Dead 💀 Man visiting Photios kontoglou

One evening, on Easter Monday in 1964, just past midnight before I went to sleep, I went out into the little garden behind our house and stood for a while, looking up at the dark, star-filled sky. A holy elder once told me that at this hour, the heavens open. I would stand there alone until dawn, feeling as though I had no body and no connection to the earth. Sometimes, I wondered if someone in the house might wake up and worry that I was gone, so I returned inside and lay down. Yet I wasn't very sleepy. I don’t know if I was awake or asleep when I saw, before me, a man with a blank face.

He was as pale as death, his eyes wide and staring at me in fear. His face was like a mask, like a mummy’s—skin black-yellow, shiny, and clinging to his skull, showing every hollow. He was gasping for breath. In one hand, he held a strange object I could not identify; with the other, he pressed his chest as if in pain. The sight of him made me shudder. I looked at him, and he looked at me without speaking, as if we had been destined to meet. And although he was silent, it was as if a voice in my head told me, "It’s so-and-so." As soon as I heard that voice, I knew who he was. Then he opened his mouth and gasped, but his voice seemed to come from far away, echoing from the depths of a well. It was obvious he was in great distress—his hands, legs, eyes, everything showed he was being tortured. In my desperation, I tried to go to him to help, but he signaled with his hand for me to stop, not to approach. I started to moan, frozen in place. Then he said, "I did not come by my own will—they sent me. Here I tremble always. I am dizzy. I want to die, but I cannot." "Ah, what you said, Foti, came true. Do you remember, a few days before I died, when you came to my house and spoke to me about faith? You warned me about my friends, how they were unbelievers like me. While you spoke, they only smiled. When you left, they mocked you, saying it was a shame that a man like you believed in such nonsense. Another time, I told you, as I often did, 'Brother Foti, save your money, or you’ll die penniless. Look at me—I have plenty, but I still want more.' You asked me if I had any guarantee I would live as long as I wanted. I told you, 'I’m 75 now; I’ll live past a hundred. My children are provided for, my son makes good money, my daughter married well, and my wife wants for nothing. Not like you, listening to what priests say.' I told you that Christians end their lives with nothing, and what do they gain from giving money to the church? 'Your God made the poor for me to help? Nonsense. I know all these tricks. Let the simple-minded believe it. Not you, my Light—you’re educated and yet you’re lost. You’ll die before I do, leaving your family behind. But I tell you as a doctor—I’ll live to 110.'" As he spoke, he twisted about as if roasting on a spit, pulling something dumb from his mouth. "Ah! Ah! Ouch!" He calmed down for a while and continued, "But in a few days, I died. I lost the bet. What a riot. What horror I endured! Helpless, I would sink, then rise, and cry for mercy. But no one heard me. A current spun me around like a dead mouse. What agony! Everything you said came true. You won the bet. When I was alive, I was clever—a doctor, respected. I mocked religion, dismissed the afterlife. Now I see what I once called fairy tales are real. This is the agony, the gnashing of teeth the saints spoke of." After that, he vanished, though I could still hear his moans fading into the distance. I must have slept for a while, but suddenly I felt a cold hand push me. I opened my eyes and saw him again—smaller now, more hideous, the size of a child with an old man’s head shaking to and fro. He opened his mouth and said, "Soon it will be dawn, and those who sent me will come to take me." I asked who sent him, but his answer was confused, unintelligible. He told me that where he was, there were many others like him—people who mocked my faith. Now they understood that cleverness ends at the grave. There were others, too, whom I had treated well, and they spoke badly of me. The more I forgave, the more bitter they became, for kindness made them feel defeated. These souls are in an even worse state, unable to leave their prison as he had. "They are tortured even more, beaten with the scourge of love, as a saint once said. The world is not as we see it—it is upside down from what we thought. Now we understand that our cleverness was foolishness, our talk was empty, our joys were false. You, who have your heart in Christ—you have won the great bet between believers and unbelievers, the bet I lost. I am lost, trembling, sighing, without peace. In Hades there is no repentance. Woe to those who walk the path we walked. We mocked belief in God and the afterlife, and many applauded us. We called you fools and hypocrites, and the more patiently you accepted our insults, the more our malice grew. I see even now how saddened you were by our evil, but how patiently you accepted the arrows we shot at you, calling you names. If only the unfortunate could see what I see now, they would be horrified at their actions. I want to warn them, to tell them to change, but I have no permission—just as the rich man begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers, but was refused. And so, the wicked are condemned, and those who walk with God are saved. I have wronged the unjust, the defiled, and the righteous, for years, as the scripture says..." And then he faded away.

 

🔹 Erdogan vs. Kemalism

• Erdogan represents the Islamic/neo-Ottoman vision. He wants Turkey to be the leader of the Muslim world.

• The Kemalists (the army, old politicians, the deep state) are more secular, pro-Western, and military nationalists.

• They were the ones who supported the invasion of Cyprus in 1974, and generally saw Hellenism as their main opponent.

⸻

🔹 How Israel Comes In

• Israel dislikes Erdogan, because it sees him as a threat due to his ties with Hamas and Iran.

• The Kemalists, however, are closer to Israel’s and the West’s logic (though there is still distrust there too).

• So, if the Kemalists gain strength (e.g. through Erdogan’s political downfall), we may again face a much harsher, anti-Hellenic, more militaristic Turkey.

⸻

🔹 Why Hellenism is at Risk

• Erdogan plays a balancing act and does not want a direct war with Greece → this holds him back.

• The Kemalists, however, have the “Blue Homeland” doctrine more clearly, and they see the Aegean–Cyprus as vital space.

• Thus, if they come strongly back to the forefront, the pressure on Greece–Cyprus will increase, possibly even militarily.

⸻

✅ Conclusion:

The Kemalists are the ones who “carried out the invasion of Cyprus,” and indeed, if they are strengthened or cooperate with forces that want Erdogan gone, then Hellenism will find itself in a difficult position. Erdogan may not want wars immediately, but the Kemalists are colder in their strategy and more dangerous for Greece–Cyprus.

Η μητέρα μας

 “They cannot hide the face of the Virgin Mary.

Her love and protection are always visible to those who seek Her with a pure heart.”

Christ’s Message to Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou on the Coming Events

It is vital to maintain daily contact with our Guardian Angel, primarily through prayer. Recently, I reflected deeply on the Holy Angels as the events foretold by the Saints since 2011 begin to unfold—particularly the warning that an attack on Iran’s nuclear program by Israel would trigger a global conflict, eventually escalating into a Third World War. Witnessing these prophecies become reality is terrifying, even for those who have studied them for years.

The challenge is not whether we will face hardship, but how our hearts will manage fear during such destructive events. The Church’s role is crucial: it prepares us not only with prophetic insight but also by guiding our spiritual strength. We are not journalists reporting events; we are servants of the truth—Christ Himself.

Even knowing what is to come, fear is natural. The reality of nuclear threats is overwhelming, yet God remains a God of peace, love, and joy. True peace begins within: forgiving those who have wronged us, repenting for our own sins, and cultivating inner calm. This inner peace allows us to pray, participate in the sacraments, and receive Communion.

History shows that even Saints prayed to prevent war. Saint Iakovos, for example, pleaded against further conflicts, recalling his own suffering during the Second World War, the Greek Civil War, and refugee crises. Yet the Saints also reminded us that God sometimes allows war because humanity often proves unworthy of lasting peace, having corrupted it through greed, pleasure, and indulgence.

In response to these challenges, we are urged to pray: “Lord Jesus Christ, fortify us with Your Holy Angels.” This prayer invokes the protection, guidance, and love of the Angels, creating a spiritual stronghold around us and uniting us in faith with the Saints. Even amidst earthquakes, disasters, or wars, the Angels protect the faithful, guarding our homes, food, and water.

Now, more than ever, it is essential to strengthen our connection with the Holy Angels. This period challenges each of us to demonstrate the depth of our faith and unity with God, the Saints, and His Angels. Daily prayer, particularly in quiet or reflective moments, is key to spiritual resilience as we navigate the trials ahead.

When we asked Father Paisios

Когда мы спросили о времени Пасхи: «Но как мы освободимся?», он ответил: «Сынок, после угрозы, которую турки выдвинули в Эгейском море, русские ударят по ним со всех сторон так сильно, что им придётся вывести

свои войска с Кипра, чтобы отправить их на войну в

Босфорский пролив. И однажды ты проснёшься и услышишь, что

войска уходят воевать в Турцию, и тогда тебе придётся

управлять Северным Кипром, у которого не будет армии,

но он будет полон эпоса, поскольку он будет полон турок-киприотов,

курдов, лазов, алевитов, суннитов и шиитов — там мы увидим свой разум, и мы

Как церковь, мы должны нести большую ответственность перед

христианами, также и перед мусульманами.

Я сейчас замерзаю здесь. Люди говорят, что будут протесты.

Прежде чем Кипр будет освобождён, будет период процветания, как это было

мы видели. Но тогда наступит великий суд, как мы и живём. Если мир не поймёт этого и не обратится к Богу, наступит великий суд. Вслушайтесь в подробности:

Отели будут забронированы. И дома будут стоять на

столпах без конца.

Бог вод может закрыть небо и вызвать дождь. То есть, всё принадлежит

ему. И есть одна милая истина, которая, однако, скрывает трагическую

истину, которую, к сожалению, приходится говорить: наступит время, когда

Осёл будет выведен и не будет найден. Зачем мы будем гнать ослов?

Потому что не будет топлива. Вот в чём причина.

Когда не будет топлива, как я доберусь из Эвриху в Ставратос?

Э: Так вот в чём большая проблема: у нас может

не быть войны, но у нас не будет товаров. Кроты Саколы высохнут за

три дня. Как будет прокормлен этот мир городов? Вот почему я говорю, что

Важный вопрос, к которому мы должны отнестись серьёзно, — это сельское хозяйство. иметь свою собственную в трудные времена, уметь самостоятельно управлять

по крайней мере, своей жизнью, по крайней мере, своим существованием

Angel: “I came three times to take you to Paradise, but each time your father stopped me with his heartbreaking tears.”

When Father Gerasimos celebrated the forty-day Divine Liturgies, he personally commemorated thousands of departed souls at the Holy Proskomide. The holy elder would sometimes receive unexpected visits in the Holy Spirit from the souls of the departed, when their spiritual condition changed—when they passed from the tormented Hades into the holy Paradise. The passage of souls from the darkness of the fallen angels into the heavenly Light of Christ the Life-Giver was his greatest joy, his inner peace, and his unspeakable exultation.

To give an example of this indescribable joy and heavenly gift bestowed upon Father Gerasimos, I will recount the following. He himself once told me that during the first 17 years of his priesthood, among the thousands of names he commemorated was that of his uncle, his mother’s brother, whom he had never met.

One morning, during the Divine Liturgy, he suddenly saw a man patiently standing with his hands in prayer, waiting until the elder would finish the Holy Proskomide. Looking more carefully, he noticed a supernatural brightness in the visitor’s eyes and face. Soon after, he heard the inner voice telling him: “This, Father, is your uncle, your mother’s brother. He has come to thank you for the many years of unceasing commemoration you offered him through the grace of the Savior Christ!”

The elder motioned him to approach. The soul of the uncle made three prostrations, received the blessing of the elder, thanked him, reverently stepped back, and then disappeared into the light.

Coincidentally, Father Gerasimos and the narrator shared a mutual friend, Athanasios, a very devout Christian who underwent a uniquely great trial with his 13-year-old firstborn son.

The child of Athanasios was wasting away from aggressive cancer in a large hospital in Athens. The whole family of the young boy was in a spiritual and earthly state of alarm. The pain was unspeakable. The whole household stood on edge.

The father was constantly at his son’s bedside, weeping, lamenting, and grieving over the final hours of his child’s earthly life. A father severely tested, an unceasing “guardian.” At one point, the little boy’s eyes fixed on the empty space of the hospital room, and the 13-year-old began speaking with a visitor invisible to his father.

“Yes, my Angel, I also want to follow you,” the boy repeated two or three times.

Then the child turned to his father with a pleading look, and with a childlike sadness begged him to stop his bitter crying. As the 13-year-old explained, the reason for this plea was that his father’s heart-wrenching lament had stopped, three times already, the departure of his soul to the Lord!

The very sick child then said with his pure childlike heart to his mourning and tearful father:

“Daddy, outside nature is so beautiful, and for many months now I have not been able to enjoy it, lying in hospital beds and in unbearable pain. Daddy, I have not seen my friends and schoolmates for many months to play with them, to rejoice and laugh together. Daddy… please, my sweet and beloved daddy, I want to tell you that the Angel who came a while ago was visiting me for the third time, and he said to me: ‘I came to take you to Paradise three times now, but each time your father stops me with his bitter sobs and heartbreaking cries. Tell your father to hold your hand, not to cry, and when I see this sign of his inner consent, then I will immediately come to take you with me.’

Tell your father also to pray within himself to the Savior of the world, and to know with absolute certainty that I will take you straight to the Lord Jesus Christ!”

This is what the boy said, and this is what the father, Athanasios, then did. Within five minutes, the father felt his child’s little hand squeezing his gently, and immediately afterward, his 13-year-old son departed this fleeting life. The boy was now journeying to the other and eternal life, to the Lord and to His heavenly dwellings.

At that dreadful moment of temporary separation from his father, the little son closed his eyes and had a smile of joy upon his lips, appearing completely at peace, passing redeemed and blessed into the ages of ages.

The faithful father then embraced his little son with heartbreaking pain, yet also with heavenly joy and exultation, knowing that his angelic child was now beside the Lord, exactly as the Holy Angel had announced to him through his son.

Source: “Ascetics in the Basements of Athens” by Elias D. Kallioras, Agathos Logos Publications, Athens 2025, pp. 23–27

 Η Αποκάλυψη παρουσιάζει τους τέσσερις Ιππείς ως διαδοχικές πληγές που επιτρέπει ο Θεός για να ταρακουνηθεί η ανθρωπότητα, να μετανοήσει και να επιστρέψει κοντά Του. Ο Άγιος Παΐσιος μιλούσε για μια αναλαμπή της Ορθοδοξίας πριν την τελική φάση των εσχάτων, όπου ο κόσμος θα δει σημάδια του Θεού και θα δοθεί μια τελευταία ευκαιρία σωτηρίας.

Σύνδεση των Ιππέων με την «αναλαμπή»

1. Λευκός Ίππος – Κατάκτηση / Ευαγγέλιο
   
• Παρουσιάζει τη δύναμη του Λόγου του Θεού που θα ξαναλάμψει.
• Στην αναλαμπή, πολλοί θα επιστρέψουν στην Εκκλησία, και θα υπάρξει μια ανανέωση της πίστης, σαν να «καλπάζει» ξανά η νίκη του Χριστού.
2. 
   
3. Ερυθρός Ίππος – Πόλεμος
   
• Ο Παΐσιος προειδοποιούσε για συγκρούσεις (Τουρκία, Μέση Ανατολή, παγκόσμιες αναστατώσεις).
• Αυτά τα γεγονότα, αν και φοβερά, θα κάνουν τον κόσμο να αναζητήσει τον Θεό, καταλαβαίνοντας ότι η ειρήνη χωρίς Χριστό δεν στέκει.
4. 
   
5. Μέλας Ίππος – Πείνα, Στέρηση
   
• Η κρίση στα αγαθά και η αδικία θα αναγκάσουν τους ανθρώπους να δουν ότι δεν μπορούν να ζήσουν μόνο με ψωμί, αλλά με τον Λόγο του Θεού.
• Θα υπάρξει στροφή στην απλότητα, στη νηστεία και στη μετάνοια, που είναι στοιχεία της ορθόδοξης ζωής.
6. 
   
7. Χλωρός Ίππος – Θάνατος
   
• Ο φόβος του θανάτου θα γίνει αφορμή για πνευματική αναζήτηση.
• Ο Άγιος Παΐσιος έλεγε πως μέσα από μεγάλες δοκιμασίες ο κόσμος θα «ξυπνήσει» και θα δοθεί μια τελευταία ευκαιρία σωτηρίας πριν εμφανιστεί ο Αντίχριστος.
8. 
   

Συνολικό μήνυμα

Οι Ιππείς δείχνουν τις δοκιμασίες που θα επιτρέψει ο Θεός· η «αναλαμπή» είναι το φως μέσα σε αυτά τα σκοτάδια:

• Η Ορθοδοξία θα λάμψει με θαύματα και επιστροφή ανθρώπων στον Χριστό.
• Όσοι κατανοήσουν τα σημάδια θα σωθούν.
• Θα είναι μια παγκόσμια αφύπνιση πριν το τελικό σκοτάδι.