You need to pray a lot, not talk a lot

The parents of a certain young man who tried to commit suicide came to the Elder. The reason for their son's suicide attempt was unknown to them. They were confused. Father Porphyrius said to them: "Your child is easily wounded. Since childhood, he has felt your excessive care and now he has begun to move away from you. Because of his unhappy love, he tried to commit suicide. He needs special care. For sure, he will experience strong emotions again and again. In order for your child to recover from this trauma, you need to pray a lot, not talk a lot. No advice, no condemnation, and so on... A few warm words that will give him hope, and immediately for prayer. Surround him with your prayers." The events that followed confirmed the correctness of the Elder's words.

Do not hold it back with fear. She'll be back

A very worldly woman, having tried all the worldly pleasures and was ultimately disappointed in them, was close to committing suicide. Her acquaintance, seeing that her friend was in a state of complete hopelessness, advised her to turn to Father Porphyrios. Arriving in Kallisia, the woman met with the Elder. And then, suddenly, in the midst of the utter darkness in which her soul dwelt, she saw for the first time in her life the radiance of a comforting light. Inspired, she asked Father Porphyrius to become her spiritual father and bless her to move closer to the hesychastirion, as the Apostle Peter had asked on Mount Tabor when he said: "Lord, it is good for us to be here[50]. The elder settled her in one of the cells, in the monastery building. There she lived, enjoying peace of mind, feeling that she was dead and alive, disappeared and was found.

However, the devil, the hater of good, did not cease his murderous work. He envied this soul that had escaped from his clutches and used all his efforts to prevail over it again. He brought back to her embellished memories of her old life amidst the noise and glitter of worldly amusements, comparing it with the modest peace in which she now lived. Little by little, he began to poison her with the poison of sorrow. The demon of despondency began to imperceptibly gnaw at her soul. Eventually, she informed her sisters of her intention to return to Athens.

Frightened, the sisters tried to prevent her, saying that after the terrible ordeals she had endured, returning back to this hell meant voluntarily surrendering herself to death. The woman began to hesitate, but a few days later she again announced her intention to leave the monastery. The concerned sisters informed the Elder about this. "What did you say to her?" asked Father Porphyrius. "So that she stays here, because if she leaves, she will be in danger." "It's not good that you told her to stay," the Elder remarked. "I should have let her go if she wanted to. Do not hold it back with fear. You don't want her to go crazy, do you? Do not be afraid, this soul will not be lost, it will return."

When the woman broke down again a few days later, the sisters told her that she was free and could do whatever she wanted. Thanking them, she took the blessing of the Elder and left for Athens. There she was solemnly received by her old friends. All this time, Father Porphyrius fervently prayed for her salvation. This woman began to lead a worldly life again, but very soon the serpent of despair living within her raised its head again. She began to be overcome by gloomy thoughts. However, now the darkness was no longer as pitch-black as before, it was cut by the memory of the light of consolation next to the Elder. And the bird escaped from Satan's trap, soared freely into the sky, and flew to Callisia. Joyfully and with honor, like a prodigal son, her father Porphyrius received her. Since then, this woman has not expressed a desire to return to her former life. She changed greatly and began to spend a new life in repentance, enjoying peace of mind.

Law

Love and Law

I have always been interested in the acute problem of the relationship between love and power. On the one hand, love, as it was taught and lived by Christ and every holy man of God, and on the other hand, there are various relationships, both between people and between states, built on the basis of power.

I asked the Elder what he thought about it. He answered: "Everything is very difficult" – and he told me the following parable: "In ancient times there was a monastery in the mountains. The monks in this monastery lived peacefully and calmly. But one day a gang of robbers broke into the monastery fence. Their faces were fierce, they entered the church, and the ataman summoned the abbot to him. One monk conveyed to the elder, who was in the altar at that time, the demand of the head of the gang. But the abbot was in no hurry. He asked the ataman to wait a little, and himself, kneeling before the holy altar, began to fervently pray to the Lord that He would deliver them from the impending danger. At this time, the ataman was curiously examining the temple frescoes. He was a savage, and his attention was attracted by the image of the Last Judgment, and especially by the terrible serpent that spewed flames from its open mouth and devoured those condemned to torture. At that moment, the abbot came out of the altar. Seeing him, the ataman said:

"Give me all the monastery treasures immediately, otherwise we will slaughter you all." But first, I want you to tell me what is depicted here.

The abbot, who did not cease to pray silently, explained to the thief that on one half of the fresco is depicted Christ taking the righteous with Him to Paradise, and on the other half is the devil-serpent, devouring sinners among the hellish flames.

"And who are these sinners?" The ataman asked again.