Prophet Elisha   We first encounter the Prophet Elisha in the third book of Kingdoms. The Prophet Elijah had thoughts that he alone was left among the prophets of Israel, but it was revealed to him that “Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah, you shall anoint as prophet in your place” (3 Kingdoms 19:16). When the Prophet Elijah found Elisha, he was “plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him”. He threw his mantle onto him, thus signifying that Elisha was now the prophet of Israel (3 Kingdoms 19: 19). From that time, Elisha became Elijah’s loyal follower, [...]

Habits That Do Not Go Away   She was a teenager when the Germans had reached her sea-side township of Poulithra in Greece. A fair number of soldiers were stationed in the upper township and they had chosen her family’s home as their base. The officers had set up their command control centre with the radio and other equipment in their sitting room. The family continued to live there as well, as it was a two storey house, and the heavy doors afforded them some sense of security, even though it must have felt like house arrest. Being young, Metaxia [...]

Elder Ephraim of Katounakia by Tessy Vassiliadou-Christodoulou. Published by Katounakia, 2003   Elder Ephraim of Katounakia is a recent Athonite pillar of faith, having fallen asleep in the Lord in 1998. This book, written by his spiritual children from Katounakia, provides us with a glimpse of the elder’s life, teachings and holiness. The book is separated into three sections. In the first, we are relayed details of his life. We begin with his youth, to time in the isolated Katounakia, his extraordinary struggles in prayer and complete obedience, and eventually to his eldership of a brotherhood of his own. The [...]

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve (Matthew 9:36-10:8)   This passage from Matthew is read on the feast day of the Holy Apostles (30 June). We read that Christ sent out the Twelve on their first apostolic mission and about how they were given power over demons and even the power to raise the dead! But Christ reminds them to accept these gifts in humility because every good thing given to them (and to us) is not their own, but a free gift of God’s grace. This is why the Apostles and all the Saints never sold their gifts. In gratitude [...]

What do we expect Heaven to be like?   What an exciting Question! I was once with a 15- year-old boy who was dying in the middle of the night after a long battle with leukaemia. He asked me “What will Heaven be like?” I was not sure which answer would be suitable for him, so I asked him “What do you imagine Heaven will be like?” He responded, “I think Heaven will have waterfalls and dolphins.” Everyone who believes in God, has a strong sense that Heaven is an existence of great beauty. Many earthly words and images have [...]