Talk 20: Elder Porphyrios of Greece as Spiritual Father
It has been said that only once in a hundred years does Greece produce an elder such as Elder Porphyrios (1906-1991), who has become known as one of the greatest spiritual fathers of the last century. Thousands of people, not only from Greece but from all over the world, visited or telephoned him for advice and help. Using his gifts of clairvoyance, healing, and miracle-working, he brought a vast number of souls to the Church of Christ, the Orthodox Church. In this talk, Father Kosmas looks at the Elder’s sixty years as a spiritual father.
Some of the questions answered in this talk: Why is pride harder to detect these days? Is an educated priest better than an uneducated priest? Is all anger sinful? How can natural gifts at times cause one to lose oneself? Which is better, Latin or Muslim domination? Is it important for a spiritual father to know the background of those who confess to him? Should spiritual fathers be strict and demanding in this day and age? Do spiritual fathers have a right to deny a person communion? Is it wrong to desire the priesthood?
Also included in this talk are discussions about: social anxiety, medication and spiritual life; the dangers of criticising a proud person; the Elder and a brothel; physical and mental illnesses and fasting; the dangers of following exceptions in the Church; the benefits of taking care of the sick and the elderly and its effect on the sexual passions; credit cards and their effect on one’s spiritual life; the Church of Cyprus and abortions; a weird trip into a forest; brotherhoods and their sermons outside the liturgical life; spiritual fathers and the importance of penance; and the danger of measuring one’s spiritual life.
Talk Duration: 201 minutes
3 CD set