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Blessed Elder St '''Porphyrios (Bairaktaris) the Kapsokalyvite''' (1906-1991) was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment. He was officially recognized as a [[saint]] by the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate]] of Constantinople in 2013. His [[feast day]] is [[December 2]].

== History ==He His family was born [[February 7]] in quite poor and so Evangelos left school at an early age, having completed only the little village second class of Stprimary school, to assist his family to make more money. John KarystiaAt some stage, he found a job working at a grocer store in the province of Evoia. His parents, Leonidas Chalkidiki and Eleni Bairaktaris (daughter of Antonios Lambrou), christened him Evangelosalso in Piraeus. He was fourth out of five siblings. Only taught to pray the [[Paraklesis]] by his youngest sister is still alive father and is a nunall other religious matters.

His family was quite poor and so Evangelos left school at an early == Monastic life ==At age 13, he found his way to assist the skete of the Holy Trinity (Kafsokalyvia). Later [[tonsure]]d with his family to make more money[[monasticism|monastic]] name of Nikitas. At some stage, he found He became a job working [[monk]] at a grocer store the age or fourteen of fifteen. He served in the skete of Kafsokalyvia, in Chalkidiki the Cell of St. George, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and also in PiraeusFr. Ionnakios for six years. He Forced by pleurisy to depart the [[Mount Athos|Holy Mountain]], he returned to his birthplace, where he was taught unexpectedly elevated to pray the [[Paraklisispriest]] hood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, [[Archbishop]] of Mount Sinai and Raithu, who recognized his father spiritual gifts. With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital [[chaplain]] in Athens, serving in the church of Saint Gerasimos, in which post he continued for three decades until his retirement in 1970. He continued to offer his service there until 1973, after which he served in Kallithea and all other religious mattersMilesi. At His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the ageSavior

== Monastic Life ==Later tonsured with In 1984 he sought to return to Mount Athos in order to occupy the same [[cell]] which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon. This was in order to fulfil his monastic name of Nikitasvows and to avoid any honors by being buried in the world. He became a monk at The request was granted following the age or fourteen repose of fifteen. He served in the skete previous occupant of Kafsokalyvia, in the Cell of St. Georgecell, under two spiritual fathers: Fr. Panteimon and Fr. Ionnakios. Forced by pleurisy to depart the Holy Mountainso, he returned to together with three of his birthplacedisciples, where he was unexpectedly elevated returned to the priesthood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and RaithuAthos. With  Having foretold to one of his spiritual children that he would repose when the outbreak number of World War II he became a hospital chaplain his disciples in Athensthe cell had reached five, in which post he continued for three decades (1940-1970)prepared his tomb. His later years blessed repose was at 4:31am on December 2, 1991. According to his request, a vigil was served by his spiritual children and only after his burial were devoted to the construction fathers 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 monasteries informed in life been forced order to abandonavoid posthumous honors and praise.

He has left behind Elder Damaskinos, his disciple from 1969, who reviews much of the published works about the elder. <refgroup="note"> This blessed elder has visited Australia, and other countries, on many occassions occasions and has informed christians that much of the published work do not accurately reflect the true sayings and true beliefs of the elder - or have missed the true meaning through translations. He is in the process of writing official commentary to the latest "Wounded by Love", in which it is reported that the Elder had said that some trees where over 15,000million 000 million years old. Elder Damaskinos says this has been a mis-understood comment as Elder Porphyrios did not believe Creation to be more than the official number of years set out by the Orthodox Church.^{''citation&nbsp;needed''} </ref> == Glorification ==On 27 November 2013 the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate formally glorified Elder Porphyrius as a saint, establishing 2 December as his feast day.<ref>''[http://www.patriarchate.org/news/releases/announcement-holy-and-sacred-synod Announcement by the Holy and Sacred Synod].'' The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Wednesday, November 27, 2013.</ref><ref>''[http://www.omhksea.org/2013/11/canonization-of-two-new-saints-by-the-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Canonization of Two New Saints by the Ecumenical Patriarchate].'' Ecumenical Patriarchate - Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia ([[Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia|OMHKSEA]]). November 27, 2013. </ref>

== Notes ==<referencesgroup="note" /> ==References== <div><references/></div>

*[[http://www.orthodoxphotos.com/Orthodox_Elders/Greek/Fr._Porphyrios/index.shtml Biography of Elder Porphyrios]]