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In this episode, Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou recounts some of his meetings with St. Iakovos (Tsalikis) of Evia: “my child, your faith is greater than mine! Because I believe in what I see while you believe in things you do not see.”
Homily of His Eminence Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou at the Conference of the Union of Cypriot Scientists which took place on Sunday, 7 October 2018 at Deftera, Cyprus.
Source: RumOrthodox https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt-Gh-ayHtY
Metropolitan Neophytos:
Now, concerning the legacy of Saint Iakovos. I read it in this book and it’s a testimony following his repose. It’s very important because it shows that the holiness of Iakovos is also glorified in heaven. Among the many amazing testimonies by people who had met Saint Iakovos, there is a testimony by the Areios Pagos [Supreme Court of Greece] Judge, Konstantinos Tsolas. For me this [testimony] encloses the legacy of the saint following his repose. This Areios Pagos Judge was made worthy to see the saint almost one week after his repose.
He asked him, “Geronda, now that you’re gone, what are we to do without you?” The saint grabbed his hand, smiled at him and said to him, “Listen, my dear Kostas: You’ll do these two things and don’t be sad. First: you should feel the pain of your neighbor [as your own]” — compassion — “Second: strive, strive a lot, my dear Kostas so that the divine grace visits you and everything will be fine.” These two things.
Let me tell you one last story, because we are Cypriots, Anatolians, story-tellers. Seferis says, “If I talk to you with fairytales and parables, it’s because they sound sweeter to your ear.” And these are no fairy tales at all. A beautiful incident which I recount often, especially to high school kids and university students, is this. A group of university students from Athens visited Saint Iakovos to see him. Holy Father [Iakovos] came stepping as if walking on cotton. As if the heaven and not the earth “was pulling” him. The kids were captivated by him just like we did — no matter how many times we met him. You could tell right away that this man comes from another “state.”
[St. Iakovos]: “Welcome, my children. How are you dear children?” A professor that took them there said, “Geronda, talk to us a bit about Saint David [of Evia] and his miracles.” He started talking “like a river” about Saint David. [St. David of Evia] was his friend, they would talk daily with each other. The kids were riveted. Not all of them had a relationship with the Church. There were kids who were seeing a priest and a monk (hieromonk) for the first time.
So, a kid asked, “Geronda, do you see these things? Do you believe in these things? What is faith to you?” The smart kid realized that for him to be able to see all these things — visible and invisible — it takes “steadfast faith,” as we read and pray in the service of Holy Matrimony when crowning “the soon-to-be-wed.” “That He will preserve them in […] steadfast faith, […].” Iakovos had this “steadfast faith” incarnated without a doubt. “Having received the Faith of Christ in thy heart as a breastplate, […].”
Our Father [Iakovos] told him, “Listen, my child. I could recite [as an answer to your question] the definition of the Apostle Paul: ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen [Hebrews 11:1].’ Yet, I am ashamed to admit that this is my faith.” “Do you mean that you have a different faith from the one Paul the Apostle of the Nations defines?” the kid asked. “My child, the Apostle says here that we, Christians, believe in a God we do not see. I believe in a God I see. His saints, His angels, His energies, His miracles, your hearts. While you, my child, ….”
Listen to how he reversed it. How a humble man speaks. He doesn’t captivate you with his miracle-working, not even with this faith. But he humbles you through his own humility. As we are always humbled by the Extreme Humility of our Lord. Saint Justin Popovich said, “My humble Lord, humble me through Your humility.” Listen how someone like Saint Iakovos humbled himself in front of university students.
“My child, as I see, you and your classmates are modern people. You live in Athens, in Omonoia square, amidst sin, amidst temptations and yet you heard about some dumb Iakovos who sees saints, miracles, angels and talks to Saint David and you have come here to visit me. My child, do you believe in the things I told you?” “Yes, Geronda, we believe what you told us is true.” “Then, my child, your faith is greater than mine! Because I believe in what I see while you believe in things you do not see. You believe some dumb Iakovos. And, [for this reason], you’ll be the partakers of the beatitude of our Lord: ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed [John 20:29].’” That’s all. Thank you for your patience.
