Once,
when I came to Elder Porphyrios, I saw several girls there who also wanted to
see the elder. They were dressed a little immodestly. Father Porphyrios talked
with them, touching on various spiritual issues, but he did not say a word
about how they were dressed. I confess that I was internally outraged by the
behavior of these girls. How could they come to a saintly person like this? I
was also embarrassed by the fact that the Elder did not make a single comment
to them about their clothes.
When the girls left, he smiled at me and said: "Sir Ν., I am not as strict as you." Immediately, I realized that he knows about my thoughts and my embarrassment, but I still asked:
When the girls left, he smiled at me and said: "Sir Ν., I am not as strict as you." Immediately, I realized that he knows about my thoughts and my embarrassment, but I still asked:
“Why do you say that, Geronda?”
"I did not say anything because I
have another tactic. Even if I had noticed them that their clothes were
somewhat immodest, they would not have listened to my words, because their
faith in Christ is not deep. First of all, I try to strengthen their faith in
Christ, and then they themselves will realize their mistake and will
correct."
