Christ is always in me. St. elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

“Learn from me; for I am meek and humble in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt 11:29

St. elder Iakovos Tsalikis of Evia

Died on 21 November 1991

Elder Iakovos Tsalikis said:People are blind and don’t see what takes place in church during the Divine Liturgy.

“Today that you have communed,” he said to one of his spiritual children, “do you see how you feel? This is how I always feel. Christ is always in me.”

“When I commune people,” Elder Iakovos would say, “I never look at their face. Sometimes however my thoughts tell me to look at them. Then I see some faces having the form of a dog, a monkey or another animal. Their form is frightening. But I also see some who are glad and cheerful who after Divine Communion shine like the sun.“

On one occasion he and his brother were sent to take the family pig to the local butcher to provide for the family, but along the way, a jealous old man cast a demon into the pig which caused it to fall down immediately and foam at the mouth.

How Do We Meet God? Elder Porphyrios

How Do We Meet God?

Elder Porphyrios: Testimonies and Experiences, by Klitos loannides.

In our question of “How can we, who live in the world, in the bustle, turmoil and schizophrenia of contemporary life, meet God,” Elder Porphyrios told us the following story, presented here in brief:

Shortly after he was appointed chaplain to the Church of St. Gerasimos in the Athens Polyclinic, by Omonia Square, he had a problem at the time of the Liturgy. Directly across the street from the Church was a store that sold gramophones and records. The shopkeeper played records on the gramophone in order to attract customers. He played them so loudly, however, that Elder Porphyrios could not bear it. He had reached the point where he thought of resigning even though he wanted the post very much.

The Student that Met God through Elder Paisios

Several years ago a young student approached me. Very hesitantly but in the strength of a demanding seeker, he told me he was an atheist but would really like to believe, but he couldn't. He was trying and seeking for years with no result. He talked to professors and educated people, but his thirst for something serious was not satisfied. He heard about me and decided to share with me his existential need. He asked me for scientific proof of God's existence. “Are you familiar with integrals or differential equations?” I asked. “Unfortunately not”, he replied, “I study philosophy”. “That's unfortunate, because I knew one such a proof” I said, obviously joking.