A Lesson About Prayer From Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyva

 

 

Testimony of Hieromonk Methodios, Abbot of the Honorable Forerunner Monastery in Kapsa of Sitia, Crete: 

 

I remember one day when I felt the need to talk to him [St. Porphyrios]. I called him and a woman who served him picked up the phone and immediately said to me: 

 

"A few minutes ago, Pappouli* told me that the phone would ring soon. He told me to pick it up, because it was Father Methodios from Crete. Are you Father Methodios?" 

 

I was surprised because we had never communicated and as soon as I came to my senses I said to her: 

 

"Yes, it is me." 

 

Later I learned from Mr. Emmanuel Kapetanakis that this woman's name was Xeni Makrygianni and she was a musician. That day she was in the Saint's cell and asked him: 

 

"Elder, I want you to tell me what prayer is." 

 

"Sit down... There is an ascetic in Crete, in the Kapsa Monastery, and his name is Father Methodios. Now I will pray and he will call us." 

 

He raised his hands and prayed silently. That's when I felt the need and called him. After talking with the Saint, he said to Xeni: 

 

"Now do you understand what prayer means? Go now and take care." 

 

Xeni became a nun and became abbess at the Sacred Monastery of Saint John Chrysostomos in Chicago.**

 

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* "Pappouli" is an affectionate name for an older priest, and here refers to St. Porphyrios.

** Now known as Abbess Melani.

Source: Ο ΟΣΙΟΣ ΠΟΡΦΥΡΙΟΣ Ο ΠΡΟΦΗΤΗΣ - ΜΑΡΤΥΡΙΕΣ, ΑΓΙΟΠΑΥΛΙΤΙΚΟ ΙΕΡΟ ΚΕΛΛΙ ΑΓΙΩΝ ΘΕΟΔΩΡΩΝ "ΑΓΙΟΝ ΟΡΟΣ"ΤΟΜΟΣ Α' ΣΕΛ 169. Translation by John Sanidopoulos.