Elder Joseph

Note on the English Translation ix
Biographical Note x

PART ONE: THE LIFE OF ELDER PORPHYRIOS
The Path to the Holy Mountain 1
The Holy Mountain – Kavsokalyvia 10
Evia 37
The Polyclinic Hospital in Athens 49
Saint Nicholas at Kallisia 70
The Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration at Milesi 75
Kavsokalyvia – 1991 82

PART TWO: THE WISDOM OF ELDER PORPHYRIOS
On the Church 87
On Divine Eros 96
On Prayer 113
On Spiritual Struggle 134
On the Monastic Life 158
On the Mystery of Repentance 173
On Love for One’s Neighbour 180
On Divine Providence 190
On the Upbringing of Children 195
On Dispositions of the Heart 212
On Creation 218
On Illness 224
On the Gift of Clear Sight 232

APPENDIX
Saint John the Hut-dweller 249
The Skete of Kavsokalyvia 250
Map of Evia and Attiki 252
Map of Mount Athos 253

Which angel visited the Mother of God? Which animals kept the little baby Jesus warm? What do the gifts that the Wise Men brought symbolize? Children learn about the birth of Christ through the world of Byzantine art. An art that is close to children’s souls, for it does not use shadow, peerspective, divisions or time. Dionysiou Monastery kindly gave permission for these wonderful frescoes to be reproduced in the present edition. It is their hope that these icons will speak to the souls of our children.