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(My translation from: www.agioritkovima.gr [agioritkovima.gr])

attributed to St. Porphyrios, also known as Elder Porphyrios, 'Wounded by Love', a brand new Orthodox contemporary saint, speaking to someone:


"You should know that the Saints of God are capable of everything"

Saint Porphyrios:"Imagine a city with 500,000 inhabitants, of whom all are sinning. In a monastery there, there lives a monastic ascetic who raises his pure and clean hands unto God and begs him not to punish the 500,000 sinners. I assure you that for the favor to the ascetic, God does not punish the 500,000 people."

Other: "What you are saying is totally surprising."

Saint Porphyrios:"You should know that the Saints of God are capable of everything.

A Saint can ask anything of God, and God will give it to him.

The power of the Saints is very strong."

From: «Ανθολόγιο συμβουλών Γέροντος Πορφυρίου»

(Anthology of Geronta Porphyrios's counsels)

Tnere was a Protestant minister (Billy Graham?) who once said that God owes Soddom and Gemorrah an apology if he doesn't soon bring down flaming judgment upon the United States for our many sins and wickednesses. I remember being mildly shocked by that statement, but I do seem to recall using it in a sermon or Bible Class during my Lutheran days. Being challenged by one of my "victims" (parishioners), I just didn't have a substantial answer for him. Thank you for sharing this wise saying of St Porphyrios. Truly, the Saints are capable of everything! I have been marveling at the vast amounts of intercessory prayers in our Divine Liturgies, and am convinced that the righteous, faithful prayers of even the "little" saints that preserve the world from devastation and that the disasters we do see are not worse than they are. It is God's Mercy that raises up saints both small and great in our times to pray undeserved mercies upon us.

Thank you for your post. Wishing you a blessed Christmas,
Alice