Through the prayers of our Holy Elder Porphyrios
May whatever I write be for the glory of The Living God,
Who glorifies those who glorify Him.
How I Met the Elder for the First Time
I always had the desire to meet a holy person, to see how he lives. One afternoon, friends of mine took me to a monastery in Milessi. These people knew the Elder well. They wanted me to meet a man such as is rarely found in our times.
I first saw him sitting in an automobile, next to the driver. They had just brought him back from a visit to another place. I did not take my eyes off him for a moment. I was scrutinizing him closely. There were many other people who were waiting for him.
I noted how simply and humbly he behaved. I was impressed how he came out of the car and greeted people. From time to time he would say spontaneously almost within himself, “Lord …” or “Lord Jesus Christ…”
There was nothing pretentious or ostentatious about him. He was a simple monk. People were telling him different things and he responded to everyone with calmness and meekness.
I kept looking at him. Sometimes he would look at me as he was speaking to other people.
He appeared to me just like Christ amongst the multitude of His people.
The people who took me there introduced me to the Elder:
“Our brother here works nearby and we brought him here to meet you.”
“Elder, may I have your blessing”, I asked. “I rejoice to be in your presence and I would rejoice even more if I had the opportunity to speak with you.”
“I humbly desire this in the name of the Lord. Do you want us to meet tomorrow morning?”, he asked. “I gladly accept, early, early in the morning, 7… 7:30”, I replied.
“I will be waiting for you. Go with the blessing of God.” As he blessed me on the head I kissed his hand.
I left with a feeling that 1 never felt before. I felt great inward joy. I was flying. My heart was enthralled and I continually repeated what the Elder said: “Lord Jesus Christ…”
I had also heard from other Spiritual Fathers that we should say the Prayer of Jesus but I could not get my lips to say it. I felt that it was like a commandment that was imposed from without and I had not managed to implement it.
Now, without realizing it, my heart had been ignited by a divine flame. With love and gratitude I was proclaiming to God what my eyes had seen and what my ears had heard while in the presence of that Elder monk.
I had prepared what I would say and early the next morning I went to Milessi. There was a shed there and a little trailer home that was parked amongst the fir trees. This place looked more beautiful in the light of day.
I stood apart from the thirteen morning visitors who had arrived before me and were waiting for the Elder.
The Elder came out and directed his attention toward me. “Let’s go for a walk in that direction”
“Elder, I just came. Those other people came before me”.
“Listen to me, let us go. I know those other people”.
We proceeded to an open area where some newly planted fruit bearing trees had begun to blossom.
“This is my first walk here. Because of the cold weather and my sickness, it has been six months since I have been outdoors,” he said.
He enjoyed nature like a little child. He walked lightly and every now and then he whispered spontaneously, “Lord Jesus Christ”.
I wondered why he didn’t say the whole prayer as they teach us to do but he said only half of it?
~Adapted from Monk Agapios, The Divine Flame Elder Porphyrios Lit in My Heart
