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Wounded by Love
I have run to the fragrance of your myrrh, O Christ God, for I have been wounded by your love; do not part from me, O heavenly Bridegroom
Elder Porphyrios, a Greek monk and priest who died in 1991, stands in the long tradition of charismatic spiritual guides in the Eastern Church which continues from the apostolic age down to figures such as Saint Seraphim of Sarov and Staretz Silouan in modern times. In this book he tells the story of his life and, in simple, deeply reflected and profoundly wise words, he expounds the Christian faith for today. The vibrant personality of Elder Porphyrios at all times shines through his words with great transparency and charm.
In his introduction to the Greek edition Bishop Irenaeus of Chania 'The words of blessed Elder Porphyrios are the words of a holy Father, of a man with the gift of clear sight, who was ever retiring, humble, simple and ardent and whose life was a true and authentic witness to Christ, to His truth and to His joy. Through his presence, love, prayer, counsel and guidance he supported an untold number of people in the difficult hours of illness, mourning, pain, loss of faith and death. He is a god-bearing Father of our days, a true priest and teacher who in his ascetic way fell in love with Christ and faithfully served his fellow man.'
This book was compiled after Elder Porphyrios's death from an archive of notes and recordings of his reminiscences, conversations and words of guidance, and was first published in Greek in 2003
Elder Porphyrios, a Greek monk and priest who died in 1991, stands in the long tradition of charismatic spiritual guides in the Eastern Church which continues from the apostolic age down to figures such as Saint Seraphim of Sarov and Staretz Silouan in modern times. In this book he tells the story of his life and, in simple, deeply reflected and profoundly wise words, he expounds the Christian faith for today. The vibrant personality of Elder Porphyrios at all times shines through his words with great transparency and charm.
In his introduction to the Greek edition Bishop Irenaeus of Chania 'The words of blessed Elder Porphyrios are the words of a holy Father, of a man with the gift of clear sight, who was ever retiring, humble, simple and ardent and whose life was a true and authentic witness to Christ, to His truth and to His joy. Through his presence, love, prayer, counsel and guidance he supported an untold number of people in the difficult hours of illness, mourning, pain, loss of faith and death. He is a god-bearing Father of our days, a true priest and teacher who in his ascetic way fell in love with Christ and faithfully served his fellow man.'
This book was compiled after Elder Porphyrios's death from an archive of notes and recordings of his reminiscences, conversations and words of guidance, and was first published in Greek in 2003
254 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
236 people are currently reading
2309 people want to read
About the author
Elder Porphyrios
12 books51 followersElder Porphyrios was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment. He was born in the little village of St. John Karystia, in the province of Evia. His parents, Leonidas and Eleni Bairaktaris (daughter of Antonios Lambrou), christened him Evangelos. He was fourth out of five siblings. Only his youngest sister is still alive and is a nun.
Elder Porphyrios became a monk at the age or fourteen of fifteen and was tonsured with his monastic name of Nikitas. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the Holy Mountain, he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the priesthood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital chaplain in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970).
His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same cell which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon.
Through his role as spiritual father, Elder Porphyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published.
He has left behind Elder Damaskinos, his disciple from 1969, who reviews much of the published works about the elder.
Elder Porphyrios became a monk at the age or fourteen of fifteen and was tonsured with his monastic name of Nikitas. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the Holy Mountain, he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the priesthood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital chaplain in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970).
His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior. After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same cell which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon.
Through his role as spiritual father, Elder Porphyrios became known to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published.
He has left behind Elder Damaskinos, his disciple from 1969, who reviews much of the published works about the elder.
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June 10, 2021
To my mind, so far, in my walk as an Orthodox Christian, there have been many positive influences, but four come to mind most prominently: St. Paisios, Bishop Kallistos Ware, Fr. Seraphim Rose; and the author of this book, St. Porphyrios.
This book opens with his biography which is an unusual one. At age 12, he knew he wanted to become a monk, and pursued that dream, being granted admission as a novice to the Orthodox monastic community of Mt. Athos, despite being below the normal age for acceptance. I find it amazing that he had such a burning desire at such a young age --- and that, despite the ascetic rigors of life on the Holy Mountain, he stayed with it, eventually becoming a priest-monk. From there, he sought appointment as priest to a leper colony, but was rejected in favor of another candidate. [That itself an amazing mentality --- being in a community in which there's competition to serve in a leper colony, something that most in society would loathe or fear]. Instead, Porphyrios became priest to a hospital in which proved a model of compassion and spiritual guidance.
Many of his writings reminded me, in tone, of St. John the Evangelist, particularly in his epistles in the New Testament. Throughout he constantly emphasizes the role of love --- love for God as well as for our human beings created in the image of God. In one of his discussions on spiritual struggle, he mentions that there are 2 paths that lead to God: one with hard and debilitating struggles and wrestling with evil; and the other, "the easy path with love". At first, I bridled at this --- how can you not struggle with evil and temptations and appetites as a Christian? But his point is this: you cannot be rid of darkness by only punching at it and thrashing the darkness --- you can rid all of it simply with one beam of light --- and that "light" filling one's life with the love of God --- by prayer, reading the Psalms, being with God's people, participating in the life of the Church, by helping others --- by using these as means by which to grow in love for God and experience His divine grace. You cannot eliminate a dark void by creating more of them. Instead, Porphyrios seems to say, fill that void with good things -- with light -- with pure love.
As is the case with almost every other writing by Orthodox elders, Porphyrios also throughout emphasized the roles of humility, obedience to a spiritual father within the Church, repentance, confession, and prayer as vital to the growth of an Orthodox Christian.
As part of this emphasis on prayer, Porphyrios goes into how to pray and what one ought to pray about. "Pray for the Church, the world, for everyone." From there, he expounds in greater detail.
One issue that has been controversial both theologically and/or philosophically for millenia both in Christianity and those outside is reconciling the foreknowledge of God with the free will of man. If God foreknows, for example, that a man will murder, --- some might say, didn't He preordain that man to be a murderer? In which case, how can that man really be accountable for freely willing to murder? It's a paradox that has confounded many. In his chapter "Divine Providence", St. Porphyrios does about the best job as anyone I've read in decades of reconciling these two concepts in a way that makes sense.
A fascinating book full of wisdom. It's made me rethink a number of things about how I go about my life in Christ. I recommend this book to any Christian desiring to learn ways of growing closer to God and seeking to rethink their Christian journey through this life.
This book opens with his biography which is an unusual one. At age 12, he knew he wanted to become a monk, and pursued that dream, being granted admission as a novice to the Orthodox monastic community of Mt. Athos, despite being below the normal age for acceptance. I find it amazing that he had such a burning desire at such a young age --- and that, despite the ascetic rigors of life on the Holy Mountain, he stayed with it, eventually becoming a priest-monk. From there, he sought appointment as priest to a leper colony, but was rejected in favor of another candidate. [That itself an amazing mentality --- being in a community in which there's competition to serve in a leper colony, something that most in society would loathe or fear]. Instead, Porphyrios became priest to a hospital in which proved a model of compassion and spiritual guidance.
Many of his writings reminded me, in tone, of St. John the Evangelist, particularly in his epistles in the New Testament. Throughout he constantly emphasizes the role of love --- love for God as well as for our human beings created in the image of God. In one of his discussions on spiritual struggle, he mentions that there are 2 paths that lead to God: one with hard and debilitating struggles and wrestling with evil; and the other, "the easy path with love". At first, I bridled at this --- how can you not struggle with evil and temptations and appetites as a Christian? But his point is this: you cannot be rid of darkness by only punching at it and thrashing the darkness --- you can rid all of it simply with one beam of light --- and that "light" filling one's life with the love of God --- by prayer, reading the Psalms, being with God's people, participating in the life of the Church, by helping others --- by using these as means by which to grow in love for God and experience His divine grace. You cannot eliminate a dark void by creating more of them. Instead, Porphyrios seems to say, fill that void with good things -- with light -- with pure love.
As is the case with almost every other writing by Orthodox elders, Porphyrios also throughout emphasized the roles of humility, obedience to a spiritual father within the Church, repentance, confession, and prayer as vital to the growth of an Orthodox Christian.
As part of this emphasis on prayer, Porphyrios goes into how to pray and what one ought to pray about. "Pray for the Church, the world, for everyone." From there, he expounds in greater detail.
One issue that has been controversial both theologically and/or philosophically for millenia both in Christianity and those outside is reconciling the foreknowledge of God with the free will of man. If God foreknows, for example, that a man will murder, --- some might say, didn't He preordain that man to be a murderer? In which case, how can that man really be accountable for freely willing to murder? It's a paradox that has confounded many. In his chapter "Divine Providence", St. Porphyrios does about the best job as anyone I've read in decades of reconciling these two concepts in a way that makes sense.
A fascinating book full of wisdom. It's made me rethink a number of things about how I go about my life in Christ. I recommend this book to any Christian desiring to learn ways of growing closer to God and seeking to rethink their Christian journey through this life.
May 25, 2014
Life changing. Read this book.
I can't decide what moved me more; his life story or his teachings,
both had such simplicity, divine grace, humility and wisdom.
Favorite quotes:
"One thing is our aim — love for Christ, for the Church, for our neighbour. Love, worship of, and craving for God, the union with Christ and with the Church is Paradise on earth. Love towards Christ and towards one’s neighbour, towards everyone, including enemies. The Christian feels for everyone, he wants all to be saved, all to taste the Kingdom of God. That is Christianity: through love of for our brother to arrive at love for God. To the extent that we desire it, to the extent that we wish it, to the extent that we are worthy, divine grace comes through our brother. When we love our brother we love the Church and therefore Christ. And we too are within the Church. Therefore when we love the Church we love ourselves." [p. 97]
___________________
On Love for One's Neighbour:
"Our every neighbour is ‘flesh of our flesh’. Can I be indifferent towards him? Can I cause him distress? Can I hate him? This is the greatest mystery of our church: that we all become one in God. If we do this we become His own. There is nothing better than this unity. This is the Church. This is the Orthodox faith. This is Paradise." [p. 180]
___________________
"Above everything is love. The thing that must concern you, my children, is love for the other person, of this soul. 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. Isn’t that perfect? Let us scatter our love selflessly to all, without regard to the way they act towards us." [p. 181]
___________________
"When someone injures us in whatever way, whether with slanders or with insults, we should think of him as our brother who has been taken hold of by the enemy. He has fallen victim to the enemy. Accordingly we need to have compassion for him and entreat God to have mercy both on us and on him, and God will help both. If, however, we are filled with anger against him, then the enemy will jump from him to us and make a mockery of us both. A person who condemns others does not love Christ. Our egotism is at fault. This is where condemnation of others stems from. Let me give you a little example.
Let’s 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 its 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’s 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 that is exactly what can happen if we don’t realize that the other person who is acting badly towards us has been taken hold of by a tiger, the devil. We fail to 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 do 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 feel the malice of the other person as an illness which is tormenting him and which he is unable to shake off. And so 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. We should regard all people as saints. We all carry within us the same ‘old self’. Our neighbor, whoever he is, is ‘flesh of our flesh’; he is our brother and, according to Saint Paul, we owe no one anything, except to love one another [Rom. 13:8]. We can never pass judgment on others for, no one ever hated his own flesh [Eph. 3:29].” [p. 183]
___________________
Let’s have love, meekness and peace. In that way we help our brother when he is possessed by evil. Our example radiates mystically, and not only when the person is present, but also when he is not. Let us strive to radiate our good will. Even when we say something about a person whose way of life does not meet with our approval, the person is aware of it and we repel him. Whereas, if we are compassionate and forgive him then we influence him — just as evil influences him — even if he does not see us.
We shouldn’t be enraged by people who blaspheme or who speak and act against God and the Church. Such rage is harmful. We may hate the words and the malice behind them, but we must not hate the person who spoke them nor become enraged against him. Rather we should pray for him. A Christian has love and graciousness and should behave accordingly.
Just as a hermit, who is seen by no one , benefits the world because the mystical waves of his prayers influence people and transmit the Holy Spirit into the world, so you, too, should scatter your love, without expecting anything in return — with love, patience and a smile…
Love needs to be sincere. And only the love of God is sincere. 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 shouldn’t 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 neighbour.” [p. 184]
___________________
"It is a kind of self-projection of our own when we insist on other people becoming good. In reality, we wish to become good, but because we are unable to, we demand it of others and insist on this. And whereas all things are corrected through prayer, we often are distressed or become outraged and pass judgment on others." [p. 186]
___________________
"Let our love be only in Christ. In order to benefit others you must live in the love of God, otherwise you are unable to do good to your fellow man. 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. The grace of God clears the horizon of his mind and assures him of His love. Here is the fine point. As soon as he accepts that God is love, then abundant light such as he has never seen will come upon him. Thus he will find salvation." [p. 186]
___________________
On Creation:
"Take delight in all things that surround us. All things teach us and lead us to God. All things around us are droplets of the love of God — both things animate and inanimate, the plants and the animals, the birds and the mountains, the sea and the sunset and the starry sky. They are little loves through which we attain to the great Love that is Christ." [p. 218]
___________________
"For a person to become a Christian he must have a poetic soul. He must become a poet. Christ does not wish insensitive souls in His company. A Christian, albeit only when he loves, is a poet and lives amid poetry. Poetic hearts embrace love and sense it deeply." [p. 218]
___________________
"Make the most of beautiful moments. Beautiful moments predispose the soul to prayer; they make it refined, noble and poetic. Wake up in the morning to see the sun rising from out of the sea as a king robed in regal purple. When a lovely landscape, a picturesque chapel, or something beautiful inspires you, don’t leave things at that, but go beyond this to give glory for all beautiful things so that you experience Him who alone is comely in beauty. All things are holy — the sea, swimming and eating. Take delight in them all. All things enrich us, all lead us to the great Love, all lead us to Christ." [p. 218]
___________________
"Observe all the things made by man — houses, buildings large or small, towns, villages, peoples and their civilizations. Ask questions to enrich your knowledge about each and everything; don’t be indifferent. This helps you meditate more deeply on the wonders of God. All things become opportunities for us to be joined more closely with everything and everyone. They become occasions for thanksgiving and prayer to the Lord of All. Live in the midst of everything, nature and the universe. Nature is the secret Gospel. But when one does not possess inner grace, nature is of no benefit. Nature awakens us, but it cannot bring us into Paradise." [p. 219]
___________________
"How can you fail to sense that you are together with all things? Reflect deeply on their purpose. Their purpose is defined by their Maker. The teleology of creation displays the greatness of God and His providence." [p. 219]
___________________
"Prayer is to approach everything made by God with love and to live in harmony with everything, even with wild nature. That is what I desire and attempt to do." [p. 220]
___________________
"All these things connected with nature help us greatly in our spiritual life when they are conjoined with the grace of God. When I sense the harmony of nature, I am brought to tears. Why should we be bored with life? Let us live life with the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth. The Person who has the Spirit of God, who has Divine Wisdom, sees all things with love of God and notices all things. The wisdom of God makes him grasp all things and delight in all things." [p. 223]
Seriously. Stop what you're doing and purchase this book. <3
Blessed St. Porphyrios, pray for us!
I can't decide what moved me more; his life story or his teachings,
both had such simplicity, divine grace, humility and wisdom.
Favorite quotes:
"One thing is our aim — love for Christ, for the Church, for our neighbour. Love, worship of, and craving for God, the union with Christ and with the Church is Paradise on earth. Love towards Christ and towards one’s neighbour, towards everyone, including enemies. The Christian feels for everyone, he wants all to be saved, all to taste the Kingdom of God. That is Christianity: through love of for our brother to arrive at love for God. To the extent that we desire it, to the extent that we wish it, to the extent that we are worthy, divine grace comes through our brother. When we love our brother we love the Church and therefore Christ. And we too are within the Church. Therefore when we love the Church we love ourselves." [p. 97]
___________________
On Love for One's Neighbour:
"Our every neighbour is ‘flesh of our flesh’. Can I be indifferent towards him? Can I cause him distress? Can I hate him? This is the greatest mystery of our church: that we all become one in God. If we do this we become His own. There is nothing better than this unity. This is the Church. This is the Orthodox faith. This is Paradise." [p. 180]
___________________
"Above everything is love. The thing that must concern you, my children, is love for the other person, of this soul. 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. Isn’t that perfect? Let us scatter our love selflessly to all, without regard to the way they act towards us." [p. 181]
___________________
"When someone injures us in whatever way, whether with slanders or with insults, we should think of him as our brother who has been taken hold of by the enemy. He has fallen victim to the enemy. Accordingly we need to have compassion for him and entreat God to have mercy both on us and on him, and God will help both. If, however, we are filled with anger against him, then the enemy will jump from him to us and make a mockery of us both. A person who condemns others does not love Christ. Our egotism is at fault. This is where condemnation of others stems from. Let me give you a little example.
Let’s 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 its 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’s 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 that is exactly what can happen if we don’t realize that the other person who is acting badly towards us has been taken hold of by a tiger, the devil. We fail to 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 do 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 feel the malice of the other person as an illness which is tormenting him and which he is unable to shake off. And so 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. We should regard all people as saints. We all carry within us the same ‘old self’. Our neighbor, whoever he is, is ‘flesh of our flesh’; he is our brother and, according to Saint Paul, we owe no one anything, except to love one another [Rom. 13:8]. We can never pass judgment on others for, no one ever hated his own flesh [Eph. 3:29].” [p. 183]
___________________
Let’s have love, meekness and peace. In that way we help our brother when he is possessed by evil. Our example radiates mystically, and not only when the person is present, but also when he is not. Let us strive to radiate our good will. Even when we say something about a person whose way of life does not meet with our approval, the person is aware of it and we repel him. Whereas, if we are compassionate and forgive him then we influence him — just as evil influences him — even if he does not see us.
We shouldn’t be enraged by people who blaspheme or who speak and act against God and the Church. Such rage is harmful. We may hate the words and the malice behind them, but we must not hate the person who spoke them nor become enraged against him. Rather we should pray for him. A Christian has love and graciousness and should behave accordingly.
Just as a hermit, who is seen by no one , benefits the world because the mystical waves of his prayers influence people and transmit the Holy Spirit into the world, so you, too, should scatter your love, without expecting anything in return — with love, patience and a smile…
Love needs to be sincere. And only the love of God is sincere. 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 shouldn’t 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 neighbour.” [p. 184]
___________________
"It is a kind of self-projection of our own when we insist on other people becoming good. In reality, we wish to become good, but because we are unable to, we demand it of others and insist on this. And whereas all things are corrected through prayer, we often are distressed or become outraged and pass judgment on others." [p. 186]
___________________
"Let our love be only in Christ. In order to benefit others you must live in the love of God, otherwise you are unable to do good to your fellow man. 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. The grace of God clears the horizon of his mind and assures him of His love. Here is the fine point. As soon as he accepts that God is love, then abundant light such as he has never seen will come upon him. Thus he will find salvation." [p. 186]
___________________
On Creation:
"Take delight in all things that surround us. All things teach us and lead us to God. All things around us are droplets of the love of God — both things animate and inanimate, the plants and the animals, the birds and the mountains, the sea and the sunset and the starry sky. They are little loves through which we attain to the great Love that is Christ." [p. 218]
___________________
"For a person to become a Christian he must have a poetic soul. He must become a poet. Christ does not wish insensitive souls in His company. A Christian, albeit only when he loves, is a poet and lives amid poetry. Poetic hearts embrace love and sense it deeply." [p. 218]
___________________
"Make the most of beautiful moments. Beautiful moments predispose the soul to prayer; they make it refined, noble and poetic. Wake up in the morning to see the sun rising from out of the sea as a king robed in regal purple. When a lovely landscape, a picturesque chapel, or something beautiful inspires you, don’t leave things at that, but go beyond this to give glory for all beautiful things so that you experience Him who alone is comely in beauty. All things are holy — the sea, swimming and eating. Take delight in them all. All things enrich us, all lead us to the great Love, all lead us to Christ." [p. 218]
___________________
"Observe all the things made by man — houses, buildings large or small, towns, villages, peoples and their civilizations. Ask questions to enrich your knowledge about each and everything; don’t be indifferent. This helps you meditate more deeply on the wonders of God. All things become opportunities for us to be joined more closely with everything and everyone. They become occasions for thanksgiving and prayer to the Lord of All. Live in the midst of everything, nature and the universe. Nature is the secret Gospel. But when one does not possess inner grace, nature is of no benefit. Nature awakens us, but it cannot bring us into Paradise." [p. 219]
___________________
"How can you fail to sense that you are together with all things? Reflect deeply on their purpose. Their purpose is defined by their Maker. The teleology of creation displays the greatness of God and His providence." [p. 219]
___________________
"Prayer is to approach everything made by God with love and to live in harmony with everything, even with wild nature. That is what I desire and attempt to do." [p. 220]
___________________
"All these things connected with nature help us greatly in our spiritual life when they are conjoined with the grace of God. When I sense the harmony of nature, I am brought to tears. Why should we be bored with life? Let us live life with the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Truth. The Person who has the Spirit of God, who has Divine Wisdom, sees all things with love of God and notices all things. The wisdom of God makes him grasp all things and delight in all things." [p. 223]
Seriously. Stop what you're doing and purchase this book. <3
Blessed St. Porphyrios, pray for us!
December 7, 2009
Oh, my... This book is powerful. I read it in small gulps--a page--or a paragraph at a time. I'm not even going to try to be a goof and explain it
January 9, 2025
For a saint to walk in our midst is a miracle - to see the world through his eyes and through his heart is divinity. Saint Porphyrios at one point says “even now I am praying with you.” You feel it. Every page is overflowing with joy and grace. Glory to God for putting this book in my life.
September 3, 2025
This review is really so I can remember why I loved it! I understand why people say this is a must-read for Orthodox Christians and anyone exploring faith. St. Porphyrios conveys the beauty of Christ’s love and mercy in a poetic fashion: “For a person to become a Christian he must have a poetic soul.” From his early life to his teachings throughout the rest, he explained the virtues of humility, silence, and love in a powerful way. His gift of clear sight was particularly striking—almost always, someone would come to him seeking advice about another person who was troubling them, and his response was nearly always to look inward and see how our own troubles and sins are causing the issues. Every time I picked up the book, it felt like it was for a reason. Even the chapter on the upbringing of children, which I initially thought I wouldn’t relate to, contained one of my favorite quotes: “Let us learn to love and not seek to be loved. Let us love everyone and make sacrifices, as great as we are able, for all our brothers and sisters in Christ, without expecting praise and love from them in return.”
November 24, 2022
"Christ united the body of the Church with heaven and with earth: with angels, men and all created things, with all of God's creation - with the animals and birds, with each tiny wild flower and each microscopic insect. The Church thus became the fullness of Him who fills all in all, that is, of Christ. Everything is in Christ and with Christ. This is the mystery of the Church."
"No one should wish to be saved alone without all others being saved. It is a mistake for someone to pray for himself, that he himself may be saved. We must love others and pray that no soul be lost, that all may enter into the Church...When we set ourselves apart from others, we are not Christians. We are true Christians when we have a profound sense that we are members of the mystical body of Christ, of the Church, in an unbroken relationship of love when we live united in Christ, that is, when we experience unity in His Church with a sense of oneness. This is why Christ prays to His Father saying, that they may be one. . . . This is the most profound aspect, the most exalted meaning, of the Church. This is where the secret is to be found: for all to be united as one person in God. There is no other religion like this; no other religion says anything of this sort. . . . We are one even with those who are not close to the Church."
"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."
"Everything has its meaning, its time and its place. The concept of fear is good in the initial stages. It is for beginners, those in whom our ancestral fallen nature lives on. The beginner, whose sensibility has not yet been refined, is held back from evil by fear. And fear is essential since we are men of flesh and blood and earth-bound. But that is a stage, a low level of relationship to the divine. We think in terms of a business deal in order to win Paradise or escape hell. But if we examine the matter more closely we see that it is governed by self-interest. That's not something that appeals to me. When someone progresses and enters into the love of God, what need does he have of fear? Whatever he does, he does out of love, and that is of infinitely greater value...There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. The person who fears is not perfected in love."
"Saint Makarios, the famous Desert Father, had decided to go to a church festival along with the monk who was subservient to him. The young monk had gone on ahead. He was a beginner and had a beginner's zeal. As he was walking along he met an idolater, a priest of a pagan temple. He spoke harshly to him and said:
'Where are you off to, you deluded soul?'
The priest was enraged and attacked the novice, leaving him virtually unconscious.
A short time later the priest met the elder. When Abba Makarios, blessed as he was by divine grace, saw the man in a state of shock and aggravation, he said to him:
'Good man of God, where are you going to?'
As soon as the priest heard these words his heart softened, he stopped in his tracks, and said:
'Your words have calmed me down.'
'Yes,' said Abba Makarios. 'I see you're in a hurry, only you don't know where you're hurrying to.'
But he said it in a humble and brotherly tone of love.
'When you speak,' said the idolater, 'your words open my heart, but a short time ago another monk spoke to me in a very different way and I gave him a good beating.'
Abba Makarios spoke to him in such an inspired way, that the idolater gradually changed his beliefs, became a monk and was saved."
"Pray for the Church, for the world, for everyone. The whole of Christendom is contained in prayer. If we pray only for ourselves, that conceals self-interest. . . . Your desire must be for this: for the world to be sanctified and for everything to belong to Christ."
"In my life, prayer occupies the first place. I do not fear hell and I don't think of Paradise. I ask only for God to have mercy on the whole world and on me."
"We can attain to the worship of God easily and bloodlessly. There are two paths that lead to God: the hard and debilitating path with fierce assaults against evil and the easy path with love. . . . I find that the shorter and safer route is the path with love."
"Do not choose negative methods to correct yourselves. There is no need to fear the devil, hell, or anything else. These things provoke a negative reaction. I, myself, have some little experience in these matters. The object is not to sit and afflict and constrict yourself in order to improve. The object is to live, to study, to pray and to advance in love..."
"It is not healthy to be excessively downcast on account of your sins and to turn with such revulsion against your evil self that you end up in despair. Despondency is the worst thing. It is a snare set by Satan to make a person lose his appetite for spiritual things and to bring him into a state of despair, inactivity and negligence. . . . He is brought into a sense of inferiority and consumed by fruitless self-reproach. Do you know what a destructive thing that is? It is pseudo-humility."
"No one can attain to God unless he first passes through his fellow men."
January 13, 2022
A few years ago, my priest talked about seeing prophyry in old churches in Europe. Whilst reading this gem of a book, I contemplated how well named St. Porphyrios was, with the way that he offered his wisdom like precious stones. Thank you to my lovely Goddaughter for this gift, it is one to reread.
June 28, 2025
4.5 rounded up. Review to follow inshallah.
June 27, 2016
This classic book is an absolute must for all Orthodox Christians, a spiritual and "literary" pilgrimage that all should make at least once in their lifetimes. St. Porphyrios sums up his life's purpose (and thus the book's, in my opinion) with these words: "My aim is for Christians to be helped and to be saved, caught up in a communion of love with Christ" (p. 241). The elder opens up the gates of spirituality by revealing its utter positivity and joy when the Christian abides in the love (eros) of Christ, when he receives and reciprocates this love through his words and actions. This work is a gem, the best self-help book out there with a straightforward approach to life that is at once neither non-threatening nor judgmental but quite doable. I highly, highly recommend it.
~ FrDr Stel
~ FrDr Stel
December 14, 2024
The woman who introduced my husband and I recently loaned me this book! It's an excellent book that covers the life of an Orthodox saint and delves into the various mysteries including prayer, humility, and child-rearing. I've heard it's also Paul Kingsnorth's favorite book. Highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get more serious about prayer and religious life. I've handwritten a quote about how we need to be a silent example to those who we feel aren't living virtuously. Instead of getting mad at a woman for dressing immodestly, we should recognize that she hasn't yet learned to surrender herself and her need for attention to Jesus. We should pray and be silent examples, and not judge, nor be offended that "others aren't as good as we think ourselves to be". In all things remain humble.
May 30, 2014
As with the life of any person, the life of an Orthodox saint is an anecdotal account of one life. St. Porphyrios offers thoughts on many topics - sometimes quite beautiful and profound, sometimes so completely anecdotal as to be useful only if understood within the context of his life. He offers some of the ideas as advice useful to anyone, but indeed I would venture to say there is no one size fits all when it comes to spiritual guidance, and so one would have to steer away from using his sayings as some kind of spiritual law that can be applied regardless of circumstances or personnel. But that is the very nature of reading the spirituality of the saints - it is what makes it exciting and wonderful. It is wisdom not law. The stop sign commands you to stop, but it can never tell you when to go - that requires wisdom. And there is wisdom and beauty to be discovered in Saint Porphyrios' words, but not all his words apply to everyone.
July 11, 2013
I think that if I had to take only one book of Orthodox counsel and spirituality with me on a long journey, this would be it. The Elder's story (told here through his own reminiscences) is edifying, and his teachings are clear and profound.
As Orthodox Christians we turn often to the Fathers, and sometimes forget that the list of Church Fathers is open-ended. I wouldn't be surprised if someday Elder Porphyrios were on the list.
I'm not sure that the Elder himself ever wrote anything. This volume collects and organizes tape-recordings of his words made over many years by a number of his disciples. Many thanks to them!
As Orthodox Christians we turn often to the Fathers, and sometimes forget that the list of Church Fathers is open-ended. I wouldn't be surprised if someday Elder Porphyrios were on the list.
I'm not sure that the Elder himself ever wrote anything. This volume collects and organizes tape-recordings of his words made over many years by a number of his disciples. Many thanks to them!
October 2, 2020
This is my island book. St. Porphyrios' writings made my chest physically ache with love for God.
Read
October 20, 2024“Take delight in all things that surround us. All things teach us and lead us to God. All things around us are droplets of the love of God—both things animate and inanimate, the plants and the animals, the birds and the mountains, the sea and the sunset and the starry sky. They are little loves through which we attain to the great Love that is Christ…
For a person to become a Christian he must have a poetic soul. He must become a poet. Christ does not wish insensitive souls in His company. A Christian, albeit only when he loves, is a poet and lives amid poetry. Poetic hearts embrace love and sense it deeply.”
+St. Porphyrios
For a person to become a Christian he must have a poetic soul. He must become a poet. Christ does not wish insensitive souls in His company. A Christian, albeit only when he loves, is a poet and lives amid poetry. Poetic hearts embrace love and sense it deeply.”
+St. Porphyrios
October 12, 2024
My friend, Fr. Hector, recommended I read this book due to my profession. He reads this a few times a year and keeps it on his bedside table.
I understand why he frequently reads this. I found Porphyrios humbling and his experiences relatable. It was refreshing to read his reflections and the guidance he gave to those physically and spiritually suffering.
I highly recommend this to those in professions of healing, whether that be through the church or in the medical field.
I understand why he frequently reads this. I found Porphyrios humbling and his experiences relatable. It was refreshing to read his reflections and the guidance he gave to those physically and spiritually suffering.
I highly recommend this to those in professions of healing, whether that be through the church or in the medical field.
Read
February 14, 2025I can’t pull just one quote, because the magnificent force of this book is the steady drumbeat of beauty behind each section. It’s steadily, quietly transformative. Likely a new insight will stand out with each read.
April 1, 2025
"Lord, whatever your love desires."
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April 28, 2024A gem in the topic of noetic warfare.
He's the saint that speaks the most of positivity and unforced action. It's not some New Age positivity that is irresponsibly ignorant of the negative aspects of life, what the dangers really are (within us). It is a matter of emphasis. This is rather advanced. You are aware of the negative, especially in the beginning (repentance, penitence). But as he says, this can become a pressure, a weight, and one starts to force oneself. And just like with others or with God, this force provokes a negative reaction, since it fails to recognize the freedom of the person pressured, as love would have you recognize. And so he speaks in many ways on how to be focused on the positive.
Also the beginning half about his life is full of interesting events. There are stunning and tear-provoking miracles and events, which serve to completely demonstrate that Porphyrios was indeed a saint. The atheist and naturalists will have to say he was lying or crazy. But just read from his life and mind and you see he is a sober elder. The second half contains his teachings. It was a rather long read for me, even though he speaks so simply. But it is worth it. And the simplicity of his manner, the pure austerity of this man who was from a peasant village and barely learned to read, will scold and purify without his having to say anything directly to you.
He's the saint that speaks the most of positivity and unforced action. It's not some New Age positivity that is irresponsibly ignorant of the negative aspects of life, what the dangers really are (within us). It is a matter of emphasis. This is rather advanced. You are aware of the negative, especially in the beginning (repentance, penitence). But as he says, this can become a pressure, a weight, and one starts to force oneself. And just like with others or with God, this force provokes a negative reaction, since it fails to recognize the freedom of the person pressured, as love would have you recognize. And so he speaks in many ways on how to be focused on the positive.
Also the beginning half about his life is full of interesting events. There are stunning and tear-provoking miracles and events, which serve to completely demonstrate that Porphyrios was indeed a saint. The atheist and naturalists will have to say he was lying or crazy. But just read from his life and mind and you see he is a sober elder. The second half contains his teachings. It was a rather long read for me, even though he speaks so simply. But it is worth it. And the simplicity of his manner, the pure austerity of this man who was from a peasant village and barely learned to read, will scold and purify without his having to say anything directly to you.
March 31, 2022
Like books by other saints this one felt very dense. But not dense in an informational sense. Like the other books it was as if I was sitting at the feet of the elder taking it all in. There was a suspension of disbelief that I was actually reading and was more encountering their words as if being in the same space as them.
His portrayal is deep, mystical, and yet simple. He talks about “love” but not flippantly. Because he’s a recent saint, and lived recently, it’s perhaps easier to hear his words and recognize what he is saying. I’m fact, his disposition lifts so much off of the page that I begin to wonder if similar people in my life who spoke and behaved as he did weren’t saints unawares.
This one is definitely a reread, as I suspect I will continually find treasures in it.
His portrayal is deep, mystical, and yet simple. He talks about “love” but not flippantly. Because he’s a recent saint, and lived recently, it’s perhaps easier to hear his words and recognize what he is saying. I’m fact, his disposition lifts so much off of the page that I begin to wonder if similar people in my life who spoke and behaved as he did weren’t saints unawares.
This one is definitely a reread, as I suspect I will continually find treasures in it.
October 3, 2024
St. Porphyrios shares stories from his life in Christ and wisdom obtained by his many spiritual struggles. He consecrated his life to Christ at a very young age, learning under holy elders on Mt. Athos. It seemed to me to be written in a different tone than other monastic elders; of course they all experience Christ, even in the monastic setting, in their own individual journeys. I find this holy elder's "tone" refreshing, even as it also very challenging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2024
Beautiful. Simple yet serene. As if gazing upon the heart of Christ in the lowest yet greatest of men. A masterpiece not by style, but in content, by virtue of a Christ-like man. Who is Christ in the modern world? Look at Saint Porphyrios and see a Theophany to the world.
January 8, 2021
Very beautiful. Filled with wisdom. A great spiritual book.
August 10, 2024
Not gonna lie, the first part of this book was a bit rough for me to get through, but I’m so glad I stuck with it because this is probably the best book I’ve ever read. Reading the wisdom of Saint Porphyrios is like finding a box of treasure. It felt like divine grace was just beaming off of every page and I found myself highlighting paragraph after paragraph.
Here are some of the quotes that really stood out to me:
“In reality, we wish to become good, but because we are unable to, we demand it of others and insist on this. And whereas all things are corrected through prayer, we often are distressed or become outraged and pass judgment on others.”
“We shouldn't be enraged by people who blaspheme or who speak and act against God and the Church. Such rage is harmful. We may hate the words and the malice behind them, but we must not hate the person who spoke them nor become enraged against him. Rather we should pray for him. A Christian has love and graciousness and should behave accordingly.”
“If you have within you five units of love and you spend two on your parents and two on your brothers and sisters, what is left for God? Whereas in God are found all the loves of the world. If you love God, you love everything, because all things are contained within God, and that is how God wishes you to love Him.”
“Every physical and spiritual task which does not involve pain, toil and trouble never bears fruit for the person who engages in it, for the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence and the violent lay hold of it.”
“If you have love for your neighbour and for God, God will give you humility and He will bestow on you sanctification. If you do not have love for God and for your neighbour, and if you are indolent, Satan will tyrannize you, your old self will take revenge on you, and you will find fault with everyone and everything and be forever complaining”
“It is humility to believe that all people are good, and if you hear something negative about someone, not to believe it; to love everyone and not think badly of anyone and to pray for everyone.”
Here are some of the quotes that really stood out to me:
“In reality, we wish to become good, but because we are unable to, we demand it of others and insist on this. And whereas all things are corrected through prayer, we often are distressed or become outraged and pass judgment on others.”
“We shouldn't be enraged by people who blaspheme or who speak and act against God and the Church. Such rage is harmful. We may hate the words and the malice behind them, but we must not hate the person who spoke them nor become enraged against him. Rather we should pray for him. A Christian has love and graciousness and should behave accordingly.”
“If you have within you five units of love and you spend two on your parents and two on your brothers and sisters, what is left for God? Whereas in God are found all the loves of the world. If you love God, you love everything, because all things are contained within God, and that is how God wishes you to love Him.”
“Every physical and spiritual task which does not involve pain, toil and trouble never bears fruit for the person who engages in it, for the Kingdom of Heaven is taken by violence and the violent lay hold of it.”
“If you have love for your neighbour and for God, God will give you humility and He will bestow on you sanctification. If you do not have love for God and for your neighbour, and if you are indolent, Satan will tyrannize you, your old self will take revenge on you, and you will find fault with everyone and everything and be forever complaining”
“It is humility to believe that all people are good, and if you hear something negative about someone, not to believe it; to love everyone and not think badly of anyone and to pray for everyone.”
April 1, 2021
Regarding "Ammimorna"'s review: this is a cheap character attack, and another example that I and those who are anti-sex are right: our origins are a source of shame, they are not noble, they are disgusting. Sex is a result of the Fall, and will not exist in Heaven, as we read in the New Testament.
"piggish eyes": and Amazon deleted my Lewis review! Ha!
"When he was twenty": he lived in Greece, during a time when women wouldn't dress the way they do now in the West. Also, he may have been given this talent by God.
Further, if you live in fornication, what reason do you have to lecture men? As if women can't be lewd and sexual sinners.
You seem like a broken individual.
Other than that, I agree that "Wounded by Love" can be read again and again, though some of Porphyrios views are questionable. For example, he almost denies the existence of hell, which seems typical for Orthodox Christians, even though Christ words couldn't be any clearer; or when he talks about people becoming "failures" in life because of experiences with school and parents.
"Failure": Christ nor the apostles ever called poor people "failures". What is a "failure" anyway? This is where St. Porphyrios's lack of education becomes troublesome: he uses terms without know what they mean or being able to define them, or maybe the translator is at fault.
"piggish eyes": and Amazon deleted my Lewis review! Ha!
"When he was twenty": he lived in Greece, during a time when women wouldn't dress the way they do now in the West. Also, he may have been given this talent by God.
Further, if you live in fornication, what reason do you have to lecture men? As if women can't be lewd and sexual sinners.
You seem like a broken individual.
Other than that, I agree that "Wounded by Love" can be read again and again, though some of Porphyrios views are questionable. For example, he almost denies the existence of hell, which seems typical for Orthodox Christians, even though Christ words couldn't be any clearer; or when he talks about people becoming "failures" in life because of experiences with school and parents.
"Failure": Christ nor the apostles ever called poor people "failures". What is a "failure" anyway? This is where St. Porphyrios's lack of education becomes troublesome: he uses terms without know what they mean or being able to define them, or maybe the translator is at fault.
October 28, 2017
If I had to succinctly review this book, it would suffice to describe it in one way: life-changing.
St. Porphyrios's life is inspiration to walk the Christian path towards theosis, the ultimate communion with God alone. However, his simple and humble teachings are a breath of fresh air. There were many days when I would struggle to muster the energy to pray or to bring to mind our Lord; the remedy for that was reading and meditating on a few pages of St. Porphyrios's works. Accessible to even the simplest of people, for that is what the great Elder was himself, I cannot recommend this book enough to all.
St. Porphyrios's life is inspiration to walk the Christian path towards theosis, the ultimate communion with God alone. However, his simple and humble teachings are a breath of fresh air. There were many days when I would struggle to muster the energy to pray or to bring to mind our Lord; the remedy for that was reading and meditating on a few pages of St. Porphyrios's works. Accessible to even the simplest of people, for that is what the great Elder was himself, I cannot recommend this book enough to all.
September 2, 2013
I am putting this aside with some reluctance or sorrow. It feels as if I have an incomplete understanding or empathy for the author. He is sweet, but centered in a church culture dominated by monks who are satisfied with church structure. Some of the comments about women were irritating to certain groups members.
As with the church fathers, one must puzzle and turn his thoughts again and again to understand or try to integrate them.
So, I am putting him aside un satisfied, but will probably re-examine the book again.
As with the church fathers, one must puzzle and turn his thoughts again and again to understand or try to integrate them.
So, I am putting him aside un satisfied, but will probably re-examine the book again.
May 20, 2025
A good book with some fairly powerful teaching. As a non-Eastern Orthodox reading this book, there were impactful theological takeaways that I have implemented in my own life such as “the bloodless battle”.
At the same time, there are major theological disagreement you may discover in the book if you are not Eastern Orthodox. At times it seems as if his teachings are also contradictory.
Overall, a good book worth a quick read but nothing amazing at the same time.
At the same time, there are major theological disagreement you may discover in the book if you are not Eastern Orthodox. At times it seems as if his teachings are also contradictory.
Overall, a good book worth a quick read but nothing amazing at the same time.
September 28, 2012
excellent book. well written, easy to understand, simple. His life is inspiring, and the teachings/wisdom is simple, profound, and almost like a commentary on scripture. Brings me back to the Gospel of St. John. Love this book.
May 30, 2019
A divine injection of Love.
July 16, 2019
Warm and personal autobiography. I found myself deeply inspired to love God more.
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