Română
Third Sunday Of Great Lent: Veneration Of The Cross In this video, Fr. Stephanos Anagnostopoulos recounts a miracle which occurred on Mount Athos, Greece, when he visited his spiritual Father, Elder Ephraim (of Arizona).
The following is an excerpt of a homily delivered by Protopresbyter Stephanos Anagnostopoulos during the parish celebratory events [for St. Dimitrios] in October 2018 with the title “Dimitria 2018” that took place at the Orthodox church of St. Dimitrios, in the municipality of St. Dimitrios, Athens, Greece.
Video source: Ιερός Ναός Αγίου Δημητρίου Δήμου Αγίου Δημητρίου
Fr. Stephanos Anagnostopoulos:
In 1962, I had the blessing and the honor – something which I also describe in my last book “Do you really know who you are?” this is its title. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring some and give to the fathers here.
“Do you really know who you are?” Because we do not know who we are. We think we are something…
The first lesson I received from my spiritual father, elder Ephraim [of Arizona], who was in New Skete [of Mt. Athos], in 1962. I was 32 years old and he was 34. Yet, despite the small difference of age, I experienced a miracle. A miracle! After we had been talking for sometime, everything was filled with light as if it was day. Light! Light! Fragrance! Heavenly states! I did not realize hours had passed… what he told me… how many times we ascended to the 7th Heaven and down, I do not remember! I remember nothing! I only remember what I lived, what my soul lived, that’s what I remember… what my soul lived. But even this cannot be described. No heavenly thing can be ascribed or described. Nor “ascribed”, meaning it cannot be drawn, it cannot be made into an icon but neither described… “Inexpressible words” [2 Corinthians 12:4], is not it what Apostle Paul said? There are no words… To say what? That God is good… what does it mean good? God is all-good… what does it mean all-good? He loves you and you, the sinner… We swear at Him…
We also use this verb, this damned verb [****]. And He says: “I love you”.
We scream, we shout, we doubt… His existence and other things. And He says “I love you. I gave myself up to the cross for you”.
