Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia (Fiorenzo) Icon - S639

This icon of the holy priest-monk Saint Porphyrios of Kafsokalivia is by the hand of American iconographer Mark Fiorenzo. It shows the holy saint in his monastic garments, priestly stole and cuffs, and his distinctive knit cap. He holds the book of the holy Gospel and raises his hand in blessing.

Saint Porphyrios was an Athonite hieromonk known for his gifts of spiritual discernment and a type of clairvoyance which he sometimes called "spiritual television."

He was born in 1906 in the village of Saint John Karystia, in the province of Evia in Greece. He was tonsured a monk about the age of fifteen with the monastic name Nikitas. He served in the Athonite skete of Kafsokalyvia under two spiritual fathers. Forced by a lung condition to depart the Holy Mountain, he returned to his birthplace, where he was unexpectedly elevated to the priesthood at the age of 21 by Porphyrios III, Archbishop of Mount Sinai and Raithu.

With the outbreak of World War II he became a hospital chaplain in Athens, in which post he continued for three decades. His later years were devoted to the construction of the Holy Convent of the Transfiguration of the Savior in Attica, Greece.

After 1984 he returned to Mount Athos, occupying the same cell which he had earlier in life been forced to abandon. Having grown in holiness through a lifetime of labor and prayer, Elder Porphyrios became known as a spiritual father to an ever-wider circle of Orthodox followers. He reposed in sanctity on December 2, 1991.

Several compilations of stories and sayings attributed to him have been published, and his veneration continued to grow around the world. His sainthood was confirmed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on November 27, 2013, and his feast day was established on December 2.