Elder Ephraim of Philotheia. Photo from the site imverias.blogspot.ru Famous ascetic Ephraim Filofeisky (Moraitis), the author of the book “My Life with Elder Joseph,” which became an event in the spiritual life of the Greeks, at the age of 19 went to Mount Athos, where he became a disciple of the Venerable Joseph the Hesychast, a very severe one. No one believed that the small, thin guy would stay with him for more than a month (many tried, but it didn’t work), and Yannakis (that was Father Ephraim’s name before becoming a monk) lived with him for 12 years - until the saint’s death.
Mutual aid
Elder Ephraim in his cell.
Arizona. Photo from the site apantaortodoxias.blogspot.ru “When a person wants to cross the sea and reach the opposite shore, where his deliverance awaits, he thinks, calculates his strength and, convinced that he can do this, rushes into the sea and swims. When he swims, he begins to get tired, the waves seem more ferocious than at the beginning. Fear begins to creep into his heart.
Fear takes away physical and mental strength even more. If he casts aside fear and thinks that there is only one way out - to gather all his strength to end up on the other shore (because otherwise fear will drown him), then by doing so, he will swim to the other shore and be saved. If there are two swimmers and one gets scared and begins to drown, then the second one will give him courage, and so he will ultimately be saved.”
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Our time is counted. On August 17, 2021, Elder Ephraim was still alive. https://preddverie.mybb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=85 Our time is counted. Difficult years await us, dangerous even for our earthly stay. The devil went mad and opened his mouth like hell, wanting to swallow us whole. Blessed is the man who escapes his teeth, and flies to Heaven for salvation (implying prayer). Every year the situation gets worse and worse. Sinners and debauchees abound, multiplying sin. And with this state of affairs the Lord cannot help but intervene; His judgment will occur. Therefore, we need to hurry, just as we rush to help our loved ones, feeling sympathy and love for them. We must rush to help not only our close relatives, but also our brothers in Christ; we also have a duty to experience their pain and suffering. If we are often in danger, although we live in the quiet haven of the Most Pure Mother of God, then in what danger are those who are under the yoke of constant sins and temptations, which are increasingly increasing in this world. If we, being far from the fire of worldly temptations, get burned, then what about those who are surrounded by the flames of a blazing fire? Elder Ephraim of Philothea (Arizona) [https://apantaortodoxias.blogspot.com/2016/08/blog-post_411.html Τετάρτη, 17 Αυγούστου 2021 ΓΕΡΟΝΤΑΣ ΕΦΡΑΙΜ ΦΙΛΟΘΕΙΤΗΣ. » Ο χρόνος μας είναι μετρημένος. Περιμένουμε χρόνια δύσκολα, χρόνια επικίνδυνα και γι αυτήν την ζωή μας. Λύσσαξε ο διάβολος κι άνοιξε το στόμα του σαν άδης να μας καταπιή όλους μέσα." Ο χρόνος μας είναι μετρημένος. Περιμένουμε χρόνια δύσκολα, χρόνια επικίνδυνα και γι αυτήν την ζωή μας. Λύσσαξε ο διάβολος κι άνοιξε το στόμα του σαν άδης να μας καταπιή όλους μέσα. Μακάριος ο άνθρωπος, που θα ξεφύγη από τα δόντια του και θα πετάξη στον ο υρανό και θα σωθή. Κάθε χρόνο και χειρότερη γίνεται η κατάστασις. ? ι από μόνο του το πράγμα, ότι θα επέμβη η θεια δικαιοσύνη. γ o ικείους αδελφούς, που έχουμε χρέος να τους πονούμε. Διότι εάν εμείς κινδυνεύουμε, που είμαστε μέσα στο λιμάνι της Παναγία ? ροστά στην πρόκλησι της αμαρτίας! π ου οι φλόγες τους περικυκλώνουν? Elder Ephraim predicted his death.
On December 8, 2021, 91-year-old Archimandrite Ephraim (Moraitis) passed away to the Lord _____________
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Vardakas writes that Father Ephraim appeared twice to a Koitian.
Before his doom, he said that the Turks would begin provocations from Crete. Erdogan is planning to explore the deposit there starting from January 7th.
And the second time he appeared to the guy the other day and said - expect events immediately in my 40 days. 40 days is released on January 17 (2021) https://konstantinoupolipothoumeno.blog … 0.html?m=1 ________________________________________ the words of Elder Ephraim as it was. Here are his words: πρώτον, όταν ξέρουμε ότι υπάρχουν σχισματικοί δεν πάμε στην Εκκλη σία διότι δεν έχουν θεία χάρη. First: when we know or understand that there are schismatics at the concelebration service, we either do not go to this church in the first place, or we leave. Dissenters have no grace. → Second, when schismatics suddenly come to the liturgy, and we understand that they are schismatics, we leave immediately. τρίτον, όταν ένας ιερέας λέει ότι ο Επιφάνιος πράγματι έχει θεία χάρη κι ότι η σχισματική Εκκλησία της Ουκρανίας πρέπει να ανθίσει, ούτε σε αυτό πηγαίνουμε. Third, when some priest says that Epiphanius has the grace of God, and that the bird has the right to “bloom,” he doesn’t set foot there.
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PS. from me.
Now it has become clear and understandable what to do:
When a bishop/clergyman/concelebrates with a Catholic, you absolutely cannot go to such a church.
When Catholics (heretics, schismatics) are present at a service in a church, and you understand this, you should immediately leave such a church and never return there again.
And if somewhere they say that Catholics are our brothers, then don’t set foot there.
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THERE ARE FALSE PROPHECIES THAT ARE ATTRIBUTED TO ELDER EPHREM OF PHILOTHEA, IN WHICH HE SUPPOSELY ADVISES TO HUMILIATE WITH APOSTASY AND CONTINUE TO GO TO THE ECUMENAISTS.
Read the Greek source where the lies against Elder Ephraim are exposed, with translation:
https://katanixi.gr/2019/12/17/%CF%80-%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%BF%CF% 82-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%8E%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%AC%CE%BD%CF% 84%CE%B7%CF%83%CE%B7-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BC%CE%B7%CF%84%CF%81/
you need to paste the full link into the browser line.
Series of messages “Signs of the Times_2”:
Part 1 - Biometrics is the last stage before the transition to technologies for directly applying an identification code to the human body. Part 2 - You cannot raise a white flag on the international stage, and then say that you never gave up, everything remains the same. Olga Tukhanina. ... Part 29 - Creation of a genetic data bank - things have already gone too far... Part 30 - A man without will and morality - the result of evolution Part 31 - Appearance of the deceased ELDER EPHRAIM OF PHILOTHEA (ARIZONA) Part 32 - In Montenegro, a new hero - a policeman who refused to beat Orthodox Christians Part 33 - The Cross of the Lord is revealed in fire. Montenegro. Part 34 - “At the end of the world there will be two Easters” - this is a prophecy. Greece announced the postponement of Easter celebrations. This is reality. Part 35 - Orthodox bishops, patriarchs, priests do not have the right to tell their flock DO NOT GO TO TEMPLE! Part 36 - April 14, 2021 Mariino Standing, God's Sign: you can no longer go to churches!
Series of messages “When you can no longer go to church”:
Part 1 - When grace leaves the churches, and you can no longer go to them. Signs left to us by the Orthodox holy fathers and elders. Part 2 - Appearance of the deceased ELDER EPHRAIM OF PHILOTHEA (ARIZONA) Part 3 - On the eve of the reign of the Antichrist. How to be saved when churches are closed Part 4 - The Church is not in logs, in ribs. Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am with you. ... Part 27 - April 14, 2021 Mariino Standing, God's Sign: you can no longer go to churches! Part 28 - The expulsion of Christ from Russia and the Church. Sredneuralsky Convent April 14, 2021 Part 29 - St. Rev. Anatoly Optinsky about the heretics who seized power in the Church of Christ (uncut!)
Blessing for almsgiving
Athos.
Philotheus Monastery. Drawing of a pilgrim, 2005. Photo from the site agionoros.ru “A person who gives alms and constantly lends money, and he himself acquires the blessing of God, and his descendants. Because when a person gives alms, he lends to God, and God, who borrows from him, will return the debt according to the promise a hundredfold, that is, a hundred times more already in this life, and in the next he will be worthy of His Kingdom.”
Who is Ephraim Filofeisky (1928 - 2019)
The worldly name of the famous missionary is Ioannis Moraitis. He was born in the port city of Volos (Greece). Little is known about the prophet's childhood.
During the German occupation, Ephraim met his spiritual mentor Joseph the Hesychast. At the age of 19 he settled on Mount Athos. This is a mountain that is considered one of the main Orthodox communities. The elder confessed how he came to monasticism.
This path to monastic life was shown to me by my virtuous and monastic-loving mother, now nun Feofania.
He was the youngest monk in the community of Elder Joseph Giannakis. In 1973, Ephraim became the abbot of one of the Athos monasteries. This was the monastery of the Monk Philotheus, after which it began to be called Philotheus.
Speaking about the elder, it would be wrong to forget about his prophetic gift, which he received from God. Many of them came true, thanks to which he became known to a wide audience.
Cancer of sin
“If we have cancer and it becomes known that there is a doctor at the North Pole who can heal us, then we will give up everything, overcome all obstacles - just to get to the healer and get rid of the disease. Neither difficulties nor financial costs will scare us: we leave everything and go. We humble our souls for the sake of our health.
And when the cancer of sin threatens the death of our soul, it is all the more necessary to give up everything and run, regardless of obstacles. Let’s come, get on our knees, admit our sin, get the medicine and be healed!”
About forgiveness
Elder Ephraim with the brethren of the Philotheus monastery.
Athos. Photo from the site pravoslavie.ru “Any evil done by anyone - a neighbor, brother, workmate, relative - is not as great as it seems. It is transitory. This means that no matter how long it lasts - even a lifetime - it will still end someday. It cannot continue and operate forever. But the evil that we inflict on ourselves by not forgiving our neighbors has no end.”
The last visit to Mount Athos and the true prophecy
The elder's followers told what they heard from Ephraim during his last visit to the Holy Mountain. For a long time they did not want to reveal their teacher's words. The purpose of the publication is to preserve the bright appearance of the elder. His spiritual children believe that the missionary’s last words can be considered a testament.
Ephraim told the Svyatogorsk residents that because of construction in the monasteries on Mount Athos, “the spirit is changing.” These actions, he said, were not carried out with God's will.
Roads were built, the appearance of the monasteries changed. The area began to transform, and the special atmosphere of piety dried up. The elder was concerned about these changes. He said that as soon as the “devilish” words “convenient” and “quick” are heard often on Mount Athos, this will mean the destruction of the Mountain.
You can learn more about the true prophecy of Elder Philotheus from the video.
Suffering
Elder Ephraim of Philotheia.
Photo from the site agionoros.ru “He who looks at suffering through the prism of eternity has already won.”
Since 1979 Fr. Ephraim lives in America, where he founded 19 monasteries (in the USA and Canada). Now he lives in one of them - the monastery of St. Anthony in Arizona.
Elder Ephraim died in 2021 at the age of 91. Almost until the last months, despite his age and physical weakness, he not only received people in his monastery, but also often went “hunting”: taking bags of food and money with him in the car, the priest went to look for beggars. If he helped thirty people, he returned satisfied, but if he helped only two, he considered the “hunt” unsuccessful.
Instructions of Elder Ephraim of Arizona
On December 8, Elder Ephraim of Arizona (in the world Ioannis Moraitis; 1928–2019), the spiritual child of St. Joseph the Hesychast, reposed in the Lord. Today, on the 9th day after the death of the elder, we will honor his memory by remembering his instructions.
Elder Ephraim of Arizona (Moraitis)
“You need to subordinate your life to a certain order”
“To find salvation, you need to subordinate your life to a certain order. After all, where there is order, there is peace, and where there is peace, there is God; but where there is disorder, there is confusion, and where there is confusion, there is the devil.”
“In order for there to be order in life, it is necessary to follow the instructions of the spiritual father.”
“Just as a doctor examines a patient, makes a diagnosis and, based on this diagnosis, prescribes treatment, just as a patient, in order to receive healing, must carefully take all medications and strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations, and how the slightest deviation from the treatment regimen jeopardizes everything recovery - and when a spiritual doctor prescribes spiritual therapy, the believer is obliged to follow his advice and fulfill the rules given to him.”
Elder Ephraim listed these rules: “Prayer, prostrations, reading the New Testament and all Holy Scripture (the New Testament is the new Grace of Christ, all the Grace of the Holy Trinity, and the Old Testament is Its shadow). Then comes fasting and attention to thoughts.”
How to organize your day correctly
The elder gave practical advice on organizing your day:
“A dream is an image of death. We sleep and don’t know where we are at this time, we don’t feel time, and we rise again and return to conscious life. Having thanked God with all our hearts for deigning us to see the light of day again, let us ask Him to forgive us our sins.”
“By the grace of God we rise in the morning, some earlier, some later. The first thing we must do, out of our Christian duty and obligation, out of spiritual necessity, for the sake of salvation, is to kneel down, raise our hands to God and pray.”
“Having woken up and fallen into the goodness of Christ, one must, first of all, thank Him for a safely passed night.”
“Let’s pray in the morning, make bows (as determined by the confessor), and if health allows, then we’ll add more to them. What is a bow? This is the worship of God."
“Even one additional bow is already a work of asceticism, for which there will be a reward from God. The few bows that we make are slowly accumulating with God in Heaven, and when we go to Gornyaya, we will find them there in large quantities. And this will help us give a good answer in the terrible hour of Judgment.”
“Let wives pray for their husbands and for their children, and husbands for their wives and children, and children for their parents. Thus, mutually helping each other with prayers, we will move towards spiritual growth.”
Wherever we find ourselves, we will not leave the remembrance of God
“So, we pray in the morning, because prayer gives us light, and this light shines throughout the day, and then we each go about our business: some to work, some to school, some on a trip. But even then we need not to abandon the memory of God, because during morning prayer we receive grace, strength, and blessing from God; An angel stands at our right hand, and we get to work. And wherever we find ourselves, we will not leave the remembrance of God.”
“What does remembrance of God mean? This is a prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!” With the remembrance of forgiveness, which we ask for whenever we remember God, the Lord will deign to return home calmly.”
“And in the evening, before going to bed, we will again kneel and offer our prayers to God. And in the middle of the day or in the evening we will open the New Testament and read at least one chapter from there.”
“We will be careful at work”
“We’ll be careful at work: there are a lot of people working nearby, and they’ll say all sorts of things. Sometimes they say very bad words, because they are in a passionate state and do not think about anything, only about temporary, vain things, about earthly pleasures. If the person praying is attentive, he will not follow them; he feels sorry for such people and prays that God will enlighten them, that they will be freed from such a suffocating spiritual state and come out into the clean and free air.”
“Every person’s life is a book”
“The life of any person is a book, and every day of life is one page of it. Every book has an end, and so does human life. On the pages of this book there is both good and bad, both light and dark deeds of man are recorded. And when life ends, then this book will open before God, and based on what is written in it, a person will give an answer.”
"Zeal for Salvation"
“We definitely need zeal for salvation: we cannot be lazy, because we don’t know whether we will be alive tomorrow. We have no power over even the smallest second of time. Everything is unstable, impermanent: our life, the lives of our parents, children, relatives, health, finances - everything we have is unreliable, and we can lose everything at any moment.”
We can't be ignorant, because we don't know if we'll be alive tomorrow
“Neglect brings about what diligence has temporarily pushed away from us. One of the ascetics says that prayers, rosaries, bows, and fasts are needed not by God, but by us, because if all this is missing, then evil enters the soul.”
“Who avoids injury? Anyone who is awake, sober, who is attentive, who watches himself and the road, therefore falls less often. Who gets injured? One who is careless on the way and therefore easily falls. And often the reason for this is negligence. Negligence in the performance of our duties leads to dangerous consequences.”
“What does condemnation mean?”
“What does condemnation mean? Condemnation means that we consider ourselves sinless.”
“Has man sinned? Don't judge him; It’s better to say: don’t judge. Weep for his fall; treat it as your own fall.”
“When I analyze a person’s deeds not with the intention of condemning or humiliating him, not out of pride, but with love - for example, I say that it would be more beneficial for a person not to do such and such, I speak with compassion and praying for him - then this is not a condemnation. But if I call him an egoist and humiliate him in the eyes of other people, then this is a sin of condemnation.”
Geronda with her sisters
“Despite the fact that we are all wounded, all covered with wounds and stricken with sins, we still condemn others. In the hospital, all the people are sick, but not a single patient condemns another. No one blames their neighbor: “You are sick!” - because a person sees that he himself is sick. And we, although we are all sick at heart, hurt each other. It’s the same as if someone’s eye hurt, and he would judge the one whose lungs hurt.”
“How many people whom we consider insignificant, sinners, may one day suddenly find themselves in the Kingdom of God, and we, who occupy the place of judges and pass sentences, may ourselves be condemned and cast into hell!”
“Sin is fire. The water with which this fire is extinguished is repentance. If there was a fire in the house next door, wouldn't you run to help put it out? If you sit and watch indifferently, the flames will spread to your house. Likewise, you cannot remain indifferent when your neighbor is scorched by the fire of sin. Shed your tears too, so that the flame goes out. If you remain indifferent, you will have condemnation, and you will have sin.”
“You need to watch your words very carefully.”
“In general, you need to watch your language: when and what to say, because we are unspiritual people and therefore we constantly make mistakes. They say that it is better to fall on sharp stones than to suffer from a sharp tongue. Indeed: it is better to fall on the rocks, break your head or break your legs; both the legs and the head are bodily members and can be healed. But the language! Terrible things happen through language: with one single word you can even drive a person to suicide! By judging and humiliating a person, you can drive him to despair, or you can, with one word, push him onto the path of sin. And then we make excuses: “I just said it.” Look at the consequences!”
Geronda with the brethren
Terrible things happen through the tongue: with one word you can drive a person to suicide
“Once upon a time a demoniac came to the Simonopetra monastery. After the all-night vigil, he and the brethren left the church onto the balcony. The devil, wanting to tempt one monk, a good ascetic who led a strict life in Katunaki, did the following. This demoniac approached the monk and said: “A thought prompts me to jump down from the balcony.” The monk took this as a joke and replied: “So what are you waiting for?” And he jumped and fell to his death. The monk thought that the possessed man was joking, but he spoke seriously. And then for many years the thought tormented the monk. The devil would have brought the possessed man to death anyway, but he also captivated the ascetic monk in order to torment him for the rest of his life. One word, but how much torment!”
“This often happens to women who intend to have an abortion. They go to their friends for advice, and their friends say: “Why do you need to give birth?” Look how many children you have!” The woman had already half made up her mind, and her friend added the other half to her. And so she goes and has an abortion - commits murder. There is no doubt: half the responsibility for this murder lies with that friend.”
“So are some mothers who have a little sense in their heads: if their daughter happens to stumble, they come with advice: “Don’t disgrace yourself and us, have an abortion, and that’s all.” The girl goes and kills her child. Who is responsible here? On the mother who gave her such advice. Do you see how much harm one word can do? Therefore, you need to watch your words very carefully.”
About enemies
Enemies are hot iron with which the Lord heals us
“Let us also pray for our enemies, for those who slander us, who condemn us, persecute us, and harm us. This is the first thing we must do, because if we do not forgive them, then God will not forgive us either.”
“True love for one’s neighbor is revealed when a person with all his heart - and not just because it is necessary, for God commands so - prays for enemies, forgives them and loves them, because, in essence, our enemies are our benefactors.” .
“Whoever tempts us, who condemns us, who creates all sorts of unpleasant situations, is, on the one hand, an instrument of the devil, and on the other hand, an instrument of Jesus. The Holy Fathers say that enemies are red-hot iron with which the Lord burns out our selfishness and pride and heals us. A person acts out of malice, but we graft a wild olive onto a good one and receive a fruit that is useful for life. That is why the actions of our enemies are so beneficial for us!”
“Do you want to take revenge on your enemy? The Holy Fathers say that you need to pray for him, and your prayer will force God to intervene. God will act in accordance with His truth, and you will be justified for your love.”
"Repentance is a cure"
“It is a great and undeniable truth that we are all, without exception, struck by the arrow of sin. But if sin is an ulcer, then repentance is the cure.”
“Repentance is the response to God’s mercy, or, perhaps, God’s mercy is the response to man’s repentance.”
“There are two realities. The first is God’s love for mankind; and the second is human sinfulness. I ask you: which of these two realities is superior? Human sins, whatever they may be, have a number. And God’s love for mankind is endless and innumerable.”
“When the wound heals, it leaves a mark, a scar. Sin, when you repent of it, is forgiven and erased, so that not even a trace remains.”
“Repentance works an amazing miracle: it makes God forget. God knows the heart, He is omniscient, He has in His memory all people, all their deeds; and suddenly God “falls into forgetfulness”! It is He who consigns to oblivion the sins of people who sincerely repent.”
“Repentance is mourning that leads to joy.”
"Through the Prism of Eternity"
“The path of life is pain and tears; There are thorns and thorns everywhere.”
“Everything beautiful is associated with pain, but pain also leads to joy.”
“A rose produces thorns, and from a thorn grows a rose. Rainbows usually appear after a thunderstorm. The storm must pass before the stars can be seen in the sky. It takes a lot of hammering to create a masterpiece of sculpture. Great souls owe their greatness to severe sorrows. Gold and precious jewelry first pass through a fiery furnace.”
“He who looks at suffering through the prism of eternity has already won.”
