Mary Kontogianni Ioannidou, the program producer for the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (maybe not currently), relates about her relationship with Elder Porphyrios: Even if you have read nothing about God, in knowing such a man, you are assured not only that God exists but also that Christ is the only truth, “yesterday, today and forever.” Elder Porphyrios’ humility was something inconceivable in human terms, it allowed his spiritual children, to worry him and to grieve him. This happened without his love being diminished in the least.
Author: Bishoy
10 wonderful extracts of the teachings of Elder Porphyrios
“How can I stop smoking? I tried many times but I didn’t manage it.” “Every time you have the desire to smoke, say ‘Lord, have mercy on me.’ Prayer to Christ is the solution to each and every one of our problems. Do you see that even this parrot, this beautiful bird that I keep here in my room, has see that even this parrot, this beautiful bird that I keep here in my room, has learned to say, ‘Lord have mercy on me.’”
St John as a patron of marriage
A man relates: First I shall tell something about myself, although it is difficult and unpleasant for me to do so. But I fear being ashamed of God and hiding God's miracle, for Christ said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words, of him shall I also be ashamed." All my life, women of ill repute inspired me with disgust, aversion, and a feeling of pity. Dissolute women of society also did not attract me, and I fled from them and dreamt of an honorable marriage with a well-born lady and of our faithfulness to each other. For this reason, in my early years I asked the Lord in my prayers to grant me for a wife the most beautiful of all maidens, who would be the best of wives and mothers.
What is the greatest virtue?
Admin: Perhaps there is a lot of discussion and different view points on this topic - of which is the greatest virtue. I believe this article clears up the final verdict really well. Out of all the countless things I've read in the last 10 years, I've read many things to imply the same conclusion… Continue reading What is the greatest virtue?
Fr Mikhail Ibrahim – “The man of prayer”
Introduction Fr. Mikhail was born Mikhail Ibrahim Youssef on April 20, 1899. He was born in the village of Kafr Abdu, Quisna situated north of Cairo. He was one of five sons. His parents taught them the life of prayer, prostrations, and humility. Fr. Girgis, the priest of the church in Kafr Abdou, influenced young… Continue reading Fr Mikhail Ibrahim – “The man of prayer”
A prayer rule by St. Theophan the Recluse
A prayer rule for one who is on the path of a God-pleasing lifeYou ask about a prayer rule. Yes, it is good to have a prayer rule on account of our weakness so that on the one hand we do not give in to laziness, and on the other hand we restrain our enthusiasm… Continue reading A prayer rule by St. Theophan the Recluse
St John’s spiritual trajectory
Here is what St. John says of himself in the above-mentioned “Homily”: After being ordained a priest and pastor, I soon learned from personal experience with whom I was entering into combat in my spiritual field of endeavor – specifically, with the strong, cunning, indefatigable prince of this world, who breathed evil, destruction and the… Continue reading St John’s spiritual trajectory
Are We Seeking Christ?
What is it that most people seek in life? Health, riches, success, acquaintances, friends, prestige, various worldly pleasures, vain knowledge, etc. Only a few seek Christ the Savior. We call ourselves Christians after Christ, we see His holy image in our homes and at church, we pronounce His name and hear it in God’s temple. People seek that which they don’t have, that which they need. So we may seem to have Christ alread
“Glory be to You O Lord, I am a sinner. Glory be to You.” – A great miracle of Mother Erene
Mrs Maria Gerges Fanous, who resides at 1 Malak Shahata St, Al-Andalos/Al-Marg relates: I used to suffer from tonsillitis every three months. Each time I would have a high fever and a terrible sore throat in addition to pain in my legs and all over my body. Despite my suffering every winter and the urgency of undergoing surgery since I was a child in grade four, I avoided the operation out of fear.
A bishop’s great sin
In a town in Byzantium, there was once a bishop who was very much beloved by the townsfolk, but then something terrible happened: whether through his own weakness or light-heartedness or through the conniving of the devil, this bishop fell into the sin of fornication.
The Art of Orthodoxy 