owHq9Zhf_t6eDVvSYGm3g454BuK5dDL3ObnqMyo__5zB-eQxFWHXpEOqCXrzLImuJNFUlapM8eu1Dzz7IMGW7enEGY74OgxgTkwSbTb9MoeoL3Cn99fyCdKZQ1vzIg/s1600/1600457204081699-0.png)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios on the Condemnation of Bishops

The Holy Fathers (source)

"We should never attack a Bishop with our mouth. He has the episcopacy upon him. Regardless of the mistakes he has done, we must cover him with our prayers. Thus is created around the Bishop a spiritual defense, a spiritual surrounding wall, without him knowing it, which encircles him, and eventually will allow him, as a rule, for God to revive him."***

-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

(source)

***Note: St. Porphyrios is not referring to reaching out, in the proper manner and the proper channels, to discuss moral or canonical transgressions by bishops through a Synod or Archbishops above him. He is also not referring to hierarchs canonically deposed by a Synod or church council. He is properly trying to limit the endless gossip, slander, condemnation and judging that gets hurled against hierarchs throughout the world, but even worse now in the age of the internet. May we humbly pray for our bishops before rushing to condemn them, and thus help both of their and our repentance and our souls. 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: God will say to me, "What are you doing here?"

 

Video with a recording of St. Porphyrios speaking, with English subtitles (source)

   

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "Unquestionably the higher state is love."

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia, with scenes from his life (source)

"Which is better? To be meek, humble, peaceful and to be filled with love, or to be irritable, depressed, and to quarrel with everyone? Unquestionably the higher state is love."

-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

(source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "In the church, we become one..."

Weeping Albanian Icon of the Theotokos (source)

"In the church, we become one with every unhappy, suffering, and sinful person."

— St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

  

(source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

"Trinities of Saints", by Monk Arsenios

Famous depiction of the prefiguration of the Holy Trinity by Rublev (source)

  

"According to the grace-filled expression of our Saints: “The Holy Spirit is the head of the household of the Orthodox Church”…Without His presence, all the deeds and the Mysteries of the Church remain invalid, dead. Thus, great is our rejoicing and exaltation when we see how the Holy Spirit has not abandoned His Orthodox Church even to our days…

 

"Therefore, among the infinite gifts of the Holy Spirit to His Church, we see a most-beautiful and grace-filled phenomenon, in other words, throughout the centuries, we see revealed trinities of Saints, and this is not by accident.

  

Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (source)

  

"We see this begin with the three Forefathers and Patriarchs of the Jewish people: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

"Though we do not see the same with the Apostles***, after a few centuries, we see shining forth the Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, John Chrysostom and Gregory the Theologian.

   

The Three Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers: Sts. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom (source)

  

[***Note: One could argue that Christ highlighted the Apostles Peter, James and John at His Holy Transfiguration]

"The next trinity are the great Venerable Ascetics Sts. Anthony, Euthemios and Savas the Sanctified.

  

Three Great Desert Fathers: Sts. Anthony the Great, Euthemios and Sabbas the Sanctified (source)

 

"After several centuries shown forth three Saints who conquered the terrible heresy of papism: Photios the Great, Gregory Palamas and Mark of Ephesus.

Three Great Pillars of Orthodoxy: Sts. Gregory Palamas, Mark of Ephesus and Photios the Great (source)

  

"And, while several centuries passed without this particularly pleasant phenomenon being seen, many Saints were recognized. However, in our days, even before our Holy Church recognized them as Saints, the faithful especially of the Church of Greece, had begun to paint the icon of three Holy Elders: Porphyrios, Paisios and Iakovos, whom our Church formally recognized a short time later. Behold, how in our days, which are especially evil ones, the Holy Spirit has given us a new grace-filled trinity of Saints, which many of us “have seen and touched with our hands.” (I Epistle of John 1:1)…

"They, in short, are three greatly loved Saints of our days. All three had as their calling the healing of the pain of wearied people. It is unable to overestimate their contribution…"

-Excerpt from "The Three Saints of our Days: Sts. Paisios, Porphyrios and Iakovos"

By Monk Arsenios of the Skete of Koutloumousiou, Mount Athos

(source)

  

See also "Three Saints of Hope and Pain" for a similar discussion of these new wonderworkers.

  

Three Great Venerable Wonderworkers of the 20th Century: Sts. Paisios the Athonite, Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia and Iakovos of Evia (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Icons and Hymns to Elder Ephraim of Arizona

Icon of Elder Ephraim of Arizona, with scenes from his life (source)

  

"From an early age, the two nuns met with Geronda Ephraim and Saint Porphyrios. "Oftentimes, Geronda [Ephraim] asked us to ask St. Porphyrios for his opinion. [She] remembers the words of St. Porphyrios: "The charisma of the Great Geronda is such that the missionary work for which God called upon him in America will receive the grace of Early Christianity..."

  

"St. Porphyrios once called [a spiritual child of Elder Ephraim] and told her: "I'm very envious of Geronda Ephraim, because he has surpassed in his humility the entire calendar of the saints of our Church. I'm stuck here in a bed, and they make me out to be a saint. But Geronda Ephraim is very smart. He has made an agreement with God, that no one will understand who he is until he dies. And after his repose, then you will be overcome by fear at what you had next to you, and didn't know it."

-St. Porphyrios on the Work of Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

  

Elder Ephraim of Philotheou and Arizona (source)

  

Note: This coming week brings the feast of All Saints of America, along with the feast of the Nativity of the Precious Forerunner, which was also the birthday of Elder of Ephraim. The icons and hymns included in this post were created from various people out of love and thanksgiving to the Lord for Elder Ephraim of Arizona, who recently reposed in the Lord. Though this is very early to be writing icons and hymns in honor of him, this is not without precedent. St. Savas of Kalymnos, after the repose of St. Nektarios, locked himself in his cell for 40 days of prayer and contemplation, and after 40 days, exited the cell, having written the first icon of the Saint, knowing his great sanctity. This full service to St. Paisios the Athonite was written only one year after his repose, and the full service to St. Porphyrios was written and published only 7 years after his repose in the Lord, out of the great love of those who were benefited by them, and the clear indication in the hearts of the faithful of the holiness granted them by the Lord. As is widely known, the recognition of Saints in the Orthodox Church begins in the hearts of the faithful, who perceive the blessings given by Christ to the Saints who have reposed, and, with spiritual guidance, they slowly begin to not only pray for their repose, but also to honor them and ask for their prayers. Formal canonization occurs years later by the Church, as a seal of acceptance of the love and devotion of the faithful and the blessings of God.

Icon depicting St. Joseph the Hesychast (center), with two of his spiritual sons: St. Ephraim of Katounakia (right) and Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)
  
This is included not to scandalize anyone, and if I do so, I ask your forgiveness. I include these only for the private devotional use (and of course with great discernment and at the discretion of one's spiritual guide) for those who have been benefited from Elder Ephraim's writings, his monasteries, his example, and his prayers to the Lord, and for those who may continue to ask of his prayers, as he is undoubtedly before the throne of God with all His Saints, continuing to pray on behalf of this greatly afflicted world.
  

Detail of the above icon of Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

  

Ύμνους εις τον Όσιο Εφραίμ της Αριζόνας
Δρ Χαραλάμπης Μ. Μπούσιας, Μέγας Υμνογράφος της των Αλεξανδρέων Εκκλησίας

Απολυτίκιον. Ήχος πλ. α΄. Τον συνάναρχον Λόγον.

Αγωγή ισαγγέλω, ευχή και δάκρυσιν, ευαρεστήσας Κυρίω, Φιλοθεΐτα Εφραίμ, προς ζωήν εκ του θανάτου μεταβέβηκας εν Αριζόντι, ασκητά, ο εν τη Αμερική εικάδος Μονών δομήτωρ,
και χάριν εύρες πρεσβεύειν υπέρ των πίστει ευφημούντων σε.

  

Κοντάκιον. Ήχος πλ. δ΄. Τη Υπερμάχω.

Τον καινιστήν Αγιωνύμου Όρους μέλψωμεν, Αμερικής ως νεαυγή ιεραπόστολον και Μονών εικάδος κτίτορα ευσχημόνως, Αριζόνος αγιάσαντα την έρημον, προσευχής καρδιακής, Εφραίμ, και νήψεως άστρον, κράζοντες· Χαίροις, Πάτερ παγκόσμιε.

  

Μεγαλυνάριον.

Χαίροις, Φιλοθέου ο προεστώς Μάνδρας, Αριζόνος και εικάδος Αμερικής, ασκητά, Σεμνείων, Εφραίμ πνευματοφόρε, δομήτωρ, Αποστόλων θείων ομόζηλε.

  

Elder Ephraim of Arizona (+2019) (source)

  

Selected Hymns in honor of Elder Ephraim of Arizona,

translated from the original Greek hymns, written by Dr. Charalampos Bousias, the Great Hymnographer of the Patriarchate of Alexandria.

  

Apolytikion in the Plagal of the First Tone. Let us worship the Word.

Through the way of your life, and your prayer and many tears, * you equaled Angels, and you were most pleasing unto the Lord, * and proceeded after death unto eternal life, * from Arizona, O Ephraim, *  Philotheou's great ascetic, founding many monasteries, * and as one having found grace, * you intercede for those who praise you with faith.

 

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone. O Champion General.

The Holy Mountain's great renewer, let us praise with hymns, * and missionary newly-shining to America, * and the noble founder of many monasteries, * O star of nepsis and the prayer of Jesus of the heart, * who brought holiness to Arizona's desert land, * let us cry aloud: Rejoice, O universal Father.

 

Megalynarion.

Rejoice, Philotheou's monastic guide, * who, in Arizona and America, didst build * many monasteries, adornment of ascetics, * O Spirit-bearing Ephraim, * of the Apostles, equal zeal.

(source)

  

Elder Ephraim of Arizona (+2019) (source)

  

Mosaic icon of Elder Ephraim (source)

Icon of Elder Ephraim of Arizona (source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "Vigils are a great thing..."

A faithful Orthodox Christian, praying in vigil at home (source)

  
"Love vigils. Vigils are a great thing. Heaven opens. We speak with God. In our vigils up there***, until midnight, I got a little tired and I would close my eyes. Afterwards, my nous with open, and I experienced prayer until morning. When it would finish, I had such a disposition that I was ready to begin again from the beginning."
-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

(source)
  
***Note: St. Porphyrios is referring here to vigils in their small hut on Mount Athos.
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "Your house can be a monastery, if you wish..."

An Orthodox Family that gathers in prayer and love at home (source)

  
"Your house can be a monastery, if you wish. There is no difference in this. It is sufficient for you to do what I am saying. It is not the place that makes the Monastery. It is the way of life. Go, pray, and have patience in everything...One can be in Omonia Square***, and there have a concentrated nous like he on Mount Athos. And one can be on Athos, and not have a concentrated nous, like he is in Omonia."
-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
  
(source)
  
***Note: Omonia Square in Athens is a busy and distracted square in Athens. Compare to Times Square in New York City. Of note, St. Porphyrios worked for many years in the Polyclinic of Athens right here, and proves that one can become a Saint anywhere.
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "Christ will conquer in the end..."

Christ willingly being judged before Pilate (source)

  
"My child, we Christians do not have money, nor power. Today, this world is governed by the mighty. Mighty powers, banks with a lot of money, other forces, very great...We are unable to cope with these forces and it is natural that these forces, many times, are antithetical to the Christian spirit, with the result being danger to Christians and those who desire to live according to the law of God. We cannot resist these forces, because in a worldly manner, we are unable. We, however, have Christ, my child. And if we ask Christ, then, we can resist whatever is difficult that comes our way, and we will be able to endure. Christ will conquer in the end, and righteousness and truth will prevail."
-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia

(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "One does not become a Christian with laziness..."

Jesus Christ the Son of God the Savior of the world (source)

  
A spiritual child of St. Porphyrios spoke of the Saint: "He spoke to me, not of some piecemeal good effort, but on the decisive, definitive passing from an old life of sin into a new life of holiness, in which we live in Christ and Christ lives within us, and for this transition, we must give all our strength.

Once, he asked me: "Tell me, to study to become a lawyer, how many years does it take?" I answered him.

He asked again: "To study to be an engineer, a chemist, a physician, how many years does it take?" I answered correspondingly, curious as to the nature of his questions.

And the Elder continued: "Do we study to learn the will of God and to apply it?"

I understood what he was referring to, and I was reluctant to respond. What could I say? That most of us faithful are lazy, lukewarm, "amateur Christians"? He knew this.

And he told me: "One does not become a Christian with laziness. It requires work, much work."

He himself was an example, without showing off. He had dedicated himself with zeal all the years of his long life to studying and to living Christ.

He was a worker, bodily and spiritually, and he wished to transmit this love of work to others. He believed that laziness leads to despondency and to many afflictions of soul and body. He recommended occupational therapy. Especially for those who were disorganized and desperate.

For the Elder, it was never too late to make a new start. He perceived of course that the denial of worldly hopes and the crushing of selfishness as the best precondition for this beginning.

Everything is transformed with effort, both with the soul and the body.

Do not leave the prayer. Simply and without being forced, fervently entreat for others. You will benefit them with prayer, not with words.

Regarding my problems, St. Porphyrios told me: "If we spoke a little on the phone, you would see that everything had immediately gone well. Tire the body, do not fear effort. Everything is transformed with effort, both the soul and the body. If they ask you about it, say humbly: 'That's how I think, but whatever you think.'"
-From a spiritual child of St. Porphyrios, in an Anthology of Instructions of Elder Porphyrios
(source)

  

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "There is no such thing as distances for Christians..."

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  
"There is no such thing as distances for Christians," said St. Porphyrios.
(source)
  
"I want to speak with people, even if they come out of curiosity. I want to listen to them, for as they are speaking, I see into their souls, and as I am praying, the Grace of God affects them."
(source)
  
"Say the Jesus Prayer continuously, and you will not find the Gate of Paradise closed. I greet you all with love in the Lord."
(source)
  
-Excerpts from a recent Greek book on St. Porphyrios: "It is difficult to live with a Saint"

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: "You should speak to your soul..."

St. Ephraim the Syrian prostrating in prayer (source)

  
"You should speak to your soul," said St. Porphyrios once.
"And how should I speak to her?" He was asked by a spiritual child.
"With prayer! We direct it to God, but the words return again to our soul and influence her. God knows what we are thinking. We have need to learn them, however."
(source)
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios on Spiritual and Mental Health

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  
"They tell us to work together with Psychiatrists. Psychiatrists accept Confession, but as regards everything else they are deniers. Thus, we can't [fully] work together with them. I am not saying that they have nothing to offer people. They do offer. The medicines that they give sick people, in some manner, calm the sick person so they do not harm themselves or others. The medicines, however, do not approach the passions of the soul. The passions of the soul are very adhesive. And behind every illness of the soul are hidden the demons.***"
-St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia
  
(source)
  
***Note: Of course St. Porphyrios is speaking in very general terms, as there are always a wide spectrum of scenarios and of course believing physicians besides those who do not believe in the soul and its healing through the Lord. St. Porphyrios, however, is beautifully outlining how spiritual healing is just as important as medical or psychiatric care for patients who are suffering in body and soul. And the temptations and influence of the demons can only be remedied with Christ in His Church.
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios on Finding Joy

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  
Once, a woman asked St. Porphyrios why he was happy, even though his health had been seriously endangered. To this, he responded:
"Read the Holy Scriptures, go to Church, have a father confessor, partake of the Holy Mysteries--in one word, become a good Christian--and then, you will find the joy that you are seeking. You see that I am sick now, but I am joyful. Thus you, when you come a bit closer to Christ, will find joy in your life."
(source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

St. Porphyrios: A Gift from God to Humanity

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  
St. Porphyrios: A Gift from God to Humanity
"St. Porphyrios is a gift from God to humanity, to an age very tired and burdened.
We still have not come to understand what Porphyrios means. He was greatly ahead of his time, ahead of the perceptions and attitudes of many within the Church.
In St. Porphyrios, you do not find "do" and "don't"***, forcing and angst, extremes and exaggerations. You will not find cheap and shallow explanations.
There is not shame nor threats, nor fear and misery. His teaching is full of Christ, light, joy and freedom.
  
"An Athonite Abbot told me: "My Father, you find one like Porphyrios every 1000 years or so...a great gift from God..."
Another monk, exhausted and crushed by strict and rigid canons, told me: 'With St. Porphyrios, I found rest. I found Christ, freedom, I found myself...Believe me, Father, for two years I do not allow anything within my nous other than the Gospel, the Gerontikon, and the words of St. Porphyrios. And I am happy..."
However, the great Porphyrios was a simple little Elder. A little priest who wouldn't even catch your attention. You would likely pass by him with indifference. You would not see him "selling" holiness.
  
"Because holiness is simplicity, humility, immediacy, it does not ring bells and does not shine windows, it is not sold in the markets, like another honored Athonite Father says.
Elder Porphyrios did not call anyone to him; he did not burden or force anyone. He let you come to him, to want him and to desire him. He did not have any manic "catechism", no angst to show off something; he was free. He did not preach himself, but his life spoke!!!

"He gave to you when you were ready. He opened your eyes to look on Heaven when you were ready to see, with discernment, simply, beautifully. Together with him was your being, your uniqueness, and thus he helped you to breathe deeply, to become beautiful and magnificent, to become that which you always were but had forgotten."
-Quote of Fr. Livios on St. Porphyrios
(source)
  
***Note: St. Porphyrios did routinely emphasize the need for asceticism (see examples here and here), and did not justify sin. The author however is highlighting how the Saint focused on inspiring the love of Christ within people, and that this would transform the rest, helping to transform their lives.
  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

 

St. Porphyrios bringing young people to the Church

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

  
One Sunday morning, St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia was traveling together with a well-known older villager towards the village church. On the road, they met a group of six or seven young people traveling in the opposite direction. The villager asked the young people:
"Where are you going guys?"
What did they respond? "To the coffee shop."
Then, the villager (who was very austere) told them:
"Aren't you ashamed, today on Sunday morning, of going to the coffee shop instead of church? Are you Christians?"
And he pelted them with a zealous sermon. The young people cursed at him and continued on their way. St. Porphyrios was silent. The villager, full of excitement and self-assurance, said to the Elder:
"Did I speak well to those brats?"
And St. Porphyrios responded: "No, you did not speak well..."
The villager, who was expecting congratulations, was embittered by the response of the Saint. They reached the church and St. Porphyrios went to the Holy Altar and the villager took a seat in church.
Not even a half hour passed, until all of the young people of that group entered the church! The villager was rubbing his hands out of satisfaction. As soon as the Divine Liturgy was finished, St. Porphyrios left the Holy Altar, and the villager hastened to meet him and pointed to the young people, saying to him:
"You said that I didn't speak well? They thought of my words and came to church."
And St. Porphyrios smiled, and explained to him that they came because he was praying silently for them and not that they were moved by the villager's stance....
In reality, prayer moves and transforms other people, not our words... Because of this we should not [primarily] speak to others about God, but speak to God about others.
(source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Feast of St. Porphyrios in Milesi, Attica

This is a video of the feast of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia served at the Monastery built by him in Milesi, Attica, and serves as the largest pilgrimage of the Saint. (source)

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Chapel of St. Porphyrios in Jamaica, NY

Chapel of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia, belonging to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Jamaica Queens, NY (source)

 
Likely the first chapel built in honor of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia in the Western Hemisphere is that located in St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Jamaica Queens NY.

St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (source)

 
The first feast of the Saint is celebrated 12/2/19, while the church is planned to be consecrated Saturday 12/7/19 by Archbishop Elpidophoros.

(source)

 

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!

Recent Repose of Two Contemporary Elders of Greece

Blessed Eldress Styliani (Karatzogianni) of the Holy Monastery of Christ Pantocrator, Ntaou Penteli (+ October 8th, 2019) (source)

  
Gerontissa (Eldress) Styliani, Abbess of the Holy Monastery of Ntaou Penteli (+ October 8th, 2019)
On October 8th, 2019, the blessed Eldress of the Monastery of the Transfiguration of Christ, Ntaou Penteli, reposed in the Lord.

Eldress Nun Styliani was born on September 14th 1933 as Angeliki Karatzogianni, in Neochorion, Mesolongi. She completed elementary school in Neochorion, Masolongi, and Middle School in Nicea. At the age of 21, she became a novice at the Holy Monastery of Ypapanti (the Meeting) of the Lord in Kalamata under the guidance of Blessed Elder Joel Giannakopoulos and in September 1958, she entered the Holy Monastery of St. Patapios in Loutraki. There she became a rasophore nun on Palm Sunday 1950.

On March 9th 1963, through the activities of the then Archbishop Chrysostomos of Athens and All Greece, her Eldress, Styliane Gousopoulos, together with five other nuns from the Holy Monastery of St. Patapios, rebuilt the Holy Monastery of Christ Pantocrator Ntaou Penteli in the Holy Archdiocese of Athens.

On the feast of Theophany, 1963, the enthronement of the first Eldress Styliani occurred, but also the tonsure to the great-schema of the later Abbess by the blessed Archbishop Ieronymos I of Greece. The repose of the first Abbess occurred on September 6th, 1974, and on October 15th of the same year, blessed Eldress Styliane Karatzogianni was elected unanimously as the new Abbess of the Monastery. Her enthronement occurred under the blessed Archbishop Seraphim of Athens and All Greece.

During the period of her Abbacy, the Holy Monastery of Christ Pantocrator Ntaou Penteli came to know great spiritual flowering. It gathered a great sisterhood of young nuns, and the Monastery was rebuilt from the foundations.
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See here for more on the Blessed Abbess Styliani's relationship with St. Porphyrios at the Monastery of Ntaou Penteli.
  

Picture of St. Paisios the Athonite (center), together with blessed Elder Gregory (right) and Eldress Euphemia (left), at the Holy Monastery of the Precious Forerunner, Metamorphosi, Halkidiki (source)

  
Elder Gregory (Papasotiriou), spiritual father of the Holy Monastery of the Precious Forerunner, Metamorphosi, Halkidiki (+ November 19th, 2019)
After many years of struggle, Elder Gregory (Papasotiriou), the spiritual father and founder of the Holy Monastery of the Precious Forerunner, Metamorphosi, Halkidiki, reposed in the Lord. He was a spiritual child of St. Paisios the Athonite.

The blessed Elder was ordained a deacon and a priest by the blessed Metropolitan Synesios of Kassandreias (Visvine), and was placed as a preacher of the Holy Metropolis of Kassandreias.

In 1977, with the blessing of Metropolitan Synesios, and through the spiritual guidance of St. Paisios the Athonite, he founded the women's hesychasterion of the Precious Forerunner, in Metamorphosi, Halkidiki, with the first nuns, Eugenia and Maria Choriataki, Sophia Kenanidou from Metamorphosi, Halkidiki, and nuns Tsaprazolou from Vatopedi, Halkidiki.

The blessed Elder Gregory was a spiritual child of St. Paisios the Athonite, and under his spiritual guidance, he received the angelic schema, and under his direction and blessing, he became the spiritual father of the Holy Monastery of the Precious Forerunner, which today includes 50 nuns.
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Elder Gregory (right) (source)

  

May the Lord grant them a blessed repose and a blessed Paradise, and may we have their blessings!

  

Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us! Amen!