In 1988, Fr. Pavlos Tsouknidas says, when I was still a layman, I went to Elder Porphyrios with a hieromonk. When we arrived, we waited patiently to see the Elder because there were many waiting.
The hieromonk wanted to talk to him about an important issue that concerned him. Specifically, he had come into conflict with his Bishop at the Monastery where he was serving as Abbot and he, as he said, removed him from it without any serious reason, and sent him to a small parish near the Holy Monastery of his repentance to be a priest there.
He believed that it would be a matter of time before he was brought back to the Holy Monastery, even though he had established one brotherhood there.
It was our turn to speak with the Elder, the hieromonk spoke privately with Elder Porphyrios and left his cell upset. I also spoke with the Elder and received his wish.
On the way back I asked the father: “What did the Elder tell you? Will the Metropolitan bring you back to the Monastery?”
He told me: “He gave a negative reply and told me to go to Mount Athos to get rid of him because he will never bring me back.”
However, the hieromonk was dissatisfied with the Elder’s clear answer and said to me: “Elder Porphyrios was wrong, my child; he is making a big mistake; you see that I will be back to the monastery as soon as possible.”
He did everything he could so that the Bishop would bring him back to the Monastery.
However, due to his disobedience, that is, he did not go to Mount Athos as Elder Porphyrios advised him 26 years ago, three Abbots changed in the specific Holy Monastery and until today, which is to retire, he was not placed in the monastery and remained in this small parish. The Elder’s words were verified.
I am a priest and now I serve the parish of the Church of Saint Athanasios Omorfochori, Larissa. In 1993 I met a lady named Maria; she came with a nun from Corinth to the chapel of my parish, which is dedicated to the glorious new holy martyrs Raphael, Nicholas and Irene of the Virgin Martyr.
After having paid their respects, we started a spiritual discussion; it did not take long for me to understand that Maria was in a very good spiritual state, she had piety, love, alms and a lot of humility.
For a moment, Maria told me: “Father Paul, did you meet the late Elder Porphyrios?”. “Yes, Mrs. Maria,” I replied.
“Elder Porphyrios has been treating me for cancer for about five years; he had many metastases and I was in the end-stage. When I visited him with my husband in Oropos, he read a prayer for me and I was fine.”
Maria lives in Larissa with her husband. He is now very old. Thank God, we have the wish of the holy father Porphyrios!
Saint Porphyrios
