Elder Porphyry the Kapsokalivite Sees a Provocatively Dressed Woman

Elder Porphyry Bairaktaris the Kapsokalivite

Years ago, when the Elder served at the Polyclinic of Athens, while walking in the area of Omonoia one day with two girls who were his spiritual children, he saw from across the street a young woman coming with a sexy appearance. She was wearing the familiar “super mini skirt” which was fashionable. When they saw her, the Elder said: “What do you have to say? What are you thinking? Are you judging that woman?”

“No, Elder”, they responded, understanding their position.

“You do well to not judge her”, said the Elder. “Do not judge people from their outward appearance. That girl you see has a wonderful soul! She has a dynamic soul. That which she is doing now, that is, provoking, is due to the current strength of her soul. Imagine what would happen if that girl came to know Christ, and knew everything that you knew. Then she will certainly reach a high place.”

This was the way Fr. Porphyry counseled and taught. He guided through life and experience.

* ΘΗΣΑΥΡΟΣ ΓΝΩΣΕΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΙΑΣ

Saint Silvanus the Athonite on Suffering

St. Silvanus the Athonite

We suffer because we have no humility and we do not love our brother. From love of our brother comes the love of God. People do not learn humility, and because of their pride cannot receive the grace of the Holy Spirit, and therefore the whole world suffers.

* Orthodox Fellowship of All Saints of China

Hymns of Holy Monday Chanted by the Monks of Vatopedi Monastery, Mount Athos

Fr. Robert Barron on the Saints

Fr. Robert Barron

G.K. Chesterton once remarked, “There are saints in my religion, but that just means men who know they are sinners.” For the great English apologist, the relevant distinction is not between sinners and non-sinners, but between those sinners who know their sin and those who, for whatever reason, don’t. The heroes of the faith – the saints – are precisely those who are ordered toward God and who therefore have a keener appreciation of how far they fall short of the ideal. Saint John of the Cross compared the soul to a pane of glass. When it is facing away from the light, its smudges and imperfections are barely noticeable, but when it is directed at the light, every mark, even the smallest, becomes visible. This explains the paradox that the saints are most keenly aware of their sins, even to the point of describing themselves as the worst of sinners. We might mistake this for false modesty, but it is in fact a function of a truly saintly psychology.

* This excerpt is from “Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith” by Fr. Robert Barron
** Photo credit

Agni Parthene (O Virgin Pure) Chanted at the Boston Marathon Memorial

Saint Ambrose of Optina on Spiritual & Emotional Dissatisfaction

St. Ambrose of Optina

It is useless to accuse those around us and those who live with us of somehow interfering with or being an impediment to our salvation and spiritual perfection… Spiritual or emotional dissatisfaction comes from within ourselves, from inexperience and from poorly conceived opinions we do not want to abandon, but which bring on doubt, embarrassment, and misunderstanding.  All of this tires and burdens us, and brings us to a sorry state.  We would do well to comprehend the Holy Fathers’ simple advice: If we will humble ourselves, we will find tranquility anywhere, without having to mentally wander about many other places, where we might have the same, or even worse, experiences.

* Voice of the Fathers

Elder Paisius the Athonite Boils Milk During Lent

Elder Paisius the Athonite

At Panagouda, the Cell of Elder Paisius, there are two visitors from Thessaloniki. They stand, leaning on the chestnut tree. Both in their fifties, they are pale and cantankerous. They seem to be from an ecclesiastical organization, because they are looking reproachfully at the Elder, and making comments to each other quietly. The children are playing, making a fuss – at which Paisius turns and says quietly:

“Do not make noise, because beside here, beneath the earth, Americans are hidden and we will wake them, and they will come to interrupt our silence.”

The children stop, and are silently puzzled. At the opposite end, John leans sideways against the rock atop his sack. He lights a cigarette. The two visitors, who appear to be harsh pietists, continue to look at the Elder with disapproval as he boils milk and oversees that it does not spill over. One of them can’t stand it anymore and tells the monk:

“Elder Paisius, we are in the first days of Lent, we have a strict fast, and you are boiling milk to drink?”

The Elder is silent. He does not respond. He grabs the pot and lowers it, since the milk is boiled.

He then goes into his Cell, bringing six small, old china cups, he puts them next to each other, and carefully pours the milk into each one. He waits a bit for it to cool off, while everyone looks at him with amazement and silence. The two pietists observe this with disgust, thinking that since there are six visitors and six cups, perhaps the monk will offer them milk during these strict days of the fast.

Elder Paisius takes the full cups one by one, places them on a wooden tray, and carries them seven meters away, where he places them down on the dirt, at the edge of a bush.

He places them there in order, then he comes, sits next to us, and begins to do something with his mouth silently, an eery whistling, while looking towards the bushes. Not a few moments pass, and over there, from the bushes, comes out a viper with five small snakes very carefully – her children. I hold my breath.

The snakes are coming, all of them approaching, one by one, slithering, passing right next to us, and they go slowly-slowly to the cups, and begin drinking calmly, slurping their morning milk.

* This excerpt is from “Επί ψύλλου κρεμάμενος” (Κέδρος 2003), translated by John Sanidopoulos