THE GREAT WAGER: A Spiritual Warning from Fotis Kontoglou

 THE GREAT WAGER: A Spiritual Warning from Fotis Kontoglou. A couple of days ago, I was reading an old book by Fotis Kontoglou, the great Greek hagiographer and writer. I came across a very beautiful passage that I wanted to share with you. It is called “The Great Wager.” It speaks about the great wager between believers and unbelievers—in other words, about the struggle that takes place between a person who believes in God and one who does not. The believer does not wage war against the unbeliever. Rather, he simply tells him, with love, that he is going down the wrong path and that he should begin to think more seriously about these things—to seriously consider spiritual matters and the truth of Christ. For Christ is the Truth. There is no other truth apart from Christ. Let me read this passage slowly and say a few words about it. A Night Beneath the Stars. One beautiful spring night, just before midnight, before I went to sleep, I went into the little garden behind our house. I stood there for a while, looking up at the nearby sky, filled with stars, as though I were seeing it for the first time. Sometimes it seems that a person’s consciousness suddenly opens, and he sees something familiar as though it were completely new. That night I looked at the sky as a child would look at it for the first time. How beautiful the colors seemed to us when we were children! How beautiful the fragrances of the flowers were! Everything had an indescribable, almost virginal beauty. These things filled the space of the child’s soul. And when we grow older, perhaps we retain something of those childhood experiences. Sometimes a particular fragrance, a certain light, or some familiar sight brings those beautiful memories back to us. That night the sky seemed to me to be filled with something profound, as though a distant hymn were coming down from above. It seemed as though I could hear sacred hymns, quietly repeating: “Arise, O Lord, our God, and worship at His feet.” An elderly holy man once told me that at such hours the heavens seem to open, and the air itself becomes filled with the fragrance of musk and with the glory of the Lord. This is why Kontoglou’s description is so beautiful. Who could look at the flowers of spring, smell their fragrance, and gaze upon the stars of a clear night without feeling something great within his soul? My dear friends, look up at the sky on a clear spring night. Look at the stars. You must have felt something. I could have remained there until dawn, as though I had no body and no connection with the earth. But I thought that someone in the house might wake up and worry that I had disappeared. So I went inside, lay down, and soon fell asleep. The Man Who Appeared to Me: I do not know whether I was awake or asleep when I suddenly saw before me a strange-looking man. He was pale and yellowish, almost as though he were dead. His eyes were open, and he looked at me with terror. His face was like a mask. His skin appeared dark and strangely distorted. With one hand he held his chest, as though he were suffering terrible pain. The sight made me shudder. He kept looking at me without speaking, as though he were waiting for something. Everything was extraordinarily strange. Then I heard a voice. As soon as I heard it, I knew who he was. He opened his mouth and sighed, but his voice seemed to come from very far away—as though it were coming from a deep well. I could see that he was in terrible pain, and I began to suffer with him. His hands, his legs, and his eyes—all of him—seemed to express unbearable agony. I went toward him because I wanted to help him. But he waved his hands, telling me to stop. Then he began to cry out so terribly that I froze. He said, "I did not come here by myself. They sent me.” I trembled all over. I was completely overwhelmed, and I asked God to have mercy on me. He continued: “I want to die, but I cannot.” Then he said, "What you told me has come true.” “Do you remember a few days before my death, when you came to my house and spoke to me about religion? There were two other friends with me who were unbelievers, just like me. When you spoke, they laughed. They told me that it was a shame for someone with such a good mind to believe such nonsense. They said that these were merely old women’s stories. We had heard such things so many times. And we laughed at you. But now, my friend, I understand what you were telling us.” “I Thought I Would Live Forever” “Do you remember what you told me many times? You told me, 'My friend, save money if you want, but you will die just like everyone else. Look how much you already have—and yet you always want more.’ And I told you that I had made a kind of agreement with life—that I would live for many more years. You asked me, 'What do you want to do with all those years?’ And I answered, 'You will see how old I become. I am seventy-five, and I will live beyond one hundred.’” This, too, was a deception. A person can imagine that he has many years ahead of him, yet the human heart can stop at any moment. Nothing guarantees us another day—or even another minute. The human heart depends upon extraordinarily delicate electrical and biochemical processes. A tiny electrical impulse causes the heart muscle to contract, again and again, keeping the body alive. And yet a person’s entire earthly life can end in a single moment. I thought I had made a contract with life. I said, "I will live beyond one hundred. I have taken care of my children. My son makes good money. My daughter has married a wealthy man. My wife and I have everything we need.” And I thought I was secure. I laughed when Christians spoke about death and the end of life. The Great Irony This is the irony that many secular people and unbelievers use against Christians. When Christians speak about the end of our lives, when we make the sign of the Cross and say that we want our final years—and especially our final moment—to find us as Christians, people sometimes laugh at us. But what does it actually mean? It means that we want to be prepared. We want to leave this world as Christians. That is not something ridiculous. It is something of enormous importance. When we hear in church about death and judgment, we are shaken. We make the sign of the Cross. We understand that our life will end. And we want that end to find us spiritually prepared. Yet some people laugh at this and consider it foolish. But now let us see what happened. “Why Did Your Merciful God Allow Poor People to Exist?” The unbeliever asks: “Why did your merciful God create poor people? Why should I give money to the poor? Why did He bring them into the world?” This is another misunderstanding. We are told to give alms to the poor, not merely because the poor need material help, but because helping them is also for the benefit of our own souls. In reality, the poor often benefit us spiritually far more than we benefit them materially. We may give them a little money, some food, or something they need. But through them, God allows us to practice mercy, charity, and love. The ideal is not to keep every surplus thing in our own pockets. The Danger of Becoming Dependent. And then there is another danger that we should think about. Imagine a society in which everything depends upon cards and electronic systems. You have money, but it exists only through a card. You need the card for everything. Without it, you may find yourself unable to buy what you need. Even today, if you do not have a telephone card, you may have difficulty making a telephone call. You must find another telephone, a public phone, or someone willing to help you. I am not saying that every card is evil or that we should literally reject every modern service. These things can be useful. It is a matter of personal judgment and conscience. We should not condemn someone simply because he uses such services. We do not have that right. But we should remain spiritually alert. We should avoid becoming completely dependent upon systems that could eventually control every aspect of human life. This is an act of vigilance and, where necessary, an act of spiritual resistance. God sees the intention of the heart. Saint Paisios warned that after such systems of identification and cards, even more restrictive forms of identification and control could eventually appear. Whether one agrees with every detail of such warnings or not, the spiritual lesson remains: Do not surrender your freedom of conscience. Do not allow modern conveniences to become chains. “Why Should I Give Anything to the Poor?” The unbeliever continues: “Why should I give anything to lazy poor people? Why did God create them? Why should I support them?” But God does not abandon the poor. And He also uses the existence of the poor to test the hearts of those who have more. The poor allow us to practice mercy. They may receive something from us materially, but we can receive something much greater spiritually. “I Will Live to Be 110.” The man continued: “I was a doctor. I had studied. I knew how to speak. I knew how to make fun of religion. I believed only in things that could be seen and measured. I told myself that I would live to be 110 years old. I was certain of it.” But suddenly everything changed. He seemed to be suffering terribly, as though he were being burned. Something came from his mouth. He cried, "Oh! Oh!” Then he became silent for a moment. Finally he said, "What I told you a few days ago has happened. I died. I died—and I lost the wager. What terror! What horror! I cried out: ‘Mercy! Mercy!’ But no one heard me. What torment this is! Everything you told me has come true. You won the wager.” “You Were Right” He continued: “When I was in the world you live in, I thought I was the intelligent one. I was a doctor. I had learned how to speak and how to ridicule religion. I believed only in tangible things. But now I see that what I called fairy tales and superstition is real. Now I understand. Now I see what I refused to believe. But it is too late.” His voice slowly faded away. I fell asleep for a while. Then, suddenly, I felt a cold hand touching me. I opened my eyes and saw him again. This time he looked even more terrible. He appeared smaller, almost like a distorted old Byzantine figure. He opened his mouth and told me, "Soon it will be dawn, and they will come to take me away. Those who sent me will come.” I asked him, "Who sent you?” He answered with confused words that I could hardly understand. Then he told me, "There are many others here like me. They are the ones who mocked you because of your faith. Now they understand that human reasoning does not extend beyond the grave.” The Malice of the Devil He also spoke about people who had received kindness from Christians and yet repaid that kindness with hatred. This is one of the great evils of the devil. Sometimes when we show kindness to someone, that person does not rejoice. Instead, he feels humiliated. He thinks, "They are better than me. They have something I do not have. I am in a worse condition than they are.” And instead of responding to kindness with gratitude, he responds with bitterness. This is a terrible spiritual condition. The man said, "I am being severely tormented because I rejected the love of God. As one of the saints said, the love of God becomes a scourge for those who refuse to accept it.” The Great Wager. Then came the most important words: “You who have Christ in your heart, you for whom the word of Christ is the Truth, you have won the great wager. You have won the great wager between believers and unbelievers. I, the miserable one, lost. I perished. I tremble and sigh, and I cannot find peace. Unfortunately, I am in Hell. There is no repentance there anymore. Woe to those who leave this world as we did. While we were on earth, we allowed our passions to intoxicate us. We joined ourselves with those who did not believe in God or in the life to come. And the world applauded us. It applauded us when we mocked those who believed. The world applauds evil. You can see it in the theaters. The more vulgar and obscene a performance becomes, the more applause it receives. And when performers see that obscenity receives applause, they give the people even more of it. It becomes a vicious circle. If the world stopped rewarding obscenity, obscenity would diminish. But instead, the world applauds it.” When Evil Is Crowned, and Goodness Is Mocked He continued: “Look at what happens. Evil is crowned, while goodness is condemned. The world applauds those who live according to their passions and mocks those who believe in God and eternal life. People called us clever. They called you fools. And we accepted that applause. We thought we had won. But now I understand. Our wickedness was not a victory. It was our destruction.” He described how the world can insult Christians with every kind of accusation: “Hypocrites! Religious fanatics! Blasphemers! Fascists! Obscurantists!” And many other names. Yet Christians are called to receive such insults with patience rather than hatred. If those who mock Christianity could see, even for a moment, the reality of the spiritual world from which this man was speaking, they would be terrified. I wish they could be warned. I wish they could change their ways. But I have no permission to return and warn them. It is like the rich man in the Gospel who begged Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. He was not sent. A Final Warning: We will all be judged according to our deeds. Those who live in sin must take the consequences of sin seriously. Those who live in repentance, faith, and love place their hope in the mercy of God. These are spiritual flowers from the writings of Fotis Kontoglou, reflections on the immortal values of Orthodox Christian life. This particular passage is deeply moving because it resembles accounts found in the writings of various saints—accounts of visions, of souls experiencing the consequences of their earthly lives, and of the terrible realization that can come after death. My dear friends, those who do not believe may one day be confronted with a reality they did not expect. And then it will be too late to correct what should have been corrected during this earthly life. That is why this message deserves to be taken seriously. Not only by those who believe, but especially by those who mock religion and regard everything spiritual as a joke. It is time to think seriously—very seriously—about God, about Christ, about death, about the soul, and about the life to come. The great wager is not about money. It is about eternity. And every human being is making that wager through the way he chooses to live.

 WHY DOES THE DEVIL WORK THROUGH HERESY? AN ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

The Spiritual Danger of Distorting the Truth of Jesus Christ

From the perspective of the Orthodox Christian faith, the devil’s greatest aim is not merely to persuade people to deny the existence of God, but to lead them away from the true knowledge of God, the salvation offered through Jesus Christ, and the fullness of the truth revealed to the Church.

This is why heresy has always been regarded by the Orthodox Church as a serious spiritual danger. Heresy is not simply a disagreement over religious opinions. It can involve the distortion of the identity of Jesus Christ, the rejection of His divinity, the misunderstanding of the Holy Trinity, or the corruption of the Gospel and the apostolic faith handed down through the generations.

The devil is described in Holy Scripture as the father of lies (John 8:44). His characteristic method is deception: making falsehood appear to be truth, darkness appear to be light, and spiritual error appear to be a path to salvation.

From this perspective, heresy can become one of the means through which the enemy seeks to separate people from the truth of Christ.

1. The Devil Distorts the Truth Rather Than Always Rejecting It Openly

One of the most dangerous characteristics of spiritual deception is that it does not always appear openly hostile to Christianity.

A person may speak about God, quote the Bible, pray, preach morality, and even claim to follow Jesus Christ, while simultaneously teaching ideas that contradict the Christian faith.

The temptation in the Garden of Eden began with the distortion of God’s word (Genesis 3:1–5). Similarly, when Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, he even quoted Scripture, attempting to use it in a misleading way (Matthew 4:1–11).

This reveals an important spiritual principle: not everything that uses the name of God necessarily communicates the truth about God.

A religious teaching must therefore be examined carefully. The question is not merely whether someone quotes the Bible, but whether that person interprets Scripture faithfully and remains consistent with the apostolic faith.

2. Why the Identity of Jesus Christ Is at the Centre of the Battle

The most important question in Christianity is: Who is Jesus Christ?

The Orthodox Church confesses that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son and Word of God, truly God and truly man. He is not merely a prophet, an angel, a created being, or a moral teacher. He became man for our salvation, was crucified, rose bodily from the dead, and conquered death.

The New Testament strongly emphasizes the importance of confessing Christ correctly.

In 1 John 4:1, Christians are instructed not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to determine whether they are from God.

In 2 John 1:9, the apostle warns against departing from the teaching of Christ.

In Galatians 1:8, Saint Paul warns that even if someone proclaims a different gospel, that message must not be accepted simply because the messenger claims spiritual authority.

Why is this so important? Because if the identity of Christ is distorted, the understanding of salvation is also distorted. If Christ is reduced to a created being, His eternal divinity is denied. If His true humanity or bodily Resurrection is rejected, the Christian understanding of the Incarnation and victory over death is undermined.

For Orthodox Christians, defending the truth about Christ is therefore not an exercise in religious pride. It concerns the very heart of the Gospel.

3. Heresy Can Divide People from the Apostolic Faith

Christ established His Church and entrusted His apostles with the proclamation of the Gospel. The apostles then handed down the faith through their teaching, their witness, and the life of the Christian community.

The Orthodox Church understands Holy Tradition not as a collection of human inventions, but as the living transmission of the apostolic faith, expressed in Scripture, the Church’s worship, the Ecumenical Councils, and the teaching of the Holy Fathers.

Throughout history, serious theological disputes arose over the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, His two natures, and other fundamental doctrines.

The Church responded by examining these teachings and defending the faith it had received.

From an Orthodox spiritual perspective, the devil benefits when Christians are confused, divided, and led to believe that the apostolic faith can be replaced by private interpretations or supposedly new revelations that contradict what Christ and His apostles taught.

Nevertheless, it is important to distinguish between deliberate deception and sincere misunderstanding. Not every person who holds an erroneous belief knowingly serves the purposes of evil. Some people may sincerely believe that they are defending God.

The spiritual danger lies in the false teaching and its consequences, not in an automatic declaration that every individual who holds it is personally evil.

4. Why False Teaching Can Appear Attractive

Religious error can attract people for many reasons.

Some teachings offer simple answers to difficult questions. Others promise exclusive knowledge, special spiritual status, certainty about salvation, or the claim that everyone else has misunderstood the Bible.

A religious group may insist that only its own leaders possess the correct interpretation of Scripture. It may encourage members to distrust all outside information, reject historical Christian teaching, or regard every disagreement as evidence of persecution.

Such methods can make people increasingly dependent on a particular leader or organization.

The New Testament warns Christians to remain spiritually vigilant. In Matthew 7:15, Christ warns about false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves.

This warning calls for discernment. It does not authorize Christians to condemn everyone who disagrees with them, but it does require them to examine religious claims rather than accept them blindly.

The appearance of holiness is not sufficient proof of truth. Teachings must be tested against the Gospel, the apostolic witness, and the faith preserved by the Church.

5. Why Satan Would Want People to Believe in Christ Incorrectly

From the Orthodox Christian perspective, the devil’s opposition to humanity is connected with the desire to separate people from God.

If people openly reject Christ, the danger may be obvious. But if they believe they are following Christ while accepting a fundamentally distorted understanding of Him, they may not recognize the spiritual problem.

This is why doctrinal deception can be especially serious.

A person might sincerely pray to God while denying the Trinity. Another might speak about Jesus while rejecting His eternal divinity. Another might claim to possess a new revelation that contradicts the apostolic Gospel.

The Orthodox response is to ask whether such teachings faithfully confess the Christ proclaimed by the apostles and worshipped by the Church.

The purpose of discernment is not to win arguments or humiliate opponents. It is to protect the truth of the Gospel and help people come to a fuller knowledge of God.

We must also remember that God alone knows the depths of every human heart. We can evaluate teachings according to the Christian faith, but we cannot claim certain knowledge of the hidden spiritual state or intentions of every person who teaches them.

6. How Should Orthodox Christians Respond to Heretics?

The Orthodox Christian response must combine doctrinal firmness with humility, prayer, and love.

Saint Paul instructs Timothy that the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind, patient, and able to correct opponents with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24–25).

This is a crucial principle.

If someone attacks Orthodox Christianity, we should not immediately respond with insults, hatred, or accusations of demonic possession. Such reactions can obscure the truth we are trying to defend and turn a theological discussion into a personal battle.

Instead, we should:

• Know our faith. Learn the Holy Scriptures, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, and the essential teachings of the Orthodox Church.
• Examine the arguments. Ask what a person actually believes about Christ, the Trinity, salvation, the Resurrection, and the Church.
• Use Scripture in context. Do not rely on isolated verses or allow passages to be interpreted in ways that contradict the broader apostolic witness.
• Consult the Holy Fathers. Learn how the Church has historically understood the doctrines being disputed.
• Speak with courage and gentleness. Firmly reject false teaching without hatred toward the person who holds it.
• Pray for those who disagree. The goal of Christian witness is not merely to defeat an opponent, but to help that person discover the truth.

We should also recognize when a conversation has become fruitless. Not every argument needs to continue indefinitely. Sometimes a calm explanation, followed by prayer and silence, is wiser than endless controversy.

7. Is Every Heretic Personally an Instrument of the Devil?

This question requires an important distinction.

In Orthodox Christianity, heresy is understood as a serious departure from the truth of the faith. Scripture also describes the devil as a deceiver who seeks to lead humanity away from God.

Consequently, Orthodox Christians may understand the spread of false doctrine as serving, knowingly or unknowingly, purposes opposed to the Gospel.

However, it would go beyond what we can know to claim that every person who holds a heretical belief is consciously cooperating with demons or is personally possessed by the devil.

A person can sincerely believe an error. Another may have inherited it from family or community. Another may simply lack a proper understanding of Orthodox teaching.

Christians are called to discern teachings, but they are not given permission to pronounce infallible judgments on every person’s soul.

There is a difference between saying that a teaching can serve the purposes of spiritual deception and claiming that we know the hidden spiritual condition of the person teaching it.

This distinction protects Orthodox Christians from pride, hatred, and spiritual delusion.

8. The Greatest Defence Against Spiritual Deception

The strongest defence against heresy is not anger. It is a deep and living relationship with Jesus Christ.

A Christian who knows the Gospel, participates in the sacramental life of the Church, prays sincerely, repents of personal sins, and seeks guidance from a faithful Orthodox priest is better prepared to recognize teachings that contradict the faith.

Spiritual discernment also requires humility. Pride can itself become a source of spiritual danger. Someone may defend correct doctrine while becoming arrogant, hateful, or obsessed with condemning others.

The truth of Orthodoxy must be accompanied by the life of Christ.

The Church does not teach that we should hate those who are deceived. Rather, we should oppose falsehood while desiring the salvation of every human being.

Christ died and rose for the salvation of humanity, including those who misunderstand Him.

Our task is to remain faithful to Him, to guard the apostolic faith, to reject teachings that contradict the Gospel, and to pray that those who have gone astray may come to know the truth.

CONCLUSION: DEFEND THE TRUTH WITHOUT HATING THE PERSON

From an Orthodox Christian perspective, the devil seeks to lead humanity away from God through lies, confusion, division, and the distortion of divine truth. Heresy can become one of the ways this spiritual deception operates, particularly when it changes the Church’s understanding of Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers.

But we must never confuse the rejection of false doctrine with hatred of the person who believes it.

Our battle is not against human beings as enemies to be destroyed. Saint Paul reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).

Therefore, we must stand firmly for the Orthodox faith while remembering that every human being is created in the image of God and is in need of His mercy.

Reject the error. Defend the truth. Pray for the deceived. Guard your own heart against pride.

For the ultimate purpose of Orthodox Christianity is not simply to identify falsehood, but to lead humanity into communion with the living God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” — John 17:17

Excerpts from the book: The Venerable Elder Galaktia of Crete Theomorphos Publications

 Elder Galaktia: “The Turks Are Afraid. They Will Take a Beating from the Bolsheviks (Russians)!”

1) A GREAT EVIL WILL COME

July 9, 2020
Recorded by her caregivers.

ELDER:
“I was with the Leader of all things and the entire staff. All the officers were there, and the First One also came. A great and terrible loss! What are these things that are going to happen? Look… The enemy, there he is outside. What is he doing?

‘God is with us, and no one can stand against us.’

‘Save, O Lord, Your people and bless Your inheritance.’

Strange things, strange things, strange things… Married people, young people, and priests. My eyes have seen many terrible things.

A great evil will come. We are fighting to confront it and hold it back. In the end, everything will be put in order. Not one way for one person and another way for another.

The Great Commander of the Heavenly Powers, the dark one [meaning Michael], was saying:

‘Since they do not speak about repentance, and those who ought to say it are ashamed to do so, you tell the people to call upon me in difficult times and say:

“Having you as the protector and helper, guardian and deliverer of my humble soul, Michael, first among the Archangels and great Commander, in the hour of danger, help me.”’

(She was chanting the Magnificat/Hymn of the Archangel, which she recited many times during each day.)

2) THE TURKS ARE COMING

April 28, 2016
The Elder was speaking to a high-ranking military officer who had visited her.

ELDER:
“Listen, my child. The Turks are coming. They will enter Crete for two or three days. They are cowards. They will do little. But they will do something because of our sins…

Then they will leave in panic.

The Bolsheviks (Russians) will come down. They are Orthodox. They control half of Europe. Turkey will meet its final fate at their hands. It will never see the light of day again.

Do you hear me?”

3) THE TURKS ARE COWARDS AND DECEIVERS

December 16, 2016
The Elder was speaking to her caregivers.

ELDER:
“The Turks are deceitful. They are afraid; they are trembling.

They will make a ‘bouli-bouli tsa’ [an expression referring to making a commotion or causing trouble] and then they will disappear forever.

Tell people this, so that they will not be afraid.

We only need to repent.

And you will see gifts and divine wonders.

Only keep saying: repentance.

We have become like worms, my children…”

4) ADVICE TO CYPRIOTS

January 10, 2018
The Elder was speaking to young Cypriots.

ELDER:
“Keep your humanity, my children; your honesty and your purity.

No premarital relationships.

There is nothing wrong with getting married, living with your wife—and you,” (she said to one of the young women), “with your husband, having children and creating a family.

But live as God commanded. As God taught.

Not with the filth that the devil boasts about today.

If you do these things, furrows and cracks will open in your soul that will not easily close.

Be careful with your eyes and with your thoughts. We also sin through these things, but less.

You,” (she said to one of the young men), “are embarrassed and afraid of me. Do not be afraid, my child. Your little heart shines.

And you,” (she said to another), “have eyes sparkling with intelligence, and you are absorbing everything here now.

Continue to pray.

But not only prayer and monasteries… and work.

Honest work also becomes prayer, because we do it with prayer.

A famine will come…

It will not affect us very much.

We will live on snails and wild greens.

It will not last long.

The Bolsheviks (the Russians) will be the ones who punish Turkey.”

(She repeated this at least ten times.)

“I am saddened that people will be killed, because they are human beings too. But they do not sit quietly, my child. They do not learn.

They will take a beating from the Bolsheviks—a severe one.”

“Give my greetings to the Bishop (Morphou), who sent you.

He has drive, fire. He is a beast [in the sense of being extremely powerful and vigorous].

He sits on the ground. He is simple like the children…

And the others—the Bishops from Cyprus whom I met—they are chosen ones.

Give them, from me, a paper icon of Saint George that I will give you, so that they will remember me and forgive me.

The holiest man is called Ephraim, and he is in America…”

5) CYPRUS WILL BE UNITED, BEAUTIFULLY

January 15, 2018
The Elder was speaking to Cypriots.

ELDER:
“You will suffer nothing in the things that are coming…

Cyprus will be united, beautifully, beautifully.”

(She made a gesture with her hands.)

“They will leave”—she meant the Turks—“and then you will also acquire true freedom.

Your Bishop (Morphou) will be voted for by everyone here on earth and by everyone above.”

(She pointed toward the sky.)

6) CYPRUS WILL BE LIBERATED

April 25, 2018
The Elder was speaking to a young Cypriot.

ELDER:
“Now you are completely clean.

You do not like lies, obscene words, or vulgarities.

You do not tolerate sin.

Once, however, you were burdened.

You must get married.

Half of your homeland is ‘bergomeno’ [wrapped in thorns, held captive].

But the prescription has ended.

It will easily be freed from its entanglement and become one.

You are unmarried. You will get married… that is how it should be.

Your mother feeds you. She has a soft spot for you.

You have been here for two or three days and she is already looking for you…”

ΠΡΟΦΗΤΕΙΕΣ ΤΗΣ ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑΣ

Μηνύματα ελπίδας, προειδοποίησης και αγάπης για την Κύπρο και τον κόσμο

Παρακάτω είναι η πλήρης μετάφραση του κειμένου της εικόνας στα ελληνικά, με την ίδια σειρά και τις έξι ενότητες. Διατηρώ το νόημα των λόγων όπως παρουσιάζονται στην εικόνα, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει ότι έχει επιβεβαιωθεί η αυθεντικότητα των προφητειών.

1. ΘΑ ΕΡΘΕΙ ΜΕΓΑΛΟ ΚΑΚΟ

9 Ιουλίου 2020

Καταγράφηκε από τους φροντιστές της.

ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑ:

«Ήμουν μαζί με τον Αρχηγό των πάντων και ολόκληρο το επιτελείο. Όλοι οι αξιωματικοί ήταν εκεί και ήρθε και ο Πρώτος.

Μια μεγάλη και τρομερή απώλεια! Τι είναι όλα αυτά που πρόκειται να συμβούν; Κοιτάξτε… Ο εχθρός, να τον εκεί έξω. Τι κάνει;

“Ο Θεός είναι μαζί μας και κανείς δεν μπορεί να σταθεί εναντίον μας”.

“Σώσε μας, Κύριε, και ευλόγησε την κληρονομιά Σου”.

Παράξενα πράγματα, παράξενα πράγματα, παράξενα πράγματα…

Παντρεμένοι άνθρωποι, νέοι άνθρωποι, και ιερείς. Τα μάτια μου έχουν δει πολλά τρομερά πράγματα. Ένα μεγάλο κακό θα έρθει. Θα αναγκαστούμε να το αντιμετωπίσουμε και να το κρατήσουμε μακριά. Στο τέλος, όλα θα μπουν στη θέση τους. Όχι μόνο για ένα άτομο, αλλά για όλους όσοι βρίσκονται εκεί.

Ο Μεγάλος Διοικητής των Ουράνιων Δυνάμεων, το σκοτεινό πρόσωπο [εννοεί τον Αρχάγγελο Μιχαήλ], έλεγε:

“Αφού δεν μιλούν για μετάνοια, και όσοι θα έπρεπε να τη μεταδώσουν ντρέπονται να το κάνουν, εσύ να λες στους ανθρώπους να με επικαλούνται σε δύσκολους καιρούς και να λένε:

‘Έχοντας εσένα ως προστάτη και βοηθό, φύλακα και λυτρωτή της ταπεινής μου ψυχής, Μιχαήλ, πρώτε μεταξύ των Αρχαγγέλων και Μεγάλου Διοικητή, στην ώρα του κινδύνου, βοήθησέ με’”.

(Εκείνη άλλαζε τον ύμνο/Μεγαλυνάριο του Αρχαγγέλου, τον οποίο απήγγειλε πολλές φορές κάθε ημέρα.)

2. ΟΙ ΤΟΥΡΚΟΙ ΕΡΧΟΝΤΑΙ

28 Απριλίου 2016

Η Γερόντισσα μιλούσε σε έναν υψηλόβαθμο στρατιωτικό που την είχε επισκεφθεί.

ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑ:

«Άκου, παιδί μου. Οι Τούρκοι έρχονται.

Θα έρθουν είτε στην Κρήτη για δύο είτε για τρεις ημέρες.

Αλλά είναι δειλοί. Δεν θα κάνουν πολλά. Όμως θα κάνουν κάτι εξαιτίας των αμαρτιών μας…

Έπειτα θα φύγουν πανικόβλητοι.

Θα κατέβουν οι Μπολσεβίκοι (οι Ρώσοι).

Είναι Ορθόδοξοι. Ελέγχουν το μισό της Ευρώπης.

Η Τουρκία θα συναντήσει το τελικό της τέλος στα χέρια τους.

Δεν θα ξαναδεί ποτέ το φως της ημέρας.

Με ακούς;»

3. ΟΙ ΤΟΥΡΚΟΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΔΕΙΛΟΙ ΚΑΙ ΑΠΑΤΕΩΝΕΣ

16 Δεκεμβρίου 2016

Η Γερόντισσα μιλούσε στους φροντιστές της.

ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑ:

«Οι Τούρκοι είναι δόλιοι. Φοβούνται· τρέμουν.

Θα κάνουν ένα “μπουλί-μπουλί τσα” [έκφραση που αναφέρεται στο να προκαλέσουν αναστάτωση ή να δημιουργήσουν πρόβλημα] και έπειτα θα εξαφανιστούν για πάντα.

Πείτε το αυτό στους ανθρώπους, ώστε να μη φοβούνται.

Το μόνο που χρειάζεται είναι να μετανοήσουμε.

Και θα δείτε δώρα και θεία θαύματα.

Να συνεχίζετε να λέτε μόνο αυτό: μετάνοια.

Έχουμε γίνει σαν σκουλήκια, παιδιά μου…»

4. ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΕΣ ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΥΣ ΚΥΠΡΙΟΥΣ

10 Ιανουαρίου 2018

Η Γερόντισσα μιλούσε σε νεαρούς Κυπρίους.

ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑ:

«Να διατηρείτε την ανθρωπιά σας, παιδιά μου· την τιμιότητά σας και την αγνότητά σας.

Όχι προγαμιαίες σχέσεις.

Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα κακό στο να παντρεύεστε, να ζείτε με τη σύζυγό σας —εκείνη είπε σε μία από τις νεαρές γυναίκες—, να είστε με τον σύζυγό σας, να αποκτάτε παιδιά και να δημιουργείτε οικογένεια.

Αλλά να ζείτε σύμφωνα με το θέλημα του Θεού. Είναι θεϊκή εντολή.

Όχι όμως με τα ήθη που επικρατούν σήμερα.

Αν κάνετε αυτά τα πράγματα, τα βέλη και τα αγκάθια θα ανοίξουν μέσα στην ψυχή σας πληγές που δεν θα κλείνουν εύκολα.

Να προσέχετε τι βλέπουν τα μάτια σας και τις σκέψεις σας.

Θα περάσετε και μέσα από αυτά τα πράγματα, αλλά λιγότερο.

Εσύ —είπε σε έναν από τους νεαρούς άνδρες— ντρέπεσαι και φοβάσαι. Μη φοβάσαι, παιδί μου. Η μικρή σου καρδιά λάμπει.

Και εσύ —είπε σε έναν άλλον— έχεις μάτια που λάμπουν από εξυπνάδα και απορροφάς τα πάντα γύρω σου.

Να προσεύχεστε.

Όχι μόνο προσευχή και μετάνοιες… αλλά και εργασία.

Η έντιμη εργασία επίσης αγιάζει, επειδή την κάνουμε με προσευχή.

Θα έρθει ένας λιμός…

Δεν θα μας επηρεάσει πολύ. Θα ζούμε με σαλιγκάρια και άγρια χόρτα.

Δεν θα κρατήσει πολύ.

Οι Μπολσεβίκοι (οι Ρώσοι) θα είναι εκείνοι που θα τιμωρήσουν την Τουρκία».

(Εκείνη το επανέλαβε τουλάχιστον τρεις φορές.)

«Με στενοχωρεί που οι άνθρωποι θα σκοτωθούν, επειδή είναι και αυτοί ανθρώπινα όντα. Αλλά δεν υπακούν, παιδί μου. Δεν μαθαίνουν. Θα δεχθούν χτύπημα από τους Μπολσεβίκους —ένα σοβαρό χτύπημα.

Δώστε τους χαιρετισμούς μου στον Επίσκοπο Μόρφου, που με έστειλε σε εσάς.

Έχει δύναμη και είναι [εννοεί ότι διαθέτει εξαιρετική δύναμη και ζωτικότητα]. Στέκεται στο έδαφος. Είναι απλός σαν τα παιδιά…

Και οι άλλοι —οι Επίσκοποι από την Κύπρο που συνάντησα— είναι εκλεκτοί άνθρωποι. Δώστε τους, από μέρους μου, μια χάρτινη εικόνα του Αγίου Γεωργίου, που θα σας δώσω, ώστε να με θυμούνται και να με συγχωρούν.

Ο πιο άγιος άνθρωπος ονομάζεται Εφραίμ, και είναι στην Αμερική. Όσοι συνάντησα —είναι άγιοι άνθρωποι. Δώστε του, από μέρους μου, μια χάρτινη εικόνα του Αγίου Γεωργίου που θα σας δώσω, ώστε να με θυμούνται και να με συγχωρούν.

Ο πιο άγιος άνθρωπος ονομάζεται Εφραίμ, και είναι στην Αμερική…»

5. Η ΚΥΠΡΟΣ ΘΑ ΕΝΩΘΕΙ, ΚΑΙ ΜΑΛΙΣΤΑ ΜΕ ΟΜΟΡΦΟ ΤΡΟΠΟ

15 Ιανουαρίου 2018

Η Γερόντισσα μιλούσε σε Κυπρίους.

ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑ:

«Δεν θα υποφέρετε από τίποτα μέσα σε αυτά που έρχονται…

Η Κύπρος θα ενωθεί, και μάλιστα με όμορφο τρόπο. Πολύ όμορφο».

(Έκανε μια χειρονομία με τα χέρια της.)

«Θα φύγουν» —εννοούσε τους Τούρκους— «και τότε θα αποκτήσετε κι εσείς πραγματική ελευθερία.

Ο Επίσκοπός σας (ο Μόρφου) θα ψηφιστεί από όλους εδώ στη γη και από όλους όσοι βρίσκονται ψηλά».

(Έδειξε προς τον ουρανό.)

Μετάνοια… είναι ο μόνος δρόμος προς την αληθινή ελευθερία.

6. Η ΚΥΠΡΟΣ ΘΑ ΑΠΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΩΘΕΙ

25 Απριλίου 2018

Η Γερόντισσα μιλούσε σε έναν νεαρό Κύπριο.

ΓΕΡΟΝΤΙΣΣΑ:

«Τώρα είσαι εντελώς καθαρός.

Δεν σου αρέσουν τα ψέματα, οι άσεμνες λέξεις ή οι χυδαιότητες.

Δεν ανέχεσαι την αμαρτία.

Κάποτε, όμως, ήσουν επιβαρυμένος.

Πρέπει να παντρευτείς.

Το μισό της πατρίδας σου είναι “μπεργκομένο” [περιπλεγμένο, αιχμαλωτισμένο ή παγιδευμένο μέσα σε αγκάθια].

Όμως η σύλληψη έχει τελειώσει.

Θα απελευθερωθεί εύκολα από αυτή την εμπλοκή και θα γίνει ένα.

Είσαι ανύπαντρος. Θα παντρευτείς… έτσι πρέπει να είναι.

Η μητέρα σου σε ταΐζει. Έχει μια αδυναμία για σένα.

Είσαι εδώ δύο ή τρεις ημέρες και ήδη σε αναζητά…»