By Metropolitan Neophytos of Morphou
The Holy New Martyr Ephraim the Newly-Appeared was martyred, and he was found by our most venerable mother Makaria, whom God has found me worthy to get to know very well.
She was, to tell you the truth, the first who received me as a Bishop.
I was then twenty years old and wearing pants. She came out of the monastery and said to one of her nuns, Ephraimia:
"Go, my child, three clergy are coming."
Poor Ephraimia then went out and looked towards the road. She saw us, three students who were walking up. She then said:
"Eldress, they are three students, not clergy."
"No, my child, they are three clergy," she replied. "Two of them will become Bishops."
As soon as we entered inside, she bent forward towards me and Gerasimos Phokas who later became Metropolitan of Kefallonia for a short time, but he died and went to heaven where he rejoices up there in eternal life, and she kissed the hands of the three of us.
And I said to myself, "See how the Holy God graces His people."
She was, to tell you the truth, the first who received me as a Bishop.
I was then twenty years old and wearing pants. She came out of the monastery and said to one of her nuns, Ephraimia:
"Go, my child, three clergy are coming."
Poor Ephraimia then went out and looked towards the road. She saw us, three students who were walking up. She then said:
"Eldress, they are three students, not clergy."
"No, my child, they are three clergy," she replied. "Two of them will become Bishops."
As soon as we entered inside, she bent forward towards me and Gerasimos Phokas who later became Metropolitan of Kefallonia for a short time, but he died and went to heaven where he rejoices up there in eternal life, and she kissed the hands of the three of us.
And I said to myself, "See how the Holy God graces His people."
From a recorded sermon. Translated by John Sanidopoulos.