St Porphyrios: “Read the Holy Bible and the saints’ biographies”

Mr Anargryos Kalliatsos, one who was close to Elder Porphyrios for three decades, recounts: One afternoon, father Porphyrios and I set out to visit a convent. Papouli was in a good mood, very eager to talk and chant hymns! So, as soon as we left the monastery and entered the motorway, he told me: “Once, you used to chant very well! And papa-Yiannis was proud of you. Especially, when you read the epistles of the Disciples in the Liturgy, he came at the Beautiful Gate[31] and listened to you. He took pride in you and sometimes was moved as well. Your ever memorable father was very sensitive. Do you still chant? Do you want to chant a beautiful hymn for me? Whichever you want.”

“Papouli, actually once I used to chant. I don’t know if I chanted beautifully, but, anyhow, I chanted a lot with great faith. However, since my tonsils were taken out, I have not been able to chant again, and this makes me very sad.”

“It does not matter. I know many people who used to sing and chant very well, and the same thing happened to them. Tell me, what books do you read?”

“I don’t have a special preference. I read everything.”

“Do you read saints’ biographies?”

“I have read many, and I like them very much.”

“You should read them. I have read all of them. I have read many of them two or three times. And if I come across one, I read it again with great pleasure. I have been reading them since my childhood. They have helped me a lot to get to know God and come closer to Him. You should do the same. You will have great benefit in your soul, and gradually you will begin to imitate them. Moreover, you should advise others to do the same. Do you read the New Testament?”

“I have studied it with great attention, and I am always revising it.”

“You are doing the right thing. You should read it continuously. It is an inexhaustible spring. And the more you read it, the more you enter into the Wisdom of God! You should try to read at least a page every night.”

“Another priest has also advised me to do the same.”

“He guided you correctly. Do you read the Acts of the Apostles?”

“I read them and like them very much. The only book I do not read is the Revelation of St. John.”

“Why? The Revelation is full of wisdom! It’s everything.”

“Because it speaks about things, like seals and trumpets, which I don’t understand very well. It is difficult to comprehend them.”

“If you read it many times with faith in God, you will see that the Divine Grace will reveal everything to you. Afterwards, they will seem very easy for you! You will realize it yourself very soon. The Wisdom of God does not come by itself. We must seek it. So read as much as you can! Read the Holy Bible and the saints’ biographies. This is what I suggest you to do.”

Ref: Kalliatsos, Anargyros. Father Porphyrios: The Discerning, the Foreseeing, the Healer (p. 154-6). The Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior, Milessi. Kindle Edition