AN EXTRAORDINARY MIRACLE PERFORMED BY OUR LADY AND THE MIGHTY FORCE OF THE PRAYER OF ELDER JOSEPH OF VATOPEDI

I met Elder Joseph in the summer of 1982 at the Holy Monastery of Koutloumousi, when he was staying there at the time. I owe my first visit to the Holy Mountain to my friend Charalambos, and I thank him for it. Ever since, a loving, fatherly relationship developed between us and the elder.

I was seeing elder Joseph every time I was visiting the Holy Mountain, as well as every time he was coming to Athens. He was offering us spiritual support and consolation…

It was the beginning of March 1987. I was working at my workshop, which is somewhat primitive (I am a silversmith- handicraftsman) – with just a table, a wheel for glossing and two chairs, nothing else. I also possessed a machine called ‘flexible’, like the one dentists have- it has a foot petal, the mechanism and a wire, where most glossing tools I used are attached. On that day after lunch, I returned to the workshop to continue with what I had started in the morning. I switched on the light, took the flexible, pressed the foot petal and that was it! The flexible became attached to my hand and the electricity was going through me. I felt terrible pain and suddenly it was dark- I was electrocuted. The pain was excruciating and I felt that I was dying any second. Suddenly I heard: “Most Holy Lady, with the blessing of Elder Joseph, have mercy on me”. I didn’t get the chance to listen to this for a second time, when I suddenly found myself lying on the floor with eyes wide open and I noticed the flexible and a piece of wood I was using.

I suddenly realized that a great miracle was performed, I was saved from electrocution. I noticed the icon of the Most Holy Lady on my wall, the one I brought from the Holy Mountain, I pulled it in my arms and I started crying profusely like a small child. A few days later, I sent a letter to elder Joseph, who by that time had moved to New Skete, and told him the whole story. Below is Elder Joseph’s handwritten reply, dated 27/3/1987:

“My dearest beloved children, Spyro and Maria, our Jesus’ grace may always be with you. I have received your letter, my child, and I have been flabbergasted by the calamity that befell on you and thanked the Lord and His Most Immaculate mother for saving you. I was truly upset by this escapade, but after realizing its deeper meaning I was pleased because it caused you to increase your faith and practically learn the might of the prayers , as well as what it means to have spiritual fathers who love you. We wouldn’t dare mention this ourselves, had not divine grace revealed it to you. I think all this was the result of my darling little girl’s –Maria’s- faith..

The voices you heard, my child, were not voices, but the energies of divine grace in the face of the grave danger you found yourself in, you were saved by our Lord’s philanthropy and you were taught to comprehend the force and the grace of faith. It would be good if you were to tell other faithful people, so that they too are taught and derive some benefit. This is not conceit, since you are not citing your own abilities or deeds, but a miracle of divine mercy. This does not emanate from Satan, unless our Lord allows it, even though the wicked- one is in essence a ‘man killer’. What happened to you did not happen because of your sins but in order to reinforce your faith.

I wholeheartedly pray for your,

With all my affection,

Your father”

 

 

SPYROS KANELLOPOULOS,

Silversmith, Craftsman