O. I remember something else that he told us. He wanted to explain to me how it is possible to help someone and then for that person who is helped not only to act ungratefully but also for that person to do something bad in return. He said, “Well that is something that is natural.” I said to him, “Natural?” “Yes, my dear. That is the natural response because” he says, “as long as you live the person you helped remembers his obligation to you, therefore he must do away with you so that he can end that feeling of obligation to you.”

He gave an example about someone who owed money to Fr. Porphyrios at the time when he was manufacturing knitwear for a large department store in Athens. He had told me the whole story. That person was trying to harm him so that he could be rid of him.

He said, “as long as that person sees you, he remembers his obligation to you and in remembering his obligation, he feels uncomfortable. Therefore, he searches for ways to get rid of you.”

G. I had made great efforts to help someone. When I was in a difficult situation that person let me down, he did nothing to help. That bothered me very much and I said to him, “Pappouli, those people who owe me everything when I was in great need they let me down.” Then he said to me: …

S. That it was natural?

G. “Yes” he said, “that is the way it is. It is natural, it is a natural behavior. This is why when someone does a good deed for someone, it should be done without their knowing it. In this way, they won’t feel obligated to that person. They, by not knowing where the help came from, will not be able to turn that good deed against you, to something bad, let us say.”

From the book “Miraculous Occurences and Counsels of Elder Porphyrios“

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Πληροφορίες γιὰ τοὺς τίτλους τῶν Ἐκδόσεων τοῦ Ἱεροῦ Ἡσυχαστηρίου μπορεῖτε νὰ βρεῖτε ἐδῶ