Elder Porphyrios, Elder Porphyrios, Prayer Wounded by Love

Love and Fear of God

When we are called to communion in the divine Liturgy we hear, "With the fear of God,
faith and love draw near." This implies two quite dimensions in our approach to God.
One is fear and the other love. How can we both fear and have love?
The first requirement is faith. This is the starting point. The second is fear of God.
Why? We must have total respect for His infinite power. He both gives live and takes it.
With love, through His grace, we enter Paradise and without it we condemn ourselves to
hell.
What is Paradise? Elder Porphyrios tells us,
It is Christ. Paradise begins here and now. It is exactly the same: those who experience
Christ here on earth, experience Paradise... Our task is to attempt to find a way to enter
into the light of Christ.
With this "light of Christ" we are blessed with immense joy of His love. Elder Porphyrios
tells us that what Christ wants most of all is "to fill us with joy, because He is the wellspring of joy. This joy is a gift of Christ."
This gift is always waiting for us. To receive it is true life a life in Christ.
Elder Porphyrios says,
Christ is the source of life, the source of joy, the source of the true light, everything.
whoever loves Christ and other people truly lives life. Life without Christ is death: it is
hell, not life. That is what hell isthe absence of love. Life is Christ. Love is the life of
Christ. Either you will be in life or death. Its up to you to decide.
The fear comes from our recognition of the awesome responsibility we have to love
others. As Elder Porphyrios says, "It is up to you to decide." Do you want life or death?
Do you want Paradise or hell?
It's up to each of us!
Quotes from Wounded by Love, p 96 & 97

The Way of Love: Christ is Our Love, Our Desire

One of the ways Christians seek unity with God is by what I term the Way of Love. This
is where the emphasis is paced on the love of Christ. It is the way of the heart. It is a
spiritual path following the first commandment:
You hall love the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind (Matt 22:378).
One who lived and taught this approach was Elder Porphyrios. His teaching has been
recored for us in the wonderful book put together from his talks titled, Wounded by Love.
Elder Porphyrios continually emphasizes that our first thought should always be love of
God. He says,

Christ is joy, the true light, happiness. Christ is our hope. Our relation to Christ is love,
eros, passion, enthusiasm, longing for the divine. Christ is everything. He is our love. He
is the object of our desire. This passionate longing for Christ is a love that cannot be
taken away. This is where joy flows from.
The Way of Love is the unending focus on love of Christ. Elder Porphyrios' method, is
nothing more than loving ChristLoving Him so much that nothing else takes
precedence. In this way we overcome our ego, passions and evil. It is an all consuming
love. Our mind has no room left for anything else but Christ.
He says,
Imagine that the person you love is Christ, Christ is in your mind, Christ is in your heart,
Christ is in your whole being, Christ is everywhere.
He chooses to use the term eros for love. The term eros is commonly used to refer to a
passionate, intense desire for someone. For Plato eros is a common desire we have for a
transcendental beauty-the beauty that exists in the world of Forms or Ideas. Platonic
love is a love of the form of beauty-not of a particular individual, but the element they
posses of true (Ideal) beauty. For Plato, eros is initially the love felt for a person, but
with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even
becomes appreciation of beauty itself.
In the case of Elder Porphryios we can think of both of these ideas. He is passionate in
his love for Christ. He loves God with intensity, both as a person and also as an ideal for
human kind. By his use of the word "eros" he puts the emphasis on the all consuming
passion we must have for Christ.
In Greek Mythology Eros is the young son of Aphrodite depicted as a winged boy,
considered to be both the most beautiful of the gods. When Eros falls in love with Psyche
his radiance is such that for her own safety, he insists that she must never look upon his
face, and he only visits her at night. Elder Porphyrios also sees Christ as the most
beautiful of persons with a radiance that permeates all with his love and he received a
radiance and gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are books filled with their testimonies to his
holiness.
He says,
When you find Christ, you are satisfied, you desire nothing else, you find peace. You
become a different person Christ is in all your thoughts, in all your actions. You have
grace and you can endure everything for Christ.
Saint Theophan the Recluse used the term "zeal" to express a similar thought to "eros".
He wrote,
The testimony of this life that is visible or can be felt within us is the ardor of active zeal
to lease God alone in a Christian manner, with total self-sacrifice...
The Way of Love is an insatiable desire to be with our lover who is Christ alone.
Reference: Wounded By Love pp 96 -97

Are You In Love?

What is it like when you are in love? Nothing disturbs you. You only think about your
lover and all else blurs into the background. This is true also with when we fall in love
with Christ.
Elder Porphyrios says,
If you are in love, you can live amid the hustle and bustle of the city center and not be
aware you are in the city center... Imagine the person you love is Christ Christ is in
your mind, Christ is in your heart, Christ is in your whole being, Christ is everywhere.

This is our challenge. To love Christ is is to lift us above all our earthly concerns, to
experience continual joy no matter how difficult a situation we face, no matter what
turmoil is taking place around us. This is the way life was meant to be lived.
Elder Porphyrios says,
Whoever loves Christ and other people truly lives life. Life without Christ is death; it is
hell, not life. Life is Christ. Love is the life of Christ. Either you will be in life or in death.
It's up to you to decide.
Isn't this the only answer to all the anxiety of our present world situation? When I live
with Christ as my true lover, there is no room for anxiety. But when others take His
position then I find myself filled with anxiety. Oh, how I yearn for the wisdom to live in
this world with this other worldly love.
Lord have Mercy!
Quotes from Wounded By Love, p 97

How Christ Transforms

The love of God transforms everything; it sanctifies, amends and changes the nature of
everything. Elder Porphyrios
What was it like when you first found Christ in your heart? How did it transform you?
For me, my life was totally changed. The Church became the center of my life and I
found that I was mired in sin but now continually growing in my relationship with God.
This Pascha celebration affirmed this for me. It was truly the most spiritually alive
Divine Liturgy of my life. Glory be to God for all He provides for us.
Here are some thoughts from Elder Porphyrios:
When you find Christ, you are satisfied, you desire nothing else, you find peace. You
become a different person. You live everywhere, wherever Christ is. You live in the
stars, in infinity, in heaven with the angels, with the saints, on earth with people, with
plants, with animals, with everyone and everything. when there is love for Christ,
loneliness disappears. You are peaceable, joyous, full. Neither melancholy, nor illness,
nor pressure, nor anxiety, nor depression nor hell.
Source: Wounded By Love, pp 99 - 100

When Christ Enters Our Heart Life Changes

The Way of Love is the simplest and most direct way to join in union with Christ.
Through our love of Him we are sanctified.
Elder Porphyrios says,
Whoever experiences Christ within himself, experiences ineffable thingsholy and
sacred things. He lives in exultation.
With Christ as our lover there is no loneliness. We find peace and joy. The thought of
Christ permeates everything. We find patience and have endurance of everything.
Elder Porphyrios says that with our love of Christ even our passions disappear. There is
no longer possibility for hatred, dislikes, anxieties or depressions. Not even death
concerns us. He says this longing we have for Christ makes even death seem like a
bridge what we can cross in an instant to continue our life in Christ We find ourselves in
Christ and Him in us.

With our Love of Him there is no longer pain or suffering. Our craving for God, our
passionate love for Him, overcomes all pain.
He says
Divine craving defeats every pain, and so every pain is transformed and becomes love of
Christ. Love Christ and He will love you All pains will pass away, they will be defeated
and transformed.
Everything is transformed by this love.
The love of God transforms everything; it sanctifies, amends and changes the nature of
everything.
Reference: Wounded by Love, pp 99-100

What Rivals the Love for Christ?

Once you have the love of Christ in your heart what else is there to long for? All the
things of this world only leave us wanting more and often burden us with worries and
upkeep. But having Christ in our heart is all fulfilling and yields only joy. As Elder
Porphyrios says, "No other joy, no other beauty, nothing else can rival Him."
Once you have this love for Christ what can surpass it? What is greater? How can it be
even greater than our love for our parents or our children? But it is. It is a love that
never falters. It is unwavering, unconditional and unlimited. No other kind of love is as
great as this.
Elder Porphyrios says,
Fleshly love has a point of satiety. therefore jealousy and disgruntlement may set
in...Love in Christ knows no alteration. Worldly love remains for a time, and is gradually
extinguished, whereas divine love continually grows and deepens.
This love for Christ has no point of satisfaction. Elder Porphyrios says,
You cannot have enough of Him, the more you believe that you don't love Him and the
more you desire to love Him. At the same time, however, your soul is flooded by His
presence and your joy in the Lord is inalienable.
Source: Wounded By Love, p 100

Elder Porphyrios Teaching the Jesus Prayer.

This is a story one of the spiritual children of Elder Porphyrios told about how he taught
them to pray.
He placed us towards the east, two of us to his left and two to the right, with him in the
middle. Now well pray noetically. first, I will say the words, and you will repeat them.
But be careful, without anxiety or force, youll say the words calmly, humbly, with love
and sweetness. The Elder started off with his fine, delicate and eloquent voice, Lord
Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. He said it very slowly, word by word, without forcing it
at all. It was a though he had Christ before and he was begging him, with a log pause
after the word Christ, Coloring his words have mercy on me with an entreating tone.
And we repeated it each time, trying to imitate his stance, the color of his voice and if it
at all possible his spiritual disposition. At some point, the Elder stopped saying the
prayer out loud and just continued whispering it on his lips. We did the same thing. How

long did our night-time prayer take? I dont remember. All I remember was that the
Elder imparted an emotion to us that I cannot express with human words.
More on Jesus Prayer....
Reference, With Elder Porphyrios, by C. Yiannitsiotis, p 55

Once a monk from the Holy Mountain who practices the Jesus prayer visited Elder
Porphyrios and inquired about how he said the Jesus prayer. Here is the dialogue that
took place:
"How do you say the Jesus Prayer? Do you sit on a stool? Do you lower your head and
concentrate?"
"No, " I replied. "I say, 'Lord Jesus Christ...' clearly in my mind giving attention to the
words. 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me... Lord Jesus...' That is how I do it in my
mind and pay attention to the words."
"That's not right at all, Elder," he said. "The way you describe it is quite erroneous, not
to say deluded. The mind needs to be in the heart. That is why it's called 'prayer of the
heart.'"
"I'll tell you something else," I said to him. "Sometimes when I would be facing some
temptation, I would bring into my mind the image of the Christ on the cross with his
transfixed hands and feet dripping with blood and with the crown of thorns piercing his
brow and with myself kneeling before him and saying to Him, 'Lord Jesus Christ, have
mercy on me'."
"And you didn't bring your mind into your heart?" he interrupted.
"No." I replied.
"You are deluded," he said to me. "The mind must be in the heart. That's why it's called
'prayer of the heart.' Delusion!"
He got up to leave.
"Elder!", I said to him. "Listen and I'll tell you something. When I am repeating the
prayer in my mind, sometimes my joy becomes more and more intense. And when my
joy becomes ever stronger with the words, "Lord Jesus Christ...", I feel my mind leaping
within me along with my heart. That is, I feel my mind plummeting into my heart and
there I experience all this joy as I say the prayer. I begin with the mind and then my
mind moves on its own when when joy comes."
"So that's how you pray! That indeed is the way!" he said to me. "Forgive me for saying
'delusion'."

Why are our prayers not heard?

Our prayers are not heard because we are not worthy.

Elder Porphyrios tells us that "
murmuring against your neighbor affects your soul and you are unable to pray." We
must make ourselves worthy for prayer he advises us. And our unworthiness comes
from our inability to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Jesus says,
If you bring your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother holds
something against you leave your gift before the altar and go first to be reconciled with
your brother and then offer your gift. Matt. 5:23 - 4
True prayer is not easy. It is based on a close relationship with God. It requires a selfgiving to God and His will.

Elder Porphyrios says,

Those who desire and crave to belong to Christ and who abandon themselves tot he will
of God become worthy.
This is the greatest spiritual challenge to give up our will and submit it to God's will. It is
a necessity to be able to keep all of His commandments. This is the sign of our love of
God.
Jesus says,
He who has my commandments and keeps them, he is the one who loves me; and he
who loves me shall be loved by my Father and I will love him and will manifest myself to
him. John 14:21
To be in union with God takes great effort on our part.
The Elder says:We have to wrestle with the roaring lion.
More on Orthodox Prayer
Reference: Wounded by Love, p 116

What Should We Ask For In Our Prayers?

Elder Porphyrios says we should not ask in our prayer for something like "free me from
illness" or "solve my problem". What we should ask for is for His support and strength
to deal with what we are given in life. It is natural for us to ask God for what we want.
But this is self centered. Do we know what it is that God wants?
Elder Porphyrios says,
We shouldn't continue relentlessly in order to acquire what we want; rather we should
leave all things to the will of God. What happens when we peruse what we want? These
always increase and we are never satisfied with what we have. The more we chase after
these wants the more elusive they become. If we pray for good grades next we will ask
for a good job. Then it will be for a better job and so forth.
What should we ask for in our prayer?
The Elder says,
In our prayer we should ask only for the salvation of our soul.... The secret is to ask for
your union with Christ with utter selflessness, without saying "give me this" or "give me
that."... We should ask for the will of God to be done.
The enemy is our egoism.

Through Prayer We Unite our Mind With God

To be able to have our mind continually turned towards God in love we must pray and
meditate on His words. Elder Porphyrios advises that prayer is not based on our effort. It
is only done with the Holy Spirit. He says, In human prayer effort represents only a
time millionth part.

He says we need to have the proper surroundings

The reading of Scripture, the singing of psalms, the light of an oil lamp, and the
fragrance of incense all create the appropriate atmosphere so that everything happens
naturally, in simplicity of heart.
It is important to create a quiet place in our homes for our daily prayer.
He advises us to pray for the divine light to shine within us to open our spiritual eyes to
understand His divine words. To pray the words, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us,
we need divine eros, he says.
Love is sufficient to bring us into a suitable frame of mind for prayer. Christ will come on
His own and He will stoop over our soul as long as he finds certain little things which
gratify Him: good intention, humility and love.
There are some preconditions for this to take place. He advises,
Our heart must be pure and free from all impediments. It must be devoid of hatred,
egotism and malice. We must love His and He must love us. the secret is to ask for
forgiveness.
The message is always the same. Love. Love God with all your heart and you will
receive His grace. You will have a pure heart and your mind will be suitable for prayer.
No effort will be needed.
More on Orthodox Prayer....
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 113 - 115

Reference: Wounded By Love, p 117

In Prayer What Is Meant By "Simplicity of Heart"?

Be mindful of the Lord in goodness and seek Him in simplicity of heart; for He is found
with those who do not tempt Him, and appears to those who are not unfaithful to him.
Wisdom 1:1 - 2

Elder Porphyrios tells a story about a converstion on prayer he had with a visiting Bishop.
He asked the Bishop, "What is meant by praying 'in simplicity of heart and artlessness?'"
The Bishop replied, "Praying with simplicity."
The elder then asked, "And do you understand what that means, your Emenince?"
He responded, "Yes I do."
The Elder then said, "Well, I don't. It is a mystery. It's something that happens only with
divine grace."
The Bishop replied, "You are quite right. I don't understand either. An I'm grateful to you
for reminding me that simplicity and artlessness can only be understood and achieved
though divine grace."
The lesson is that true prayer cannot be gained by any external set of rules or method.
It only comes based on a humble loving relationship with God. Prayer is mystical and
comes with grace.

The Elder tells us,

Simplicity and gentleness are a very saintly mode of spiritual life, but you cannot learn
this in an external way. It must suffuse itself mystically within you so that your soul
embraces this mode of life through the grace of God.
Reference: Wounded By Love, p 118

Porphyrios' Advice on the Jesus Prayer

Elder Porphyrios teaches that the prayer of the heart is for those who have already
attracted the grace of God.

He warns,
I mustn't be done with the thought. "I'll learn it, I'll so it, I'll acquire it", because in this
way we may be led to egoism and pride.
This is the serious danger for those who set out to practice the Jesus Prayer to seek the
divine light of God. They apply it like an external method. It is their ego acting, their
self will seeking some kind of pleasure from God. This will most likely result in only
increasing ones pride and will attract much assistance from the devil. You may
experience visions and lights which encourage you on your quest. Meanwhile your
relationships with others will worsen. You we be seen as aloof and impatient. It is a very
dangerous situation.
Elder Porphyrios says,
Not only experience and genuine desire, but also wisdom, care and prudence are
required if our prayer is to pure and pleasing to God.
Reference: Wounded By Love, p. 121

How to Pray the Jesus Prayer

Elder Porphyrios gives us some instruction on prayer using the Jesus Prayer.
He says,
Prayer should be interior, prayed with the mind and not with the lips, so as not to cause
distraction witht he mind wandering here and there. Let us bring Christ into our mind in
an unforced manner by repeating very gently, 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.'
don't think anything except the words, 'Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.' Nothing
else. Nothing at all. Calmly, with open eyes, so that you are not in danger of succumbing
to fantasies and delusions, and with care and devotion, turn towards Christ. Repeat the
prayer in an unforced manner and not continually, but when there is the disposition and
an atmosphere of compunction which is a gift of divine grace. Without grace you fall into
a state of self-hynotism and you can end up seeing lights and delusions and become
mentally deranged.
Prayer should not be seen as a chore or an obligation but rather an act of love. There is
no need for techniques such as a stool, bowing the head or closing the eyes. True prayer
is not dependent on anything external.
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 121-122

A Spiritual Guide is a Must for Practicing the Jesus Prayer

Why is a guide necessary? Because you can easily be lead astray. In prayer, you may
experience visions or lights which are demonic and lead you to pride. A guide can help
you deal with such such experiences. He can help you avoid being trapped by your pride
and self will. He can guide you in a progressive way, growing step by step to the stage
where you will see the true light.

Elder Porphyrios speaks of the danger of delusion,

And if in this spiritual dimension desire is enkindled, not by your good self, but by the
other self, the egotistical self, then undoubtably you will begin to experience a pseudojoy. But in your outward life you will be ever more aggressive and irascible, more quicktempered and fretful. These are the signs of a person who is deluded.
A guide must be a person who is experienced in the prayer of the heart. It cannot be
someone who prays mechanically and has not experienced prayer with the grace of God.
Such a person will only be able to tell you what he has read in books.
A spiritual guide will keep you out of danger of delusion.
The Elder advises,
This is the teaching. We say that prayer cannot be taught, but in point of fact it can be
taught when you live with someone who truly prays. When you take a book about prayer
and read it, it may be that you don't understand anything. But when you have an elder
next to you who prays, whatever he tells you about prayer you understand and take to
heart.
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 124 - 126

Pray with Love and Yearning

When we pray we must pray with love and yearning. Through prayer our soul is filled
with divine love.
Elder Porphyrios says,

Lord Jesus Christ Have Mercy On Me

Pray to God with love and yearning. And when you repeat the prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ,
have mercy on me." Say it slowly, humbly, gently and with divine love. Pronounce the
name of Christ with sweetness. Say the words one at a time:
"Lord...Jesus...Christ...have mercy on me," smoothly, tenderly, affectionally, silently,
secretly, mystically, but with exaltation, with longing, with passion, without tension,
force of unbecoming emphasis, without compulsion and pressure. In the way a mother
speaks to the child she lovesL "my little boy...me darling girl...my little Johnny...my
sweet Mary!"
This prayer will lead you to silence. Gradually the words are lost. The soul prefers
silence. There comes a time of true prayer where there is nothing but silence. And as
the Elder says, "The flood of divine love fills the soul with joy and exultation."

Reference: Wounded by Love, p 127

Praying for Others

What are we to pray for? We should pray for "the Church, for the world, for everyone,"
says Elder Porphyrios. We cannot just pray for ourselves. We must have a strong desire
for the world to become sanctified.
When we are suffering or in need, we should ask others to pray for us. When we all pray
with faith and love seeking God's help He intervenes and this is when miracles happen.
Elder Porphyrios speaks to prayer for others.
Prayer for others which is made gently and with deep love is selfless and has great
spiritual benefit. It brings grace to the person who prays and also to the person for
whom he is praying. When you have great love and this love moves you to prayer, then
the waves of love are transmitted and affect the person for whom you are praying and
you create around him a shield of protection and you influence him, you lead him
towards what is good. When He sees your efforts, God bestows His grace abundantly on
both you and on the person you are praying for.
He then adds,
But we must die to ourselves. Do you understand?
We cannot pray properly without humility. This is essential. Our own wisdom is never
sufficient. The personal advice we give to others is not the secret. In prayer we seek
God's grace. His grace comforts and heals.
The Elder says,
The secret lies in our devotion, our prayer to God for what is best for our brethren to
come about through the grace of God. That is the best. What we are unable to do will
be done through His grace.
Pray always, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy."
Reference: Wounded By Love, p 132

We Become a Holy Person Through Love

It is through the Holy Spirit that we are taught about spiritual matters. Jesus told His
disciples,
When the Holy spirit will come, it will teach you all things

(John 14:26).

It is the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us. What we need to be seeking is to be filled with the
Holy Spirit, and when we are, we become incapable of sin. All our efforts will then be
done with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit. The virtues will come naturally.
Saint Theophan the Recluse tells us,
When the spiritual needs are met, they teach a person to harmonize with those needs
the satisfaction of the other needs, so that neither the needs of the intellect nor the
needs of the body interfere with the spiritual life, but, instead, aid it. Then within a
person is established complete harmony of all motions and revelations of his life.
Elder Porphyrios shows us how this is gained through the love of God. He says,

We must become filled, replete with the Holy Spirit. This is where the essence of
spiritual life lies. This is an artthe art of arts. Let us open our arms and throw
ourselves into Christs embrace.
We need to approach Christ just like we willingly, with a joyful heart, join with a loved
one who approaches us with open arms for an embrace. It is a self-giving, a surrender, a
joy-filled submission to His love. Once we are willing to accept His love without any
conditions, the Holy Spirit will visit us and embrace us in Gods love.
Elder Porphyrios says,
There is one thing we must do, and that is turn to Him and love Him with our soul. Love
for Christ: this is the best and sole remedy for the passions.
Reference: Wounded With Love, p 134

Focus on Love of Christ, Not on Rooting Out Evil

The way of Love taught by Eder Porphyrios avoids directly attacking evil. It is through an
exclusive focus on our love for Christ that evil is defeated and not by our efforts. To do
otherwise invites struggle and much effort.
Elder Porphyrios says,
If evil comes to assault you, turn all you inner strength to good, to Christ. Pray, Lord
Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
This the meaning of what Jesus taught when He told His disciples to turn the other
cheek when confronted with evil.
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one
cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from
taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to
you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Luke 6:27-31
By giving your heart totally to God there is no room for anything else. There is no need
to try and attain virtue or fight off evil. God will give you the needed virtues. Just fill
your heart and mind with love for God.
The Elder says,
Love Him simply and humbly, without any demand, and He Himself will free you.
Reference: Wounded by Love, p 135

The Way of Love is the Easiest Path

Elder Porphyrios emphasizes that there are two paths we can take. One is very hard and
the other easy. The difficult path is to fight against evil and the easy way is the path of
love. How do we nurture this love for God?
Edler Porphyrios says,
The Soul is sanctified and purified through the study of the words of the Fathers,
through the memorization of the psalms and of portions of Scripture, through the
singing of hymns and through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer.
He suggests that we read the holy books of the Church with joy. The Book of the Eight
Tones, the Psalter, the books with the offices for the feasts and the daily saint
commemorations. The lives of the saints give us examples of people who gave their lives
entirely to Christ and became true lovers with God. We can take delight in their

achievements and imitate them. They began their lives just like us. We have the same
opportunity to become sanctified like them.
We should undertake this study, as with all things in our life, with great attention. The
Elder advises us to look up each word in the dictionary and read clearly understanding
the meaning of every word.
This is the easy way he tells us. All one needs to do is to do these things and ignore
other things.
He says that the kind of effort necessary is,
To study and pray and have your aim to advance in the love of God and of the Church.
The object is not to sit and afflict and constrict yourself in order to improve. The object is
to live, study, to pray and to advance in lovein love for Christ and for the Church.
This is a very practical way in today's busy life. Don't aggravate yourself with fighting
the evil, but concentrate on your own study and prayer until this love for God is always
at the forefront of your mind and heart. Simply set aside time for daily study and prayer
with emphasis on the use of the Jesus Prayer. Then when you face difficulties God will
be the first thought you have and your love for Him will bring you divine grace. Then
you will act with the support of the Holy Spirit.
More on Jesus Prayer...
Reference: Wounded by Love, pp135-136

Dont Struggle Directly With Temptations - Maintain Calmness and

Simplicity
The Way of Love involves uniting ourselves with Christ. Our efforts should be continually
focused on how we will be united with Him and keep Him continually in our heart. Our
love for Christ is what must dominate both our mind and heart.
Elder Porphyrios says
What is holy and beautiful and what gladdens the heart and frees the soul from every
evil is the effort to unite yourself to Christ, to love Christ, to crave for Christ and to live
in Christ, just as Saint Paul said, It is no longer I who live, Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20).
He advises us to make our struggle with calmness and simplicity. We dont gain by
forcing ourselves to be good or forcing ourselves to pray. We need to do things naturally
and calmly. We need to do them because of our love of Christ. With love there is no need
for forcing. When we love Christ we enthusiastically long for time in prayer and to
participate in the Divine Liturgy and the Sacrament of Holy Communion and Confession.
Likewise when we love God we should not struggle with temptations. When we do we
only acknowledge the strength of the temptation and it gains control in you. When
temptations arise focus on your love of God instead of attacking. When our mind is filled
with Love of Christ there is no room to entertain temptations.
He says,
Let all your strength be turned to love for God, worship of God and adhesion to God.
As we study the hymns and psalms, when we pray, devoting ourselves to love of Christ,
we receive grace and are able to combat temptations with ease. The challenge is to keep
our mind focused on our heart which contains our insatiable love of Christ.
Reference: Wounded By Love, p 137

The Way of Love Requires Simplicity and Meekness

We should do everything simply and meekly.
This means that our spiritual labor must be done in secret. Our effort should never be
discerned by others or even ourselves. Jesus says, Dont let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing (Matt 6:3). As we grow spiritually, in the Way of Love, we leave
behind our old self that questions everything and we surrender in love to Christ. We
become a new person in Christ. We dont want the old self to know and then distract us.
In this sense we keep our efforts a secret even to ourselves. We endlessly, privately,
seek union with our lover, God.
He says,
The whole secret lies in simplicity and meekness. When simplicity is lacking and you say,
I'll do this, that and the other, and God will give me what I ask for," then nothing
happens. Yes, indeed, I should do this, that and the other, but with such secrecy and
such simplicity and such meekness that even I who ask for the thing am unconscious of
it.
Simplicity means doing everything without any ulterior motivation.
He says,
Dont say Ill do this in order to have that result, but do it naturally, without taking
cognizance of it. That is pray simply and dont think about what God will bestow on your
soul. Good heartedness and simplicity attract the grace of God, they are preconditions
for God to come and make his abode in us.
A lesson from Scripture:
Love righteousness, you that judge the earth: be mindful of the Lord in goodness and
seek Him in simplicity of heart; for He is found with those who do not tempt Him , and
appears to those who are not unfaithful to Him; devious thoughts separate from God,
and His power, when it is tested, reproves the unwise; for wisdom shall not enter into an
evil-crafted soul, nor dwell in a body that is mortgaged to sin. (Wisdom 1:1-4)
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 138-139

The Way of Love Demands Constant Vigilance

Elder Porphyrios tells us that vigilance is passionate love, an intense yearning for Christ.
When we are vigilant we are careful about everything we do. We avoid laziness, we
make efficient use of our efforts, and seek to do all things in ways that lead to more
harmony. We pay attention to the details of things, even the way we may open the latch
on a gate (This is an example the Elder uses).
This effort must be constant and careful. You need to pay attention to your soul. The
more you seek God the more vigilant you become.
It is with constant vigilance that we enter the spiritual world.
He says,

You will acquire remembrance of God though prayer Lord Jesus Christ through the
prayers of the church, through the hymns and though bringing to mind the acts of God
and recalling passages from Holy scripture and from other spiritual books.
We experience Christ and we take off! We feel great joy and have wondrous spiritual
experiences. Then we gradually become captives of good, captives of Christ. And when
you become captive of good, you cannot speak evil, you cannot hate and you cannot tell
lies They cannot enter when your room is full of your aether-borne spiritual friendsI
mean the angels, the saints, the martyrs and above all Christ.

Reference: Wounded By Love, p 141

How to Deal with Evil in the Way of Love

What do we do when we are bothered by a seductive thought or a temptation?
First of all, dont be afraid. Second, do not attempt to expel it. The important thing is to
turn your attention to Christ.
The simplest way to do this is by making the sign of the Cross.
Elder Porphyrios says,
The most important weapon to use against the devil is the Holy Cross, of which he is
terrified. communication with the Christ, when it takes place simply and naturally
without force, makes the devil flee.
Also as you make your Cross say the words Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
The Elder says,
This is our method. We will raise our arms to Christ and He will give us grace.
This the same approach as given to us by Saint Neilos the Ascetic.
Whenever a temptation comes to you, or a dispute excites you, either to express at once
anger towards your adversary or to utter a senseless cry, remember prayer and the
judgment concerning it, and at once the disorderly movement in you will subside. (The
Philokalia vol 2, trans. Constantine Cavarnos, p65)

What we are doing is showing contempt for evil.

Reference: Wounded By Love, p 149 -151

Does Way of Love Require Ascetic Exercises?

In the way of love one must overcome their ego-centeredness and become humble.
Elder Porphyrios says of humility,
Complete trust in Godthat is what holy humility is. Complete obedience to God,
without protest, without reaction, even when some things seem difficult. Abandonment
of the hands to God.
Ascetic practices are important in this effort. Elder Porphyrios himself engaged in
ongoing ascetic practices. He did so with enthusiasm and with a love for Christ. He had a
most passionate desire to be united with Christ that all his efforts were effortless. From
an early age he learned the beauty of obedience and overcame self-centeredness. Even
though he was given incredible powers by the Holy Spirit, never did he use them for
personal gain. He was always able to turn his will to the love of God and obediently
follow the Way of Love.

He says,
No one can ascend to spirituality without exercising himself. These things must be done.
Ascetic exercises are such things as prostrations, vigils, and so on, but done without
force. All are done with joy. What is important is not the prostrations we will make or
the prayers, but the act of self-giving, the passionate love for Christ and for spiritual
things.
So the Church in Her wisdom provides us with regular guidelines for such activities:
fasting, daily prayer and so forth. When we follow the way of Love we eagerly join in
these practices with joy because we love Him.
Reference: Wounded By Love, p 156

Love of Christ is Love of the Church

Christ created the Church on earth as His body with Him as the head. To love Christ is to
love His Church. Elder Porphyrios says the Church is exactly the same as Paradise in
heaven. All souls are one in His Church.
Elder Porphyrios says
Love, worship of and craving for God, the union with Christ and with the Church is
Paradise on earth.
The services of the Church are the way we can express our love for Him and He His love
for us.
He says,
The divine services of the Church are words in which we converse and speak to God with
our worship and with our love. The hours spent closest to paradise are the hours spent
in the church together with all our brethren when we celebrate the divine Liturgy, when
we sin and when we receive Holy communion.
How do we show our passion for Him? When we love Christ we enthusiastically observe
the formal aspects of the church, the services, and are eager to participate in the
sacraments especially the sacrament of Holy Communion. We enthusiastically come to
church to express our love for our lover.
He says,
The divine services are a very great affair. The precondition is for everything to be done
with eros, with interest and with a sincere disposition to worship Christ--not as a chore
and not perfunctorily, but with eros and divine enthusiasm.
Worship must spring from the whole soul and whole heart. What does this mean? Your
only thought must be God It is not something that is done under duress. You feel a
spiritual delight and pleasure. Its not like the homework a child does for school. It is like
the passionate love between people, but higher and spiritual.
Above all, the sacrament of Holy Communion is an act of Divine Love. This is an act of
joining in ecstatic union with Him.
Elder Ephriam of Arizona writes about the splendor of the Divine Liturgy.
The Divine Liturgy, what a splendor indeed! Man has been honored by God in such a way
that He Himself comes down to earth with His Angelic Orders every time there is a
Liturgy, in order to nurture man with His Most Holy Body and His Most Precious Blood!
For He has given us everything. Is there anything physical or spiritual, perishable or
everlasting, that has not been offered to us? None! Is there anything superior to His
Most Holy Body and Blood, which is given to us on a daily basis? There is certainly not.
God has enabled man, who is full of soil and dirt, to serve the Divine Liturgy. So

priceless is the Divine Love that just a tiny drop exceeds any earthly, physical and
secular love.
The Orthodox faith is all about Love.
Elder Porphyrios says,
Our religion is love, it is eros, it is enthusiasm, it is madness, it is longing for the divine.
All these things are within us. Our soul demands that we attain them.
More on the Divine Liturgy
Reference: Wounded by Love, pp 90, 92, 165, 166

Love for Christ is Insatiable

Seeking Christ is the highest of goals in our Orthodox faith. There is nothing higher.
Elder Porphyrios says, He is the summit of desire. What does this mean? Simply that
there is no other desire that can compare to this. There is no greater joy than this loving
relationship with Christ. It brings joy with no limits. He says the love for Christ is
without end, without satiety.
When we think of love in our worldly relationships, we know that it peaks and ebbs.
Many are afraid to give their love for fear that it may be taken away later. Many have
experienced intense disappointment in their lives because of a broken relationship that
started with passionate love. On a human scale love comes and goes. Who we love today
may be different than who we love tomorrow. But divine love is different. It has no end.
It continually grows and deepens, the Elder tells us. Worldly love, however, can end in
despair. When we lose a lover it hurts and we suffer. But divine eros raises us up to the
sphere of God it bestows serenity, joy and fullness. This kind of pleasure and joy that
comes from the divine is the kind we can never have enough of. It is something we
never tire of.
With love of God, we eagerly engage in fasts, we desire to pray, and we make
prostrations as expression of our love. Yet, we are never satisfied. The more we
experience the love of Christ, the more we desire to be with Him.
Saint Augustine writes about this in his Soliloquies,
I love You, Lord my God, and I desire to love you ever more intensely. For You are truly
sweeter than any honey, more wholesome than any milk and brighter than any light; for
me You are infinitely more precious than gold or silver or precious stones O love that is
ever boiling over and never cooled! Consume me with your heat! I shall love You, Lord,
because You first loved me. And where shall I find words sufficient to describe all the
signs of Your greatest love for me? You flooded me with the light of Your countenance
and set Your glory as a sign above the door of my heart (Chap 19)
Elder Porphyrios says the Way of Love requires an Orthodox spirit which is a giving of
your heart totally to God.
The more you give yourself to the love of Christ, the more you want to give yourself. We
must love Him with all our soul, heart, strength, power and mind. We must plug our
heart into His love and be united with Him.
As we pursue the Way of Love we come to a point where we are united with Christ. It is
at this point that satiety ceases. This is called theosis. We find ourselves in union with
God and bathed in His light. We know then that nothing will ever again separate us.
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 160 - 162

Love for God and Love for Neighbor Go Together

Everything we do needs to be done with love. Elder Porphyrios says, Love towards ones
brother cultivates love towards God.
The is the second commandment Christ gave us.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You
shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt 22:37-39)
Jesus also told us,
For the person who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God
whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)
In all our actions with others we must act with love.
The Elder says,
Whatever we do, whether it is prayer or offering advice or pointing out some error, let
us do it with love. Without love prayer is of no benefit, advice is hurtful and pointing out
errors is harmful and destructive to the other person who senses whether we love him or
not and reacts accordingly. Love, love, love! Love for our brother prepares us to love
Christ more.

Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 180 - 181

How Can We Love When Someone Harms Us?

First, we should never expect others to speak to us politely. This expectation is an egocentric trait of ours. We need to let other speak as they wish . Elder Porphyrios says, we
shouldnt become beggars for love. Our aim should be to love them and pray for them
with all our soul.
But what do we do when someone injures us with slanders or insults. This is a difficult
teaching. Here is how Elder Porphyrios approaches it.
When someone injures us in whatever way, whether with slander or with insults, we
should think of him as our brother who has been taken hold of by the enemy. We need
to have compassion for him and entreat God to have mercy both on us and on him A
person who condemns others does not love Christ. Our egoism is at fault.
He gives us an example:
Lets suppose someone is all alone in the desert. Suddenly he hears a voice crying out in
distress in the distance. He follows the sound and is confronted by a horrendous sight: a
tiger has grabbed hold of a man and is savaging him with his claws. The man is
desperately shouting for help. In a few minutes he will be torn to pieces. What can the
person do to help? Can he run to his side? How? It is impossible. Can he shout for help?
Who will hear him? There is no one within earshot. Should he perhaps pick up a stone
and throw it at the man to finish him off? Certainly not, we would say. But . We fail that
is exactly what can happen if we dont realize that the other person who is acting badly
towards us has been taken hold of by a tiger, the devilto realize that when we react to
such a person without love it is as if we are throwing stones at his wounds and
accordingly we are doing him great harm and the tiger leaps onto us and we to the
same as him and worse. What kind of love do we have then for our neighbor and even
more importantly, for God?.. We should regard our brethren with sympathy and behave

with courtesy towards them, repeating in our hearts with simplicity the prayer, Lord
Jesus Christ, so that the grace of God may strengthen our soul and so that we don't
pass judgment on anyone.
Our task when we are injured and we see an vice in another person is to inundate him or
her with the grace of God and have the upmost compassion so he or she may be
healed.
In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This is what is
written in the Law and in the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 182 - 183

Saint Symeon the New Theologian: Love for Others - We are One
This message from Saint Symeon the New Theologian was hanging on the cell wall of
Elder Porphyrios . He would hand out a copy of this to his guests. Elder Porphyrios
consistently taught that we should love others as if we see them as ourselves .

We need to regard all the faithful as one and think that each one of them is
Christ. We need to have such love for each individual that we are ready to
sacrifice our very life for him. Because we ought never to say or think that any
person is evil, but rather to regard all as good. And if you see a brother
troubled by passions, do not hate him. Hate rather the passions that are
assailing him. And if you see that he is being tormented by desires and habits
from former sins, have even greater compassion on him, lest you also fall into
temptation, since you are made of matter that easily turns from good to evil.
Love for your brother prepares you to love God more. Accordingly, the secret of
love for God is love for your brother. Because if you dont love your brother
whom you see, how can you possible love God whom you dont see?
He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God
whom he has not see? (1 John 4:20)
Words of Saint Symeon the New Theologian interspersed with Elder Porphyrioss own words from One Hundred
Theological and Practical Chapters, of Saint Symeon.

Reference: Wounded By Love, p 183 - 184

Spread Love Without Expecting Any Return

Love must be unconditional. We should not expect to gain anything from our love of God
or others.

Elder Porphyrios tells us that God shows us what unconditional love is.
Love needs to be sincere. And only the love of God is sincere love. To a person whom we
find tiresome and troublesome, love needs to be offered in a subtle manner without the
person being aware that we are striving to love him. It shouldnt be given much outward
expression, because then the person will react. Silence saves us from all evils. Restraint
of the tongue is a great thing. In a mystical way silence radiates out to our neighbor.
So often our good intention seem to cause further conflict. Try patience, silence and a
smile. Overcoming troublesome relationships takes time. It's a matter of the heart and
our rational discourse is frequently not useful. Kindness, a smile and stillness or
calmness in a persons presence can break down barriers that seem insurmountable.
The Elder advises,
We, with our love, with our fervent desire for the love of God, will attract grace so that it
washes over those around us and awakens them to divine love.
Our focus must always be on our love of Christ. This is the condition for His grace to flow
though us.
He says,
To benefit others you must live in the love of God, otherwise you are unable to do good
to your fellowman. You mustn't pressurize the other person. His time will come, as long
as you pray for him. With silence, tolerance and above all by prayer we benefit others in
a mystical way.
Reference: Wounded by Love, pp 184-186

To Love Christ is to Be a Zealot but Not Fanatical

Elder Porpyrios asks us all to become zealots. He says,
A zealot is a person who loves Christ with all his soul and who serves his fellow men in
Christs name. Love for God and for our neighbor; they go together and cannot be
divorced. Passion, yearning and tears along with contrition, not for a purpose, but all as
an overflowing of the heart!
This idea of being a zealot has nothing to do with being fanatical. Its about being a true
Christian who withholds quick judgments about others and initially responds always with
love. This applies to those of other religions. It seems in todays internet environment it
is common to condemn almost anyone. Orthodox attack Muslims and even Catholics.
And the political dialogue is outrageous and filled with hatred often spewed by clergy.
The Elder teaches to always be respectful of others and react with love. This often
involves our silence.
He says,
Even to a person of another religion you will always act as a Christian. that is to say, you
will show respect for him in a gracious manner irrespective of his religion. You will care
for a Muslim when he is in need, speak to him and keep company with him. There must
be respect for the freedom of the other person. Just as Christ stands at the door and
knocks ( Rev 3:20) and does not force an entry, but waits for the soul to accept Him freely
on its own, so we should stand in the the same way in relation to every soul.
Reference: Wounded By Love, pp 186-187

How to Influence Others With Love

Meekness and graciousness are terms to apply to one who practices the Way of Love. To
influence others we must show great consideration for the opinions of others. We have to
listen with understanding and compassion. We have to demonstrate we understand the
other person's viewpoint and we care. Listen, listen, listen. Do not attack or condemn
in any way. Seek to know their environment and situation. Ask yourself, "Why is it they
think this way?" Think about how you can help nurture their soul and then say it simply
with love.
Here is how Elder Porpyrios puts its,
In debates, if you say a few words about religion you will prevail. Let the person who
has a different opinion give free reign to his thoughts and speak as much as he likes
Let him sense that he is addressing himself to a calm and uncontentious person.
Influence him though your graciousness and prayer and then speak briefly. You achieve
nothing if you speak heatedly and tell him, for example, What you are saying is untrue,
a downright lie! What will you achieve? Be as sheep among wolves (Matt 10:16). What
should you do? Show indifference outwardly, but be praying inwardly. Be prepared,
know what you are talking about and speak boldly and to the point, but with saintliness,
meekness and prayer. But in order to be able to do this you must become a saint.
This last thought is an important one:
To be able to do this you must become a saint. Ask yourself, "How do I become a
saint?"
Reference: Wounded by Love, p 188

Our Heart Can Transmit Either Good or Evil

We are not always aware of the powers we have. Depending on the disposition of our
heart we can transmit either good or evil, Elder Porphyrios advises us. He warns us to be
very careful to see things with a positive view.
He says,
Even the slightest anger or indignation does harm. We need to have goodness and love
in our soul and to transmit these things.
We need to be careful not to harbor any resentment against those who harm us, but
rather to pray for them with love We need always to have thoughts of love and always
to think good of others.
He highlights for us the example of Saint Stephen. As he was being stoned to death he
prayed, Lord do not hold this sin against them. How many of us can do this? Not many,
but this is our potential with the love of God filling our mind at all times. Grace flows at
these times enabling us to act in saintly ways. Saint Stephen had this love of Christ in
his mind and heart as he was being stoned. He sets an example for us to follow.
If we pray with love for others this is also transmitted. It is important to be in touch with
this invisible power of our soul. In both good and bad, this power is transmitted over
great distances.
He says,
If we pray with love for someone, whatever the distance that separates us, the good is
transmitted. So distances do not affect the power of good and evil. We can transmit
these across boundless distances.
This is not something Elder Porphyrios is talking about in any theoretical way. After he
became a monk he was given though Gods grace the powers of clairvoyance. In his
autobiography he recounts a story of seeing his elders returning when they were on the
other side of the mountain. He could visualize water under the ground when seeking a

well for his monastery. One of his spiritual children, Constantine Yiannitsiotis, recounts
how he saw in both people and things the cause of events. In his book, With Elder
Porphyrios, he offers many examples of these powers in action. He understood the past
as well as the future.
The person who receives this gift of clairvoyance is one who loves God as Elder
Porphyrios does. Such power is an act of divine grace. The Elder gives us the
preconditions for this.
He says,
Only a person who has humility receives these gifts from God; he attributes them to God
and he uses them for His glory. The good, humble, devout man who loves God, deluded
or led astray. He feels in his heart that he is truly unworthy, and that all those things are
given to him so that he may become good, and for that reason he makes his ascetic
struggle.
Our aim must be to become holy and God may then grant us additional powers. Grace
does not come to those who are ego-centered. It comes only to those who are humble,
selfless, and love God above all else.
Reference: Wounded by Love, pp 212 - 214

Illness as the Love of Christ

Elder Porphyrios suffered many illness during his life. It was the reason he could not stay
on Mount Athos. Even though he suffered more than a normal person, he would thank
God for his illnesses.
He says,
I am in great pain, but my illness is something very beautiful. I feel it as the love of
Christ. I am given compunction and I give thanks to God. It is on account of my sins. I
an sinful and God is trying to purify me.
Normally we pray asking God to heal us, to free us from a maladies. But the Elder takes
a different course. When he was sixteen he asked God to give him a cancer so He should
suffer for His love. His elder told him to not pray in this way because it was egoism. He
didnt continue with this kind of prayer but he did receive his wish.
He says,
Now I do not pray for God to take away from me the thing I asked HIm for. I am glad
that I have it so that I can participate in His suffering through my great love.
I do not pray for God to make me well I pray for my soul, for God to forgive my
transgressions. I am not taking medicines, nor did I go for surgery, not even for tests.
The grace of God sustains me. I try to give myself to Christ, to approach Christ and to
be one with Christ
We benefit greatly from our illnesses, as long as we endure them without complaint and
glorify God, asking for His mercy
Often we do the opposite of this. Some even get angry at God for their sickness. Next
time you you are sick, think about all that God gives you and how difficult it is for you to
do all He expects of us. Try giving thanks to God for this time of humbling. Through
your contrition and thankfulness, you will receive grace so His will can be done for you.

Reference: Wounded By Love, 224 - 231