You should also know this: when medications do not help, it means that it is not the body that is sick, but the soul. And we can find the healing of the soul only from Christ. Understand? Only Christ heals our souls."

Postpone the operation

One day I went to see my doctor to consult with him about my old illness. He advised me to have another re-examination in a year, and then go for surgery. I came to the Elder and with excitement told him about the doctor's advice.

After listening to me, he said: "Now everything is clear. And I wondered for so many days: what is it that torments me so much?" "Father Porphyrius again took the burden of my illness on his shoulders," I thought. Then he asked, "Have you already had an operation?" Then Father Porphyrius said: "Why do you need this operation? You know, it often happens that complications arise after surgery. I would advise you to refuse the operation and accept this disease as a thorn in the flesh [48]."

Having decided to obey the Elder, a year later, as agreed, I came to the doctor for an examination. After the examination, the doctor said: "Your condition has not changed, the disease is not progressing. I would suggest that you do not rush with the operation. Postpone it as long as possible. Come to me again in a year." I thought that the doctor's decision mysteriously echoed the blessing of the Elder. Without saying a word to the doctor about my thoughts, I left with the firm intention of not coming here again. Therefore, a year later, I did not appear for the next examination. Once, at a parish meeting, I happened to meet my doctor. He told me that the operation was no longer necessary, because recently in America they had created a drug with the help of which it would be possible to finally cure my disease, and that soon this drug would appear in pharmacies in Greece. I remembered the Elder and, not being able to see him, mentally thanked him. Father Porphyrius was already in the Heavenly dwellings.

Trust in God and you will be saved

When the Elder began to regain his strength after another illness and began to receive visitors, I went to see him. The words of Father Porphyrios, spoken in a quiet, weak voice, amazed me: "When I was young," he said, "I prayed to God that if He ever allowed me to get sick, this disease would be cancer. You know, cancer is the best of all diseases. You do not take other diseases seriously, you hope that you will recover soon, and therefore you usually do not change internally. But when you know you have cancer, then you say to yourself, "That's it. That's the end. Don't fool yourself. Now I'm leaving." People cannot help you, you stand alone before God. Your only hope is in Him. You grasp at this hope and are saved. After my botched eye surgery and after applying huge doses of cortisone, I felt like an explosion in my head. It seemed to me that my skull was torn into small pieces. The pain was terrible. I thought God had heard my old petition, and it was cancer. But, alas... You know, I stopped this prayer for cancer after I told a bishop about it, and he reproached me, saying that there was selfishness behind this prayer. But the pain was very severe. It was wonderful."

Father Porphyrios' story filled me with awe, especially his last words: "The pain was very strong. It was wonderful." How often did I not have enough strength to follow the Elder.

Bless

A few years after the operation, the illness of my confessor [49] recurred. His health condition was constantly deteriorating, he needed a new operation. The suffering of the patient was unbearable, he himself did not eat anything, food was injected into him through a tube. Day by day it melted like a candle. On one of my last visits, while my spiritual father was lying at home, he said to me in a low voice: "Tell Father Porphyrius that I am suffering greatly and, falling on my knees, I ask him to pray for me. If it is God's will that I live, then let Him leave me on earth for the sake of my spiritual children. If God wants to take me, then let him take me. Blessed be His name."

When I relayed his words to Father Porphyrios, he was very touched and asked me to call the sick man immediately. This was followed by an amazing conversation between my spiritual father, who was already on the brink of the grave, and Father Porphyrios, who had found himself at this last line three times in his life. My spiritual father, because of the severe pain, could only answer in one word – "yes" or "no". The elder encouraged the sick man, telling him about his own experience, about those days when he was balancing on the verge between life and death. The "professor" of spiritual life, who repeatedly endured the sufferings of the cross, strengthened his "student" in the most difficult hours of his crucifixion. Father Porphyrius spoke on the "loudspeaker". On my knees, I listened to this conversation, and tears flowed down my cheeks.

Having finished the conversation, the Elder turned to me and said: "How amazing. Your confessor was next to me. Have you seen him?" "No, Geronda, I have not seen him," I answered. Bodies are far away, but souls are near. I often call your spiritual father both day and night, especially when I see that he is very ill. We agreed to pray together at the same time. I try to talk to him when he is especially struggling, and it brings him some relief. However, he, like me, is very tired of visitors. All this is very clear to me, because I went through it myself. You did the right thing by not putting him in for surgery. Let everything remain as it is, as long as God allows." Almost losing hope for the recovery of my spiritual father, I asked Father Porphyrios: "Geronda, if God wills, even now, can not a miracle happen, and my spiritual father will remain alive?" But God, in His all-wise love, desired something different. A few days later, He took my confessor to heaven.

Take care of your health

During one of our meetings, Father Porphyrius, as a loving father to a son, gave me some private instructions. Here is what he said: "Be careful about what you eat. Do not eat those foods that, for health reasons, are harmful to you, and those that cause obesity. Don't lie in bed for a long time, or you'll get sick again. Move, don't sit still, do something, but in moderation. Walk more, not too fast, but not too slow, avoid ascents and descents, no matter how small. Take your walks on flat terrain, slowly, calmly, so as not to overwork. Go out of town. I won't tell you where to go for walks, go where you like, just make it outside of Athens, away from the exhaust fumes that are so harmful to your health. Don't go outside when it's too cold or too hot. When you go out into the cold, cover your nose and mouth with a scarf so as not to inhale cold air. And when it's hot, wear a panama hat so you don't get sunstroke. Be careful, avoid emotional turmoil and do not worry about what will happen. I know that no one puts pressure on you at work, and outwardly you look calm, but inside you torment yourself with thoughts: how to keep up with others, how to do more and better. Have you noticed how calm you are now, being on sick leave and not working for several weeks? When you move to another job, then the complex of uncertainty about the future will completely pass. Read the books of the Holy Fathers and pray. But first of all, don't worry, then you will quickly recover. The more you love Christ, the more you will rejoice and the less you will worry. Do everything with love and gratitude. Do not overexert yourself and do not fuss. Take your medicines for now, but the day will come when you will throw them away."