[pertikuss]

Chronia Polla - Χρονια Πολλα Many Years. Nina wrote Many God pleasing years which is so much more appropriate than our usual Many Years.

My husband is also celebrating his name day today.


Effie

Wow, Effie! Sorry I forgot (since you have referred to your husband by his name)! Xronia Polla! Love Saint Demetrios, and I received a piece of cotton with the myrrh from his relics exactly 4 years ago when I was in Thessaloniki these months. The heavenly aroma has not dissipated, yet!!!

Dear Effie, the wish "Many God pleasing years!" is what Geronda/Elder Paisios said we should wish our family and friends for their nameday, or birthday etc. I loved it so much that I adopted it since. I wish it was this easy to adopt all Fathers' advise.

[WrigleyMike]

Wow, Effie! Sorry I forgot (since you have referred to your husband by his name)! Xronia Polla! Love Saint Demetrios, and I received a piece of cotton with the myrrh from his relics exactly 4 years ago when I was in Thessaloniki these months. The heavenly aroma has not dissipated, yet!!!

Dear Effie, the wish "Many God pleasing years!" is what Geronda/Elder Paisios said we should wish our family and friends for their nameday, or birthday etc. I loved it so much that I adopted it since. I wish it was this easy to adopt all Fathers' advise.

It's a beautiful wish. One thing I always remember about Elder Paisios is the fact that he was extremely lenient with all those who came to him while, at the same time, he was very strict with himself. Love - he felt love for those who asked his advice, but he also was very frank and did not believe in sugaring his words.

Last week I had a morning coffee get-together at my house with some friends and relatives. We started talking about Geronda Paisios and my husband's niece told us that a few years ago her uncle, her brother, and a friend of her uncle's, went to see him. He knew all about them before they said a word. He told her brother Mark that he had a kind heart and that he was blessed. He told her uncle that he had been cruel to those around him and that he should repent and make amends.

What he said was absolutely true for both of them. The uncle hasn't been any amends whatsoever, but there is still hope!

Effie

[Gskdmidd]

It's a beautiful wish. One thing I always remember about Elder Paisios is the fact that he was extremely lenient with all those who came to him while, at the same time, he was very strict with himself. Love - he felt love for those who asked his advice, but he also was very frank and did not believe in sugaring his words.

Last week I had a morning coffee get-together at my house with some friends and relatives. We started talking about Geronda Paisios and my husband's niece told us that a few years ago her uncle, her brother, and a friend of her uncle's, went to see him. He knew all about them before they said a word. He told her brother Mark that he had a kind heart and that he was blessed. He told her uncle that he had been cruel to those around him and that he should repent and make amends.

What he said was absolutely true for both of them. The uncle hasn't been any amends whatsoever, but there is still hope!

Effie

Dear Effie,

Elder Paisios is a diamond! You are right that there is so much love from him for all. You can even feel it through the books that he did not even write!!! My spiritual father is Elder Paisios spiritual son. The Elder said a prophecy about me which was fulfilled not very long after he said it. He never saw, or met me, or some other spiritual children of my spiritual father, but he asked our spiritual father about us and with names and told him things about us!!!

[soryalomop]

You are very lucky, Nina. I only learnt about him after his death, but since then I have met quite a few people who had a personal relationship with him.
They all have great respect for him.

My husband and I visited his grave at Souroti Monastery and when I get back from Australia we intend going again with another couple.

I have to say though that I was not very impressed with the nuns at this monastery and I saw something quite suspicious that I am keeping to myself. The monastery itself is very beautiful and a vast amount of money has been spent on it - something Geronda Paisios was critical about when referring to Tinos and another place. He said they had become commercial.
I fear the same thing has happened to his monastery.

We visited St. John the Evangelisti monastery near Corinth in the Peloponesse. It is on top of a mountain and is beautiful, but what we really liked were the nuns and their attitude. It was truly a place of peace and contemplation.

Effie

[Les Allen]

Hmm... honestly my dear sister in Christ, Effie, I went to the grave of Geronda Paisios and did not see anything bad with the monastery... I am not trying to deny the things you expereinced, or doubt them, but maybe these things are temptations dear Effie to discourage you in your spiritual path. I know because I have experienced them myself, but of course in other settings. It is wonderful though of you not to allow such things to impact your faith and love for God. And thank God first for giving you grace not to be affected and for protecting you. As a Father has said God allows these things to happen in the Church so we do not put our hopes and trust in anyone, but solely on God. Also the fact that someone is related closely, or distantly, like I, with Geronda Paisios does not make them by default saints, or even good. I am sure if you meet me you will run away from the stench of my sins. We as Orthodox do not believe in the infallibility of people.

[GypeFeeshyTes]

Hmm... honestly my dear sister in Christ, Effie, I went to the grave of Geronda Paisios and did not see anything bad with the monastery... I am not trying to deny the things you expereinced, or doubt them, but maybe these things are temptations dear Effie to discourage you in your spiritual path. I know because I have experienced them myself, but of course in other settings. It is wonderful though of you not to allow such things to impact your faith and love for God. And thank God first for giving you grace not to be affected and for protecting you. As a Father has said God allows these things to happen in the Church so we do not put our hopes and trust in anyone, but solely on God. Also the fact that someone is related closely, or distantly, like I, with Geronda Paisios does not make them by default saints, or even good. I am sure if you meet me you will run away from the stench of my sins. We as Orthodox do not believe in the infallibility of people.

All you say is true Nina and one of my (many) faults is the fact that I want nuns and priests to be people I can respect, forgetting that, as you say, none of us is infallible.

I usually use my husband as a sort of sounding board because he is so calm and thoughtful and also deeply religious. The fact is that he had the same impression of this monastery. Too much money, a lack of warmth, etc.

We visited last year and as I said we intend to visit again, because Elder Paisios is buried there. We both love his books and the books about him.

Effie

[Hodstcopter]

Happy Nameday to Father Raphael (in 13 days - if you celebrate in this feast)!
Happy Nameday to those named after Archangel Michael and Archangel Raphael.

[aburva.org]

Happy Nameday to Father Raphael (in 13 days - if you celebrate in this feast)!
Happy Nameday to those named after Archangel Michael and Archangel Raphael.

We are on the Old Calendar but thank you!

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[suiviouse]

We are on the Old Calendar but thank you!

In Christ- Fr Raphael

Yes, that is why I say "in 13 days". Is it 13 days? Because I know that I will forget to wish you in 13 days, I thought to post it today.

[dr-eavealer]

Yes, that is why I say "in 13 days". Is it 13 days? Because I know that I will forget to wish you in 13 days, I thought to post it today.

For those on the Old Calendar the Feast day of the Holy Archangel Michael and the other Heavenly Bodiless Powers is on Nov 8/21; ie on Nov 21 on the secular calendar.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

[Dynasty]

(bump)

Happy Name day Father Raphael and all those on this day +++

ICXC
Karena

[hellenmoranov]

(bump)

Happy Name day Father Raphael and all those on this day +++

ICXC
Karena

Yes! Happy nameday Father!

Thank you Karena for the reminder! Can you please remind me for Father Deacon Matthew's nameday too? I was "scared" to commit that faux pas again the other day when we had St. Matthew's feast.

[OvDojQXN]

Happy nameday to Andrew and Andreas and to all who celebrate on the day of St. Andreas! Many God pleasing years!

[sadgpokx]

Happy nameday to Andrew and Andreas and to all who celebrate on the day of St. Andreas! Many God pleasing years!

Many thanks!

[Knqzjbmf]

And "many years" to Scotland too.

[Aozozbag]

To Anthony (in 13 days), Father Anthony, Antonios and all those who celebrate with this amazing saint: Happy nameday!